Chapter 234

The Alpha King, with a curt nod, excused himself from our conversation, claiming pressing matters that require his attention.

As he departed, I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and lingering apprehension.

Prince Alexander, ever the annoying and unserious host, stepped forward, "Well, I guess now is the perfect time for me to take you on a tour of the royal gardens."

As much as I didn't want to go anywhere privately with the Prince, I wanted to experience the royal gardens for myself and see what the fuss was about. Glancing at the flowers out of the window just didn't seem like enough time to enjoy them.

"Shall we, Shana?" he says, extending his arm with an easy smile.

I eyed his gesture cautiously, torn between skepticism and a reluctant acknowledgment of his charm. His green eyes were a mixture of mischief and playfulness.

He eyed me skeptically, nudging for me to take his arm.

After a moment's hesitation, I tentatively accepted, and we began to stroll toward the vibrant expanse of the royal garden.

The scent of blossoming flowers hung in the air, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere inside the palace walls.

I hadn't realized how much I needed a breath of fresh air until now. The palace was uncomfortably stuffy. I longed to finally step outside and feel like myself again.

A window nearby was open and a soft breeze trickled in as we walked.

I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes, Prince Alexander was staring at me. He averted his eyes, pretending as if he was looking at the wall behind me.

I examined him carefully and uncertainty gnawed at me as I wondered whether or not I could trust him. After the orchestrated breakfast incident, my faith in the royals was shaky at best. That wasn't something I could easily forgive and forget.

That and the fact that Prince Alexander confused me greatly. He must have been bipolar because one moment we were friends, and the next he was helping his father try to poison me.

I wished I could get Lucas's advice on the matter. If I could share the incident with him, he would know what I should do, how I should act. But I had no idea where Lucas was right now which made me uneasy.

"Don't tell me you're still upset about breakfast?" Prince Alexander's voice cut through my thoughts, accompanied by a playful eye roll. "You're so incredibly dull."

"You could have killed me!" I snapped back, my patience worn thin. The prince smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You're so incredibly dense," he retorted, a hint of amusement in his tone. "We would've never killed you. We had a medic on standby in case you were to collapse or choke. I think you forget how much magic we have in these walls. You would've been perfectly fine... Well, you would've survived at least."

"That was a horribly way to test if I was telling the truth or not. I'm sure you could've come up with something less... extreme."

"My father can be rather fond of torture." Prince Alexander shrugged. "Plus, he doesn't have any tolerance for liars. He'd rather use the most extreme method to spot them out quickly."

"Well there was no need for such dramatics," I argued, my gaze defiant. "I've told the truth about everything I've said. I'm the White Wolf."

"I know that. I know you are. I never doubted you," Prince Alexander assured me, his expression softening.

We turn a corner and the bright sunlight forces me to squint. The royal garden unfolds before us, a riot of colors and fragrances that momentarily distract me from the intrigue within the palace.

"Welcome to the royal gardens," Prince Alexander said in a monotone voice. "The most boring place in the entire palace."

"Boring?" I asked incredulously. "You call this boring?"

"It's overrated," the prince insists. "It's all anyone cares about."

"It's incredible," I counter, ignoring his cynicism. "There are all sorts of flowers, ones that don't grow near us."

"Oh look! Foxglove!" Prince Alexander pointed enthusiastically toward a large section of flowers.

"If you keep teasing me, I'll force a flower into your mouth," I threatened, half-joking, half-serious.

The prince laughed, a genuine sound that catches me off guard. "I think you've forgotten I'm the sole heir to the throne. If you tried to kill me, a guard would kill you in an instant. White Wolf or not."

"That's a shame," I replied with a sly smile. Prince Alexander laughed again, a sound that somehow feels more genuine than the carefully crafted image of royalty. "I like this side of you. When you speak your mind freely and act like yourself. It's refreshing..."

"Don't get used to it," I snapped, suddenly remember who he was and what he had done.

"I spoke too soon, didn't I? Got too comfortable?" He shook his head with a shrug. "We'll be friends eventually, Shana. Don't try to fight it."

"I don't think we'll be friends."

"You don't think so?" He asked with a perfectly raised brow.

I crossed my arms, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "You orchestrated a deceptive breakfast where I could have died, Prince. It's going to take more than a stroll in the royal garden to erase that."

He chuckled, unfazed. "Well, we all have our methods, and I must say, it was effective. Got you talking, didn't it?"

I shot him a skeptical glance. "Is that your idea of making friends? Deception and manipulation?"

"It's the royal way," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll get used to it."

I sighed. "Fine, let's say, hypothetically, we become friends. What does that even entail in this place filled with secrets, lies, and hidden agendas?"

Prince Alexander paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Friendship means having someone you can trust, even when everyone else might have their own motives. It means allies in a world where alliances are always changing. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have someone on your side who is supposedly the strongest wolf alive."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So, you just want to use me for my strength?"

The prince smiled. "Besides pure entertainment, you're an incredible asset to have. Plus, I like you. I think we're the same in a lot of ways."

"How so?" I asked skeptically.

I couldn't identify any similarities that the two of us shared.

"Maybe it's not your personality, but your spirit," Prince Alexander said simply, pointing a finger to my chest. "It's what's in here. That's how we're the same."

I couldn't help but frown. How could Prince Alexander know what was on the inside if he hardly knew me? We'd only known each other for two days now.

"And I told you not to call me Prince anymore," he said, shooting me a glare.

"I'll think about it," I quipped back, earning an eye roll from him.

As we continued our walk through the royal gardens, amidst the vibrant blooms and the unpredictability of the Prince's company, I found myself navigating murky waters, unsure of the true intentions hidden behind the Ethereal Palace.

What was the right path to take?