chapter 2

Amily sighed dramatically, raising her violin once again. "Alright, Lucian, since you seem to be the first person in years who doesn't cringe at my music, I'll play you something... calmer. But don't expect miracles."

Lucian leaned against the wall, folding his arms with a smirk. "Take your best shot, troublemaker."

Amily rolled her eyes but began to play. This time, the music was different—slower, softer, and laced with a melancholic beauty that tugged at the heart. It was as if the violin itself was weeping, pouring out a story of longing and loss. Lucian, who wasn't exactly known for being an emotional guy, found himself strangely moved.

"Wow," he murmured. "That's... intense."

Amily shrugged mid-play. "What can I say? Sad songs hit harder. Plus, the violin likes drama."

He chuckled softly, but their moment of quiet was shattered by the sound of footsteps—fast, angry ones—echoing down the corridor. Before either of them could react, Princess Olivia stormed into the room, her face a mix of fury and disbelief.

"Amily!" she screeched, her voice loud enough to make the chandeliers in the next room tremble. "What in the world are you doing here?"

Amily stopped playing, letting her bow rest against the strings. "Oh, you know, just serenading your fiancé. Thought he could use a break from all the fawning and fan-fluttering."

Olivia's jaw dropped. "You are unbelievable! This is my engagement ball, and you're here embarrassing me—again!"

Amily snorted. "Relax, Liv. It's not like I'm stealing your Alpha King. We were just chatting."

"Just chatting?" Olivia hissed, her voice rising an octave. She turned to Lucian, her eyes narrowing. "And you! Why are you even here? You're supposed to be mingling with the nobles, not hiding out with her!"

Lucian, unbothered, raised an eyebrow. "I was enjoying the music. Your sister's talented, you know."

Olivia's face turned red, her fury now boiling over. "Amily, I swear, you're always ruining everything!" Before anyone could react, she stepped forward and slapped Amily across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed in the small room, followed by a stunned silence. Amily's head snapped to the side, but she didn't flinch or react. She simply stood there, her violin still in her hand, her expression unreadable.

Lucian, on the other hand, was not so composed. His entire demeanor shifted in an instant. His jaw tightened, his shoulders squared, and his eyes—oh, his eyes. They glowed with a dangerous golden light, the unmistakable mark of his wolf side rising to the surface.

Olivia froze, her anger replaced by fear as she realized what was happening. "L-Lucian," she stammered, taking a step back. "I didn't mean—"

"You hit her," he said, his voice low and laced with a growl. It wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that made the air in the room feel heavier. "Your sister."

Olivia stammered, her usual confidence crumbling. "She was—she was being disrespectful! She always does this!"

Lucian took a step forward, and though he didn't raise his voice, the intensity of his presence was enough to make Olivia shrink back. "And that gives you the right to hit her? In front of me, no less?"

Amily, who had been quietly rubbing her cheek, decided to jump in before things escalated further. "Alright, alright, let's all calm down. Olivia slaps me all the time. It's practically a love language at this point."

Lucian's glowing eyes flicked to her, softening slightly. "That's not the point."

Amily grinned, despite the situation. "No, but it's funny, isn't it? You, the big bad Alpha King, ready to go full wolf because of one slap. Honestly, it's kind of flattering."

Lucian blinked, his glowing eyes dimming as her humor disarmed him. "That's... not the reaction I expected."

"Well, you haven't known me very long," Amily quipped, flashing him a cheeky smile.

Olivia, still flustered, huffed loudly. "I don't have time for this nonsense. Amily, stay out of sight for the rest of the night. And Lucian," she added, her tone sharp but wary, "get back to the ball." With that, she spun on her heel and marched out of the room, her dress swishing dramatically behind her.

Once she was gone, Amily let out a low whistle. "Yikes. Someone's in a mood."

Lucian shook his head, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "You're something else, Amily."

She shrugged, plucking at her violin strings absentmindedly. "What can I say? Family drama and awkward encounters are my specialty."

Lucian chuckled, feeling more relaxed now. "Well, I'll give you this—you're a lot more entertaining than the ball."

"High praise," Amily teased. "Now, Your Majesty, are you going to stay here and listen to more of my 'passionate' playing, or are you going to be a good fiancé and go charm your future queen?"

Lucian smirked. "Depends. Do you take requests?"

"Only if they're not boring," she shot back, raising her violin.