Page 113 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“He did once when I was still very little, but that’s all the interaction I know of. He never tried to contact us again, and Grandma wasn’t able to track him.”

“Do you think she told you the truth?” he asks. Before I can even as much as let out a huff, he raises his hands in defense. “Not implying that Hazel was a liar, just maybe she tried to protect you from something.”

That wouldn’t be the first time. She didn’t tell me about Ersa and where I truly came from, but then she also never made a secret of there being something she couldn’t tell me. I always was aware that Grandma knew more than she would let on, butwhen she talked about my dad there was just pain and worry on her face. “She truly didn’t know a thing,” I say.

“How sure are you?” he asks. “70%? 80%?”

“100% certain,” I say.

“That’s a lot.”

“I know.” I look at him insistently. “But I knew her better than anyone else did. She hid things from me, but my father wasn’t one of those things.”

“Then I have no reason not to believe you,” he agrees. He taps his lips with his index finger. “This should be fairly simple,” he says, as usual, full of his calm, slightly arrogant confidence. For once however, I find it reassuring. “Well, not as easy as finding the true mate of Elden’s father, but not the most difficult task either. I was burning for a little challenge, anyways. Consider it done, Luna.”

I smile at him. “Thanks, Calv.”

thirty-six

Gilbert

*FLORA*

With the aftermath of the attack, basically everything was dumped onto Elden, because his loser of a father didn’t find it relevant enough to return back home. I have no time to think much about my father or mother, what it means for me or who or what I am. Vincent and Calvin help day and night, neither of them complaining or batting an eye whenever Elden has another issue he needs them to tackle. I might have been skeptical of Calvin at first, but I need to give credit where credit is due: he gives this his all. The warriors at the borders are already implementing his strategies and tools.

That’s why I am even more surprised to see him approach me a couple of days after our talk. I am working together with Emiliaand Geneva, to prepare me for my work as luna, when he seeks me out. “Flora,” Calvin says. “May I have a word?”

“Of course.” I get up to follow him, curious as to what he needs from me. Once we are a safe distance from the other two women, he hands me a sheet of paper.

“I didn’t know if Emilia and Elder Geneva knew,” he says, “so I thought it would be better to hand it to you in private.”

I gaze at the paper, my eyes widening when I see the name written down on it.Gilbert Robertson.“You found him?” I gape.

“It was less difficult than I thought it would be,” Calvin explains. “I dug around a bit in the pack and found a former schoolmate of his. Seems like your father was very popular with the ladies back in the day, but also with some of his male peers. Obviously, the man I talked to had no idea where he had left to. I assume your grandmother asked around his friends in the pack too.”

“I think Grandma asked all of his friends of that time,” I say. “Also, those from other packs.”

“I am sure she did,” Calvin says. “But I bet she didn’t ask his ex-girlfriend.”

I stare at him. “What?”

“I don’t know when and how your parents met, but before he met your mother, he had a girlfriend. It seems like they broke up when your father met your mother, but I don’t know any details. Well, I tracked her down.”

How did he even get the idea that she would know something? I would have never thought of contacting his ex! And Grandma probably didn’t either. I don’t even know if she knew he had an ex.

“They split amicably,” Calvin explains. “That’s what one of his former buddies told me.”

“How did you find out?” I ask, stunned. “No one told my grandmother anything!”

“I coincidentally met him in a bar,” Calvin says. “And when alcohol is involved, the tongue gets loose.”

Is he implying he stalked that guy and then filled him with alcohol so that he spilled the beans? His strategies are unorthodox at best, but I have to admit he gets results.

“I know what you are thinking,” Calvin says. “That I am working dirty and being too sly.”

“Yes,” I say. “But I also just thought that sometimes we need to be sly and work dirty. As long as you don’t overstep, I don’t see anything wrong with it.” I pause. “So?”

“Well, he told me all about your father’s ex, and how she really loved him but let him go. Well, you get the general picture. Seems like she didn’t get over him though.”