Page 182 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess
“He means everyone!” Aurelia admits. “Finn, one of my brothers, even came from his pack in the north to meet you. They are all super excited.” She grins. “Don’t worry, I already threatened them that they better behave, or I will air all their dirty laundry.”
Nox laughs. “They are a nice bunch, don’t worry, Arden. They are genuinely looking forward to meeting you.”
“He is right,” Aurelia says. “Trust me, Arden.”
“I do,” I tell her. “I am curious about them too.”
Time to leave my cozy bubble and step out of my comfort zone. Nox drives us, and I’m relieved to see that we are indeed close to a town, but not a huge city. Paris was too big for me, although I loved it. It’s the noise. I don’t think I’d have been happy in a massive city like New York.
The pack is located further away from town, as expected, surrounded by lush forests. Obviously, the packs here are broader than European packs because of the size of the country.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, stunned. “The pictures don’t do Silverlake justice.”
My words must make Aurelia happy because she beams at me. “I promise, you will love it.”
“The Council is in the town we passed, right?”
“Yes,” she says. “We’ll make sure you have your own car so you can commute easily.”
“Now I just need to adapt to driving on the other side.” I chuckle.
“Knowing you, you will probably learn it in five minutes,” Nox grins.
Nox maneuvers the car along the curvy road until we pass more and more houses the closer to the pack house we get. The pack house itself is surprisingly modern and looks stunning. On our way, we pass some pack members who wave at the car, but now, finally, in front of the pack house, I can spot Aurelia’s family.
I made sure to study the pictures so I can tell them apart immediately. They all have distinctive looks, so it’s not really difficult.
“Here they are,” Felix, the blonde boy in a wheelchair, calls out and waves at us.
I swallow down the nervous lump in my throat while I let Aurelia tug me towards her family. “Allow me to introduce my mate to you,” she says happily. “This is Arden!”
“First time meeting a prodigy,” Marius says with a grin. He is said to be the sassy and sarcastic one of the bunch.
“Really?” Finn asks. “That’s the first thing you are saying?” Finn, theedgelord, I repeat in my mind.
“I’m just voicing what you all were thinking,” Marius argues.
“Yes, maybe his intelligence will rub off on the both of you,” Liam mutters. He is by far the most serious of them, more stoic even than their father.
“Wait a moment, why do you lump us two together?” Finn asks.
“Can we maybe behave for five minutes?” Dario begs. “He hasn’t even said hello, and we have already embarrassed ourselves.”
“You think that’s embarrassing,” Marius asks sweetly. “Oh, little brother, you have no idea. I will show you embarrassing next time you have friends over.”
“That’s why I never invite anyone,” Dario says.
“Well.” Alpha Elden clears his throat. He looks exactly like I’d imagine an alpha of such a huge pack to look, but he also looks far more approachable than I thought he would. He steps forward now to shake my hand. “I am very happy to meet you. Welcome to Silverlake and to our family.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” I say politely.
Felix bursts into giggles. “He just sir-ed you, Dad!”
“Yes, finally one person in this family who respects me,” Alpha Elden says dryly.
Luna Flora’s head perks up. She is a peculiar woman, small and delicate and almost ageless. “Oh! I didn’t know that’s what you are into,” she chirps, taking his big hand into hers. “I will make sure to remember it.”
Dario and Felix groan in unison.
