Lilly’s POV
The second the royal packhouse came into view, my heart began to race uncontrollably. The building was massive and intimidating—stretching high, wide, and proud. I had never seen anything so grand before.
How many wolves lived here?
My gaze swept over several smaller buildings surrounding the packhouse. It looked like a little town protecting its heart.
The limo stopped, and my focus returned to the packhouse.
Two guards hurried closer, just as intimidating as the packhouse itself—big, strong, and powerful in their royal blue uniforms.
James lowered the window, and the guards paused.
"Senior Warrior, James," one said, surprise flickering in his eyes as he glanced at me.
"Yes, my brother Jacob and I," James replied, his face stern and eyes cold.
"Who is the she-wolf?" the second guard asked.
Jacob let out a low growl beside me, startling me. The two guards quickly stepped away from the vehicle, dropping their eyes in fear.
I frowned and glanced at Jacob. Why did he suddenly look so annoyed?
Jacob ignored my stare, simply opening the passenger door and stalking toward the guards.
"What’s going on?" I muttered, surprised by Jacob’s behavior.
James chuckled before opening his own door and getting out.
Jacob was growling furiously at the guards, barking out orders. James, meanwhile, grinned from ear to ear—thoroughly enjoying the scene.
What was Jacob’s deal? Was I the cause of his temper?
Fear filled me at the thought. I didn’t want to be the reason for anyone’s anger—not after everything I’d endured.
"Aren’t you coming?" James asked.
I turned to him, startled. Had he said something already?
James seemed puzzled by my reaction. Could he sense my fear?
"I—" I stuttered, glancing nervously back at Jacob. He looked so angry.
"Don’t worry," James said, offering his hand. "Everything’s fine. Jacob’s just annoyed at how they stared at you. He’s just... overprotective—like a brother."
"Overprotective?" I echoed quietly.
"Yes," James said. "Jacob is sensitive about how others treat you. He cares—a lot. We both do. We’ve seen how you’ve been living…"
They pity me, I realized. I never wanted that.
I sighed inwardly.
"Come on," James urged. "The party’s inside, and it’s getting late. Everyone is waiting for us."
I pushed aside my anxiety and carefully slid toward the door, trying not to wrinkle my dress.
"Are you ready?" Jacob asked once I stepped out. He seemed back to his usual self.
"Yes," I whispered, my gaze tracing the enormous outline of the packhouse. It felt even larger and more intimidating up close.
Jacob winked, turned, and climbed the steps, waiting for James and me at the top.
James patted my hand, and we started up the stairs together.
A small gasp escaped my lips as I spotted two enormous golden Lycan statues standing sentinel by the double doors. They were crafted with such intricate detail, they looked almost lifelike. Their sapphire eyes seemed to pierce right through you, radiating power and authority.
"You’ve seen nothing yet," James whispered.
The guards from earlier quickly opened the doors for us.
Jacob stepped aside, gesturing for us to enter first.
My eyes widened as I took in the foyer—a massive space centered around a grand fountain, natural light streaming down from above to illuminate it.
The fountain was incredible. I’d never seen anything so detailed or beautiful. The statues and orb were carved from the finest white marble, shimmering with golden flecks.
I stepped closer, drawn in, eager to touch the smooth marble.
My gaze settled on the centerpiece—a woman perched on a platform, encircled by four Lycan wolves.
Each Lycan held a different symbol and faced a different direction.
"It’s spectacular, isn’t it?" Jacob said, joining me.
"It’s... something," I agreed.
"The statues represent the four former Lycan kingdoms," Jacob explained.
"Four kingdoms?" I frowned. "I don’t understand."
"The Goddess created the Lycan wolves first. Each kingdom had its own magic and inhabited a different corner of the world," Jacob continued, gesturing toward the symbols. "The Northern kingdom could manipulate water—they’re known as snow wolves. The Eastern kingdom had the power to shift into fire—fire wolves."
My eyes widened.
"The Southern kingdom could move the earth," Jacob went on.
"Earth wolves?" I guessed, but Jacob shook his head.
"Mire, or mud wolves. And the Western kingdom rode the wind—they were called stormwolves."
"So what happened?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"King Xavier—" James interrupted, casting a look at his brother. "This isn’t the time for a history lesson. They’re waiting. Beta Zack just mind-linked me, asking where we are."
"We’ll continue this later," Jacob promised with a nod.
I followed them down a long hallway lined with portraits of kings and queens. The last painting caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks.
Those eyes. They looked so familiar, as if I’d seen them before.
"King Alpha Alexander," Jacob said proudly. "Our current king. Prince Lex’s father."
My gaze found Jacob’s. "Is there a painting of the prince?" I asked, a strange feeling stirring inside me.
"These are only for kings who have already ruled," he replied.
"Once Prince Lex formally takes over, his portrait will be hung here," James added.
I nodded, understanding, and we continued in silence until I heard excited chattering ahead.
"We’re here," Jacob announced.
James stopped to assess my appearance, gently tucking a stray hair behind my ear and straightening my dress.
"You look perfect," he said.
"Like a princess," Jacob added.
Before I could blush, the ballroom doors swung open and a wave of high-pitched screams erupted, as if a celebrity had just arrived.
My attention snapped to the commotion, curious to see the cause.
A group of wolves emerged from the ballroom, and I immediately recognized Beta Zack among them. He turned to us as if sensing our presence, his eyes lighting up as he smiled and waved.
I started to raise my hand to wave back, but the tall, dark-haired wolf beside him shifted his focus to where Zack was looking, silencing the group of she-wolves around him.
My breath caught as his gaze locked with mine...
****
