The Lightning Wolf Chronicles Novel

Chapter 79: Bullying Isn't Welcome Here Evelyn's POV Despite days of grueling training, sleep eluded me. I kept picturing myself tripping in front of Queen Selena or using the wrong fork at dinner. Sure, she'd been nothing but kind when we met, but that just made me more afraid of disappointing her. What little etiquette I'd learned as a kid had long faded from memory. Those lessons were for Elliot, the future Beta, not me. I'd spent my time learning how to fight, not which spoon to use for dessert. What if I embarrassed myself? Or worse, what if I embarrassed Prince Alistair?

When morning finally came, I almost felt relieved. At least now I could stop pretending to sleep. I washed up and put on my cleanest training clothes, hoping they'd be acceptable. The cafeteria was empty when I arrived, so I headed to the kitchen hoping to find Jenny. "Morning," I said, poking my head through the doorway. "Got a minute?" "Come in, dear," Jenny waved me over with a warm smile. "Nervous about the royal visit, I bet?" "A little," I admitted. "I have no idea how to act around the Queen." "Don't worry yourself," she said, placing a muffin and tea in front of me.

"Queen Selena invited you because she likes you, not to test your table manners. Just be respectful and yourself." "But what if other important people are there?" I chewed my lip. "Unlikely," Jenny assured me. "And even if there are, you're the Queen's guest. Nobody would dare be rude to you." "Heard someone's heading to the castle today," Cyrus's deep voice came from behind me. He stood in the doorway with his breakfast tray. "Why are you up so early?" I asked as he sat across from me., "Old habits," he shrugged.

"If it helps, my dad always says there are just three rules to follow: think before speaking, watch when you're not sure, and admit when you're wrong. Do that and you'll be fine." "Thanks," I said, surprised by his advice. "I'll try to remember that." "About training tomorrow," he continued quietly, "If Seraphina gives you grief about missing it, I'll back you up. Already talked to some instructors about it." I looked at him, confused. "You don't have to do that." 1/3 18:27 Sat, Jan 10 Chapter 79: Bullying Isn't Welcome Here 74 'Sentinels look out for each other," he stated simply.

"Besides, watching Seraphina's face turn red when she's angry is pretty entertaining. I laughed. "I thought you didn't get involved in other people's drama." "Usually I don't," he said between bites. "But someone needs to show that bullying isn't welcome here, no matter who the target is." We finished eating in comfortable silence, then walked together to the front courtyard. Dawn mist still hung over the grounds, giving everything a dreamlike quality. "That looks like a royal vehicle," Cyrus pointed toward the gate, where a sleek black sedan was approaching.

The car stopped, and a man in a perfectly pressed gray suit stepped out. He scanned the area before his eyes settled on me. "Miss Evelyn?" he asked politely. "That's me," I nodded, my stomach suddenly in knots. "I'm Sebastian, the Queen's personal assistant," he introduced himself with a slight bow. "Her Majesty has sent me to escort you to the royal residence. Are you ready?" "Yes, thanks for coming to get me," I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. Cyrus gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. "Just be yourself. See you tonight." Sebastian opened the car door for me.

The interior smelled like leather and vanilla, with seats so comfortable I immediately wanted to curl up and take a nap. In the driver's seat, Sebastian fastened his seatbelt and pulled out a phone to send a text. "You use a phone?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Not mind links?" His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, a small smile playing at his lips. "I can't use mind links anymore." "How's that possible?" I blurted, then winced. "Sorry, that's probably too personal." "It's all right," he said, starting the engine. "My mate died in an attack years ago.

My wolf couldn't handle the grief and became ill. Eventually, I lost it and nearly followed. The Queen and Alpha King helped me find reasons to live. Now I serve as her assistant. I still have werewolf strength and senses, just no wolf." "I'm so sorry," I said softly. "I didn't know anyone could survive losing their wolf." "Dr. Harrison's medical breakthrough," Sebastian explained. "He and Dr. Diana helped me through that time." "They're my friend Nadia's parents!" I exclaimed.

"They treated me when I first got here." 2/3 18:27 Sat, Jan 10 Chapter 79: Bullying Isn't Welcome Here : Sebastian nodded. "They mentioned you. I know some of your story. As the Queen's assistant, I gather information. When she couldn't visit you personally, I reported on your recovery." I ducked my head. "So you saw me at my worst." "I saw someone with extraordinary resilience," he corrected firmly. "I've seen many warriors return from missions in worse shape. Among Sentinels, scars aren't shameful - they're proof of survival." I nodded gratefully. "Can I ask about the royal residence?

The buildings look like they're actually part of the mountain." For the rest of the drive, Sebastian told me about the royal pack's history - how Alpha King Nathan's great-great-grandfather established the territory and how werewolf kings typically ruled for nearly a century before passing power to their heirs. "About tomorrow's event," I finally worked up the courage to ask, "could my friend Nadia come with me for the dress fitting? She's way better at fashion stuff than I am, and having her there would make me less nervous." 1 "Reasonable request," Sebastian nodded.

"I'll ask the Queen, but I doubt she'd object. She values young friendships." "Thanks," I said, then hesitated. "One more thing... what exactly is my role at the training center? People seem confused about why I'm invited to royal activities." Sebastian's eyes found mine in the mirror. "You're perceptive, Evelyn. First, Prince Alistair rarely makes genuine friends like he did in Polaris. That time meant a lot to him - a chance to escape royal burdens for a while." He continued, "Second, you're a capable young woman who can protect herself.

At these events, the Prince becomes a target for families eager to form royal connections. You provide him both social support and security." "Sounds like politics," I sighed. "I'm glad that's usually Elliot and the triplets' problem, not mine." Sebastian laughed. "Politics is everywhere, even in the simplest pack interactions. Learning to navigate that is part of growing up." Our conversation carried us the rest of the way. As we rounded the final bend in the mountain road, the royal residence came into full view. I couldn't help but stare in amazement.

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