Chapter 8 - Eyes Fixed on Me

Lilly's POV

Curious gray eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt captivated by their stormy depths. They shimmered like liquid mercury beneath the dim yellow light of the foyer.

My gaze swept over his features—he appeared even more handsome in person than he had in my dreams.

The massive wolf took a calculated step toward me, causing the she-wolves to gasp in surprise and step back. He tilted his head slightly, furrowing his brows as his eyes flickered between black and gray.

He seemed confused. Perhaps even startled.

"Prince Lex has never reacted to a she-wolf like this before," a redhead she-wolf whispered to her friend. "I am surprised that he picked her..."

"She isn't even that pretty," her friend replied in disgust.

"I heard she’s just a maid," someone snickered from behind.

"She only came because she was forced to attend..." someone else whispered.

"Look at her! That’s probably why he’s staring at her like that," a blonde girl giggled. "He’s searching for a servant for his new queen..."

A low growl escaped Lex's lips, silencing the girls. He never took his eyes off me.

He stepped closer, his movements precise and calculated.

My heartbeat quickened, my mouth went dry, and my hands began to shake.

I felt like prey beneath his intense gaze.

I shifted nervously on my feet but managed to stand my ground.

I couldn't help but stare back at him.

I found it impossible to look away from his eyes.

The tension in the room was palpable and suffocating, with all eyes fixated on us.

"She has guts!" someone exclaimed. "I could never hold his gaze like that! His eyes are far too intimidating."

"She's asking for trouble," someone remarked. "Alphas don't take kindly to being challenged. He'll definitely punish her for disrespecting him like that!"

Lex disregarded the she-wolves and took a few more steps closer, positioning himself directly in front of me. He straightened his posture, making him appear even more imposing than I remembered. He loomed over my small, delicate frame.

I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze again, allowing me a moment to admire the handsome wolf standing before me.

His broad, well-defined shoulders flexed beneath his crisp white shirt, accentuating his sculpted abdomen.

"Your highness," James and Jacob said in unison, sending an electric current through my body.

They had moved away from me, maintaining a safe distance.

It was then that I realized I was in the presence of the soon-to-be king.

This felt surreal. Was he even real?

"You," the word rolled off his lips, and his voice sent a pleasurable shiver down my spine.

I quickly regained my composure as I noticed his eyes darken.

He suddenly appeared disappointed, perhaps even upset. Was he repulsed by my presence?

A worried, unnerving feeling grew in the pit of my stomach.

What did he mean by "you"?

Was it a question? An insult?

Was he happy to see me? Or was he angry?

His gaze slowly swept over me, taking me in, and his face suddenly softened a bit.

What was he searching for?

Did he find what he was looking for?

He suddenly held out his hand, and the she-wolves gasped behind him.

"What is he doing?" someone asked, confusion lacing their voice.

"Has he lost his mind?" another voice chimed in, disbelief evident.

I reluctantly shifted my focus back to his outstretched hand, uncertain of what he wanted from me.

"Care to dance?" he asked, his eyes searching me.

My breath hitched and my eyes widened in surprise.

"He wants to dance with that thing...?!" Sade's frustrated voice cut through the murmurs, grabbing my attention.

I could feel heat rising in my cheeks as I glanced back at her, noticing that her face was already flushed. She had pushed her way to the front of the group, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and her eyes darkened with anger.

"What do you say?" Lex's husky voice chimed in my ears, and I reverted my attention back to him.

I took a deep breath and ignored the murmurs from the other she-wolves.

"I have never... danced before..." I muttered, my gaze dropping to the floor as my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

I closed my eyes when Lex suddenly moved. I assumed he must be frustrated, and I braced myself for the impact that never came.

"I’m sure a beautiful girl like you has danced in her dreams," he whispered in my ear, his warm breath brushing against the side of my neck and making me shiver.

My bewildered gaze met his, and a cheeky smile followed on his lips.

I felt a rush of warmth spread through me, caught between surprise and delight. Lex leaned closer, his confidence radiating, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this moment was real or just a figment of my imagination.

Did he have the same dreams?

"Come," he urged, extending his hand toward me.

I nervously placed my hand in his. His hand felt enormous compared to my tiny one, yet it was warm and comforting, just like my dreams.

I shifted my gaze to meet his, and I noticed a flicker of an unfamiliar emotion in his stormy eyes as he focused on our entwined hands.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No," he said, recovering quickly.

He slowly led me to the dance floor and stopped in the center.

Beat Zack approached with an expression full of excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he called, capturing everyone's attention. "Prince Lex has chosen a she- wolf to open the dance floor."

Lex pulled me closer to his solid chest, making me gasp as I felt his heart racing against mine. His proximity stirred emotions within me that I couldn't quite understand.

"Eyes up here," he said.

My gaze snapped to his. He was smiling, causing my heart to skip a painful beat.

Before I could respond, the music began, and my body instinctively reacted to the sweet melody.

I found myself molded to Lex's will, my feet irresistibly following the dance steps.

The crowd gasped as Lex pulled me into a more intimate position, his hands roaming over my body in a seductive manner.

The experience was both terrifying and magical, allowing me to feel every longing emotion through the dance.

I soon found myself lost in his arms.

When the music finally stopped, my arms were wrapped around his neck, his hands resting on my back, our noses almost touching. He gazed deeply into my eyes.

The ballroom fell silent.

Was he about to kiss me?

Someone abruptly cleared their throat, causing both of us to snap our gazes toward the noise. Lex straightened me up, and my arms dropped to my sides, my face burning with embarrassment.

Beta Zack hurried over, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"My apologies for interrupting, Alpha," he said, casting me a sidelong glance. "But your urgent attention is needed upstairs."

Lex nodded, then turned to me, lifted my hand, and pressed a kiss to it.

"Till we dance again," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief and wonder.

He released my hand, turned away, and hurried after Beta Zack, leaving me standing there with everyone’s eyes fixed on me...