Page 51 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

“He comes from a plain lycan lineage,” my father snarls. “There is nothing special in his bloodline.”

I laugh. “So what? It doesn’t determine his worth at all. Lineage isn’t worth a dime.”

My father stands up abruptly, slamming his hands on his desk. “Watch what you say,” he snarls. “Only over my dead body will I allow a plain lycan to become the second in command of my pack.”

“You mean my mother’s pack,” I shout back.

His palm cracks across my cheek, whipping my head to the side. Only it doesn’t send me flying, because I expected it. I fight the urge to clasp my face because fuck, that asshole hits hard.

Let me deal with it,Regis demands, his eyes glinting. I could swear there is a hint of red in them.

No,I say.If you come out, his lycan might see it as a challenge, and we aren’t at our full power yet. I will handle it.

Can you, though?Regis asks.

Yes, I’m done with him walking all over me. I’m not a doormat. I can stand up to him.

Regis nods contently.Then let’s show him that we can!

“Just so you are aware,” I say, trying to go for a calm tone, knowing it will probably annoy him more than me being emotional, “I’m not asking for your approval, I’m merely informing you.”

I’m not sure if it’s smart to piss him off further. He is still the alpha, and holds a certain power. It’s probably stupid to do it, but I’ve never really stood up to him before. I wish I had when I saw my mother’s health declining. I wish I would have gotten her help. That guilt will be with me for the rest of my life, but I can stand up to him now.

Before he can say anything, there is a knock to his door. Dad takes a deep breath before answering. “You can come in.”

I expected it to be Beta Oliver or maybe Emilia, but to my surprise it’s Geneva and Samuel. “We were in a meeting,” Geneva says in her calm and composed manner. She tosses me a concerned gaze and says, “and heard some loud voices.”

“We wanted to check on you,” Samuel adds.

“I apologize for my son,” Dad says, “he still doesn’t know how to behave.”

The nerve of this man. I wish I could borrow Flora’s aloof mask for a moment because damn it, he is getting to me. “As far as I know, it takes two to tango,” I say instead.

Dad’s eyebrow starts ticking again, so at least it will take him some effort to keep his cool. “Elden has made a choice for his beta,” he explains shortly, “which doesn’t match, at all, with what I want for the pack.”

“Yes, because you are so unpopular, no one even wants to be the pack’s gamma. And the beta is only still around out of a sense of duty.”

“Why can’t you show your father more respect?” Samuel asks me. Geneva tosses him a gaze that’s something between pitiful and slightly annoyed. He seems to notice because he looks confused.

That idiot. He doesn’t know anything. “Why can’t you stay out of a private conversation?” I ask in return.

Samuel looks taken aback, while I swear a smirk curls Geneva’s lips.

There is a new knock on the door. “Who is it now?” my father asks, starting to sound annoyed again.

Geneva smiles slightly. “You know what they say, the more the merrier.”

I have to hide a grin. She can be so sarcastic, but because she is so dignified and polite, no one gets it.

“It’s me,” a female voice can be heard, “Emilia.”

“Oh.” Dad blinks, his eyes softening a bit. “Come in.”

Emilia looks worried when she gazes at us, before turning to Dad. “Did something happen?”

Before Dad can explain it, I decide to just get it out into the open for everyone to hear. “I want Vincent as my beta,” I say.

“Vincent?” she asks. “He is the new pack member, am I right? I’ve heard he was an exceptional warrior in his old pack and is said to have a good moral compass.”