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It’s been about three years since the last time I’ve been around the second crown prince of the Lycans. My grandmother used to bring him and his older brother here when the Lycan King and Queen were away on business. Ivar Axel is five years older than me and was best friends with my eldest brother, Gavin. Growing up, he and Gavin made it their life’s purpose to infuriate me and my brother Oliver.
“My prince,” I step back and bow.
“Don’t even do that,” he laughs. I smile at him and crouch down to pick up my things.
“Are you okay?” Professor Harrington comes out of the classroom to check on me. I stand up, looking between the two of them. Ivar hands me my belongings.
“I’m sorry for the interruption, Professor. I ran into an old friend. This is Ivar Axel. The second crown prince,” I introduce him so that she can just go back inside and leave me the hell alone.
Is everyone going to ask me if I’m okay? That’s the last thing I need. Maybe leaving school early and having to work twice as hard in the upcoming term, so I’m not set back, isn’t as bad as I think it might be. Then again, the perfectionist in me would
riot.
“My prince,” she bows to him. She looks up at me. For a moment, she considers reaching for me, but she hesitates, then nods. “Be careful.”
“What was that?” Ivar laughs when she goes back into her classroom.
“Don’t ask,” I shake my head. “It’s been a long time, your highness.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but it’s been a long two-”
“Three years,” I correct him.
I was sixteen the last time I saw him. Not long after, I found out I was an omega. I chalked it up to the exact reason why everyone else pulled away. When others heard I didn’t shift, they recoiled as if I had suddenly become contagious.
“Shit, it’s really been that long?” he laughs.
“I’m going to the cafeteria for breakfast. Want to come?”
“Lead the way. You know I love to eat.”
“What brings you to Artume City?” I ask. He takes a deep breath and lets out the heaviest sigh ever. I laugh at how dramatic he still is. That hasn’t changed at all.
“I got in trouble,” he admits. “The night before a huge summit, I went out with some of the alphas in the North, and we got plastered. I didn’t show, and Ragnar benched me for the rest of the year.”
“Ivar,” I say his name, disappointedly. The alphas of the North are known for their wild parties. They’re all a bunch of cowboys.
“I know. I know,” he shrugs. “But honestly, I don’t even care. I’m tired. I hate politics, and my dad wants me to be beta. That means I’d have to walk beside Ragnar for the rest of my life, and I can’t think of anything worse.”
“I thought you guys were close. Did something happen?” I ask.
“Nah, I just hate how planned out his life is. He doesn’t know how to have fun. He’s devoted to sucking up to our dad and
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training to be the new Lycan King. I don’t have that responsibility, and we have an amazing up–and–coming Beta. I don’t see why he’s pushing this so hard.”
“I can think of one thing. You’d be the King’s most trusted. There would be no one better to watch his back than his own brother,” I shrug. He takes two trays off the belt and hands me one.
“Okay, when you put it like that, it makes me sound like I’m entitled,” he smirks.
“Just a little, I laugh. “So, what? You decided to come slum it with us civilians?”
“Actually, I’m here on guard duty.”
“Oh yeah? Who?” I ask, interested.
“You,” he says.
“Me?” I ask, glancing back at him as I reach for a slice of pizza. I snort as I take a few other items. “Why would I need guarding?”
“You tell me. Major General Helvig set the order. My orders are to stay with you until your move to Blackstone. She didn’t specify any details,” he says, glancing at me as if I were hiding some grand secret.
I grab a couple of drinks and get in line for the cash register. My stomach tightens as I play what he said over and over in my head. She couldn’t make it, so she sent Ivar to make sure I made it back in one piece. Santiago is not going to like it one bit. Shit.
“Ms Helvig,” the girl at the register greets me kindly.
“Hey, Steph,” I say. “The two lunches, please.”
“Of course,” she says and rings us up. We take a seat somewhere away from the big crowds.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” he asks.
I reach for my lemonade. The sleeve of my hoodie pulls up. I try not to make it evident that I’m hiding it, but I know he saw it. His playful demeanor instantly fades. He stares at me as I reach for my breakfast pizza slice and take a bite. What am I supposed to do in this situation? Lie? To the crown prince? And then what? I tell him the truth, and he confronts Santiago. This is not going to end well.
“Some shit happened,” I shrug it off.
“Who did that to you?” he asks.
“I mostly did it to myself,” ugh. I just said that.
“Did Santiago hurt you?” he asks, his voice low, and leans forward to hear my answer.
I don’t know how to answer him. I don’t know how to explain what is happening to me. I’m scared. Anything I do or say will be evaluated. Santiago made a choice, and I wasn’t it. Yet things aren’t as black–and–white as that. He sits back without pushing it, and I feel like an idiot for feeling this relieved.
“Can we talk about this later? Where are you staying?” I ask him.
“At the Helvig Estate. There are instructions for you,” he says, reaching into his jacket pocket.
He places the envelope with the royal seal wax stamp on it. I wipe my hands and my mouth before reaching for it. There are envelopes–one for me and one for Santiago. I shut my eyes, already exhausted with where this is headed. I open my letter
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to see it written on the page.
By order of Major General Zaraphine Helvig, Sophia Marie Anne Helvig is to return to the Helvig estate for the remainder of her school term to liquidate all Helvig properties and ensure the safety of all valuables so they may be returned to her in Blackstone.
It’s specified that no outsiders are to enter the house during this time to protect said valuables. It goes on to say that Ivar is here to ensure that everything listed is completed in accordance with the provided schedule. It’s not only signed by my grandmother, but the Lycan King himself. If anyone were to question it, they would have to ask the two of them directly.
“Fuck my life,” I toss the envelope onto the other one.
He’ll know exactly what’s going to happen when the term ends in three months. There will be no hiding it, even if I’m able to convince him for a while. We’ll both know. I wonder if we’re going to make it out of this. If anything will ever be okay again.
“You promise to tell me what’s going on when we get home?” he asks. “I’m going to have to keep him off you, aren’t I?”
“I’d like to think he’s above that, but it’s a probability,” I whisper.
“Okay,” he nods, his expression softening. “I’ll try not to kill him. Although I doubt my brother would hate it when I tell him I mistakenly started a war because someone is hurting you.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
