Page 44 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“Did everything go well?”

“It did,” she says. “Jace and Deacon dealt with the issue. I think Jace has dropped Elden’s name and the worddisgracea couple of times. The alpha came too and talked to Jace.”

“And?” I ask nervously.

“When he heard that the Lycan Crown Prince in person was upset, he agreed and said it was an embarrassment for the pack to have members harass young girls,” she says. “He promised he would deal with it.”

For a moment she looks like she wants to say more, but then gazes at the girl and doesn’t.

“Are you girls coming?” Jace calls out from the small living room. “Elden and I want to grab something to eat.”

I beam. “Oh, that would be lovely.”

Janice turns to the girls. “Is it okay with your families if you come too? I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

“We can join?” Mina asks, stunned.

“Of course,” Jace calls from the living room. “You are invited.”

“So?” Janice asks them.

The girls look shocked but also happy. “Can I make a call?” Mina says. “I want to talk to my mom. Actually, our moms are friends, so she can tell them where we are.”

“Of course.” I rummage in my bag and hand her my phone.

Mina fills her mom in briefly on what happened and where she is, reassuring her that she is fine. A couple of minutes later we are all ready to go. To my surprise and joy Vincent agrees to join us. He seems to click pretty well with Elden, which makes me so happy.

Jace calls a cab for all of us, and Janice and I fall behind the others while we are waiting for it to come. “What did you want to say before?” I ask her.

She gazes at me and sighs. “Nothing… just… when Jace talked to his father, he mentioned Elden a lot, and also other reasons as to why what the guys did was bad. And I just realized he has to do that a lot, right?” she pauses. “Pretend to be someone he isn’t. Make excuses. Play his cards well.”

“Yes,” I say quietly.

“You know, Grandma and I are on our own, and we don’t have a lot of money, but she loves me so much. I just realized how privileged I am.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” I say quietly. Elden has money and rank, but his mother killed herself in front of his eyes, and no money will ever make up for the lack of love he receives from his father.

Janice links our arms. “Come,” she says. “The cab is arriving.”

We take a vote, and it’s decided we will go to a pizza place. Jace makes sure Mina and her friends get everything they want.He talks to them, asks about the situation with the omegas and how their life is in the pack. Elden is right, he is going to be an amazing alpha one day. When it gets late, Mina tells us they need to head home, so Deacon offers to accompany them back to the pack.

I’m not sure if Jace is aware of it, but everything he did today was amazing. I know he certainly grew in Janice’s eyes. The two of them engage in a more private talk now, and I decide to stay out of it, to let them have some privacy. Elden and I, meanwhile, chat with Vincent.

“How old are you?” I ask Vincent. “You don’t look much older than we are.”

“Nineteen,” he says with a grin. “Still a teen.”

“And you are a warrior?” Elden asks.

“Yes, already was one in my home pack,” he says.

“Are you good?” Elden asks bluntly.

Vincent grins. “You are not one to beat around the bush, huh? I like how direct you are.”

“So?”

“I’m good,” he says confidently.