Page 19 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

Gamma Tobias doesn’t say anything further, just keeps kneeling in front of me while looking at the floor, tears dripping down his face. Eventually, though, Hazel comes to pick me up. She squeezes Tobias’ shoulder, looking at him sadly, before gently taking my hand and leading me away and to her and Flora’s cottage.

She has prepared tea and cake there. Flora is waiting for me, happy to see me. It looks like she has found new plants in the forest she felt drawn to. She says it’s the light that leads her to them. I don’t know what these beings of light are or how they look like, but I am certain she doesn’t make it up. My sadness disappears a little while I watch her, and eventually I start helping her with putting the plants into small pots.

“They are pretty dry,” I mutter, my voice sounding foreign and hoarse to my own ears.

“That’s why the light wanted me to save them,” she smiles. “We will make sure to save them, right? You will help?”

I find myself nodding. Whatever makes her happy.

“You are not going to leave, are you?” I ask, dreading her answer.

Flora gets up on her feet, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at me. “Of course I am not leaving. My lycan and I are staying here with you and Regis.”

“You still don’t know her name?” I ask.

“Not yet,” she smiles dreamily. “But she is cute, she has silver fur. But I think she is a sleepyhead.”

“I am sure she will wake up soon and tell you,” I reassure her.

“It’s pretty cool that we both got our lycans so early, isn’t it?” she asks.

“It really is,” I admit.

While Flora and I work with the plants, Hazel is preparing dinner for us. The darkness is already settling when I can feel a knock at the door. I feel his presence instantly, surprised to see him coming here.

What does he want here?

I should know better, but against my better judgment, my heart takes a careful leap. Maybe he is finally here to talk to me? Maybe he will stay with me? I hear him and Hazel talking silently. Hazel doesn’t sound happy. In fact, when she finally comes to the living room, she looks almost angry. She takes Flora’s hand. “Come honey, the alpha wants to talk to his son.”

I watch her and Flora leave, passing my father. Hazel tosses him a gaze as if she wants to tell him something, but Dad just looks past her. Once we are alone, he approaches me, sitting down on the sofa. I remain seated at the table, looking at the plant and trying to free it from the dry leaves.

“Would you look at me?” he asks.

For a few seconds, I don’t move. It’s never good to make him upset, but I find myself not caring. I had hoped he came here to finally spend time with me. It’s hard to make him content and proud, but I’m willing to try if he only gives me a chance.

But there is a feeling inside me that tells me the truth. It’s a soft headache pushing against my skull and shoving the truth into my mind.

I don’t know how I know; I just know.

“Elden,” he says.

“Why?” I ask. “You’re here to tell me that you are leaving, aren’t you?”

“It’s not forever,” he says shortly. “But I will be traveling for pack business. I won’t be home a lot.”

“Okay,” I say, the numbing feeling in my stomach returning.

Silence engulfs us. I want to ask him why he married Mom, why he even had me if he doesn’t want me. I’m just a chore to him, nothing more. I know he keeps talking about the prophecy, and the Council, and the throne, but this can’t be all, can it?

It can’t be all!

“Two elders of the Council will come here soon,” he says. “They will keep an eye on the pack when I’m not here, and help with your training and education. You know one of them already. Geneva, she knew Caro… she knew your mother.”

I remember her. Mom talked about her once, and she visited a few times. She is a kind older woman.

“I will be leaving next week,” Dad says.

I stare at the plant in my hands, watching how it quivers slightly. Next month is my birthday. He probably won’t be here again.