Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 16

Two months later

17 258 Weuchers

Today is the day, the last inspection to say whether or not all our hard work had paid off. Macey, Zoe, and I watch as Valarie talks to the health and safety inspector from the balcony. He had walked around the entire building with his measuring tape and torch, his clipboard tucked under his arm and pen behind his ear as he went over every nook and cranny in the place.

We secretly call him the birdman. His nose looks more like a beak, his beady little eyes too far apart. Macey snorts when a gust of wind has him clutching his toupee. It is chocolate brown and not even close to the graying on the sides of his head. Valarie watches over his shoulder as he makes notes on his clipboard on the front lawn, giving the place one last scrutinizing look before shaking his head in disbelief.

He tears off the piece of paper and hands it to Valarie, who stares at it. He walks over to his red sedan and climbs in while Valarie stares at the form.

“Come on, we should go see what birdman says needs to be done this time,” says Macey. Zoe and I went to retrieve our kids from our room, who played happily in their playpen with their blocks. Scooping up Valarian, I set his feet on the ground, and we carefully walk down the steps to the ground

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floor. He started walking earlier than expected. Last month he just stood up and took his first steps. He was smart for his age. Which is impressive given all the trauma he has been through.

Valarie is still standing in the yard, staring up at the hotel. We approach cautiously, and I can’t quite decipher the look on her face.

“He said four rogue women would never accomplish anything on our own without help, ladies,” Valarie says, and I sigh, wondering what he has told her needs fixing.

We stop beside her and look back at the huge building. No more peeling paint, the exterior is a beautiful white with blue and light gray trims, the hedges cut to perfection, the roof painted a deep gray, flowers hung from the top and along the hand railings. It looks like a brand–new place.

I lost track of the number of times doubts rained down on us, but now standing out the front looking upon the building a year later, I realize all the blood, sweat, tears, frustration and anger when people refused to help, were all worth it. Four rogue women with no future, no help, and just pure determination gave this run–down hotel a new life.

Every callous, every blister, every cut and graze was all worth it, along with every sleepless night. It all paid off and seeing the look on Valarie’s face is priceless. She is a tough woman, with an even tougher exterior, yet not even she can hide her emotion as we stare at what we accomplished.

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“So, what’s the verdict?” I ask, looking our hard work up and down.

we are now open for business,” Valarie

say before stopping. I look at Valarie, her lips tugging up at the corners, and Macey looks around

said?” Macey asks

open for business; we did it, girls,” Valarie says, and we all erupt in squeals of joy, jumping up and down excitedly. Macey howls loudly, and we join

and cheering, but we didn’t care. We did it. We did the impossible. But most of all, we proved to ourselves that we could do anything with a

to everyone who said it was impossible that they were wrong and that we were more than just four rogue whores with an unrealistic idea. That unrealistic

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and I ran that ideal past Valarie last month. Now we only need a chef for the restaurant

we decide that everyone we hire would be rogue women. A hotel owned and run by

It was hard work interviewing everyone, but once we opened, we had fifty staff on rotational shifts. All that was needed was a head chef. But for now, Valarie and I would have to make do. Valarie is an excellent cook and had

of wine while I hold the glasses. Hearing a

I ask before

while walking into the storerooms. I see Valarie hunched over, having a coughing fit, the worst one I had seen her have as she gasped for air. The wine glasses

watching everything in slow motion as I see her clutch

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me not to worry when she coughs again. Blood sprays from her lips and dribbles down her chin as her eyes glaze over. Before I know it, she is falling, her skin pasty and covered in a cold sweat.

her hand weakly grabs my arm

Valarie starts choking, her hand clutching my arm as I turn her head, so she doesn’t choke on her own blood while she gasps

Val, help is coming,” I tell her as Zoe races in, grabbing Valarian as he walks out and nearly walks over the broken glass. Zoe holds both babies, clutching them as she looks

of the woman who had the biggest heart in the world. I admired her strength, a woman I saw bigger than life and gave me a home. My heart broke when she squeezed my arm, trying

flat out,” Macey says, pacing. Twenty

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rogue; no one cares for rogues, not even the health system. Valarie turns

barely audible, and I look

at Zoe.

I tell her. Macey grabs him bringing him over so she can

tells me; I nod, wiping the tears that were dripping off my chin. Valarian pats her arm, not understanding, and Valarie smiles. I move her hand for her so she can touch his little foot that was beside her, she closes her eyes, and I see a tear slip down