Page 21 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

Beta Oliver smiles. “I’m glad to hear that. I thought a young man like you might like to have his freedom occasionally, and just take off. Just don’t do it too often, or I will grow some gray hair.”

“I promise,” I reassure him.

“That’s not all,” he says before handing me two parcels. A smaller one and a bigger one. “This arrived for you today.”

I glance at the sender, my hope however, is crushed immediately by Beta Oliver. “It’s not from the alpha,” he says quietly. “I… I am sorry. Tobias sent both of them.”

That does pique my interest though, and once Oliver has left for work to fill in for both Dad and Tobias, I return to my room, opening the bigger package first. There is a big, plush wolf in it, a little letter and a small box.

Dear Elden,

Happy birthday to the bravest young alpha. I know you will think this is stupid, but I thought about you and Regis when I saw this wolf.

As for the little box…

She would have wanted you to have this. It was part of her dowry. She always hoped that one day you would gift this to your mate.

Stay strong, Young Alpha.

I curiously open the box, blinking in surprise when I find a beautiful necklace, earrings and bracelet set inside it. It looks oldbut pretty. The necklace carries a deep blue stone; against the light it looks like there are little stars in it.

My gaze shifts towards the smaller package. Opening it, an envelope falls on the ground together with a small photo album. I open the latter first, skimming through it. To my surprise it’s full of pictures of Mom and me, and some people I don’t know. Old pictures… and old people.

One woman in particular catches my eye. She looks so much like Mom, and I guess she also looks a bit like me.

Beatrice Donna Alcott,it says.

Alcott. That’s my mom’s maiden name. Judging by her age and the yellowed paper I guess it might have been Mom’s grandma. I carefully peel the photo out and turn it over, and indeed, on the back of it I can seegrandmawritten on it, andElden’s great-grandmother.

Mom did that! She made this album for me, and she also put the names and descriptions at the back of every photo. I don’t know much about her family, but maybe that way I will finally learn about them.

For now, I put the album aside and grab the envelope that dropped to the floor. I have a sinking feeling in my stomach, like bricks suddenly gathering in my stomach. Once opened, I take a sheet of paper into my hands, swallowing thickly when I notice my mom’s handwriting.

I knew it.

But, maybe it’s just a happy birthday card. Something short and sweet. Something she wrote before she died.

My dear Elden,

I don’t know how to start this letter. When you read it, I will already be gone. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for not having been any stronger. I love you so much, you are my everything. I wish I could still be with you.

I hope you know it’s not your fault.

She wishes she could still be here?

It’s not my fault?

My eyes get blurred, and I close the letter again without reading the rest of it. I can’t. I just can’t. Why did you do this Mom? If you wanted to stay with me, if you loved me, why did you leave? I grab the letter and the photo album and put them away, suddenly feeling angry.

So angry, that I have difficulty breathing. I flex my fingers around the empty envelop, crunching the letter between them, my body shaking. I feel hot all of a sudden, sweat pooling on my forehead.

She abandoned me, like Dad abandoned me.

Well, at least she made sure I got a letter on my birthday. I should probably be thankful, because Dad didn’t even call! He couldn’t even do that much!

Why am I even surprised?

While still venting in my anger, I hear footsteps coming closer. Light footsteps. Someone is running and then without further ado the door to the Alpha Suite gets ripped open, the footsteps coming closer until my door gets kicked open, also.