For over four hours, I sat in the library reading books upon books. I heard noises coming from the hallway outside the library. The low chattering of male voices let me know that the meeting had come to an end, and the Alphas were on their way back to their packs.

I stayed in the library until I couldn't hear any more voices, then pushed the door open and walked out.

"Celeste," someone called out to me. I turned around, and there stood Eros Black in a black-fitting suit.

"Mr. Black," I answered back politely as he walked closer to me.

"How have you been?" He asked, putting his right hand in his pants pocket.

"I'm okay, yourself?"

"Good."

"I heard about the rogue attack. I am so sorry it happened to you."

"Oh no, you don't need to be. It wasn't your fault," I told him with a smile.

"It kind of is," Eros said, walking towards one of the windows, and I followed behind. "I should have checked if he was alive, but I didn't. I only assumed that he died in the fire with the rest."

"Fire?" I asked him, confused.

"Yes, we burned every rogue pup that day," he said, looking out at the birds flying around.

I gasped at that, my expression turning sour. Eros Black looked at me and chuckled at my facial expression. "Barbaric, I know, but it had to be done."

I nodded, knowing that it's true, but how can someone bring themselves to burn over hundreds of children?

"You should go meet him," Mr. Black mumbled, nodding towards Elijah, who is standing at the far end of the hall, watching me and his uncle.

"Yes," I said, then turned to look at Mr. Black. "It was a pleasure talking with you."

"Likewise."

I walked towards Elijah, and he smiled. "Hey," I said when I was closer to him. He pulled me in for a hug, catching me off guard.

He put his nose in the crook of my neck and inhaled, my eyes widening at this point. I didn't know what to do, if I should place my hand on his back or leave them as they are. I decided to hug him back, and surprisingly, it wasn't uncomfortable.

Elijah placed soft butterfly kisses where my mark should be, and my core heated up with the thought while my wolf howled with the idea of bearing a male's mark.

I clenched my thighs together, praying to the moon goddess that the smell of my wetness did not reach him, but of course, that wasn't possible. He smelled around, his nose sniffing to figure out the source.

"You smell good," he muttered, placing one last kiss on my neck. I ducked my head, my face going red.

"Did you have lunch?" Elijah asked.

"No," I answered as we walked together.

"You must be famished," the King said, pulling me closer to him.

"Hmm," I hummed, but honestly, I wasn't hungry. I just kept thinking about what just happened between the King and me. He had never been this touchy with me.

We sat on the same balcony where we had our breakfast. Servants were already lined up with different kinds of food, but I settled for a sandwich because I wasn't really hungry. The King raised a brow at me, and I gave him a sheepish smile.

"I wasn't really hungry," I said, then took a bite from the food.

"What did you guys talk about?" I asked Elijah after I was done with my food.

"Derrick. He has been raiding small villages and taking lycans from ages fifteen to twenty," he said, gulping down a glass of water.

I thought about it for a while, and the only logical reason is that he's recruiting them.

"Do you think he's going to start a war?" I asked Elijah, staring at him with concern on my face.

"It seems so, but I have to stop him before he does that," he muttered, rubbing the stubbles on his chin.

I sighed and looked up at the sky, praying to the goddess that this doesn't get out of hand. We sat comfortably, neither of us uttering a word.

I watched the birds fly around, maids working in the garden, then looked at the King only to see that his grey eyes were already staring right back at me.

"I'd like to take you out for dinner tonight," Elijah said.

"Like a date?" I asked softly, watching a hint of sadness pass through his eyes in a flash.

"Yes, a date," he answered shortly.

"Ruth," he called, and one of the maids came forward with her head bowed.

"Yes, your majesty?" She asked.

"See to it that Lady Celeste is dressed and ready for our date tonight." And with that said, he got up and walked away.

I stared at his retreating figure, wondering what I did wrong. One second he's sweet, and the next he's cold.

As if sensing my dismay, Ruth answered my silent question. "This was where he asked his mate to their first date."

"I see," I said, trailing off. I probably triggered a memory, I thought.

We walked through the hall, Ruth a step behind me. It is known that lower rank members or servants are to walk behind the Royals, showing that they are not equals, but I am no royal, yet she walked behind me like I am.

A woman bumped into me, and I almost fell, but she held my hand before that could happen. "Sorry," she said, the hood of her cloth covering her face.

"It's okay," I replied with a smile, but the grip she had on my hand was not released.

I tried to force my hand out of hers, but it's like her hand was made out of iron. I looked back to see Ruth with her head down and her body shaking like a cat that has been bathed with cold water.

"You must be her," she whispered, now looking up at me, and her hood fell off. I gasped at what I saw, the color of her eyes, a bright purple, and her hair whiter than snow.

"Oh, I see why he chose you, you're so perfect," she said, trying to touch my cheeks, but I moved my face before she could.

This woman is no Lycan or human, but what could she be? For her to walk around the palace, that means she knows the King or she's an intruder.

"Let go of me, or I'll call the guards," I rasped out, but all she did was laugh.

"Oh, you poor child, so innocent," she muttered, her eyes shining with pity. She let go of my hand, and I stared at her as she walked away like nothing ever happened.

"Who's she?" I whispered to no one, and then Ruth came running towards me, her eyes wide.

"Are you hurt?" She asked, touching my shoulders.

"You stood there like a log when everything happened, and now you come rushing to check if I'm hurt," I said, shrugging off her hand.

"I am truly sorry, m'lady, but she scares me," she mumbled.

"And why?" I questioned her, curious

about her reply.

"Because she's the witch."

"The witch?" I stated, but Ruth took it as a question.

"Yes, she once turned a maid into a frog for spilling wine on her, but it was an accident," Ruth answered fearfully. "I am sorry, m'lady."

I shook my head, "please call me Celeste."

"I am sorry, but I cannot do that. The king would have my head if he ever hears me muttering your name."

I sighed, knowing I could not change her mind, and with that, we walked to my room.

My hair and makeup were done to perfection. When I came into my room earlier, I opened my closet and found beautiful dresses already there, including underwear. I asked Ruth who put them there, and she said the king had ordered them from the city while I was in the library.

Now, I am sitting on my bed, watching the clock hanging on my wall. I am nervous. What if The King doesn't like what he sees? What if— There's a knock on my door, and I stand up, adjusting my gown. I open the door, and there stands the King in a black suit with red roses in his hands.

Elijah stares at me with his eyes wide and his mouth open like a fish gasping for water.

"Red looks good on you," Elijah whispered, referring to the gown I am wearing, and I blush. The gown is knee length and made out of lace.

"I picked this out for you," Elijah said, handing me the rose.

"Thank you," I mutter, going into my room and placing them on my bed. I would water them when I'm back.

I hook my hand with the king's, and together, we walk out of the palace. There is a limo outside waiting for us.

The car drives through the trees for fifteen minutes before we get to the city. This was no typical human city; no, this was filled with just lycans. This is the biggest pack in the world but is called the city by many because it contains over three hundred thousand lycans.

The enchanted wall was built to keep the palace and the city hidden from the human world, knowing that with the amount of lycans the city contains, we would be exposed with our unusual activities.

The car stops at one of the biggest and fanciest restaurants I have ever seen. The door was opened by a butler, and the King comes out of the car first. Flashes of lights from different cameras welcome the King and reporters asking him questions.

Elijah holds out his hand for me to take, and I do. Once I came out of the car, I was also greeted with different cameras taking pictures of the king and me.

The guards stop the reporters as they try to come close to us. Elijah puts his hand around my waist, and we walk into the restaurant.