Page 68 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince
Calvin looks flustered. “That’s my lack of social skills.”
“Nah, it’s okay, because you are right. It is your job, and we don’t know each other well yet to consider it anything else.”
“How did you learn your social skills?” he asks me bluntly. “Your parents were pretty terrible too, weren’t they?”
He is certainly not one to hold back. Good thing I have Vincent around me, because there is no way I would be able to take Calvin with me to some of the tense, sensitive political meetings. Well, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. “My mother was actually a kind woman, just not very present due to her illness,” I explain. “As for my father, it’s true that we don’t have any real relationship. I was lucky though, because I met Flora when we were children, and I was always friends with Jace.”
“The future Alpha of Emerald Moon?”
I nod. “And then, there is Flora’s grandma and the two elders who are living here. I was never alone.” I look at him. “What about you?”
“I was always alone,” he says. “I don’t have any friends, to be honest. I always had issues making friends when I was smaller. You know, I was a problematic child and my parents couldn’t care less, well, I got used to it. And now, as an adult, it’s more difficult to get to know someone.”
I wait for him to say more, but he seems to want to keep it vague. I am the last one to force someone to reveal their past trauma. It seems like he had a lonely upbringing. “Well, Vincent makes up for your lack of social skills,” I say. “Now I see why the elders said having two betas would be recommended. I heard you will help Vincent with his studies?”
“Yes, he needs to pass his exams and graduate,” Calvin says promptly. “There is no place for failure. I will make sure he gets through his classes.”
Man, he really says the weirdest things in the weirdest way, sometimes. “Just make sure to be nice to him. He went through rough times, and it’s commendable that he agreed to going back to school. It’s true that Geneva used her contacts and made sure that he only needs to join the last grade, but still…”
“Don’t worry,” Calvin says. “He is not stupid. When I talked to him to check on his progress, it became obvious that he is pretty smart. I wouldn’t want to work together with an idiot, anyway.”
I groan at his words.
“Too blunt?” he asks.
“Way too blunt!” I point out.
“But it’s just the both of us,” Calvin says. “I thought it’s okay to be blunt when it’s you and Vincent. I would never say something like that in front of others.”
“If you put it like that,” I muse, “then there is nothing I can say against it. I appreciate you being honest with me. As long as you don’t disrespect me or anyone else.”
“I would never do that,” he promises. “Tell me if I am out of line. I cope well with direct feedback.”
“Okay.” I stretch slightly, carefully getting out of my bed. I still feel wobbly on my legs, but it’s doable. My headache is gone completely, not even the usual ache remains. I guess that was it. Now that Regis and I know what’s happening with our mind, we can work with our gift instead of against it. “I need to walk a few steps to get my circulation moving.”
“Good,” Calvin agrees, much to my surprise.
“I thought you would be against it,” voicing my surprise. “Shouldn’t you tell me that I should take it slow, not overstrain me or whatever?”
Calvin shrugs. “I am not your father, nor am I your brother,” he says.
“You and Vincent are going to be an interesting combination,” I mutter. With Flora in the mix, it’s going to be even more prone to tension, I add in my mind. But, we’ll have to manage somehow. I am sure the four of us will find a common ground of respect for each other.
Calvin doesn’t comment on my last words, and just shrugs. He doesn’t seem to mind. That’s quite interesting about him. I thought he would be easily offended, considering his rank and his upbringing, but he doesn’t seem to mind when I tell him my opinion.
“Let’s get out of the infirmary,” I say. “I just want to tell the doctor that I am leaving.”
“I will accompany you,” Calvin says. “Or your luna will be cross with me.”
“Yes, you better not upset her,” I say. I can suddenly feel Regis’ emotions so strongly. He is proud of our mate, and he loves that he has such a strong counterpart. Although he hasn’t met Celeste in wolf form yet, he is already connected to her. He is a dominant and strong lycan, and we are both happy that he got a lycan mate who can keep up with him.
There is no messing with Flora.
“What’s the future luna’s gift?” Calvin asks me.
“We don’t know yet,” I tell him. “Her lycan is holding her gift back until she is eighteen.”
“The prophecy mentioned she is special,” Calvin muses. “It makes sense. Her lycan probably wants her to be at her full power before getting her gift, and that’s only once she is eighteen.”
