As we enter the dining room, I notice that eyes turn to pay attention to us as we go with Kate. She seems to enjoy the moment while I feel so uneasy. I am sure of one thing: I don't like when people scrutinize me. I wish I could go back to my room. Out of sight and out of people's minds would be great. Thankfully, I will never have to show up during meetings or assist parties with many influential people. Not being the Pack's Alpha may finally be the best solution for me.

Unfortunately, tonight I will have to stand proud and face people's glares. I think my non-presence will be noticed if I cowardly escape. I catch Elijah's eyes and take Kate by the hand to walk through the crowd.

Wow! Who are you, and what have you done to my sister?

My brother sounds genuinely impressed and not mocking me for once. I can guess it is a shock to see me dressed as an elegant woman, as I am not the most feminine she-wolf ever. I've spent more time running in the woods and training with the warriors than playing princess and shopping. An Alpha does not protect their people wearing dresses and high-heels.

Shut up, Eli. This was Kate's idea... I did not have my words in this all-fancy thing. Just be supportive, please. I feel like my cheeks will never shift back to their usual color. Even worse, they are getting redder and redder - I can feel my skin burning.

A fully alive tomato in a silver dress.

I think Kate has brilliant ideas. You're gorgeous. I did not know that you could look so feminine. I'm gonna have to play with my new Alpha position to prevent guys from jumping on you. You're already turning me into the bad guy.

For once, I don't know if he is telling the truth or if he is only trying to tease me. Eli is the best to make me mad. He perfectly knows how to irritate me. One of his preferred subjects: the way I dress.

I find it pretty ironic when I see how protective he can be with me. He could turn mad if a wolf had the slightest inappropriate gesture towards me. Of course, the other wolves must sense it, as no one has ever dared to make any allusion in front of my brother, Nick included.

Funny... I answer as I feel my cheeks are hot with shame.

I can see Eli laughing. My uneasiness must be ridiculously hilarious from the outside.

Moon Goddess, I wish I could melt and disappear.

We find our way through the crowd to reach Eli and Julie. It is not easy as the room is full of people laughing and talking. But, at least no tension can be felt, except maybe for mine.Setting aside my allure, I still feel apprehensive. It's a mixture of need for this party to be successful, of fear as it could explode anytime, and of worry as these huge lycans make me uneasy by just being here.

Admiring how good the room looks and how people seem to enjoy the evening lightens my heavy heart. Some minutes of struggling later, we join Eli and Julie.

As soon as we are by their side, my brother grabs my hand before I can even kiss him or Julie. Julie is majestic in her light blue gown: she looks like a really experienced Luna.

"We need to talk, Liv," my brother whispers in my ear. He takes my hand and leads me discreetly to the small library next to the dining room, leaving Julie and Kate together.

He enters the small library and locks the door behind us. Then he hugs me almost too tightly.

What is wrong with him? We've not been apart for that long, and even if we're close, not that much for him to miss me after only a few hours.

I don't comprehend how he can change from total happiness to the most oppressive nervousness in such a brief moment.

"What is it, Eli?" I ask. My cheerful mood is totally changing because of his sudden reaction.

I put my hand on his chest, just like I did when we were kids - before he found Julie. It used to calm him. Under my touch, I can discern that his heartbeat is fast. Far too fast.

"That sucks, Liv. That really sucks". Elijah's eyes turned dark green.

I can feel he completely freaks out and that his wolf is close to taking control of Elijah. It could happen any moment now.

It's rare, but it has already happened a few times. Not that I'm afraid of Jonas, his wolf. It's just that both of them are not the fearful types. If Jonas is about to take over, then it thoroughly sucks.

Eli starts to pace.

Just like my father's office, this library is not the most warming room when you don't have any beautiful memories here.

If I have wonderful memories with my parents and Eli in this room, that's slightly different with Jonas. The last time I was in this room with Eli's wolf, he was about to fight with another wolf who had the "audacity to attempt to seduce his mate."

It took me almost three hours to convince Jonas to calm down, as this same wolf was Julie's best friend and future Beta of Julie's former pack.

It seems that some lycans are also good reasons for Jonas to try to take control. I have to add it to the list of Eli's flaws.

I try to sound as relaxed as possible to calm him down. It won't be helping if he comes to realize that I freak out at the news just as much as he does.

"Yeah, I noticed the lycans. Conflicts must be closer to explosion than we thought if the King sends a General in our pack," I say, calmly.

Good job, Olivia. You sound confident.

"But at least their presence will be dissuasive." I try to smile.

"General? What are you talking 'bout Liv?". My brother stops and turns to me with an interrogative look.

I can see his eyes are back to their usual color: it seems he can control his wolf better than I thought. So proud of him.

"I noticed the lycans as we arrived in the hall with Kate. They're the men with the generals, right? Some sort of gori-wolf bodyguards masking their odor?" I say with my still calm voice. Inside I'm feeling more concerned than before - and I didn't think it was possible.

"I mean, why would the King send lycans except to protect some important general?"

I am not stupid. I know these warriors can protect someone else. But I don't want to admit this possibility.

"This is not just a general, Liv. Some of these lycans are generals." Eli almost sounds scary as he says that with an ice-cold tone.

I start to realize that what I don't want might happen tonight.

There are two explanations for the presence of lycan bodyguards.

First, the King is here: it is not the most exciting news, but he looks sociable in the pictures.

Second... Well, I don't want Eli to mention this reason. Please, it must not be that second reason. Moon Goddess must have something against me. Tonight could be ruined if he was here.

"The King sent a Prince. The first one, Liv..." Eli looks at me, and I understand that this night can explode at any moment.

Let me explain.

After the King, the first Prince is the second most forceful wolf in the world. And indeed, not the one with the best reputation.

I know the King and the Queen have three children: two boys and a girl. We know close to nothing about their daughter. The youngest Prince looks friendly and fancy in the pictures. He regularly attends parties and is said to be clever.

The first prince, our future King, always wears a stone-cold mask. He makes no appearance unless a war is about to burst, alongside his father. I swallow my saliva as I am turning shaky.

For good.

"Dad and Mum are still up there with Alan and Caleb. I wanted to tell you. Some of our men are out to check that no intruders come. They don't want to worry anyone. The King hopes that the Prince's presence will prevent any fight to start if some people had it in mind."

I take Eli's hands, then hold him in my arms and hide my head in his neck. I need his presence. I look for his smell. I require feeling him. My heart cries for us, our twin-strength.

I suddenly comprehend that if a fight has to start, as the new Alpha, Eli should take the lead of our warriors. My little brother, my twin, my half would have to fight and risk his life - it is his duty.

I can't stand the idea. Eli is one of the best warriors. He is an Alpha, and he is more than fair for this role. But he's never had to deal with such issues. This is too soon. He was supposed to enjoy his Alpha status and discover how it works, day after day. Not to have to stand a potential war on day one. Some tears start to roll on my face.

Eli decides to enter my mind.

That's gonna be okay, sis. Breathe in, breathe out. You're the one supposed to ease people. And I don't want to deal with Kate if you ruin her makeup.

He is trying to make me laugh. Nice try, but that's not gonna be easy tonight. I hate the idea of having these lycans at our place.

Just like the Prince.

My guts tell me he's going to disrupt everything.

I just go to one of the sofas in the library, the one I used to sleep on when I was a little girl. The exact one where my dad used to come to read books. It is so cozy and soft. Dark brown velvet covers it, with yellow mustard pillows that my father added for me when I was younger. I used to sleep a lot on it while my father read books here.

Eli soon joins me. He puts his hand on my chin. He forces me to look into his eyes. He kisses my forehead and dries my tears with his thumbs. He holds me for long minutes until our two heartbeats are calm and responding to one another.

Let's go back to the dining room. It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be all okay.

I feel his warmth, both physically and mentally. My muscles relax as his positive thoughts reach my mind.

My lips turn into a shy smile.

Then, he gets up and gives me his hand. I take it, and he lifts me slowly. He grips my hand, then leads me to the door and unlocks it. I stop him, and he turns to look at me.

I'll be there for you. It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be all okay.

I hold Eli's hand more firmly, so he can feel that we're in this together. I'll never let my little brother down.

With or without a wolf, I am the oldest one. I'll find a way to help him and protect him.

It is my duty.

Then we go back to the dining room with our most beautiful smiles. We have a play to perform for the sake of this night.

At least, if no one decides to break it all.