Chapter 218

The anticipation in the room was palpable, and the mention of the King joining us for dinner soon heightened my apprehension. I fidgeted with the fabric of my dress, trying to shake off the nerves.

"Liam, why aren't you joining us for dinner?" Kendrick inquired as Liam lingered by the door.

"I have matters to attend to, sir," Liam replied with a slight bow. "The King has requested my presence. I am certain that Prince Alexander will be here shortly to accompany you."

What? I wondered to myself. Prince Alexander?

With that, Liam exited, leaving us in the vast dining hall.

The doors were guarded by stern-faced knights, their presence a reminder that this was not an ordinary dinner engagement. We were completely out of our element.

Just outside, Kendrick's security team stood ready to protect us if need be.

With Liam's absence, the three of us were locked in a room full of exquisite decor that exuded an air of magnificence. I couldn't help but feel like an outsider sitting in a world of royalty.

I knew I kept having the same reoccurring thought, but I couldn't comprehend how this was my life. Only a week ago I was having the worst day of my life, and now here I was in the Ethereal Palace, wearing the finest gown I've ever seen... about to have dinner with the Alpha King.

Lucas broke the silence, diverting attention from the charged atmosphere. "Shana, you feeling okay?"

I snapped out of my thoughts with a shake of my head. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just trying to process everything."

"It's not exactly something you can get used to in the span of a few hours," Kendrick commented, offering his version of support.

I nodded, giving him a tight smile. I still wasn't sure how I felt about Kendrick. Honestly, I wasn't exactly sure how he felt about me either.

Was the respect only due to the fact that I was the White Wolf in his eyes?

"What's your room like?" Lucas asked, clearly trying to distract my thoughts. I appreciated his effort.

"It's amazing and elegant. Like something out of a fairy tale," I replied, eager to share details.

"And this dress I'm wearing," I gestured to my outfit, "was laid out with a note that said, 'Wear me today, for dinner tonight.'"

Kendrick's brow furrowed at the mention of the note. "A note? What did it say exactly?"

"Just that. Wear the dress for dinner tonight," I explained. "It felt strange... like someone knew I would be here."

Lucas, ever curious, probed further. "So, the dress you're wearing isn't something Grandma Jo gave you?"

I shook my head. "No, this is much nicer than anything Grandma Jo gave me. At first, I thought the dress was from you," I admitted.

"No, I mean– I wish it was from me. It looks amazing on you–"

"Guys, please," Kendrick said rubbing his temples as if he was annoyed with where this conversation was going. "Spare me the sappy lovey stuff."

I rolled my eyes, getting annoyed with Kendrick for being annoyed at Lucas and me. This act of his was starting to get really old.

"I didn't give you that dress," Lucas replied, ignoring his father completely.

"I think it's from the King," I whispered, afraid someone might overhear. "What about your suits? Where did you get them from?"

"I had these custom-made for us a few days ago," Kendrick said raising his head high.

Of course, I had almost forgotten that he had more time to prepare for this journey than Lucas and I. It only made sense that he would have an entire wardrobe fitted for him and Lucas. They had to look the part.

I found it slightly offensive that Kendrick wouldn't think of me in that regard. Did he not think I deserved to look good for the King also?

"Why would the King gift me with a dress?" I asked, looking from Lucas to Kendrick. "Is he known for giving his guests gifts?"

"I can't say for certain," Kendrick replied, his hand resting on his chin as he pondered. "I've never come across any tales of the King being generous with gifts for guests. Or gifts in general for that matter. He's quite reserved, keeps to himself."

"Doesn't he have a wife?" Lucas questioned. "Maybe it was from her. What did the handwriting on the note look like?"

"He does have a wife, but she's an enigma. No one has ever laid eyes on her. She resides somewhere within the castle, even more private than the Alpha King himself," Kendrick explained, wearing a mystified expression.

A frown creased my forehead as I found it perplexing that two of the most powerful figures in our world remained shrouded in mystery and secrecy.

"The handwriting was a cursive script... I couldn't exactly tell if a man or woman had written it," I said, trying hard to recall what the note had looked like.

"Well, at least we know that whoever wrote it has been taught to write in such an elegant way," Lucas continued.

I nodded, trying to think of who it could possibly belong to. My mind just kept going back to the Alpha King. I mean, he was the one who had invited me here. Why wouldn't it be from him?

At the same time, my predictions clashed because why would the Alpha King waste his time to get me a lovely gown and write me a personal note? He probably had much better things to do than worry and fuss over me.

"I'm sure we'll find out who the dress is from soon enough," Kendrick said without an ounce of anxiety.

I worried my bottom lip, trying to think about anything except for what was about to come.

"Did you see the gardens?" Lucas asked, again, clearly trying to steer my thoughts away from a dark place.

"I only saw a fraction of them," I confessed. "I'm not sure if my window was in the right position."

"It was a little hard to see, but it looks massive," Lucas added.

"Really?" I questioned, growing eager over what the garden could look like.

"Shana wouldn't be able to see it from her window. She's in the North Wing," Kendrick reminded Lucas. "The gardens are behind the East Wing."

"What's behind the North Wing?" Lucas asked me. "Did you see anything peculiar?"

"Honestly, I didn't have too much time to look around. Only the silver of the garden caught my eye," I admitted, feeling silly for not taking in my surroundings better.

The conversation continued to flow, easing whatever tension had built up inside of me.

In a few mere moments, all of that would change and we would be in the presence of royalty. Royalty that most people never had the chance to witness or experience for themselves.

The Alpha King was incredibly secretive... and here I was about to see him with my own eyes... speak to him.

Just as the nervousness started to hit me again, Liam returned, signaling the imminent arrival of Prince Alexander.

I swallowed, completely forgetting that he was going to be the first to arrive. I hadn't even gotten the chance to ask Kendrick any questions about the King's sole heir.

Guards snapped to attention, and Kendrick's security also assumed a stance of readiness.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the encounter with royalty.

The grand doors swung open, revealing Prince Alexander.