Chapter 221

As the grand doors swung open, the deep, commanding voice of the Alpha King echoed through the room. "You've all started dinner without me?"

His entrance sent a shiver down my spine, and I suddenly regretted following Prince Alexander's lead. I knew that we shouldn't listen to him.

The fear of disrespecting the Alpha King flooded over me, and I felt a pang of unease.

Before I could stammer out an apology, the King's laughter resonated, breaking the tension. "Ah, the look on your faces! I'm only teasing. You can't take my son too seriously, you know."

His warm, hearty laughter filled the room, and I couldn't find it within myself to join in. I still wasn't sure if he was joking or not.

"Please, don't stop on my account," the King continued, his accent shining through.

The Alpha King and Prince seemed oddly similar. Their accents were strangely comforting, and their personalities were relaxed. It was hard not to feel relieved by their easygoing demeanor.

He moved to his seat at the head of the table, gesturing for everyone to continue with their meal. "I never did like red meat much anyway. Dig in, everyone."

Out of the corner of my eye, I stole a peek at Prince Alexander. He had remained lounging in his seat as his father entered the room and I found the gesture odd.

Didn't he respect his father's authority? Why wasn't the King upset with him for disrespecting him like that?

As I resumed my seat, I couldn't shake the feeling of being under the King's watchful eye.

The air in the room seemed to have changed. Now, it felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for what would happen next.

I took the chair next to Prince Alexander and the King sat at the head of the table beside me. The two powerful figures on either side of me made me acutely aware of their authority.

The King's presence was overwhelming, and even Kendrick, who usually exuded confidence, seemed to shrink in comparison.

As the King settled into his seat, Rigby, with swift precision, rushed to his side, quickly filling his plate generously with a wide array of food. The clinking of utensils and hushed whispers resumed as everyone else followed suit, returning to their meals.

Prince Alexander, seizing the opportune moment, decided to initiate introductions, bringing his father up to speed on the details of our arrival.

"Well, father, I'm sure you're dying to figure out who everyone is," he quipped, his gaze first landing on Lucas. "This is Lucas Busch, Shana's close friend."

A subtle tension clung to the air as Lucas visibly clenched his jaw at the introduction. Prince Alexander purposefully didn't acknowledge the fact that Lucas was not just a close friend but, in fact, my boyfriend.

Before Lucas could retaliate, the prince smoothly transitioned his gaze to Kendrick. "And this is Kendrick Busch—"

"I'm aware of who is who, son." The King rolled his eyes, casting a look of mild disbelief in our direction as if silently asking, 'Can you believe my son?'

"Do you think I would invite strangers into my home without knowing who they are or learning a bit about them? Besides, I'm aware of the Busch family name. It's quite popular for various reasons."

"I'm flattered that you've heard the name," Kendrick replied with a short bow, his tone respectful yet carrying a hint of pride.

The exchange hinted at a dynamic between father and son that was both amusing and endearing.

The King's gaze lingered on me, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of nerves. His eyes held a depth that seemed to go beyond the surface, assessing more than just my physical presence.

"And you must be who I think you are," the King said, his voice resonating with authority. I sensed an unspoken curiosity, a probing for details that went beyond mere introductions.

Prince Alexander took the lead once more, gesturing toward me with a flourish. "Father, this is Shana."

"Shana," the King said, his voice resonating with a regal tone. "It's quite the pleasure to meet you. I've heard much about you. Prince Alexander has been quite enthusiastic about our unexpected guest." His eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I felt like he was peeling back layers, seeking something hidden.

I nodded, trying to find my voice. "Thank you for having me, Your Majesty. And thank you for allowing Lucas and Kendrick to come with me."

The King's response was a nod. "I must admit, I wasn't too keen on having Mr. Busch bring his entire security personnel, but I understand his reasoning. If I had something valuable, I'd want to protect it, too."

Hearing the King call me valuable made my cheeks flush.

"I'm happy you see it that way," Kendrick cut in while he cut a piece of his steak. "Shana's safety is my number one priority."

"Is it?" Questioned Prince Alexander, that same cocky smile on his lips. "I'll have you know, I can see a lie from a mile away. Something tells me the two of you don't have the best... relationship. Call it intuition or a gut feeling."

"Oh, Alexander. Please," the King waved his son off. "Excuse him, he's always fishing for drama or gossip. It's a hobby of his."

"It's not a hobby." Prince Alexander leans forward in his seat, and in a sinister tone says, "It's more like a skill."

I exchanged a glance with Lucas, who seemed equally annoyed by the Prince's comments.

The scary thing was that the Prince wasn't wrong. There has always been an underlying tension between Kendrick and I, even before he discovered that I was the White Wolf.

Prince Alexander continued, "So, Shana, how did you end up revealing yourself as the White Wolf? That's quite a secret to keep hidden for so long."

Before I could respond, Lucas spoke up, his tone defensive. "It was an accident. Shana didn't choose to reveal herself. Circumstances forced it."

"Circumstances?" Prince Alexander asked with a curious hum. "That's rather vague."

"I also find it interesting," the King said in between chews. "How could you manage to keep that from others for as long as you did?"

"The only person who knew was Lucas," I said, letting my eyes fall on him. "And Grandma Jo. She was there the first time I shifted."

"Who's Grandma Jo?" Prince Alexander asks quietly, whispering the question in my ear.

Lucas catches this and quips, "She's my grandmother."

"Interesting. Very interesting," the King says more to himself than the rest of us. "Did you know what you were right as you shifted?"

I shook my head. "I had no idea what was going on. For so long, I thought I was wolfless. I never thought that I'd have a wolf, let alone discover that I was the White Wolf."

"I'm sure that sort of revelation would shock anyone," the King continued. "You've all done the right thing by bringing this matter to my attention before anyone else discovers."

I wasn't sure why it was such a good thing to tell the King about my wolf, but I hoped that he would see this as a sign of trust and loyalty.

Having the King like me would make a huge difference.