17. Orchids

seventeen

Orchids

*ELDEN*

V incent has his head bent over a few books, with Jace and me sitting next to him to help him prepare for the extra tests he has to take. We have all met at my place this time; for Jace it’s a welcome escape from home.

“Remember,” Vincent mutters. “We are going for grades that will make me pass, I don’t need to win a prize for best student or anything.” He looks at us. “I don’t know how you guys do it, to get such good grades.”

“Constant high expectations,” I say.

“We are also bored because we aren’t allowed to have friends, aside from each other,” Jace adds.

“Pressure from my father.”

Jace nods. “For me, it’s my mother too.”

“Makes me really appreciate my upbringing,” Vincent says quietly. “My parents had their faults, but everyone has. They…” his voice trails off. “I’m sorry.”

“They loved you,” I say. “That is nothing to apologize for.”

“Though I feel envious as fuck,” Jace sighs.

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “Dad is totally unbearable. It would be weird if he suddenly started to love me now. But Mom did, as well as she could.”

“Yes, she was such a nice woman,” Jace agrees.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the former luna,” Vincent says. “The pack really liked her.”

“Right,” I say, trying to shove the thought of my mother out of my mind, and the fact that no one except for Gamma Tobias and Hazel tried to get her the help she needed. The pack likes her now, but they didn’t really care for her before she died. “Back to topic. You are stalling.”

Vincent groans. “Boy, studying with two alphas will be my end. You are bossy.”

“Yes, but we’ll make you pass your exams,” Jace promises.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Vincent mutters. “But well, no going back now.” He takes one of the books and starts doing the first couple of tasks with Jace, while I’m distracted by feeling Regis’s presence getting stronger all of a sudden.

Someone is coming, he says.

Who?

The annoying one of the elders, Regis grunts before retreating again, clearly not in any mood to handle Samuel now.

I sigh, getting up and leaving my friends to go and greet the older man. The latter is surprised to see me opening the door before he has even knocked. “I sensed you coming,” I say before he can ask anything.

“Your senses are incredible,” Samuel says. “At a tender age already, you and your lycan show incredible talents, and you are only getting stronger each day.”

I am about to reply something snarky, but fight the urge to do so. Samuel and I don’t always get along well, but I give him credit for trying. He just riles me up sometimes. However, that’s no excuse to lash out against him when he didn’t do anything. If I have to take over the pack in a couple of months, then I’d better learn to be mature. “How can I help you?” I ask. “Were you looking for me?”

“Yes,” he says, handing me a couple of books. “For one, these are the books I promised you.” Additionally, he hands me a folder. “Calvin Stewart,” he says.

“And who is that?”

“That’s the young man we decided would be suitable to become your second beta,” Samuel explains. “He is your father’s choice, but I made sure to check his background. He comes from an elite, royal background, he has studied at university and has a degree in chemistry. He is said to be very intelligent, has some tremendous talents such as camouflage, and there is not one black spot in his record.”

“Dad found someone so fast,” I mutter. “I should be surprised, but I am not.”

“I think Caelum does want what’s best for the pack,” Samuel admits. “It is his legacy.”

I don’t comment on that. Anything I’d be able to say would be impolite at best and insulting at worst. “He is older than Vincent and I,” I say while skimming the folder. “Calvin, I mean.”

“Yes, he is a couple of years older. He has fighting experience,” Samuel explains.

“Did you meet him already?”

“Just once with his father. He is a composed young man and very attentive. He can easily focus on certain things and learns fast. You will be a very young alpha, Elden, and despite your many gifts, you and your luna are inexperienced. Calvin is a great strategist, has done undercover work already and is very gifted.”

“Well,” I sigh. “It was part of the deal, but I want to meet him though.”

“Of course,” Samuel says.

“And I want him and Vincent to meet. They will work together, and I need to make sure they get along.”

Samuel nods. “Fair enough. I will set up a meeting.”

When he has left, I open the folder, looking at it in more detail. Calvin is around ten years older than I am with a handsome face and ashen hair. Samuel was right, his gifts are truly incredible, and his record is blemish-free. His only issue is that he seems to lack social skills, but there is a note that says a doctor has claimed he might either be on the spectrum or have ADHD. It’s not a real diagnosis though.

He could as well be socially awkward. I am not so good at that either.

His camouflage skills have to be amazing. He is so smart with using his gift he can make any traces disappear, setting up false traps and leads and manipulating enemies to his liking. It says he helped a pack once, by leading a whole group of rogues astray, and then making them disappear. He even has some shady contacts to the human world, which are helpful for any pack.

“Is that about the new guy?” Jace asks curiously.

I show him and Vincent the folder, watching how they are both in awe about what they are reading. “Goddess, his gifts sound amazing,” Jace mutters. “He must be a genius.”

“Next to him, I look like a loser,” Vincent snorts.

“Actually, I think he enhances your skills and vice versa. The folder says that his weak points are social interactions. That’s exactly where you will fill in,” I point out. “Also, judging by his skills, you are probably going to be the better fighter.”

Vincent looks content. “I’m good at socializing, buddy. I will always have my alpha’s back-“ he wiggles his brows. “Or his ass.”

Jace laughs while I smack Vince with the folder. “Please leave my ass out of this.”

“When are you going to meet him?” Vincent asks, skillfully shifting the topic.

“Samuel is organizing something,” I say. “I told him I want you to come too.”

“Got it,” Vincent says.

“Now, back to studying,” Jace says. “We have already wasted enough time.”

Another knock at the door rips us out of our studies. This time, I was too distracted to notice anyone approaching us. “Who can it be now?” Jace asks.

“We’ll see,” I say while opening the door, surprised to see the man in front of me. “Beta Oliver?”

“Young Alpha,” he says seriously. “It’s your mate. It seems like something happened and-“

I don’t let him finish his sentence, my mind suddenly running in circles on its own. Flora! Something happened to my mate! Regis pushes forward, and we knock Oliver aside and dash out of the room. Oliver calls my name, but there is no stopping me if Flora is in danger. I make it out of the pack house and to her cottage in record time. Only when I’m there do I realize I still feel the bond to her, and there is no sign that she is hurt or frightened.

Regis calms down as well, letting me push him to the back of my mind again.

“Elden,” Vincent calls out to me, making me turn around to see that Jace, Oliver and Vince have been following me.

“She isn’t in danger, Young Alpha,” Oliver yells, as he rushes closer. “I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression. Lady Flora just asked me to tell you to drop by when you are done studying.”

I still feel worried, despite his words of reassurance.

“What’s going on?” Hazel peeks out of the front door, surprised when she sees our little gathering

“It’s my fault,” Oliver mutters. “I made it accidentally sound like Flora was in some sort of danger.”

“Yeah,” Vincent mutters. “The way you said it, I thought something happened too.”

Jace nods. “Agreed. I thought she got hurt.”

Hazel rolls her eyes. “Really, Oli? You should know better than to upset an alpha when it’s about his mate.”

“So, is she alright?” I ask Hazel.

“Of course, dear,” Hazel smiles at me. “She and her friend Janice made dinner for me. I felt tired today, and the girls wanted to help.”

Flora told me that Hazel is feeling exhausted a lot recently, something that worries the both of us. “Hazel, if you need more help, tell me anytime. I will make sure to either help myself or send one of the maids for support.”

“Look at that,” she chuckles. “The perfect grandson-in-law already. Don’t worry, I’m fine. Just need to rest my cranky old bones a bit.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “Glad you are both okay.”

“Now that the three of you are here, why don’t you come in,” Hazel offers. “I’m sure the girls would be happy. They are currently in Flora’s room.” She nods at me. “You know the way.”

I feel slightly flustered by the way her lips curl into a smirk, indicating she is well aware of how much time I actually spend in Flora’s room.

“We are done studying, anyway,” Jace says, eager all of a sudden. “I wouldn’t mind hanging out with Flora and Janice.”

“Goddess,” Vincent groans. “You two are whipped.”

Jace furrows his brows. “I am not-”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” Vincent buts in, sounding bored.

Hazel interrupts their argument before it can even start, by ushering them inside while turning to Beta Oliver. “We need to have a talk.”

“Really?” he groans. “I swear, I didn’t mean to upset the young alpha.”

“Yeah, suit yourself and grab something to drink,” she chuckles. “I will meet you on the terrace.”

I don’t wait to hear what they are talking about and hurry inside. Flora already expects me, waiting at the top of the staircase. “Elden!” she exclaims, running towards me and tugging me along to her room. “Finally, you are here!”

Her anxiety and excitement remind me of the fact that, initially, Oliver came to fetch me on her demand. “Is something wrong?” I ask.

“No,” she says.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Janice intervenes, when I make it into the room.

“What do you mean?” Jace asks, instantly appalled.

“Just that I’m not sure if there is really no reason to worry,” she points out.

“It’s the flower,” Flora says. “The ghost orchid.”

“The one we saved as kids?” I ask, turning to face said flower.

Vincent follows my gaze and almost jumps backward. “What the fuck is wrong with that thing? Is that some sort of mutation?”

“That one bud is even bigger now than the last time,” I mutter.

“This is kind of creepy,” Jace says.

The bud moves slightly, startling all five of us. “Tell me I’m not the only one who just saw it moving?” Janice asks nervously.

“I saw it too,” I say.

Flora scoots closer curiously. “We all did,” she whispers, bending her head over the closed bud. I instinctively move closer to her to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. That thing looks like it’s exploding any second.