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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a sec,” I call back, checking Valarian before tugging a shirt over the

with a tray in her hands and

must have slipped you by,” Valarie says. I quickly take it from her, and she steps inside, walking

glancing at the old analog

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

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

I didn’t disturb you,” I tell her;

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are, I would have put you in another room, but this is the nicest one left and

that right, sugar? Yes, I love me some baby cuddles,” she says, smiling brightly down at him as she scoops him up into

bag and grabbing some clothes out before rushing to the bathroom. I dress quickly and come back

such a sweet boy,” Valarie babbles to him. He eventually drifts off, and she places him back in bed.

upset? Why

be too much,” I tell her as we unwrap our dinner from the aluminum foil.

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

because it would

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someone to be 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

another side piece so he would stay strong; rejecting mates weakens us, yet I thought it was disgusting he would

pictures, she hadn’t seen her son since he was a baby. He doesn’t even know she exists because her mate told him she died during birth. Her story was tragic and gut–wrenching, yet

ask her, and she shakes her head

still comes in every couple of weeks to stay the night,” she tells

ask her. I needed to

I want to ask you

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The pain… I mean, does it feel like that all the time? Will it feel like

back in her chair, looking towards the window, and she gulps. “You will learn to endure it.

I

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

he can’t fuck right,” she laughs to herself, and I snort at her foul

next for you?”

car, see if I can get my old job back, though he said no last time I

I need help here; not that much

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dump now,” she

do you think? Or do you think it is too much work? I could always burn it?” Valarie laughs again and her