Chapter 235

I tried to drown out my thoughts and burning questions, instead deciding to focus on the scenery around me.

The royal garden embraced us with its symphony of colors and fragrances as Prince Alexander plucked a rose effortlessly from a nearby bush. I couldn't help but scold him for killing the delicate flower, my voice tinged with reproach.

"Must you destroy the beauty around you?" I asked, eyeing the plucked rose with a touch of sadness.

Prince Alexander merely shrugged, twirling the rose stem between his fingers. "In the grand scheme of things, a single rose won't be missed. They bloom again, Shana. It isn't truly dead."

I sighed, trying to ignore his poetic way of looking at things. It only reminded me that I was almost truly dead a mere two hours ago.

"What other tricks do you have planned for my visit?" I inquired with a hint of wariness in my voice. "I feel as if I need to walk around with eyes in the back of my head now."

"Don't worry. Our tricks are done," he assured me. "Now, my father is going to try to win you over. He needs you more than he'd ever care to admit."

"Is the possible threat really that bad?" I asked, my eyes narrowing as I scrutinized the prince.

Prince Alexander continued to twirl the rose, his expression thoughtful. "Of course, any opposing side is always a threat, war or not. Having you on our side helps immensely."

"I just don't feel like I..."

"Belong?" Prince Alexander finished for me. "But Shana, you're no good in the world you live in now. As much as you don't belong here yet, you don't belong there either."

"Well, then why wasn't I born a princess?" I snapped back, frustration bubbling within me. "Or why didn't fate make it more obvious as to what I should do?"

Prince Alexander's smile was full of mischief. "That would make it too easy, and fate doesn't let us live life on easy mode."

My frown deepened as I pondered his words. The notion of being a pawn in the political chess game of the palace or fate left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"If you feel you don't belong in either world, then where do you see yourself fitting in?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his eyes.

I took a moment to ponder his question, my gaze drifting across the sea of flowers that surrounded us.

"I don't have the luxury of belonging, Prince Alexander. I never have."

And I never will, I thought.

"I'm caught between two worlds, each demanding a piece of me," I paused as I continued voicing my pressing thoughts. "But I can't ignore the responsibilities that come with being the White Wolf... even if it feels like a role thrust upon me."

He nodded understandingly, as if he, too, grappled with the weight of expectations. "Sometimes, our paths choose us, Shana. Even if we didn't ask for them. That's just the way it works."

A gust of wind carried the sweet scent of roses, momentarily distracting me from the expectations weighing on me.

Just as I got a moment to clear my head, suddenly, my brain shifted back to the mysterious book. What did it mean for me? I couldn't help but press for more information.

"What about the book you have, the one about the White Wolf? What's inside of it? What could it tell us?" I probed, shifting the conversation toward the mysterious book that had become a source of intrigue.

Prince Alexander shrugged a nonchalant gesture that concealed his curiosity. "That book, from my knowledge, has never been opened."

"And you think I could open it?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued.

"That's my best guess," the prince replied with a smirk. "I've never come across a book locked in such a way, and our library has thousands of books. This is the only one that has been guarded so heavily. I've tried hiring mages and magicians of all sorts, secretly, of course. No one can open it."

"What do you think is inside?" I asked, captivated by the mystery.

Prince Alexander shrugged. "Whoever wrote it didn't want anyone else to know what was inside... except, for you. That is, if you can open it."

I mulled over his words, the weight of potential revelations and hidden truths pressing upon me.

As we continued to stroll through the royal garden, the locked book weighed heavy on my mind.

For the past few weeks, Lucas and I had been searching for answers on the White Wolf and this book could potentially be the key to the truth. If I could just get it to open... my whole life might change.

"Imagine the possibilities, Shana," Prince Alexander mused, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "If you could unlock the secrets within that book, you might uncover the true extent of your powers, your purpose in this world. It might allow you to understand who you really are."

It was as if Prince Alexander had heard my thoughts. The possibility made me eager and hopeful, but it also caused a whole wave of different emotions to flow in.

A mixture of trepidation and curiosity surged within me.

The prospect of uncovering the contents of the locked White Wolf book offered both promise and uncertainty.

What if I didn't like what was inside? What if it didn't change my life for the better, but for the worse?

"Why do you think it's meant for me?" I asked Prince Alexander, wondering what his thoughts were. "What if there's nothing special about it, or worse, what if it holds something dangerous?"

The prince's gaze lingered on mine, a flicker of earnestness in his eyes.

"The book is linked to the White Wolf lineage. Whoever wrote it had a deep understanding of the powers you carry. It's a guide, a companion, and perhaps, a tool for you to navigate the challenges that lie ahead." He sighed, looking away for a moment as if lost in his thoughts.

"I wish it was easier than this. I wish there was more information out there about the White Wolf. Everything is just shrouded in mystery," I groaned.

"The truth has been guarded heavily for a reason," Prince Alexander said. "Like you said, there could be some sort of danger involved. But Shana, isn't danger the risk in every venture worth undertaking?"

I couldn't deny the logic in his words, though the shadows of doubt still danced at the periphery of my thoughts.

The weight of responsibility bore down on me, and the fragrant air of the garden offered little solace.

I wondered if my life would always be this way; me, wondering about things I couldn't understand.

I was scared to constantly live in uncertainty. Not only was it frustrating, but it was draining.

"And what if I can't open it?" I queried, my voice tinged with vulnerability.

Prince Alexander's smirk returned, an air of confidence about him. "You underestimate yourself, Shana. I have a feeling that the key to unlocking that book lies within you. The White Wolf is not just a title... it's a force that transcends time, and you, my friend, are the current vessel of that force."