Chapter 204

Kendrick dropped the bombshell, leaving Lucas and me staring at each other in disbelief.

A plan? That was never a good thing coming from Kendrick.

"What kind of plan?" Lucas questioned his father, throwing a curious glance in his direction.

"We need to leave as soon as possible. We can't keep the King waiting. That means the two of you will need to miss school in the process," Kendrick explained.

"We?" I asked, looking between him and Lucas. "Who's 'we' exactly?"

"You, Lucas, and I are going to the palace." Kendrick blinked at me. "I'll also be bringing my entire security personnel and assistants."

The Alpha King's palace? It sounded like something out of a fantastical story, not a destination for an ordinary girl like me.

"The palace..." My voice trailed off as I thought about what my next few days could look like. "But, what about school? We can't just miss it."

I'd been out of school for a week now due to the passing of my father, and I knew the dean was fine with that. However, I doubted he would be okay with me taking another week away and for Lucas to also not be in attendance.

"I've already sorted everything with the dean for both of you. Your grades helped," Kendrick mentioned as if the inconvenience of disrupting our education was a minor detail. "He's allowed it. It won't be anything to worry about."

"But what about our classes?" Lucas voiced his concern.

"Lucas, this is more important than a few days of classes. Besides, I've already cleared it with the dean. You won't be falling behind," Kendrick reassured, although the tightness in Lucas's jaw suggested he wasn't fully convinced.

Us missing school would raise a few questions, I was sure. I wondered if we would have to explain things to James. The thought of revealing my secret to more people made me nervous. It felt like I was slowly suffocating, and the dread that soon, more people would know, made me anxious.

The realization that the Alpha King might be expecting me sent shivers down my spine. What if the entire royal staff was preparing for my arrival? What kind of reception awaited me in that unknown world? Kendrick's decisions seemed to have catapulted me into an unforeseen fate.

Kendrick's commanding voice snapped me back to the urgency of the moment. "I need you both to pack your things as quickly as you can. We'll be leaving right away, so don't waste any time. The King doesn't like to be left waiting."

"Right away?" I questioned, grappling with the sudden turn of events.

The rapid succession of revelations left me feeling overwhelmed. From learning about Kendrick's plan to meet the Alpha King to the abrupt announcement that we were leaving immediately – it was a lot to process.

"Everything is moving so quickly," I mumbled to myself, unsure if anyone heard.

"What does one even pack for something like that?" I wondered aloud, my mind racing with uncertainty.

"I'll help you," Lucas offered, sensing my bewilderment.

I turned to Kendrick, seeking more information about our impending journey. "I didn't even know where the palace was. What would it be like? Am I even ready for something like that?"

"Yes. I told the King we would be there by tomorrow. That only gives us twenty hours," Kendrick stated, his eyes fixed on me with a determined expression. "You have ten minutes to pack, and then we go to the airport."

Ten minutes? The brevity of the timeframe amplified the surreal nature of the situation.

Kendrick dropped us off at Grandma Jo's house, and we found ourselves alone, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of information.

I scrambled inside to gather the essentials, my mind racing faster than my hands could move.

The unknown awaited me, and with each passing second, the reality of facing the Alpha King became more imminent. It was both nerve-wracking and unbelievable to comprehend.

Lucas came behind me with an apology written all over his face. "Shana, I'm so sorry. I was supposed to keep you safe and protected, and now my father knows."

His voice carried the weight of guilt, making me instantly shake my head.

"Lucas, it isn't your fault that your father found out. It's my fault for not being able to control myself."

"You had every right to react the way you did," Lucas reasoned, trying to comfort me. "You'd just learned the most horrible news. Anyone would have reacted the same way."

I supposed he had a point. Remembering that day and the feeling of loss still struck me deeply. It hurt to think about it.

"Again... It's not your fault, Lucas. I was the one who lost control," I replied, my voice softening. I couldn't let him shoulder the blame for something I caused.

"But you can't blame yourself either," he insisted, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

As we sat in the living room, a heavy silence enveloped us.

Curious about the commotion, Grandma Jo entered the room, her gaze shifting from us to the SUV in the driveway.

"What's going on? Why is there an SUV outside?" she inquired. Then, as if she didn't need an explanation, her face fell.

"What has Kendrick done now?" she asked, immediately looking at Lucas. "Has he dragged you into something?"

Lucas sighed, glancing at me before saying, "Kendrick knows about Shana."

Grandma Jo frowned. "What does he know?"

"About my White Wolf," I elaborated, and Grandma Jo gasped dramatically.

She threw a hand over her chest as if she couldn't believe it. "No! How is that possible?"

Lucas explained the situation, detailing the unexpected way Kendrick found out, and lastly, detailed our impending visit to the Alpha King.

"He's taken it upon himself to let the Alpha King know about Shana's wolf," Lucas said in a grave voice.

"I'm not surprised that Kendrick has decided to share that information." Grandma Jo raised her head high. "He's always been a stubborn and selfish man."

"We're supposed to be packing to travel to the palace," I said, glancing at Lucas. "We should really hurry before your father orders his bodyguards to come after us."

Grandma Jo's expression stilled. "The Alpha King's palace is a place of immense power, untouchable by most. Only alphas of the highest standing have ever been personally invited."

I fidgeted with unease, not knowing what to expect.

"Oh dear, you'll be a treat to them." Grandma Jo winked at me. "The White Wolf in the palace? Well, I bet they'll be showing off for you, offering you nothing but luxury."

I swallowed, still nervous about the whole prospect. "I'm the opposite of luxury."

Grandma Jo, sensing my nervousness, offered to help me pack.

"I have a few nice dresses you can borrow. And Shana, you're perfect the way you are. Anyone would be a fool to think otherwise," she said with a warm smile before leaving the room.

Left alone again, Lucas and I shared a moment of quiet. The weight of the unknown hung between us.

"Should we tell Professor Black?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

Lucas took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "I'll let him know you've been discovered, and that we'll be going to see the Alpha King."