Page 160 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

“Warriors from the Council,” Jules yells. “Thank the Goddess.”

“Vander,” Léna’s mom rushes towards me with a nurse at her side. “You were hit!”

“Léna is alright,” I mutter.

“I know, I know,” she reassures me, carefully turning me to lie on my back.

My view is blurred, but I can see more and more lycans approaching. The shooting has stopped, and the sounds are replaced with growls now.

I don’t see him approaching, but I feel his presence. “Vander!”

Arden drops down to his knees next to me, touching my chest. “Fuck, you’re hurt.”

“Arden, you’re here.”

“Came immediately when I heard that you were here,” he says. “Don’t move too much.”

He steadies me while the nurse and a doctor start to work on me. I barely notice what they are doing. Tiredness and darkness seem to overflow me.

“Arden…”

“Yes, I’m here,” he reassures me. “I’m here.”

I feel another presence approaching. To my surprise it’s Dad. His eyes are wide in fear and horror. “Vander,” he whispers. “Goddess… I…”

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence because Arden jumps up his feet and hits him so hard that it sends him flying to the ground. “This is your fault,” Arden yells. “It’s all your fault!”

“Arden,” I mutter, making him spin around to look at him. I reach out my hand. “Don’t leave,” I whisper. “Arden.”

Arden takes my hand and steadies my head. “I will never leave you.”

I swallow thickly, feeling how it’s more and more difficult to talk. “I’m sorry for not listening to you. Are you mad at me?”

Tears fill his eyes. “No, I’m not mad.”

“You promise?”

He nods. “I could never be mad at you.”

He is a terrible liar, so I know he is telling the truth. Relief fills me, and I close my eyes, feeling exhaustion overcome me. Arden’s hand is on my cheek, smacking it. “Look at me,” he begs. “Talk to me, Vander.”

He pulls me up so that I rest against his chest. “You were the best brother,” I say quietly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, little brother.”

Chapter fifty-one

The Downfall of an Alpha

*AURELIA*

Asudden surge of pain rushes through my body, knocking the air out of my lungs. The pain I feel is so overwhelming I momentarily lose control of the car.

“Aurelia!” Eric calls out in panic, grabbing the wheel to steady the car again. We are almost at the pack, fortunately.

I grasp my chest, panting heavily while fighting to keep control of the car. The warriors in the backseats grab onto each other to stop being knocked around.

“Talk to me!” Eric demands. “What’s going on?”