Chapter 210

As another hour passed, Kendrick retreated to the back of the plane for a series of phone calls.

It finally allowed a chance for Lucas and I to delve into our thoughts and emotions without having Kendrick breathing down our necks or keeping a close eye on us.

"I feel like I'm in a dream," I admitted to Lucas, my voice a hushed whisper amidst the subdued ambiance of the private jet. "Everything is happening so fast. It's like a whirlwind after my father's passing, and now... all this."

Lucas sighed, a heavy burden etched across his face. "I'm sorry, Shana. My father shouldn't have immediately taken your information to the Alpha King. It's all too much, too soon."

Despite the turmoil within me, I found myself offering a small smile. "You don't have to apologize for your father. I know how he is, and I shouldn't have expected anything less. I knew this would all come out eventually."

"You've had to deal with so much lately, you didn't need another thing added to your plate."

"I know he has his reasons, even if they're beyond my understanding. And honestly, as scared as I am, I'm also somewhat happy."

"Happy?" Lucas looked genuinely surprised. "Why is that?"

I nodded. "Well, I've been thinking about it and the Alpha King might have answers for me. He might have access to information that even Professor Black wasn't capable of finding."

"That's a good point, Shana. I hadn't really thought about that before."

"Maybe he can shed light on what I truly am."

"Are you going to tell him you don't know much about your power?" Lucas asked in a cautious tone.

I shrugged, blowing out a breath. I didn't know how much I wanted to reveal to the Alpha King, but what if he could tell that I had no idea who I really was? Would he be able to sense anything?

"Is there anything you know about the Alpha King?" I asked Lucas, curious to know if he had any insight. "Everything I know about him has just been through rumors or stories."

Lucas thought about this for a moment before saying, "I've heard that he's incredibly powerful, both politically and magically. The realm he rules is known for its stability and prosperity. He's respected and feared by many, not just because of his authority but also due to the mysteries that surround him."

"Mysteries? What do you mean?"

"Well, nobody knows too much about him." Lucas playfully poked me. "Like you, asking me questions about him. He seems to keep a lot to himself and prefers secrecy."

"Maybe he just wants to come off as mysterious," I reasoned. "It makes him more interesting."

Lucas nodded. "If I would be a king, I'd probably be the same way. Let people say or think what they want, but keep my personal life to myself."

"I suppose that offers him a more private life since everyone knows how powerful he is." My curiosity began to pique. "Do you know if he's a good ruler?"

"He's considered to be just and fair," Lucas replied thoughtfully. "He's maintained peace within the realm for a long time."

"How long has he ruled?"

"I'm actually not sure," Lucas paused to think. "A long time. Probably longer than how old we are."

I nodded, absorbing this information. "And what about his son, Prince Alexander? What's he like?"

"Alexander is... highly regarded as well," Lucas said, a hint of something in his voice. "I've heard a lot of mixed things about him. He's known for his intelligence and charm. His charm can get him into trouble sometimes."

"What kind of trouble?" I raised a brow.

"Well, he is the Prince... I've heard he might use that title to his advantage."

"To get what he wants?"

"More like to get who he wants," Lucas said. "I've heard he's a bit of a playboy."

"Really?" I questioned. "So, he doesn't have a fiancé?"

"Not yet. At least, not that I know of."

The image of the Alpha King and his son painted by Lucas seemed contradictory to the ominous rumors I had heard.

It made me wonder about the complexities hidden beneath the surface of the royal family.

"Interesting... I wonder what they'll be like when we meet them in person," I said. "I'm nervous that it's going to go badly."

"Don't focus on the negative," Lucas tried to comfort me. "We haven't even landed yet. We don't know what to expect yet."

"That's what worries me."

"They're inviting you to the palace. That sounds like a pretty big deal. I really doubt that they would treat you horribly. You're their guest... We all are."

"I suppose you're right." I sighed, leaning my head on his shoulder. "I'm just anxious, I guess."

Lucas's breathing slowed as he reached for my hand. "While you're having your private moments with the king, I can try to look for anything that might help us. If there's a library in the palace, I could dig through the archives. There might be something hidden there that could guide us."

A sense of hope welled up in me. "That's a great idea, Lucas. If we can find out more about the White Wolf, about its history, maybe we can make sense of all of this."

He nodded in agreement, "I don't doubt that we'll be able to figure out more about you. There's a lot we will be able to learn from this visit."

"That's great," I commented. "At least there's something to look forward to in all of this."

I pulled back from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. There was a hint of kindness, but also caution.

I wondered if Lucas was being honest with me. He did have a history of lying, especially when it came to me and my feelings.

Did he really think everything would be okay? Or was he just saying that to make me feel better?

As the thought crossed my mind, a shadow of worry crossed Lucas's face. "I just don't like the idea of you being alone with him."

"The Alpha King?" I questioned.

Lucas nodded solemnly. "Yeah. I wish I could be there with you. To protect you. The Alpha King might have his own agenda, and I want to make sure you're safe."

I understood his concern. The dynamics within the Ethereal Palace were unpredictable, and our ability to navigate them was limited.

"I wish you could be there too," I confessed, a longing echoing in my words. "But in the palace, we won't have any authority over the king. We have to tread carefully and not overstep any boundaries."

Lucas squeezed my hand, his protective instincts evident. "I know, but I can't help worrying about you."

"I know, but you said you said they'd treat all of us respectfully."

"I hope they do," Lucas said. "As long as we follow their rules, I'm sure everything will run smoothly."

I leaned my head on his shoulder again, wanting to stop worrying about something we couldn't avoid. "Let's focus on gathering information, and with any luck, we'll find the answers we're searching for."

"You're right," he said, lightly petting a hand through my hair. "That's what we need to get out of this, answers."