Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 41

~Aubrey~

A couple of days later.

The sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room filled with memories of Granny. I’m on the floor, surrounded by papers and old photographs, each item a reminder of the loss that stings and aches like a fresh wound.

Granny always said she wouldn’t leave me with any burdens, but now I’m left with the burden of figuring out how to pay for her cremation. I had just found out that Granny didn’t have funeral insurance. She never wanted to be a bother, one she could hardly afford, but also always insisting on living simply and said just to toss her to the forest yet I don’t think she realized I can’t just dump her body at random. So in her passing, she left me with a heavy weight on my shoulders.

As I sift through her belongings, I’m desperately trying to find anything of value, anything that might help cover the costs. I come across an old shoebox, worn and yellowed with time. Inside, I find a stack of letters tied together with a faded ribbon. I recognize Granny’s handwriting immediately.

Trembling, I untie the ribbon and my stomach sinks further when I realize they are all letters to my mother that had been returned to sender, unopened my mother just sent them back.

I trace the delicate contours of the crumpled envelopes, their creases marking the passage of time and the pain Granny must have felt. Every one of them unopened…never

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Chapter 41

read…returned like a slap on the face.

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and my mother for as long as I can remember, since we lost Brielle.

from Granny meant for my mother, filled with hope and heartache in equal measures. It’s like opening a window

all too real. Each attempted reconciliation, every plea for

sorrow and then suddenly, outrage. It’s like a dormant volcano that had been denied its rightful release.

reaching out to a daughter who didn’t want

out a choked sob. The tears

a knock at the door, a forceful rap that startles me. I stare at the door for a second wondering who it would be before I stand up hastily, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand as I walk towards the door. My heart jumps into my throat when I see that

trails off as he takes in my tear

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says again, this time his voice soft yet firm,

outside Granny’s little house in this tiny town… I stare at him wondering why

come in?” He asks politely, his voice

flutter in my chest but quickly squash it down; that’s not love, but

induced by losing Granny. “What do you want?”

he asks, his voice betraying his

to sort through Granny’s

you haven’t come in. I thought you might have fled. So I wanted to check on you.” I swallow nervously. Is he going to tell me

“What are you looking for?” he inquires, noticing the clutter.