Page 15 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

For a second, the alpha looks shocked, a hint of pain crossing his face, but then he has his cold and stony expression again. He walks over to Luna Carolina, just standing there, looking down at her body.

The beings of light move tighter around Elden all of a sudden, like they want to shield him. Elden doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t look at his father. I can see his hands balling to fists, though. He is angry now, not just sad. An outer force seems to take over my body, and I find myself walking over to him.

Slowly, slowly.

Past the crowd and past the beta, who is still squeezing Elden’s shoulder. I ignore the people asking me questions and trying tostop me. I even ignore the alpha until I reach Elden. Kneeling down next to him, I take one of his fists into my hands.

Elden tears his gaze away from his mother and looks at me. The sadness in his eyes breaks my heart. I close my eyes briefly, trying to focus on the light in me, like Grandma has said I can do it. She says if I concentrate, I will be able to channel the light and to have the little beings follow my command.

I just want Elden to be happy.

You mean well, my lovely Flora. But that’s a shallow wish,a voice whispers.You can’t chase pain and sorrow away.Her voice startles me. This is not the usual whisper of the little beings around me. This is someone else. It’s a woman’s voice, comforting and gentle, lulling me into its light.Pain is part of what we are. We need to learn how to handle it, how to live with it and overcome it. We can’t just make it disappear.

Then, I want him to know that he will never be alone, because I am here. Can I do that?

Of course,the woman says.

Will he believe me?

He will eventually, because it’s true,she says.You are connected to each other and always will be.

I don’t think I understand.

That’s alright,the voice says. In front of my inner eye, I can see her now. The outlines of her body, her long white hair, her smile.

You are beautiful,I say.

And you are the sweetest girl.She reaches out her hands to cup my cheeks. She bends forward to kiss my forehead.I made sure you will never be alone,she whispers.

I look at her in confusion as she disappears. Instead of her, I can suddenly see a cute white pup, curled up and sleeping. Her fur sparkles silver.

I know it without anyone explaining it. She is mine, my lycan spirit. The woman who talked to me left her behind for me. I am not sure who she was, but she was nice.

Shaking my head slightly, I try to focus back on my surroundings. Gamma Tobias is still holding the luna, but he is looking at me now. The alpha and the beta haven’t moved an inch. There is light surrounding me and Elden, blocking us from everyone else.

Elden is holding my hand, and when I look into his eyes, I can see them turning almost black for a moment. “Mate,” he growls.

I blink in surprise. That was Elden’s wolf just now. I have heard the stories, and I know about mates. Did he mean me? Adults have mates, and marry them and have children and lots of fun with each other. Maybe I didn’t hear it right, and his lycan muttered something else.

The light disappears around us, and Elden’s eyes turn back to normal as well.

“Unbelievable,” the beta says. “Is this her power?”

The alpha mutters something in his direction, but I can’t hear what he is saying. I ignore them for now and turn my attention back to Elden. Tilting my head, I scan his face. He still looks sad, so I wrap him in my arms.

He will never be alone because I am here.

*ELDEN*

I’ve been sitting in my mom’s room ever since last night. Her scent still lingers here, almost like she is still here. If I close my eyes, I can imagine her sitting in her rocking chair and gazing out of the window.

I thought she was getting better.

But I was wrong. Maybe I could have done something. Maybe if Dad and I didn’t argue constantly, she would have been better.

I probably wasn’t good.

The door behind me opens slightly. “Do you want something to eat, young prince?”