Page 55 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

seventeen

Orchids

*ELDEN*

Vincent has his head bent over a few books, with Jace and me sitting next to him to help him prepare for the extra tests he has to take. We have all met at my place this time; for Jace it’s a welcome escape from home.

“Remember,” Vincent mutters. “We are going for grades that will make me pass, I don’t need to win a prize for best student or anything.” He looks at us. “I don’t know how you guys do it, to get such good grades.”

“Constant high expectations,” I say.

“We are also bored because we aren’t allowed to have friends, aside from each other,” Jace adds.

“Pressure from my father.”

Jace nods. “For me, it’s my mother too.”

“Makes me really appreciate my upbringing,” Vincent says quietly. “My parents had their faults, but everyone has. They…” his voice trails off. “I’m sorry.”

“They loved you,” I say. “That is nothing to apologize for.”

“Though I feel envious as fuck,” Jace sighs.

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “Dad is totally unbearable. It would be weird if he suddenly started to love me now. But Mom did, as well as she could.”

“Yes, she was such a nice woman,” Jace agrees.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the former luna,” Vincent says. “The pack really liked her.”

“Right,” I say, trying to shove the thought of my mother out of my mind, and the fact that no one except for Gamma Tobias and Hazel tried to get her the help she needed. The pack likes her now, but they didn’t really care for her before she died. “Back to topic. You are stalling.”

Vincent groans. “Boy, studying with two alphas will be my end. You are bossy.”

“Yes, but we’ll make you pass your exams,” Jace promises.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Vincent mutters. “But well, no going back now.” He takes one of the books and starts doing the first couple of tasks with Jace, while I’m distracted by feeling Regis’s presence getting stronger all of a sudden.

Someone is coming,he says.

Who?

The annoying one of the elders,Regis grunts before retreating again, clearly not in any mood to handle Samuel now.

I sigh, getting up and leaving my friends to go and greet the older man. The latter is surprised to see me opening the door before he has even knocked. “I sensed you coming,” I say before he can ask anything.

“Your senses are incredible,” Samuel says. “At a tender age already, you and your lycan show incredible talents, and you are only getting stronger each day.”

I am about to reply something snarky, but fight the urge to do so. Samuel and I don’t always get along well, but I give him credit for trying. He just riles me up sometimes. However, that’s no excuse to lash out against him when he didn’t do anything. If I have to take over the pack in a couple of months, then I’d better learn to be mature. “How can I help you?” I ask. “Were you looking for me?”

“Yes,” he says, handing me a couple of books. “For one, these are the books I promised you.” Additionally, he hands me a folder. “Calvin Stewart,” he says.

“And who is that?”

“That’s the young man we decided would be suitable to become your second beta,” Samuel explains. “He is your father’s choice, but I made sure to check his background. He comes from an elite, royal background, he has studied at university and has a degree in chemistry. He is said to be very intelligent, has some tremendous talents such as camouflage, and there is not one black spot in his record.”

“Dad found someone so fast,” I mutter. “I should be surprised, but I am not.”

“I think Caelum does want what’s best for the pack,” Samuel admits. “It is his legacy.”