Page 60 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

The others are chatting and discussing what just happened while I turn my attention back to Trixie. Seems like I made a new friend. I feel an instant connection to her, maybe because she lived in my favorite flower for years, and I nurtured her back to health, as she called it.

“She is finally awake?” I hear grandma’s voice from behind me. I didn’t even notice she joined us.

She smiles when I turn to look at her. “You knew?”

“I had a feeling,” she admits. “But I didn’t know if she would survive. Another friend at your side, Flora. You have so many people around you now, people you can rely on. I’m relieved and happy.”

Something about the way she says it makes me sad, although I don’t understand why.

Later that evening, we all meet in the garden in front of our cottage. I snuggle up to Elden in his lap, while watching Trixie interact with Vincent, and Jace pretending he isn’t completely into Janice. I would love for them to hit it off. It would be fun if they turned out to be mates once they are both eighteen. To imagine that the four of us ended up being mated within our own little circle of friends would be beautiful.

But at the same time, I know Jace’s parents are terrible. I worry for him, and for Janice, if they turn out to be mates. They want him to take a chosen mate of their liking, someone his mom approves of, someone with a strong and pure bloodline.

Even thinking of it makes me cringe in disgust.

At least Alpha Caelum never stopped Elden from seeing me, though I do believe it’s thanks to the prophecy, and the fact that my father was of royal blood. I usually try not to think about him too much, as it still stings that he just left me behind. I know I’m privileged to have grown up in a loving environment, especially seeing how Elden is treated by his dad. He sometimes tries to hide it, and with Regis getting stronger and healing him faster, I don’t always spot the bruises on his face. But, whenever Caelum is in the pack, it only takes a couple of days for him to strike Elden.

And I hate it!

I hate this man for what he does to my mate. Elden is a genuinely good person, he is smart, fair, strong, dedicated and always tries to do the right thing. He never lazes off; he never allows himself a break. He trains and studies without a pause. He always puts me and his friends before himself. He is even respectful to Emilia although his dad tried to replace his mom with her.

That’s the type of person he is, and yet it’s not enough for Caelum. I think part of Elden blames himself for the lack of love his father has for him, and it just pisses me off so much that his dad makes him feel that way.

Can you stop?Celeste bursts through my trail of thoughts.I’m getting depressed.

But it’s true,I mutter.And we can’t do anything about it.

Yet,she says.We can’t do anything yet. Besides, I don’t think it’s true. Elden and Regis love us. We make them happy!

He has fear of abandonment and trust issues,I point out.How can you say we make him happy, if he is still struggling so much?

He has opened up to his beta,Celeste argues.And, he has Jace and Janice. That’s something, isn’t it? And Grandma treats him like family, too.

I’m not sure if I fully agree with her. I don’t think anyone can replace what Elden lost due to his mother’s death and his father constantly abandoning him. But she is right with one thing: he has us and we won’t abandon him. That’s a promise Celeste and I made to each other the moment we were able to interact.

I think about my own family again, my thoughts returning to my father. I’ve never met him, at least not that I know of. Grandma kept telling me that he just couldn’t handle being a single father, because Mom wasn’t able to stay with me, and my powers and the prophecy put a toll on his mind.

I still judge him for it. He left me, and never contacted me. Not even once!

I’ve come to terms with it now, but it still hurts sometimes, and I can’t say I’m not holding it against him.

“Flora,” Elden wraps an arm around my middle for balance, before showing me the folder he has been carrying around, since he came running to my cottage thinking I had been attacked. “I forgot to show you this.”

He opens it, revealing the photo of a young man. “Oh, is that the new guy?”

“Yes, Dad picked him,” Elden says, scrunching his nose. “Samuel gave me this folder today.”

I skim through the folder, reading through the collected information. “His gifts,” I mutter. “It’s crazy what he can do.”

“Normally, these are gifts that would rather be with someone who tested alpha,” Elden agrees. “I’m pretty sure Dad picked him due to his bloodline though.”

“Yeah, both parents are of royal heritage,” I say. “Not direct descendants like you, but still… nobility is in his blood. He also got the best education.”

“The extracurriculars and courses he took aside from his studies are pretty telling too,” Elden says. “He must be veryambitious, and he has a high IQ. He graduated his studies, summa cum laude, in Europe.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“It’s pretty much the highest level he could achieve,” Elden explains. “It means he had the highest grades throughout his education.”