Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 2

“Are you okay?” I panic, hoping he hasn’t hit his head in the gutter, just as the car tears off down the road, not even bothering to stop to see if I’m okay. I grip his face, checking him over, before realizing we have gathered a crowd.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” His little voice cracks with the weight. of the chaos he had unwittingly unleashed. Tears carve clean paths down his dirt–smudged face, his innocence laid bare in the sun’s harsh light.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I rasp out, my throat tight with having the air smashed from my lungs and my skin burning violently. He has a scraped knee, but other than that, he looks to be okay.

“Are you hurt?” I manage to ask, though my body screams in protest. The pain is sharp, consuming almost, but my wolf will heal me in no time. This little man, however, is too young to have a wolf yet.

His small head shakes, sending droplets of tears flying. I let out a breath of relief and stand when I hear the crowd’s

murmurs before shouts resonate loudly and the crowd of people part, making way for someone.

I hadn’t even regained my footing when he appeared- shoving people out of the way; he was chaos personified in a tailored suit.

“Max!” he stammers, closing the distance in heartbeats, sweeping the child into his arms.

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Chapter 2

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frame; the man is tall and muscular, towering over me as

any lady’s wet dream. Though his aura is another thing entirely, everyone scatters to get away from him as it ripples out violently. My knees shake slightly as I fight not

Max, he resembles his father in a smaller, younger version, with the same piercing blue

in his father’s arms, his small hands gripping onto the fabric of his shirt. My own body trembles at the intensity of the man’s aura, a strong force that seems to emanate from him in waves, and a growl rips out of him when people edge closer; the sound is a deep menacing thrumming, warning those close to back away. That sound has goosebumps lacing my skin instantly, and my neck. prickles with the urge

exceeds that of Rhett’s. It also makes me wonder who he is when I notice men clad in tailored suits suddenly surrounding us;

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wash over me. The air around us seems to thicken

and rich, a perfect counterpoint to the fearsome aura that had just moments before left me trembling. He steps closer so his aura doesn’t affect me as much as those around us, almost like I’m suddenly shielded by it. It’s a weird sensation as it ripples over me, but I don’t have that overwhelming urge to submit to him. He must be a powerful alpha

as his aura radiates dominance and danger. I catch a whiff of sweat and adrenaline from the crowd

tightly; I nod, trying to catch my breath when he pulls back, taking in his son’s face.

voice deep, each word laced

and sure, crush the trembling boy against his chest, holding on to him like he is afraid the boy will vanish if he

beneath me, protesting the sudden shift from

by strain. A smile attempts to