Page 101 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“That’s a beautiful name,” I tell her.

“Mommy always says a cute name for a cute girl,” she says.

I smile, relieved to see how confident she is. “I am Elden,” I say.

“That’s not a cute name,” she mutters.

I chuckle. “You are right. It’s not cute. That means you need to be cute enough for both of us.”

“Yes!” she beams.

Alma’s expression softens in relief, her whole stance relaxing.

“Can I play with Elden?” Minnie asks.

“How about you play with me instead?” Flora offers, reaching out her hand to Minnie.

“I can show you my dolls. I have one that looks like you,” Minnie mutters. “Do you like dolls?”

“Of course,” Flora tells her.

I wait for them both to leave before I look at Alma. “She is my half-sister,” I say quietly.

Alma lowers her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I say. “You did what you could to protect yourself, your pack and your daughter. I am not going to disown her.”

“What?” Alma stares at me.

“She is my sister, and I will make sure you and her will be safe,” I tell her. “Just hang in a little bit longer, until I am officially leading the pack; it should be soon. Then, I will make sure you can break the bond to my father, and be freed of him to do whatever you want.”

She gazes at me, and I know she isn’t sure yet if she can trust me, or if I will live up to my promise. I am trying to stay calm and composed, but am inwardly raging. My father fucked over so many people. He kept his mate as a hostage here, to do as he pleased with, while exploiting my mother and that woman in Paris, and now he is doing the same to Emilia.

How can one single person suck so much!?

thirty-two

The Child of Light

*ELDEN*

Ispent some more time with Alma and my little sister, making sure to exchange contacts with them. I don’t have much family, and I so badly want to keep in touch with what little family I have, but I doubt Alma herself will want to have too much contact with me.

And I get it. It might be unfair, but I am my father’s son.

Alma seems to be happy about my support, although still wary. And yet, again, I can’t blame her. My father fucked her over big time, but I will prove to her that she didn’t make a mistake by trusting me.

On our way back, Flora and I fill in our friends with what happened. Flora does most of the talking, fortunately, while Ionly chime in here and there. Inside me, it feels like a storm is brewing. I was devastated for a short moment, but I have passed that stage now. I am mostly furious, so much that my hands tremble slightly, and I can barely voice a straight thought.

“No way,” Vincent mutters when Flora has finished.

Jace just shakes his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You are taking it quite well, Elden,” Vincent comments. “I thought you would be raging.”

“I am,” I say shortly.

My mouth feels dry, while my blood has turned ice-cold. I know the hot type of anger. I have felt it whenever my father belittled me or hurt my mother, but this is different. I feel like I can’t bring myself to care, as though I am so done with everything. Like I just want to grab Flora, pack a bag and then leave for good.