Page 31 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“Dad became alpha through his marriage with Mom,” he explains. “At least, that’s what Geneva told me.”

“And you will become alpha-”

“Because I am his son.”

“Initially, yes, but you aren’t just his son,” I say. “You are talented and kind and fair. You will be everything he wasn’t.”

“I’m scared I will have inherited behavioral patterns from him,” he admits. “I’ve read somewhere that children might become their parents at one point.”

“That’s not a firm rule,” I say. “I know for a fact you are different.”

“How come?”

“Because you listen to me,” I say. “You defend me. You never look down on me, even when I say something silly, and you take me seriously. You take Jace seriously and are always there for him when he needs you. You are a good friend and a good boyfriend. That’s why I know you will also be a good alpha one day, and a good father.”

“And if I am not?”

“Then, I’m here to kick your ass,” I say with confidence.

He chuckles, kissing me softly. “Then, there is nothing that can go wrong.”

When the wind picks up and brushes over us, I feel a shiver going through my body.

“You are cold,” Elden says. “Let’s get out of here and warm up in the sun.”

I let him carry me out of the water before jumping down and grabbing my bag. I always carry one around to stuff Elden’s clothes in for when he shifts, and to have some snacks and ablanket. I spread the blanket over the grass before lying down on my back. Elden follows suit and stretches next to me.

“Did she visit you again?” Elden asks all of a sudden.

I know instantly who he is talking about. The woman who keeps visiting me in my dreams. She did so when I was little. The first time I saw, or rather heard, her was when I comforted Elden right after he saw his mom jump out of the window. From then on, she visited occasionally, but now her visits are getting more and more frequent. “She did, just yesterday,” I admit.

“What does that mean?” he asks. “I mean, her appearing in your dreams.”

“I don’t know. She just pops up in my dream and we talk. She is nice, though.” I open my eyes, seeing how the beings of light circle Elden and me. Their form is a lot clearer to me now than it was only a couple of years ago. They have little wings attached to their body of light. They don’t seem to have a distinctive form, though, at least nothing I know of. And while they don’t have a body in our world, they do have a consciousness.

One of them flutters around me now.Flora,it chirps.She will tell you everything soon.

Do you know who she is?I ask them.

Yes, we know. We are with you because of her. She sent us to you.

That’s new. I’ve always wondered where they came from. I’ve asked Grandma, but she didn’t know either, and it certainly doesn’t help digging for answers when no one can see them but me.Who is she?I ask.

We can’t tell you, not yet. But your birthday will come soon.The light flutters around my hair now.And then, you will have all the answers.

I have been so preoccupied with them that I didn’t pay much attention to Elden. Only when he groans, do I finally snap out ofit, turning my head to him. He is grimacing in pain, and he has his palm pressed against his forehead.

“Elden,” I blurt out, sitting up abruptly. “Your head? Again?”

He just nods, groaning in pain.

“Okay, okay,” I rummage in my bag for anything that could help, before grabbing my shirt and running to the lake to dip it into the cold water. I run back to my boyfriend-slash-future mate, pressing the cold wet piece of clothing against his forehead.

Something cold usually helps, but this time it doesn’t seem to soothe his pain.

“It just doesn’t stop,” he groans, holding his head between both of his hands. “It’s just so much,” he pants.

“Okay,” I say, trying to calm my own panic. What am I going to do? What am I going to do?