Page 3 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

“Yes, it’s cute,” Marilou says, leaning into Terry. A few months ago, they started dating. Terry has already turned eighteen, but Marilou will only turn eighteen on New Year’s Eve. They don’t know yet if they are mates or not. It’s obvious they are enamored with each other, and I hope so much that they will be mates.

But it doesn’t happen often that high school sweethearts turn into mates.

“I can’t believe Alpha Elden allowed it,” Tori says.

“Dad said it’s my decision,” I tell her.

“Makes sense,” Lion mutters. “You are the future alpha.”

I nod, eyeing him curiously. “You have been really diligent with your training recently,” I say. “You made some great progress.”

He smiles. “Thank you.” Lionel has a bit of a wild look with his untamable hair, and he is generally strong and bulky, but he is very loyal and one of my best friends ever since he and his parents moved to our pack a few years ago. I even dated him briefly, but we didn’t click that way, and both of us didn’t want to get serious with anyone before meeting our mates. “It was about time to get more serious,” he adds.

Is everything alright?I link him.

Sure,he says.Why are you asking, Auri?

He almost sounds convincing, but his eyes give it away. He looks gloomy. Actually, he has been looking gloomy for a while now. Nox and I have tried to lure it out of him and to make him admit what’s lying so heavily on his soul, but he didn’t want to tell us.

I just hope he is alright.

“So,” Nox interrupts my thoughts. “Next week we are off to Paris. Don’t forget to pack.”

“As if I’d ever forget that.” Marilou chuckles. “I can’t believe I get to see Paris! I thought I would never be able to travel anywhere,” she admits. Before my brother took over, her pack was ruled by an elitist tyrant, who deemed omegas as weak and unworthy. For her everything she is able to experience now is truly like a gift.

“I can’t believe your cousin is really inviting us, Aurelia,” Terry says. “That’s so generous of him.”

“It really is,” Jazz agrees. “Val told me that Eric is really generous, and it’s his Christmas gift to her to invite all her friends to Paris.”

“I think he also invited her parents over for Christmas,” I say. My cousin Eric is such a good guy. He is a bit extra and can come off as a bit too much, but he is so sweet to his mate and truly a good friend to those he cherishes. I’ve always liked him. Growing up, he visited a lot because he didn’t have much of a relationship with his own parents, and my father always doted on him and included him in our family holidays and vacations.

I think it’s part of why Eric is so supportive of my dad. He has been campaigning for Dad for years, and recently, it seems they voted in his favor. Once I’m ready to take over the pack, Mom and Dad will leave for Paris and ascend the throne.

I shove the thought aside because I can’t imagine being here with my parents on a different continent. For now, they are here and supporting us all.

“Do we have all the tickets?” Marilou asks.

“I got them today,” I tell them. “It’s going to be a long flight. We will check in the day before.”

“Don’t pack too much, Tori,” Terry tells his sister.

Tori pouts a bit. “Let me have fun. I want to pack a few dresses. We are in Paris, for goddess’s sake!”

“You know,” I say. I had no plans to take something too chic on this trip, but now that Tori mentioned it. “She isn’t wrong…”

“I don’t have many dresses, but the luna gifted me one for my last birthday, and she said she will buy me one for Christmas, too,” Marilou says. “So, I can bring those.”

“Who do you ladies want to impress?” Nox asks.

“For real,” Lion mutters.

“Certainly not you two,” I joke.

Tori shakes her head. “I don’t want to impress anyone. Just dress nicely.”

Terry, meanwhile, just smiles at Marilou. “I know I’m going to be impressed.”

“So, it’s okay when Marilou brings a dress,” Tori teases. “But I shouldn’t?”