Page 107 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“Maybe it’s a secret that’s not for anyone else to know but Flora,” I point out.

“Don’t you want to know as her mate?”

“Of course I do, but it’s not my top priority. With time, I am sure I will understand everything, and maybe Flora can tell me about it herself… once she knows.”

“Maybe that’s why you were chosen as her mate,” Samuel mutters. I want to ask him to elaborate on what he means, but he changes the topic swiftly. “Geneva will be here in a minute,” he says.

I nod. “I will need to ask her to look after Flora while I leave to check on the pack and the injured pack members,” I say.

“Your young beta, Vincent, he is holding himself up surprisingly well,” Samuel says. “He is keeping the chaos at bay.”

“Did you really need to voice your surprise?” I ask.

He sighs. “I am aware I don’t always find the right words when talking to you, but it was meant as a compliment.” He looks at me. “I know, there was a lot of yelling today,” Samuel admits, shifting around. “And a lot of things were said. You have never been irresponsible or a coward.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, not sure what to say.

“Did you realize now?” he asks. “That you can’t quit? You acted instantly when faced with the threat, you jumped to protect your pack, and your young mate did the same. It’s in you. And, no matter where you go and what path you think you might want to walk, this part of you will never go away. You will always be a natural-born leader.”

“I never had a choice,” I say. “Ever since I was born, my future wasn’t mine.”

“If you don’t like this place the way it is, why don’t you turn it into something better?” he says all of a sudden. “Why don’t you save your father’s-” he pauses as if it’s hard for him to say it, “-mate.”

“Did you know?” I ask.

“No,” Samuel says. “I would have never allowed him to string his mate along had I known.”

At least that’s somewhat reassuring. I can only handle so much disappointment in one day.

“You hate him, don’t you?” Samuel asks.

“I despise him,” I say honestly. “He killed my mother.”

“Your mother committed suicide, Elden. I know it’s hard, I-”

“No,” I interrupt him. “Mom was depressed. She battled with it for years, and despite my father going off to fuck his mistress, she remained faithful to him, and so did his gamma, although his own had alpha stolen his mate. And how did he repay them? He didn’t even give her the proper treatment she needed. He didn’t want to hear the gossip; he was just about appearances. And my mom died.”

I stop myself, catching for breath, before talking myself into too much rage. Samuel seems to understand. He looks sad. “She was a good person, and a great luna,” he says to my surprise.

“You knew her?”

“I met her a couple of times,” he admits. “It’s good that you cherish her memory. As for your father, I don’t know what to say.”

That’s as far as we’ll get today. He has never been that honest with me, so I call that some progress. Fortunately, Geneva arrives, her kind face graced with worry. “Goddess,” she says while hugging me. “You are so young and going through so much already. You and Flora,” she mutters.

“Would you keep an eye on her?” I ask. “I will try to be back as soon as I can, but I need to check on my warriors and see the damage the rogues did.”

She nods. “Of course, Alpha Elden.”

“I am not alpha yet,” I mutter.

“It’s a technicality,” she says, before her face turns serious again. “Poor Hazel,” she whispers.

“She…she was a good friend to you, wasn’t she?” Samuel says quietly. “I am sorry for your loss, Geneva. And for yours too, Elden. I know she meant a lot to you also.”

We are all silent for a while. Hazel was such a sweet person, she meant so much to me. She was the only connection I had to my mom, and she became the family I never had. Now her soul has been ripped from us. Thinking of her makes my throat dry and my eyes burn. “We need to send her off properly,” I say.

“I will prepare her sendoff,” Samuel says, looking relieved to be able to do something.