Chapter 208

My gaze shifted away from the window as I felt eyes on me.

Kendrick took a sip of his alcohol glass, his eyes locked with mine. "The Alpha King has requested private time with you, Shana. You must make a good impression."

My stomach fluttered nervously at the mention of being alone with the Alpha King. What did he want to discuss in private? What could he possibly see in me that required one-on-one attention?

Lucas, sensing my unease, jumped in. "What does the Alpha King want with Shana?"

Kendrick glanced at his son, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "He isn't looking for a wife, Lucas. You can relax."

"Well, then why does he need to spend alone time with her?" Lucas asked. "Whatever he needs to talk to Shana about, he can do in front of me."

"If the King wishes to speak with Shana alone, then so be it." Kendrick swirled his glass around in his hand.

Lucas's protective gaze lingered on me, his jaw tense. "I don't want her spending time alone with him."

The intensity in Lucas's voice made me uncomfortable, and I shifted in my seat.

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "This visit has nothing to do with you, Lucas. Once we're in the palace, you both need to listen to whatever the King says. No outbursts, no problems. Can you promise me that?"

Lucas's expression tightened, but after a moment, he grunted in agreement.

I could feel the tension between father and son, and I wondered if this trip would strain their relationship even more.

"And you, Shana? It's important that you respect whatever the King wishes." Kendrick watched me carefully.

I nodded. "I'll be respectful."

"Excellent," Kendrick said while snapping for one of the flight attendants to come over. He ordered her to bring him a bucket of ice, and she was off toward the back of the jet.

I hadn't been keeping track of how many drinks Kendrick had so far, but he seemed to be loosening up a bit. I wondered if he was feeling any of the effects.

"Do you know if the Alpha King has any children?" I asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from the unease that had settled between Lucas and Kendrick.

Kendrick nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, he has a son named Alexander. He's around your age, and everyone in the realm holds him in high regard. Being the sole heir to the throne, he's a figure of great importance."

At the mention of Alexander, a fragment of memory stirred within me.

There were tales about the King's struggles to conceive, and the eventual birth of Alexander was considered a miracle. It took the royal couple many years before they could welcome their heir into the world.

Rumors had circulated, claiming that the King had delved into dark magic to overcome the challenges of infertility.

The desperation for an heir led him to seek out forbidden forces, a risky venture that few dared to explore.

My knowledge about dark magic was limited, but the rumors painted it as a dangerous path, one that came with unpredictable consequences.

The King's decision to embrace such potent magic for the sake of having a son showed the lengths he would go to for legacy and power. It revealed a bit of what his personality might be like.

However, these were mere whispers in the shadows, stories that circulated among the werewolf community.

The truth of the Alpha King's methods remained shrouded in mystery, obscured by the walls of the palace and guarded by the realm's powerful magic.

I highly doubted it was a topic of conversation that I could bring up, even though I was highly curious about its truth.

"Will we get to meet him?" I asked, curious about the mysterious prince.

Kendrick shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's very likely. Although, the Alpha King keeps his personal affairs private."

Lucas tensed up at this again, and I wondered what he was thinking. Was he uncomfortable with the idea of me meeting the royal family?

"Does the Alpha King know who you are to me?" I asked Kendrick. I couldn't imagine the Alpha King just allowing anyone to enter the Ethereal Palace. I wondered if he had to have some kind of background check done on Kendrick, Lucas, and me.

"He knows who I am, of course, I'm a Busch," Kendrick said with an air of confidence and authority. "I think that's the only reason he allowed me to join. Plus, he knows Lucas is my son."

"He knows who I am?" Lucas asked, shock evident in his eyes.

"Of course, he does, he's the King," Kendrick said pointedly. "He has his ways of knowing everything.”

"And he was okay with you joining me?" I asked.

Kendrick chuckled, a smug expression on his face. "Let's just say I have my ways of convincing people. The Alpha King understands the importance of our visit, especially with the presence of the White Wolf. He wants to meet you, Shana, and that means he's willing to make certain exceptions."

Lucas's brow furrowed, clearly not satisfied with the vague response. "What kind of exceptions?"

A sly grin played on Kendrick's lips. "Well, let's just say, he's allowing me and Lucas to be there."

He glanced at his son. "However, I imagine that the two of us will be under a bit more scrutiny. The Alpha King values his palace's security, and as you can imagine, having two Alpha werewolves enter raises some concerns."

"Will they do anything to you?" I asked, slightly feeling nervous.

I thought Kendrick's security personnel was bad... The precautions the palace took were probably ten times worse.

Would they have knights? Maybe some magical guards or creatures that patrolled the palace grounds?

My imagination ran wild with images of magical beings in shimmering armor, wielding ancient weapons.

It felt like stepping into a fantasy realm, and the prospect both excited and terrified me.

"They won't do anything to harm you. Remember, we are the Alpha King's royal subjects even though we live very far away," Kendrick assured us.

Then he chuckled to himself as if enjoying the intrigue, he had stirred. "The Alpha King has his own security measures. You'll be given a temporary identification enchanted with protective wards. It's a standard procedure for anyone entering the palace for the first time."

Lucas shot me a questioning look, and I mirrored his uncertainty. Enchanted identification? Protective wards? What kind of place were we walking into?

"How do you know all of this?" I questioned, not sure how Kendrick was privy to such information. He had said this was his first time visiting the palace.

"I've done my research and I know people," he said simply. "Magical barriers protect the outer perimeter. Unauthorized entry triggers alarms and alerts the royal guards. Don't worry... they won't hurt you unless you pose a genuine threat."

I nodded, still absorbing the magnitude of it all. This was no ordinary visit.

It was a journey into a realm where supernatural forces mingled with royalty.

"But Shana, while you're there, I want to serve as a fatherly figure," Kendrick suddenly said, his expression entirely serious. "If you have any concerns or need guidance, don't hesitate to come to me."