Part Wolf

"What are you thinking?" Lloyd asked while waving to the crowd politely. 

"I was thinking about how beautiful everything looks." She lied, smiling sadly at the moving procession.

"Not as beautiful as you are." He said, blowing on the nape of her neck. 

Elize shivered at the feeling. "Lloyd! They're watching!" She exclaimed, blushing in embarrassment. 

"Let them." He said, wrapping his hand around her waist.

Her heart thudded in her chest excitedly. She couldn't help but smile. The kelpie was unruly. But that was part of his charm. And knowingly or unknowingly, she had fallen for it. She hoped that their love story wouldn't be cut off even before it began. With Zack waiting for her at the palace, she feared for the two of them. What if her heart was faithless? What if her body controlled her emotions? Surely, if Lloyd cared for her half as much as she did for him, then it was inevitable that he would get hurt from seeing the Alpha and her together. 

Soon they came upon the palace. The crowd grew thinner, but the decoration became more lavish. The soldiers took a right turn and led their horses towards the stables while the Zhouyu continued forward. As they entered the palace grounds, a chuckle escaped her mouth. The entire palace was waiting for them only a couple of steps ahead. Elize jumped down from the Zhouyu as she spotted a little figure running towards her. 

"Elize!" Leith shouted excitedly, opening his arms wide.

"Leith!" Elize exclaimed, picking the boy up and swinging him in the air. 

Their laughter echoed the surroundings making her heart feel lighter. She forgot the worries that loomed over her life. She lowered the boy to the ground and found her torso immediately wrapped by little hands. She held the boy to her, relishing the warmth of the small prince. She was back home. 

"I missed you so much! You were gone for so long!" Leith said, scrunching his eyebrows in complaint. 

"Haha." Elize laughed, patting the top of his head. "I missed you too, kid." She said, bending down to place a kiss on his chubby cheeks. 

Leith beamed, elated. 

"Did nobody miss me?" Lloyd asked, coming from behind.

The little prince shrugged nonchalantly. 

Pointing a finger at his older brother, Leith said, "But you went for official duty. Elize went only to save you. So I miss her more." He leaned back to hug Elize once again. 

Elize laughed, shaking her head at the older prince. Lloyd winked at her, grinning ear to ear. She poked out her tongue at him and turned back to the younger sibling. 

"So what did you bring back for me?" Leith asked, extending his palm towards her suggestively.

"Hush, my boy!" A deep voice resonated from ahead, making all three of them turn towards the direction. King David stood there, with his wife in his arm. Frowning at Leith, he continued, "Don't pester the Chosen One and your brother. They've just returned from war."

Leith pouted in protest. 

"Father." Lloyd acknowledged the king with a warm smile. 

"King David," Elize said, bowing before the man. 

The king waved at her to rise. Elize rose, looking at Lloyd nervously. She had not only run away from the palace but had also gone to the war front with the Zhouyu. She hoped that the king would be lenient with her and let the matter go. At least she had proven to be of great help at the border village. 

Lloyd's father was a handsome man indeed. He looked like an older version of Lloyd, but with half his son's good looks. But the man held enormous charisma to make up for it. Though he looked barely a day past thirty years of age, his ice-cold gaze could stop the bravest fae on earth with a single glance. At the same time, he looked like a man who wouldn't hurt even a mosquito.

"I see that you've returned unharmed." He said, looking her up and down. He continued with a smirk, "That was quite a stunt you pulled there, Chosen One."

Elize bit her lips nervously. "Please call me Elize, your majesty." She said, nervously lowering her gaze. 

She wasn't scared of the man. But she held enormous respect for him in her heart. He was known to be a just ruler and a kind one at that. He had even sent presents to the entire village after what Milethnor went through. If it weren't for his kindness, Lloyd wouldn't have been able to bring her home to the palace, and the king had agreed without a single note of disapproval though he knew the dangers that her presence would bring to the realm. 

"Yes, Elize." King David said, shaking his head. "The entire palace was worried for you. I'd appreciate it if you didn't do such things anymore. You're the Chosen One, after all. Your safety-"

"That is enough, David. She must be tired." The queen said, slapping her husband's shoulder condescendingly. Waving towards Elize, she said with a smile, "Come darling. Let's go inside. Ignore him."

The king's jaw dropped at his wife's tone. He couldn't help but stay in the position and stare as the queen embraced Elize, pulling her towards the door. Lloyd laughed at the pathetic state of his father. He patted his father's back, shaking his head in disappointment. Little Leith was smart enough to hide his smile behind his hands as he followed his mother and the Chosen inside. 

"Welcome home, Elize." Queen Evelyn said, squeezing her hand. 

Elize smiled at the queen. Yes, she felt at home indeed.