Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 10

Everly POV

We settle in the room, and I wash Valarian down with a wet cloth. It is a little too cold today for me to give him a bath right now. Once Valarian had settled and was napping, I take the longest, hottest shower in ages. I try to wash the memories of last night away.

I found my mate, saw him, and he didn’t recognize me. But worse still was knowing he was with another woman. The agony that it caused as I ran home was heartbreaking as well as painful. When Marcus took me there, I hoped that he would recognize our son and get the help we needed, that maybe everything could be fixed, especially once I realized he was my mate. Allowing hope for the first time in ages, and I caught a glimmer of it only for it to be taken away, and now ! was failing my son once again, that much I did know.

I can’t help but feel like a failure; Valarian would never have a father.. I would never again have mine and how I longed to go home, where I was loved and the cherished Alphas daughter. Instead, I am now ashamed and scum, forbidden to speak to my sister in my father’s eyes. Not even my mother would fight for her grandchild or me. I know she is hurting, but I could never choose anyone over my son, so how could she choose Dad over me?

My life had fallen apart; I didn’t think it could get much worse,

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but then it ripped my heart out too. I thought my luck was changing when he stepped into the bathroom. Every piece of me was screaming for him. I truly realized how powerful a mate bond is for the first time. Nothing thrilled me more, well, until I saw the look on his face.

The way he yelled at me and ordered me off his territory will stain my memory forever. Then, I had my father toss me outside in the rain afterward, forcing me to watch my son being looked after through a damn window out of reach because I no longer deserve human decency from my own family. It was too much to process.

I thought I could do this. I thought I was stronger than this, but everyone breaks eventually. Everyone has a breaking point, and I have reached mine, every damn thing weighing me down suddenly becomes too much, and I break. At least no one could see how fucked up I really am while I cry in the shower, letting the shower wash away my sorrow. It washes out the pain I feel until it brings me to my knees. It is sudden and startlingly clear how alone I truly am.

Loneliness is deafening and cold, no one to tell you it would be alright, no one to help you pick up the pieces, no conversation, and I had lost my sense of self. I was no one now, just a mom, just another rogue whore for everyone to look down at. Even though I am not. He is my mate. He couldn’t even recognize me. I realize how small and insignificant I am to everyone except my baby boy.

Hearing a knock on the door, my head jerks up from where it is pressed to my knees. I get up quickly, shutting the water off

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and grabbing a towel.

“Everly dear, open the door for me.”

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I call back, checking Valarian before tugging a

standing there with a tray in her hands and two plates

I would come to join you in here. The time must have slipped you by,” Valarie says. I

I tell her, glancing at the old analog clock on the wall. Was I really in the shower

dear, I could hear you were upset, so I thought I would come and be an ear to listen,” she says, and

through the pipes. I keep meaning to get someone in to fix it, but no one wants to help a rogue whore,”

disturb you,” I tell her; she waves me

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forget I have been where you are, I would have put you in another room, but this is the nicest one left and is functional.

on; I will watch him. Isn’t that right, sugar? Yes, I love me some baby cuddles,” she says, smiling

says, and I nod, quickly digging through my bag and grabbing some clothes out before rushing to the bathroom. I dress quickly and come back out with my

boy,” Valarie babbles to him. He eventually drifts off, and she places him

you upset? Why

tell her as we unwrap our dinner from the aluminum

tuck in eating, and I tell Valarie everything, bleeding my heart and soul out to her, the pressure lifting off my chest. I didn’t realize how talking to someone who listened could feel so relieving. Valarie also told me she found her mate

anyone because it would bring

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so prejudiced over ranking. The most heartbreaking part was he never rejected her. Instead, he kept her around, refusing to let her go because he couldn’t handle knowing she would belong to someone else.

he would stay strong; rejecting mates weakens us, yet I

him. She said besides pictures, she hadn’t seen her son since he was a baby. He doesn’t even know she exists

her, and she

of weeks to stay the night,” she tells me with a shrug like she never thought about finding anyone else.

a little personal?” I ask her. I needed to know; I needed to know if I would

can ask me anything, but then I want to ask you something,” she says, and I nod.

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woman. The pain… I mean, does it feel like that all the time? Will it feel like that every time he is

her eyes turning glassy. Valarie sits back in her chair, looking towards the window, and she gulps. “You will learn to endure it. After

I welcome

living despite what they do to us. Hold onto that anger because sometimes it is the only thing that will keep you going,” she tells me. “I ́ get a script though, powerful painkillers, they help take the edge off, but if he’s anything like my mate, it is ove quickly before the drugs set in.” She laughs.

and I snort at her foul language, trying to hold my own giggle. She sighs, and

what’s next for you?” she

see if I can get my old job back, though he

need help here; not that much can

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now,” she laughs,

it is too much work? I