Chapter 207

The plane's engines roared as we ascended into the sky, the subtle vibration coursing through the cabin.

Looking outside of the window and seeing us soar amongst the clouds was an almost surreal feeling.

It felt like I was worlds away from the struggles I'd faced just days ago. Soon, I'd be setting foot in a real palace. A place full of history and wonder.

It was hard to process and I had to remind myself that this wasn't some kind of fantasy.

To ground myself, as well as feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, I reached for Lucas's hand.

The unfamiliar sensation of being so high up in the sky made my ears pop, and I squeezed his hand for comfort.

He shot me a reassuring smile, understanding the mix of emotions churning within me.

Lucas's blue eyes met mine, concern evident in his gaze.

"Did your ears pop, too?" he asked, his attention shifting from the view outside the window to my face.

I nodded, a small frown forming. "How do I make it go away?"

He offered a reassuring smile. "Try yawning. Sometimes, chewing on a piece of gum helps."

"Got any gum?" I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

Lucas chuckled. "No, but I'm sure one of the flight attendants has a pack somewhere."

He glanced over his shoulder toward the airplane staff, preoccupied with their tasks.

"No, it's fine." I placed a hand on his arm, attempting to redirect his focus. "I don't want to bother them."

Lucas shook his head. "It's their job. They won't mind."

Before our conversation could continue, Kendrick's voice cut through the air. "What did I say to the two of you about whispering sweet nothings?"

I glanced at him, noting the scrutiny in his eyes.

It seemed Kendrick was paying closer attention to our interactions, perhaps trying to decipher the dynamics between Lucas and me. The atmosphere shifted, and I wondered if Kendrick was more observant than I had given him credit for.

Trying to shift the focus away from the awkward tension, I asked, "Where exactly does the Alpha King live?" My voice struggled against the hum of the engines.

Kendrick leaned back in his seat, his eyes momentarily lifting from his phone. "The Alpha King resides in the Ethereal Palace. It's a place of magic, guarded by ancient spells and protected by the most powerful werewolves. Few have ever set eyes upon it."

"The Ethereal Palace?" I repeated, fascinated. The name alone painted a picture of grandeur and enchantment.

Lucas interjected, "What's the deal with this mystical realm stuff? Is it, like, another dimension?"

Kendrick grinned, evidently pleased with Lucas's curiosity. "Not exactly."

For once, he wasn't calling his questioning stupid.

"It's a part of our world yet concealed by powerful magic. Think of it as a sanctuary for supernatural beings, where the mundane and the magical intersect," Kendrick explained. "The Alpha King wants to maintain his protection."

The mention of magic sparked both awe and surprise within me.

The prospect of entering a palace hidden by magical forces was simultaneously exciting and unnerving.

Lucas pressed further. "How does it work? I mean, how do we get there? How do you know where to go?"

Kendrick clarified, "We'll need to use a portal. The Alpha King's palace exists in a space that can only be accessed through these magical gateways. It's one of the ways our world maintains a balance between the mundane and the supernatural."

A swirl of uncertainty settled in my stomach. Portals and magical realms were far beyond the realm of my understanding.

"Is the jet going to fly through it?" I asked nervously.

That didn't sound like it would be an easy or smooth journey.

"No, we are landing in a designated forest, provided to us by the King. From there, we will be escorted to the portal that leads us directly to the Ethereal Palace," Kendrick said.

"How do we know we can trust this?" The plan sounded outrageous.

I'd only heard of portals in legends or myths. I didn't even know that kind of magic was possible.

"We must trust the Alpha King," Kendrick said as if it was the most obvious fact. "He governs over all of us. Why should we not trust our leader?"

"Have you been to the Ethereal Palace before?"

"Never. I've never been lucky enough to be invited." Kendrick looked at me curiously. "Now, thanks to you, I'll have the opportunity to visit."

The concept of a magical realm intrigued me, and I too couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of visiting such a place.

It sounded just like a fairytale, although, I was sure that's what it appeared like on the outside.

Kendrick seemed to have a lot of trust in the Alpha King, but I wasn't sure if I could be so unguarded. After all, the reason we were even visiting the palace was because of me.

I'm who the Alpha King wanted to see, and I still didn't know why.

"Kendrick, what did you tell the Alpha King about me?" I asked, my curiosity tinged with a hint of anxiety.

He leaned back, a sly smile playing on his lips. "I didn't talk to the Alpha King directly. I sent a message outlining the basics, and he responded almost immediately, expressing a keen interest in meeting you. He provided the travel details, and here we are."

The lack of direct communication with the Alpha King left me with more questions than answers. What did he know about me, and why was he so eager to meet? The idea that he had freed up his schedule specifically for our visit felt both intimidating and perplexing.

"How long are we staying?" Lucas interjected, his protective gaze fixed on me.

"We'll be at the palace for four days. The Alpha King has cleared much of his schedule to accommodate Shana's visit," Kendrick explained, his nonchalant tone failing to mask the weight of the situation.

Four days in the realm of werewolf royalty. What awaited me left me with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

It also left me slightly excited,

Yet, beneath that excitement lingered a sense of unease. The dresses Grandma Jo had given me suddenly felt insufficient.

The differences between my ordinary life and the extraordinary world I was entering became starkly apparent.

There was no way that I would be able to fit in there. But looking back on my past experiences, it seemed that I didn't fit in much anywhere else.

Maybe, all of my past experiences had been preparing me for this day.

I already knew what it felt like to walk into a room and have people stare at me. I knew what it felt like to be an outcast, to be the one that people whispered about.

I wasn't exactly sure if my experience at the palace would be anything like attending Shadow High, but I imagined that I might feel the same way internally.

I was going to be the center of attention for this visit. As Grandma Jo had said, the royal staff might be showering me in luxury just to make me feel welcome.

I tried to convince myself that everything would be okay, but as I looked out the window, it was difficult for me to shake the gut feeling of impending doom.