Chapter 212

As the private jet touched down, the anticipation in the air grew palpable, settling into the pit of my stomach like a heavyweight. The jet engines hummed their final lullaby, signaling the end of our journey and the beginning of an unknown chapter.

"Did you sleep well?" Lucas inquired, a gentle smile playing on his lips as I rubbed away the remnants of sleep from my eyes.

"Surprisingly, yes," I replied, taking in my surroundings. "Did I really sleep through the rest of the flight?"

"You did. I figured you needed the rest, so I let you be. You looked too peaceful to disturb." He bent down, planting a soft kiss on my lips.

Anxiously, my gaze darted around to locate Kendrick, only to find him sitting across from us, seemingly engrossed in his own thoughts.

"PDA in front of your dad?" I teased with skepticism. "Are you trying to provoke him?"

"I don't care. You're my girlfriend, and for the next four days, I won't be able to kiss or touch you whenever I want." He bent down for another kiss, allowing his lips to linger for a moment longer than before.

The display of affection was a defiant stance against the impending restrictions of royal protocol.

Kendrick, observing the exchange, raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Whether it was out of respect for our privacy or indifference, I couldn't quite tell.

That's a first, I thought to myself. Maybe he's aware this is one of the last times Lucas and I can be like this.

As we pulled away, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness about the days ahead.

The unusual circumstances of our visit to the Alpha King's realm cast a shadow over what should have been a simple romantic gesture.

Lucas squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture that sent a small ripple of comfort through my anxious nerves.

Kendrick, though he would never openly admit it, wore a subtle air of nervousness beneath his composed exterior.

It made me feel slightly better to see that I wasn't the only one feeling this way. It felt as if all of us were about to walk into the lion's den willingly.

"Hello, this is your captain speaking," a deep voice said over the jet speakers. "Please fasten your seatbelts as the plane begins its descent."

"This part can feel a little frightening," Lucas said, buckling in my seatbelt for me.

"Why?" I asked, feeling the nerves intensify as he clicked the belt together.

"It can get a little bumpy and the jet has to hit the brakes pretty hard," he explained.

A subtle vibration ran through the cabin, signaling our approach to the ground. The engines roared, adjusting to the decreasing altitude.

Lucas sat beside me with his hand subtly gripping mine, offering reassurance as we lowered to the ground.

The landscape outside the window gradually transformed from clouds to a dense forest. In the distance, I could see a runway that looked out of place amongst all of the trees.

The landing intensified, creating a mixture of anticipation and nervousness in the air.

The pilot's voice returned over the speakers, "Prepare for landing."

The jet touched down with a controlled thud, and the brakes engaged, causing a noticeable deceleration.

I held onto Lucas tightly as the brakes on the jet were causing me to fly slightly forward.

The sudden change in speed and the corresponding jolt added a layer of unease, but Lucas steadied me with a comforting presence.

As the private jet came to a halt, I glanced at Kendrick, who sat across from us, observing our reactions. His expression remained unreadable, a calm mask that concealed his emotions.

The door opened, revealing the soft glow of night outside. Kendrick stood, gesturing for us to follow.

His security team began to organize, positioning themselves strategically around us.

Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and extended a hand to help me up. "Ready for this?" he asked, a flicker of concern in his eyes.

I nodded, attempting to muster confidence. "As ready as I'll ever be."

As we began to disembark from the plane, I stood ahead of Lucas. His fingertips grazed the small of my back as he led me toward the exit.

A wall of Kendrick's security personnel surrounded us acting as a human shield against the uncertainties awaiting us on the unfamiliar ground.

It did wonders to help my anxiety. Knowing they were there to protect us made me feel safer.

As I walked out of the private jet exit, the sleek metal steps extended towards the tarmac. I walked down carefully, and as I glanced up, I saw a long line of figures waiting for us in the dim glow of the runway lights.

There were about twenty men who all wore fine armor. It was incredibly intimidating, and I also hesitated on my next step to retreat to the jet.

In the center of the line was a very tall man dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.

He stepped forward, his demeanor exuding an air of authority. "Greetings. I am the personal assistant to the Alpha King. My name is Adrian. Please, follow me. The King awaits your presence in the castle."

Despite the polished formality of Adrian's words, an unsettling tension hung in the air.

My heart dropped in my chest as I looked over to Lucas for some kind of reassurance.

He studied Adrian, assessing the situation for me. After a moment, his blue eyes fell on mine as he nodded his head, telling me that it was okay.

I turned to stare at Adrian and a strange feeling struck me. I felt sickly like my gut was telling me to turn around and run away.

And as much as I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something ominous lingered beneath the surface.

Adrian motioned for me to follow him, and as I took my first steps, a horrible realization unfurled before my eyes.

The men in the line, previously silent and stoic, abruptly drew weapons, pointing them with cold precision at everyone except for me.

"What's going on?" I demanded, my voice betraying a mix of confusion and rising panic.

Adrian's demeanor remained unbothered as he explained, "The Alpha King has requested an audience with you alone, White Wolf. The others are not permitted entry. Their lives depend on your cooperation."

"No!" I protested vehemently, my gaze darting between Kendrick and Lucas. "I won't let anyone be harmed because of me!"

Before my words could carry further, the sharp bang of a gunshot echoed through the air.

Time seemed to stretch and warp, my senses heightened in the charged atmosphere.

A flicker of movement caught my eye, but the identity of the victim remained obscured. Suddenly, I heard screaming all around me and I wasn't sure what to do.

The gunshot triggered something primal within me, an instinctual response that surged through my veins.

My breathing got deep and heavy, and my heart began to race. Every fiber of my being was urging me to defend, to protect Lucas and everyone else around me.

I'd never felt a shift as intense as this as the world around me blurred. My body convulsed and tensed, signaling the change. I braced myself, ready to become a force of power.