Chapter 241

The Queen offered to walk me to the King's study so that I could inform him of my decision to accept his terms.

I still had a few questions for him, but the Queen had convinced me that this was the right decision.

Miriam and the Queen's large entourage of soldiers led us through the palace corridors.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the sense of inspiration that the Queen's words had ignited within me. Her story had struck a chord, proving that strength could be found in the most unexpected places.

The fact that she had come from such humble beginnings and was now one of the most powerful women in the werewolf nation made me feel at ease. In certain lights, her history reflected what was happening to me currently.

I pondered whether the Queen saw parallels in our stories, perhaps explaining her kindness. Did she recognize a reflection of her past self in me?

Before I could delve deeper into my reflections, our walk was interrupted by hurried footsteps behind us. The guards all stood at attention, their hands flying to the swords that they held at their sides.

I swiftly turned, feeling an overwhelming sense of apprehension. The Queen also tensed as we both looked at what the commotion was.

It was Kendrick, and as he rounded the corner and saw the Queen, his face paled.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. I didn't realize you were here," Kendrick stammered, his eyes widening in recognition.

The Queen, however, merely chuckled. "No need for formalities. I don't think we've been properly introduced yet. What's your name?"

"Kendrick Busch, Your Majesty." Kendrick bowed his head.

"Well, Kendrick, I was just having a pleasant conversation with Shana. Please, continue." The Queen motioned for him to stand up straight.

Kendrick nodded, visibly relieved, and turned his attention to me. "Shana, we'll need to cut our trip short. I have some pressing business matters to attend to, and we will need to leave tomorrow."

My brows furrowed in surprise. "So soon? Is everything alright?"

Kendrick shot me an apologetic look. "Unfortunately, duty calls. We have no other choice, but to leave tomorrow."

With a sigh, I nodded understandingly. "Alright, Kendrick."

I turned to the Queen with an apologetic expression. "It looks like my stay has been shortened."

"No worries." The Queen waved me off. "You've already made your decision, I'm sure the King will understand."

"You've made a decision?" Kendrick asked, and a part of me felt anxious to reveal my decision to him. I never knew what Kendrick had to gain from me building a deeper relationship with the royal family.

"Yes, I'll be accepting the King's request to train here, but I need him to answer a few of my questions first."

"That's wonderful news, Shana." Kendrick appeared genuinely excited for me. "Very good."

Kendrick abruptly excused himself, leaving me to navigate my way to the Alpha King's chamber, ready to confront the looming decision regarding his training proposal.

"I'll just stay off to the side while you share the news, alright?" The Queen offered a supportive nod as she prepared to step through the imposing doors.

I nodded, and the room instantly opened up to reveal the King who sat behind a long table.

The Queen entered the room first, exchanging a brief nod with the Alpha King.

"My love, what is it?" The Alpha King asked his wife as he looked up from the papers before him.

"I've just come from a chat with Shana," the Queen said. "She has something that she'd like to share with you."

The Alpha King looked at me expectantly. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I began to speak.

"Your Highness, I have considered your proposal carefully, and I am willing to accept your terms," I said, meeting the intense gaze of the Alpha King.

His eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and pleasure. "Shana, that's wonderful news! I knew you had the spirit of a true White Wolf and I knew you would make the right decision."

"But, Your Highness," I continued, "I am currently attending school, and I wonder how I can manage both my training here and my studies. It's crucial for me to continue my education."

The Alpha King leaned back in his chair, contemplating my words. "Ah, education is essential, Shana."

"Yes, and travelling here will take up much of my time. I want to accept, but I won't be able to travel such a long distance every few days..." I explained carefully.

The King looked unfazed by my concern. "I have a solution for that. You can simply travel through the portal system whenever you need to come and go from the palace. It will transport you swiftly and ensure that you can balance both your training and your studies efficiently."

I was uncertain about this. How would the portal work back at home, and how could it work so effortlessly with such a large distance between here and the palace?

The Alpha King elaborated, "Liam will guide you through the portal. It's nearly instantaneous, allowing you to spend minimal time traveling between the palace and your world."

"Is that possible? I mean, has anyone else ever travelled at such a far distance?"

"I understand your reservations, Shana. Allow me to ease your worries. Liam will explain the process in detail, and I assure you it is safe. Many in our realm use the portals regularly for various purposes," the Alpha King explained, his tone comforting.

I nodded, acknowledging his words but still harboring a lingering uncertainty. The practicality of such magical transportation fascinated me, but I needed more than assurances to fully trust in its reliability.

"It will take some getting used to, but we would never want to put you in harms way," the King said.

His words were a bit ironic, considering he had just tried to poison me this morning, but I didn't want to start an argument with him.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate your understanding." I gave him a tight smile. "Then... I suppose I accept."

The Alpha King smiled warmly. "You are most welcome, Shana. I look forward to your training, and I've heard that you must leave soon."

"Yes, Kendrick needs to be back in town for business," I said. "We will need to leave tomorrow."

"Well, in celebration of your commitment, I propose we host a last-minute ball tomorrow evening!" The King cheered, looking to his wife behind me. "What do you think, my love? It will be a grand affair to bid Shana farewell before her expedited departure."

"It sounds like a lovely idea," the Queen said in a gentle tone.

Surprised by the sudden announcement, I hesitated before asking, "But, Your Highness, how will the guests arrive so quickly?"

The Alpha King chuckled, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "The palace holds its own enchantments. Anyone who wishes to visit me can do so at a moment's notice. Consider it a testament to the allure of our realm."

As the Alpha King made plans for the upcoming ball, I realized that my journey into the realm of werewolf royalty was about to take another unexpected turn.