Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 119

We sit down in the empty theater, Max between us with his arms full of popcorn and candy, while the king’s guards cover all the exits. The lights dim, and the movie starts, but I can’t focus on the screen. The images blur, the sounds fade away while I am off in my own little world, and all I can think about is the punishment he’s promised if I don’t come back. I know him too well. He won’t just let this go. He’ll come after me–he‘ Il destroy everything if I don’t find a way to stop him. Yet the idea of telling Soren I know will ruin things, either way I am screwed. But the thought of losing Soren and Max, the life I have built with them is soul crushing.

I

I glance over at Soren, who’s watching the movie with a small smile on his face as Max laughs beside him. His silhouette illuminated under the theater’s lights. Everything feels so surreal. How my life has taken a turn but now it feels like it’s spinning out of control so fast and there are no breaks to slow the spiral I am falling into. Staring at Soren, he seems so at ease, so unaware of the storm brewing just beneath my surface. Unaware of the guilt twists in my stomach at having deceived him for so long. Can someone be forgiven for deceiving the person they love for so long. Love, something I never thought I would feel after Rhett, yet I feel it with every fiber of my being when I look at him. I should tell him the truth, but how? How can I admit that I’m the thief Rhett framed, that I’m the one they’ve been discussing all day? How can I admit that I’m the reason everything is falling apart? How do I break Max’s heart when he learns I am not who I said I am, who they believe me to be. He has lost so much but I

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Chapter 110

know Soren will be furious and probably hand me back to Rhett once he learns the truth and that scares me the most.

as I stare off into nothingness. I shake my head, snapping out of my thoughts, realizing Soren is looking at me, concern etched clearly on his face. “Are

a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine.

I hold the smile until he finally nods, turning back to the movie. I exhale quietly,

Not with Rhett’s threat hanging over me, not with everything I’ve overheard today. The rest of the movie passes in a blur, and by the time we leave the theater, my exhaustion feels like a weight dragging me down. We pile back into the car, Max falling asleep almost immediately in the back seat, his

but I can feel Soren’s occasional glances in my direction. I lean

home, Soren carries Max to bed, and I slip into our room, closing the door behind me. I pull out my

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Chapter 119

288 Merchan

know Rhett he’ll try to get hold of me, and

it on, I have a million missed calls and texts. But I only look at the last one he sent. Sent a few

But if you don’t, Bree, I’ll

coming. I knew Rhett wouldn’t just let me

mind races, a thousand thoughts and fears swirling inside me. What am I