“Hey, don’t do that. You are not weak.”
“Are you a mind reader too?”
“It’s my job to anticipate what the Luna Queen needs, which has me interacting with a lot of different people, including warriors. You all have a look when you feel inadequate in some way.” He gives me a look like when Alpha Lucas is trying to get a point across without giving a direct answer. “I have seen warriors come back looking far worse than you from battle. It is just part of the dynamic here.”
I nod and try to change the subject. “How old is the Royal Pack? Some of the buildings look like they grew out of the mountain.”
We spend the next thirty minutes talking about all the different histories of the Royal Pack that Barty knew of. It was really fascinating. Alpha Reggie’s Great Great Grandfather was the first Alpha King of the Royal Pack. Which doesn’t sound like that long ago, but as wolves we age more slowly than humans, so many Kings, who didn’t die in battle, made it to close to a hundred before they even considered retiring. It sounds like they were all well loved and respected Kings too. Meaning Xander has some big shoes to fill.
“So, since you are so well informed. What is my role exactly? Everyone at the warrior camp seems very confused that I would be invited to protect Prince Xander, but I can’t think of any other reason anyone would want me there.”
“Well, first, it is rare for the Alpha Prince to make friends as fast as he did in your pack. He talked of nothing but the couple of days he spent with you and all of your friends. It was a welcome break from all of the parading around he usually does. Second, you are a gorgeous female that any guy would probably cut his left arm off to have the chance to call his date for the evening. Third, you can handle yourself. These pompous assholes seem to think that because they have been elected as an elder, they are entitled to a piece of the royal family, among other luxuries. Those with daughters will not appreciate the Alpha Prince having you on his arm all night, and that is where the Prince will keep you. You are a trusted friend, so he might actually enjoy himself. You can help protect him as a warrior, but also as a woman, blocking unwanted advances.”
“Politics sound awful. I’m kind of glad my brother, Cmeron and Dakota have to deal with all of that and not me.” We both laugh. Before I can ask any more we pull up to the castle I saw from a distance on the hospital drive and my jaw hits the floor.
The castle is a whitewashed looking stone that extends from the side of the mountain. Another structure that looks as if it just grew out of the side of the mountain. The circular drive pulls up to a set of double doors made of thick dark wood with black metal accents and handles. This seems to be a theme on all of the older buildings I have seen on the territory. There is nothing else but the entrance doors on this lever of the castle.
Above that is a balcony with a stone railing, maybe for greeting guests who are really important. The wall of glass behind the balcony is either tinted to not be able to see in or the glare is just to strong for me to see anything in the morning light. From here the castle extends left and right with many windows and doors attached to various outdoor stone staircases. Going up there are at least five levels, but its kind of hard to count since they stagger upward toward the sky, several ending in tall turrets and towers.
“This way Miss Skylar, I will let the Alpha Prince give you the grand tour.” He smiles at me from a bent position at the door of the car. I didn’t even realize I had stopped midway of getting out.
“Wait, Xander is here? I thought he was at training.”
“He, like you, has to fufill other responsibilities. So he is missing training too.”
