Page 172 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince
“Hm,” she hums. “Let’s see.” For a moment she has that distant expression on her face again. “Someone else wants to meet our boy,” she says happily.
“I was expecting that,” I say with a smile. “I will check on the others in the meantime, so that you can have your privacy.”
When I leave the room, I feel a sudden warmth surrounding me and small dots of lights dancing around me. There is a part of Flora I will never truly be able to reach out to, a part she can’t openly discuss or share with me, but it doesn’t matter. It’s who she is, and I am incredibly thankful for that. I am sure my life without Flora would have been much grimmer.
“Did Flora want to rest a bit?” Emilia asks me when I join the others.
“Yes,” I say. “She wanted a moment to herself. Also, we will have more visitors soon. Janice will come, and Jace, but also our little beta.”
“I can’t believe your tiny, little baby already has a beta,” Vincent mutters. “Can’t even talk or walk yet, but he already got that one right.”
“He clearly has the charisma of his father,” I say earnestly.
The others laugh while Vincent rolls his eyes at me. “Yeah, right, let’s hope he will also have your modesty.”
Before I can answer, I can hear light footsteps approaching, and a dark-haired boy with green eyes peeks into the room. “I know I am early, Alpha,” he exclaims, blushing furiously. “But I couldn’t wait.”
“You can help us with dinner,” Geneva says. “The luna and her son are resting.”
Dante looks bummed, but when Vincent pulls him along to help put together a little playhouse, he and Calvin bought for Liam, he is all happy again. The way the bond to our betas works is so fascinating, even more so to see it at such a young age.
“Where is Beta Calvin?” Emilia asks when we are finished with our dinner preparations for the evening. Flora and I usually eat with the pack, but after Liam’s birth, for the first couple of weeks, we want to stay a bit more private.
“He took over Vincent’s duties for the day,” I say.
“He volunteered,” Vincent calls towards us while showing Dante how to put the wooden pieces of the little house together.
“I don’t think this type of gathering is to his liking,” I chuckle.
“I am certainly not complaining if it means I can join you instead,” Vincent says.
“Come everyone,” Geneva commands. “Dinner is ready.”
“I will go and pick up Flora,” I say. “If she is too tired to join us, I will eat with her.”
Before entering our private living room again, I make sure it’s silent and I am not disturbing anything. When I come inside, Flora is sitting in a rocking chair, gently rocking Liam who is deeply asleep. I need a moment to take in this peaceful picture, and to realize that this is my mate and my baby, and that it’s all very real.
This is my life.
Epilogue #3
*FLORA*
Ialways believed that time would heal all wounds, but today, I know it’s not always that simple. Some wounds will remain with us, but ideally, we will have learned to deal with them in a healthy manner. I still miss Grandma, especially when I think about my own little family and my children, who she will never meet. There are days I still cry over my loss.
It’s similar for Elden. During the last couple of years, he has stopped talking about Caelum. He lets others say or think whatever they want - they are too scared of him to share their unwarranted opinions, anyway. When others ask about his parents, he doesn’t go into detail about what happened. He doesn’t even correct them, unless someone directly insults his mother. I know he doesn’t want to constantly relive the trauma. Now that he is a father himself, I know he realizes how littleconnections he had to his family, and how little love he received while growing up. No one ever paid him any attention when he was a child. Sometimes, he overcompensates with our children, but in whatever he does, he always thinks about them, and me. His family always comes first.
“Do you need help, love?” Elden calls out from the hallway. He is carrying our youngest, Finn, in his arms, who is still fast asleep, while I make sure to get Marius dressed properly.
“I am helping with Mari, Dad,” Liam answers readily.
Indeed, he helps me with getting his brother dressed, even at his young age, already the responsible older brother. It seems to be in his genes because he absolutely loves doting on his siblings. I was scared he would be much more jealous when Marius was born, shortly after him, and then Finn, but to my relief and surprise, Liam immediately loved being an older brother.
With Liam helping me, I get Marius dressed much faster, and soon we all join Elden. I know he is incredibly proud of Liam, and he makes sure to tell him regularly. I can see how hard he tries to be the perfect father. When it was just Liam, he was much more tense; constantly scared of making mistakes. I guess the trauma from his father ran much deeper than he realized himself. But with every passing day, Elden more and more realizes he doesn’t need to constantly prove himself. He is nothing like his father.
“You look wonderful,” Elden tells me with a gentle smile.
“You too.” He really does. He is wearing his best tux and has tied his hair back slightly. He looks fine, especially now that he has grown a beard. I could jump his bones anytime!
