"Thank you, Shana. You've given me something to think about..." Prince Alexander trailed off as we reached the entrance to my bedroom.I paused, meeting his gaze with sincerity. "Thank you, for telling me this and opening up. I appreciate your honesty."He returned my smile, a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "Thank you for listening. Perhaps we're not so different after all, Shana."
As the day of the ball dawned, the palace was full of excitement.The corridors were filled with guests from far and wide, their voices mingling with the sounds of preparation.Miriam, woke me up bright and early this morning with breakfast in bed, and requested that I remain in my room for the day to prepare for the night's festivities.
As we approached the grand ballroom, the anticipation swirled around me like a whirlwind, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nerves.The towering doors stood before us, and just outside, the King and Queen awaited our entrance.Prince Alexander, who was currently the picture of confidence, led me forward with a reassuring smile. "Are you ready?"
"Looks like you have quite the fan club," I remarked, a teasing smile playing on my lips as I gestured towards the group of women who were eyeing him eagerly.The Prince chuckled softly, but there was a hint of resignation in his expression. "It's flattering, I suppose. But sometimes, I wish they would give it a rest."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his candid admission. "Really? I would have thought you'd enjoy the attention."
"Nothing happened. I just want to dance with you. Will you do me the honors?" Kendrick's voice cut through the music, and surprise flickered in my eyes."Dance?" I questioned, feeling strange about his request.Kendrick extended his hand towards me, his expression earnest. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, allowing him to lead me onto the dance floor.
Lucas and I were only able to dance to one more song before Kendrick rushed over toward us."It's time to leave," he said with a stern expression. "The jet is ready for us."I exchanged a glance with Lucas, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes before he nodded in understanding. As much as I wanted to stay in Lucas's arms and live in this little bubble between the two of us, I knew I didn't belong here.
The gentle hum of the private jet's engines provided a soothing backdrop as we soared through the night sky, heading back home after the eventful evening at the palace.Kendrick had excused himself to his room, leaving Lucas and me to share the cabin in relative quiet.After we had passed through the portal, I had felt incredibly dizzy, but once I sat down on the jet, the feeling slowly dissipated.Yet, even as the physical discomfort waned, my mind was still reeling.It was hard to describe how I felt. I wasn't even sure if I really felt like myself anymore.There had been so many changes and surprises in the past few weeks. From discovering my true identity as the White Wolf to navigating the complexities of losing my father, managing relationships and politics in the supernatural world, I found myself constantly on edge, never quite sure what to expect next.I didn't have any other choice but to accept everything that was thrown at me, and I was scrambling to learn how to adapt to
We arrived back at our familiar neighborhood late into the following night. Kendrick's abrupt departure had left an uneasy silence lingering in the air, but Lucas and I were too preoccupied with our own thoughts to dwell on it.Once we got off the private jet, Kendrick had taken off to deal with some business issues.Lucas and I's ride back was quiet, the hum of the engine and the occasional flicker of passing streetlights providing a relaxing backdrop to our contemplations.It felt surreal to be back in the familiar surroundings of our hometown after the whirlwind of events at the Ethereal Palace.As the car rolled through the streets, I found myself gazing out the window, watching the familiar landmarks pass by in a blur of shadows and streetlights.The sight of the quaint houses and bustling streets that I had known my entire life should have brought me comfort, but instead, it only served to deepen the sense of displacement that had taken root within me.It was a strange realizati