Chapter Eight

Kendra was left alone in her childhood room, and she couldn't help but feel guilty for how she had treated her mother. Even if she found the idea ridiculous, she should have been kinder, or at least more respectful, of her mother and her choices. She was only doing what she had thought was best for her, and she still mocked her for it. A stone of guilt settled in her stomach as she stared at her reflection. If she was going to be an Alpha, then she had to grow up, and fast. She couldn't afford to be childish or make other people upset or uncomfortable. It could jeopardise her position, and that of her family. She couldn't allow for that to happen.

She slowly stood up, straightening herself and smoothing out her dress as she stood. The stone in her stomach was accompanied by a lump in her throat, but she did her best to ignore both of them. Drawing in a slow, long breath, she finally turned around so she could walk out of the room. Everything in her home was chaos. People were running around, and there were decorations, nice things that her parents had always stored and only brought out on holidays, and she could even smell what seemed to be an entire feast cooking and being laid out.

However, one scent was stronger than any of the others. It reminded her of a warm fire, and made her mouth water. She felt something stirring in the back of her mind, and she paused, hoping that she was about to hear her wolf for the first time, but there was no sound.No voice. Only a stirring, a movement of sorts, in the back of her head. Disappointed, she headed down the stairs, dragging her hand along the railing.

"Alpha Kendra!" Pixies exclaimed as she rushed over to her, her hands clasped together excitedly. "Goddess, that feels so weird to say, but I'm so excited to say it. You're going to go down in the history books. My very best friend. I always thought that it was possible that there would be a female Alpha eventually, but I never actually thought that I would get to see it in my lifetime. It's so exciting," she blabbered on, pulling Kendra into a side hug by slinging her shoulders around her, and dragging her through the house. "You have to sit at the head of the table, and next to you, on either side, will be your parents. The King will sit at the other end as the other head of the table. Before the dinner, the King requested that you two have a private chat because he wants to determine that you aren't actually lying. He brought his own physician to examine the x-rays and who is going to run some tests, but don't worry. We got word that it won't be something that will postpone the dinner or anything. I think it's like more a vibe thing? I really don't know. They only gave me so much information."

"'A vibe thing'?" Kendra snickered, looking up at her best friend with a grin.

"You know what I mean. Like," she waved her hand, searching for the words. "I think that it's supposed to be more about how you handle yourself, and your aura. You know what they say, that the King can tell just by looking at someone."

"I just thought it was funny how you worded it," she explained as she was lead to the dining room.

"I get it. Good luck," Pixie whispered as she took her arm back and she went to walk away.

"Wait," Kendra grabbed her arm, her brows knit together. "What do you mean?"

Pixie titled her head, gesturing to the dining room door with her eyes. "He's already here, Kendra. You have to go in there by yourself."

Kendra felt like her breath had been stolen from her lungs, and she stumbled back slightly. She wasn't ready for this. Her knees turned to jelly. Pixie easily noticed her friend's unease, so she put her hands on her shoulders. "You're amazing, Kendra. You're the best friend that anyone could ask for, and you are so strong, so special, that you volunteered to be an Advocate amongst humans. You were willing to do a job, with no wolf, that even the strongest of us with wolves are scared to do. You can do this. You are even more amazing than even I thought you were. You are going to rock this, and all of us are rooting for you. We know that you're not a liar, and we know that you're your parents' daughter. The Goddess chose you to be our Alpha for a reason, and even the King will say that, okay?"

Kendra nodded, anxiety making her chest ache, but her friend's words did help to ease it slightly. "You're the best, Pix. Thank you."

"You're welcome, now go on. The sooner you go in, the sooner dinner can start and I can actually see the King instead of being shoed out of the room," she says, a mirthful tone to her voice as she turns her friend around and pushes her towards the door.

Kendra laughed, taking a step forward on her own. "Okay, okay. I get it. I'm going."