Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 240

Aubrey

Max’s soft snores fill the quiet of his room as I gently pull the blanket up over his small shoulders. His toy soldier is still clutched tightly in his hand, even in sleep, his little fingers curled protectively around it. His cheeks are streaked with the remnants of tears, and his eyelashes are still damp. My heart clenches as I lean down to press a kiss to his temple.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, afraid to disturb the fragile peace of his sleep. He shifts slightly, nuzzling into his pillow, and I smooth a hand over his dark curls before standing.

The soft light from his bedside lamp casts a warm glow over the room, but it feels heavy in here. Suffocating, almost. As if the weight of everything that just happened still lingers, curling in the corners like shadows. I flick off the lamp and quietly slip out, leaving the door cracked just enough to hear him if he calls out in the night.

The hallways are silent as I make my way back to our room. My bare feet make no sound on the cool stone floor, but my mind is anything but quiet. I can still hear Max’s desperate sobs, his cries for Soren not to hurt Mavis. The memory makes my chest ache.

I push open the door to our room and step inside, closing it softly behind me. The dim light from the bedside lamp illuminates Soren sitting on the edge of the bed, his broad shoulders hunched, his head in his hands. His usually

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Chapter 240

gone, replaced by a man who

who always seems so unshakable, so strong, looks like he’s carrying the weight of the entire world–and in many ways, he is.

barely making a sound against the plush carpet. He doesn’t look up as I approach, his fingers digging into his hair, his elbows braced on his knees. His entire posture screams off for the man

His entire body tenses under my touch, his shoulders stiffening as if he’s

whisper

his eyes meet mine, my breath catches. I’ve never seen him like this. His blue eyes, usually so clear and focused, are rimmed red, glassy with unshed tears. His jaw is tight, his lips pressed into a thin line, but

I can say anything, he reaches for me, his hands gripping my waist as he pulls me into him. His arms wrap around me tightly, and his face buries into my chest as he finally

tears from his throat, and I feel his entire body shake against me. My

rest my chin lightly on top of his

I

afraid, I’ll disappear if he lets go. His tears soak into the fabric of

have known,” I tell him. “You didn’t have a