Page 120 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

Jules looks seriously ashamed. Fortunately, though, he doesn’t say anything else. “I assume you want to see the she-wolf’s mate and child?” he asks.

I nod. “That’s why we are here. What’s happening with her child? Is the boy alright?”

“Yes, he was crying a lot, but fortunately, I think he is too young to really understand what’s happening.”

“He will be sent to a therapist,” Eric says with finality in his words. “He might be too young to truly grasp the severity of what happened, but what he saw and encountered definitely put a strain on his mind.”

“I will make sure to follow your orders,” Jules says. “Now, her mate,” he gestures towards the pack house, “is right there with… with the alpha.”

Awesome. Of course, my father is here. I gaze in the direction Jules pointed at, nodding slightly when I see the warrior, the mate of our victim. “I see him. Nicolas.”

“You know him?” Eric asks.

“Yes, he is a warrior here, a quiet, kind man. He always had a soft spot for Vander and me.”

“Let’s go,” Eric says, smiling warmly at me. I can feel parts of my anxiety being lifted while we walk towards my father and Nicolas.

Once Dad notices me, he gazes at me shortly but doesn’t acknowledge me in any other way. I feel the usual sting in my chest at his obvious dismissal and rejection of me. And as usual, I try not to let it bother me, telling myself over and over again that this is my reality, and that I have a mate, my brother, and friends now.

Again, Eric proves not to hesitate to use his power, when necessary. “We need to talk to Nicolas alone,” he says, not even gracing my father with a greeting.

Dad grits his teeth but knows better than to fight a royal lycan, especially one with Eric’s standing. He steps back and gestures towards Jules to follow him. Jules looks at me for a moment,smiling sadly. Guilt flashes in his eyes, but I don’t have the time to act on it, and I don’t particularly feel like it either.

“Arden,” Nicolas says, his eyes lighting up. “You are here to help?”

“Of course,” I say.

“I thought you would never return,” he says quietly.

“I am not returning for my rank,” I say. “I am here for you and Juliet.”

“That’s what’s so special about you,” Nicolas says. “You always help. Many of us miss you and Vander.” He pauses. “If you are here to help, I am more hopeful that I will get Juliet back.”

His faith in me comes as a surprise. It’s humbling but also motivating. “I won’t rest until we have found her,” I reassure him.

“Does it have anything to do with the kidnappings?” he asks.

“You heard about them?” Eric asks, alarmed. The whole issue was treated as top secret. Someone must have talked.

“It’s a rumor,” he admits. “I don’t know for sure.”

“Please keep that to yourself,” Eric says. “Juliet is our top priority, but it’s of utmost importance that no word about the kidnappings is spread.”

“It might mean the culprits will go into hiding, then,” I tell Nicolas. “If they feel safe, it’s easier for us to find them.”

“I understand,” Nicolas says earnestly.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Eric asks softly.

“She was running errands,” he says, twisting his fingers nervously. “Our pup was with her. I know she wanted to get some blood tests done at the hospital. We want another baby, you know, but it’s difficult. One of the nurses there is a friend and fellow wolf, and promised to help.”

Nicolas doesn’t know much but tells us all he can, how he felt her fear through the bond and rushed into the city with some warriors to search for her.

I exchange a gaze with Eric. She went to the hospital. That’s how they must have spotted her. My mind runs wild. It’s still so spontaneous. All the other victims were clearly spied on for a long while. The culprit knew their patterns, their routine, they were abducted without anyone noticing. Even with the young male beta wolf, Denis, it was framed as a rogue attack. Our culprit, whoever he is, isn’t an idiot. He has high-paying influential customers within the vampires. He won’t just risk hisbusiness.

But this here, this is reckless, spontaneous, stupid. Juliet is even mated and marked! They noticed her missing the moment she was abducted.

Eric asks some more questions before he lets Nicolas return to his son.