Page 134 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“No, you can’t,” Jace says with emphasis. “Seriously, Elden, you will be alpha soon, and as that you cannot just intervene in other pack affairs. Besides-” he pauses, “-what type of alpha would I be if I couldn’t fight for myself and my girlfriend? My mother wants me to take a chosen mate of her choice. Janice and I agreed to trick them as best as we can, and stall time while we are at university. I need to find a way to reclaim my life. Janice feels the same. She is heavily against involving you and Flora. I am just telling you because you are my best friend.”

I don’t like that he wants to tackle this on his own. “Jace, if I have learned one thing, then that there is no shame in asking for help. Allies make you stronger.”

“Yes, but initially, you stood up against your father yourself, even when you didn’t have the support of the Elders,” he says. “And you refused to be anyone’s pawn. That’s what I want also. I am not ready yet, to directly fight my parents – I need a couple of years to build my strength. I am not a royal lycan. if I do wrong, I don’t have anyone to cover for me.” Before I can say anything, he hastily explains himself. “Not to say that you would have anyone covering for you! I mean, technically. If I don’t play by the rules, I won’t have anyone in my corner.”

“You have me,” I say quietly.

“I know, but be real, is your position already that strong that you could save Janice’s and my ass in case something goes wrong?”

I take a moment to answer, a wave of annoyance hitting me at the fact that I don’t hold any more power yet. “Not yet, but I will,” I say. “By the goddess, Jace, I will make sure to build up my own influence to such an extent that everyone else will beshitting their pants when they want to take it up with me! Until then, please stay strong and make sure to keep a low profile! And Flora and I can help cover for you and Janice whenever you need it. How is that for a plan?”

“Alright,” Jace gives in. “It’s easier when I am not doing it all alone. Besides-“ He gazes at Janice and Flora who are laughing and splashing water at each other. “-Janice being so close to Flora does come as a huge advantage. Not even my mother would be so stupid as to question the young, miraculous Luna Flora, although she thinks she is just a silly child. I know she isn’t, but I know better than to argue with my mother.”

I smirk, not saying anything to his words. It’s Flora’s cover that she perfected over the years. They are all going to be in for a rude awakening.

“What are you doing there?” Flora calls towards us and waves. “Come in the water. You too, Vince and Calvin. Stop drinking and join us.”

“You heard the luna,” Vincent grins and elbows Calvin.

“Well, I know better than to ignore a direct order,” Calvin says dryly.

“He is really getting better with the social cues,” Jace whispers.

“He is,” I agree. “And his talents are no joke either. In the last couple of weeks that he has started to help out, and has already upped our security.”

“Come on, Jace!” Janice calls and waves.

“You heard our women,” I chuckle. “Come, let’s not make them wait.”

Jace and I join the girls in the water, my two betas following soon. Flora immediately wraps her arms around my neck, letting me wrap her in my arms.

“I am trying not to be envious,” Vincent jokes.

“How come you have no girlfriend?” Jace asks.

“I haven’t found anyone yet,” he says.

“Same for me,” Calvin agrees.

Jace and Janice, meanwhile, are very subtle. If I hadn’t known they were a couple, I wouldn’t have noticed anything. It’s only in the way they sometimes look at each other, and how they coincidentally touch each other sometimes, as if it was just a random moment.

A part of me wants to ask Jace if they are mates, but the other part knows better. Jace might already feel the mate bond even if Janice hasn’t turned eighteen yet. But she will be soon, and as a future alpha I am certain he already knows whether they are mates or not. He must at least have an inkling.

So, if they are mates, Jace didn’t tell me for a reason, most likely to make sure to keep the secret and protect Janice. And if they aren’t mates, then it’s the choice they made, as Jace will never get handed the pack without a mate of his parents’ liking. He can’t win either way, so he is trying his best to keep the situation a secret, until he is free to do how he pleases.

I just hope things will work out for him and Janice. I can’t help but feel worried. Jace doesn’t have the support system I have now, and I am not strong or powerful enough yet to be his. His parents are elitists of the worst kind, and might be even worse than my father, which is already pretty telling in itself, and the reason Jace and I became friends in the first place. Trauma-bonding that turned into real friendship.

The next day I am up early. My plan was to let Flora sleep in, but this time she wakes up along with me. I don’t know if it’s the mate bond connecting us fully now or the fact that I marked herbut there is such a glow around her whenever I look at her. It’s just magical.

“You are staring,” she says while she brushes through her long blonde hair. It always looks like the sunlight is kissing it, but now it’s even more obvious to me. It looks like it’s slightly illuminated.

“You look magical,” I say.

Flora smiles brightly. “Don’t say things like that when we have to leave the bed!”

“I mean it in the literal sense,” I say. “It’s mesmerizing. I don’t know if it’s because we are marked now, but you look different.”

“Better than before?” she asks curiously.