Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 163

Leverage. The word hangs in the air, ominous and dark. I don’t know what kind of leverage Rhett thinks he has, but it’s enough to give him the confidence to gamble everything- enough to make him think he can control a vampire king, the council, and the packs. His arrogance is terrifying, the kind of delusion that leaves destruction in its wake, and I realize with sickening clarity that he truly believes he can pull this off.

Something shifts inside me then, a spark of defiance flaring to life. I won’t let this be my end. I won’t let him use me as a pawn in his twisted game. My desperation sharpens into resolve, hard and unbreakable. I’m going to get out of here, and I’m going to stop him, no matter the cost.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and in that moment, I feel it–the faintest prickling at the tips of my fingers, the familiar, comforting ache of my claws slipping free from my fingertips. For a second, I freeze, hardly daring to believe it. The wolfsbane is wearing off.

Without hesitation, I twist my hands, angling my claws against the thick leather straps binding my wrists. The movement scrapes my skin, reopening the cuts that already sting with rawness, but I grit my teeth and keep going, sawing at the restraints with everything I have. My claws tear through flesh and leather alike, slicking my wrists with my own blood and making the metal table beneath me cold and slippery. The pain is sharp, searing, but I don’t stop–I can’t. This is my only chance.

“I know what I’m doing,” Rhett retorts, his voice rising, thick

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Chapter 163

“You need to stop questioning me!”

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You think you can just manipulate a council, an entire pack, a vampire king? You’re

through the room, and I can almost picture his eyes flashing with fury. “I didn’t kill my own father and orchestrate all of this just to have you question me now. This is happening, Bianca. I’ll reshape the packs, take the council, and reign over this city the way it was meant to be ruled. I’ve sacrificed too much to let anyone ruin this.” I clench my teeth, sawing faster, feeling the strap start to give under the pressure. I don’t have

fuck’s sake, Bianca, I know what I am doing!” he

pounding so loudly I fear

you?” Bianca scoffs. “Because from

snaps, and I yank my wrist free, ignoring the sting of torn skin and the slick warmth of blood coating my hand. I quickly reach over to tear

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Chapter 163