Page 119 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

“What are you thinking?” Eric prompts me.

“That it doesn’t make sense,” I say. “They have never been that reckless. It’s also not logical. And so far, our culprit has been very careful… recently, more desperate, but he remained careful. This is just reckless. I need to get there immediately!”

“I will come too,” Vander says.

“I would rather you stay here,” Eric says, unusually serious. “You are both alpha’s sons, and I can’t take the risk of taking you both along. Arden will come with me, but you need to stay here.”

“But—”

I put my hand on Vander’s shoulder. “Eric thinks someone might be targeting our pack,” I say quietly, explaining to my brother what I think Eric suggested. By the way Eric nods, I know I’m right. “He means it when he says he doesn’t want to take us both along to be safe. One high-ranking pack member needs to stay here.”

“Is it really that dangerous?” Vander asks.

“I don’t know yet,” Eric says. “Which is why I want to be extra cautious. Please understand that, Vander.”

He sighs but nods, eventually. “Alright, but you call me the moment something happens.”

I turn to my friends and team members, but before I can say anything, they beat me to it. “We got you,” Nox reassures me.

“Just go and check on your pack,” Gustave says. “We’ll make sure to work here. We both know what we are looking for.”

Nox turns to my brother. “Why don’t you help us, Vander?”

His question raises Vander’s mood instantly, and he takes the chance to help them. I feel bad for leaving him behind, but he is my little brother, and seeing how my father doesn’t even get in touch with him, I feel it’s my responsibility to keep him safe.

Eric’s and my fears are unfounded, though, as we arrive in the pack safely without any issues. I feel the familiar feeling of over-strained nerves the moment I set foot in my pack, my ears almost starting to ring on their own, and the noise starting to overwhelm me. I battle the urge to switch off my hearing aid, but it does make me realize how much my mental health has improved ever since I’ve been away from here.

“Let’s look for the victim’s mate,” Eric says.

Some of the warriors are running around, clearly searching for someone. “Goddess,” Eric mutters. “They are so unorganized.”

“My father has never been a good strategist.”

“Yes,” Eric says darkly. “He should have gotten over his ableist pride, and instead consulted with his prodigy son who would have clearly had some suggestions on how to improve the warrior training and strategies.”

I don’t comment on his words, mainly because he is right. Years ago, I started to plan out the perfect guarding strategies, IT safety measures, and the like, but my father never wanted to see me, let alone listen to me.

I spot Beta Jules somewhere in the crowd, and to my utmost surprise, he smiles at me. He looks almost relieved to see me. “Prince Eric and Young Alpha Arden. I am so happy to see you.”

I debate with myself for a moment, but I don’t have the heart to lie to him, nor do I want to. “You certainly know my father’sopinion, and you were here when things went downwards. There is no rank for me here and no need to call me Alpha.”

“You are my future alpha,” he says. “No matter what anyone says.”

I can’t help but chuckle. When he looks at me, surprised, I just shrug. “Come on, Jules,” I say. “You never even paid attention to me or had anything to say to me.”

He is not a bad guy. I know that much, but I have never seen him as a particularly good guy either. He wasn’t mean to me or Vander, but he also didn’t have our backs. And he definitely knew of the abuse that was going on.

“How come you see me as alpha material, now?”

“It’s because you stood up to your father, and he couldn’t alpha command you,” Eric says mercilessly. He smiles, but his eyes are cold when he looks at Jules.

“I know,” I say. “There is no other explanation.”

“I’m not proud of my actions,” Jules mutters. “Or rather… the lack thereof.”

My whole life was ruined by people who were just standing here and watching. Watching me get abused and shunned by my father, watching me get bullied in school. Bystanders. At least Gustave was a kid himself, feeling awkward and anxious about becoming a victim too, and showed genuine remorse now, but Jules is my father’s age.

I don’t need to say anything, because Eric isn’t here to take any prisoners today. “The Council is not even an hour from here,” he says. “No one can convince me they never had the time or chance to report their alpha, anonymously, for abusing his power, for keeping young omegas from their education, for abusing his children.”