Chapter 5

“Interesting, I can count at least 20 times yesterday you called me that under your breath. Also, at least 30 aloud enough for the school corridors to overhear and laugh, because an Alpha’s daughter should be swimming with friends, why? Because I need fake people in my life?”

Buck's face flushed red, his embarrassment palpable as he realised the princess had heard every disparaging comment. The confidence that normally radiated from him flickered like a candle in the wind.

"I... that's not what I meant," he stammered, looking to his brother for support. But Elliot's expression had hardened, his disapproval evident.

King Alexander's eyes narrowed dangerously, the temperature in the room seeming to drop several degrees as his protective instincts flared. "You've been mocking my daughter?" His voice was deceptively quiet, but carried the unmistakable edge of a predator preparing to strike.

Luna Phoebe straightened in her chair, her own cheeks colouring with mortification. "Buck, is this true?"

Elizabeth observed the sudden tension with calm detachment. She hadn't intended to create such discord at their first dinner, but neither would she pretend ignorance of how the Talley twins had treated her. Years of political training had taught her when to reveal her cards for maximum effect.

"It's hardly unusual, Father," Elizabeth said with practised nonchalance. "Most students at the Academy have opinions about the quiet girl who prefers books to parties."

Elliot, who had been silently watching the exchange, finally spoke. "I apologise for my brother's behaviour, Princess." His voice was low and sincere, his eyes meeting Elizabeth's directly. "And for my own failure to intervene."

“You seem to think I need an apology. What gives you that idea? I was just stating facts. I don’t need you to like me at all, your options, no matter how misguided they may be.”

The silence that followed Elizabeth's statement hung heavy in the air. The royal dining room, with all its opulence and history, seemed to shrink around them as the implications of her words sank in. She hadn't raised her voice, hadn't shown anger, and that somehow made her statement all the more devastating.

Buck's mouth opened and closed without sound, like a fish suddenly finding itself on dry land. The confidence that had defined his existence for fifteen years had evaporated in the face of this slip of a girl who refused to play by the expected rules. He had anticipated tears, perhaps righteous anger, responses he knew how to handle with charm or deflection. This calm assessment left him weaponless.

King Alexander's eyes softened as he gazed at his daughter. Pride mingled with concern in his expression. Elizabeth had always been poised beyond her years, but sometimes he worried about the emotional walls she had constructed around herself. They served her well in politics, but at what cost to the child within?

"Well said, Little Star," he murmured, his voice carrying both approval and a hint of sadness.

Phoebe studied the princess with newfound respect. This was not the shy, bookish girl her sons had described in passing. This was a young woman who understood power, not just the overt kind that came with a crown, but the subtle power of words and timing. She recognised in Elizabeth the same steel she herself had needed to maintain control of Thunder Peak after her mate's death.

"I believe," Phoebe said carefully, "that this dinner presents an opportunity for all of us to reassess our assumptions about one another."

Elliot, meanwhile, found himself fascinated by the transformation before him. The Elizabeth he thought he knew, the quiet shadow in the library corners, had revealed herself as something else entirely. Not a shadow but a silent observer, cataloguing every slight, every dismissal, with perfect recall. He felt a strange mixture of shame and admiration twisting in his chest.

"You're right," he said, addressing Elizabeth directly. "We don't need to like each other. But as future family members, perhaps we should at least attempt to understand one another better."

Elizabeth turned her gaze to Elliot, truly looking at him for the first time that evening. Unlike his brother, whose emotions played across his face like scenes on a theatre screen, Elliot's thoughts remained largely hidden behind his controlled expression. Yet there was something in his eyes, a thoughtfulness, perhaps even regret, that caught her attention.

"Understanding requires honesty," she replied. "Starting with acknowledging reality rather than pretending it doesn't exist. At the end of the day, might I remind don’t to care what you thought of me or even think about me right now. Don’t insult me by pretending now I’ve seen enough games in my 12 years, and if I’m the weird one, so be it, it’s easier."

Buck stiffened in his chair, stung by her dismissal. He was unaccustomed to being so thoroughly rebuffed, especially by someone younger than himself. His usual tactics of charm and humour had failed completely, leaving him adrift in unfamiliar social waters.

"I wasn't—" he began, then stopped himself. The truth hung painfully in the air between them. He had been dismissive of her, had made fun of her quiet nature, and had never bothered to look beyond the surface. Now, faced with the consequences of his behaviour, he found himself without defence.

King Alexander watched the interaction with careful eyes, measuring each reaction. Though his protective instincts urged him to intervene, to shield his daughter from the awkwardness of the moment, he held himself back. Elizabeth was handling the situation with the composure of a seasoned diplomat, a skill she would need as queen.

Phoebe cleared her throat, attempting to steer the conversation toward calmer waters. "Perhaps we might discuss the upcoming school term instead? I understand the Academy's winter competitions will begin soon."

But Elizabeth wasn't finished. She turned her attention back to her plate, cutting a small piece of venison with precise movements. "If we're to be family," she said quietly, "then let's be clear about expectations. I don't require your friendship or approval. I don't need you to suddenly pretend to be interested in my life because of our parents' arrangement. What I do expect is basic courtesy, particularly at school, where I value my privacy."

Elliot found himself nodding slightly, impressed despite himself. Most girls their age sought validation and acceptance, especially from older students with social standing. Elizabeth's independence was refreshing in its honesty.

"That seems reasonable," he said, his analytical mind appreciating the straightforward approach. "Though I hope you'll allow for the possibility that genuine interest might develop over time."