Page 88 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

It sends butterflies through my stomach. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him laugh like that, so much that his eyes turn small and little dimples appear. “This was a good idea,” Janice whispers to me.

I nod, not able to say anything. My chest hurts so much to see Elden so happy, yet at the same time realizing how little he usually smiles and laughs.

It’s going to be one of many happy days for us,Celeste soothes me.This is just our first step into freedom and our life together.

We spend hours outdoors with our quads before reluctantly returning them, not without promising to repeat this. “I am so hungry I could eat a whole cow,” Vincent points out.

“Me too,” Jace admits.

“So, dinner it is,” I say, taking Elden’s hand and pulling him aside.

He looks at me, surprised. “Is something wrong, babe?” he asks me.

“No, it’s just… I wanted to ask you the next question in private. It’s the last part I’ve planned for your birthday,” I admit. “I… I want you to know that I don’t want to meddle with your business against your will. I hope you are not mad at me.”

“What did you plan?” he asks curiously.

“We have two options,” I tell him. “Either we head to your favorite pizza place, or we can visit your great-aunt Elspeth, and have dinner at her place. She invited us.”

Elden stares at me. “What?” he mutters. There are so many feelings flashing in his eyes, and for a moment, I am worried I truly overstepped. Then, however, I can feel him tighten his grip around my hand. “You found her?”

“Grandma did,” I admit.

“And she wants to see me?”

“Grandma talked to her, and she said she was over the moon to hear about you. She loved your mom, and she always wanted to meet you. But well…”

“Dad didn’t let her.”

“Exactly.”

Elden reaches his hands to his backpack, squeezing it. “Let’s go,” he says, “to Elspeth!”

Elspeth lives two hours away from the quad bikes. It will be a long drive home later tonight, but I talked to Vincent last week already, and he was up for the task.

Elspeth is an elderly woman, older than Grandma, but she is so elegant. Despite her regal appearance, she seems to enjoy her own style. She wears her white hair open and is dressed in colorful, flowy clothes.

“Elden,” she exclaims, immediately recognizing him amongst the others. “My boy! You look exactly like your mother.” She hugs him tightly, tears filling her eyes. “Goddess, finally! Happy birthday!”

“Thank you,” Elden says nervously. “I… I came with my friends. I hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. It was such a surprise when Hazel called me. I’ve heard her name from Carolina many years ago but never spoke to or met her. Come on in, everyone. Your friends are my guests-” She turns to look at me with curiosity. “So is your peculiar little mate.”

Elspeth lives in a beautiful mansion. I’ve always known that Luna Carolina’s side was pretty wealthy, but I never realized just how much. They are clearly from old money.

“I have so many questions,” Elden admits.

“And I shall answer all of them,” she promises. “But first I want you all to eat.”

She ushers us into her living room where she had a huge feast prepared for us. A few maids are shuffling around, eyeing us curiously. “Just sit down,” she tells us. “And don’t worry about any etiquette. I couldn’t care less.”

“Thank Goddess!” Vincent sighs in relief.

Elspeth looks amused. “You must be the young beta?”

“Yes, I am,” he answers. “There is a second one who is currently in Paris. He would be better at this stuff.”

“Don’t worry. This is just façade,” she says. “It’s not important for you to know how to properly eat fish, or the exact order of your cutlery. What matters is that you have my great-nephew’s back.”