Page 48 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“We had one, but he left when my mother died,” I say shortly. Mom dying and Tobias leaving are the two topics I never talk about, not even with Flora. There are so many bitter, sad feelings surrounding the incidents. Fortunately, Vincent gets the hint and doesn’t push further.

I haven’t heard from Tobias since he left, aside from the presents that he sends me, for each of my birthdays. But I don’t even know where he is. I asked Oliver once, but he was reluctant to answer, almost scared. Back then, I was mad and felt betrayed that he wouldn’t say anything, but now I understand it more. He was probably trying to keep Tobias’ whereabouts a secret so that he could live peacefully, especially since I don’t know what my father would do if he knew where to find him.

He let Tobias go when Mom died, but something tells me that he wouldn’t let the issue rest if he knew where Tobias lived.

Weird… why am I thinking about Tobias again, after so many years?

I try to shake the feeling off, not wishing to return to the darkest time of my life. Mom was suffering under her severe depression, and Tobias tried to get her the help she needed. He must have felt devastated when she died, and like he failed her as her gamma.

But it wasn’t Tobias’ fault. An image of my father pops up in my mind, a sudden surge of anger overcoming me. It was his!

Vincent and I go to a diner, where we order an assortment of sandwiches and fries. “Finally, someone who can keep up withme,” Vincent says when I grab the second tuna sandwich, still feeling hungry.

“We train a lot,” I say. “We need the energy.”

“That’s what I always say,” he grins. “Say, Elden, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Elden…” He tilts his head. “That’s a weird ass name.”

I almost choke on my sandwich. “That’s what you want to talk about?”

“No, sorry, it just came to my mind when I said your name,” he admits. “I mean, it’s a cool name, mysterious, old, sophisticated-“

“But weird as fuck,” I say dryly.

Vincent grins. “Exactly.”

“If I ever have a son, I will make sure to give him a simple name,” I pause.

“Like James?” Vincent asks. “Oh, or William!”

“Yeah, or maybe Liam,” I muse. “Something everyone can pronounce and spell. No weird glances or stupid questions that he will have to deal with,” I pause again. “So, what did you want to ask?”

“The headache,” he starts. “It’s really from your gift?”

“I’m not trying to hide a mysterious illness, if that’s what you were thinking,” I say, amused. “So, yes, my lycan and I know it is my gift, but we can’t tell what kind of gift it will be.” I groan in frustration. “It always feels like it splits my head open.”

“Do you have these often?” he asks.

“It used to be only occasionally, but now it’s almost every other day,” I admit. “Like something is clawing at my mind. Just from the outside.”

“What?” Vincent blinks. “That sounds scary! Goddess, good thing I have a plain gift.”

“What’s your gift?” I ask.

“Intimidation,” he says. “And planning. Super lame, huh? The first is just weird, and would make me a social outcast if I used it. And the second is just boring.”

I stare at him in shock. “These are kickass strategic gifts, Vincent!”

“Do you really think so?” he asks.

“Yes, I’m not surprised you were a top warrior in your old pack, even at your age,” I say. “That’s some useful gifts in battle.”

“I’ve never seen it that way,” he says. “For my old man, only strength counted, so I trained a lot and kind of neglected everything else. Like school.”

“You didn’t finish school, right?”