Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 22

Everly POV

The following day, I thought I had made it. I was on top of the world with the celebration. I thought I could go the entire day. without dealing with mate dramas. Once he realized I was his mate, and after his persistence yesterday, I knew it wouldn’t be the last time I would be hearing from him. Valen didn’t seem like the type that was used to being knocked back by a woman. But he had to get used to it. There was no way I would allow my son to be taken from me.

Stepping out of my office, I groan when I see him again. My heart stops in my chest. He is walking down the corridor toward me and was going to turn in the opposite direction to escape out the side door and back to the safety of my apartment before having to retrieve my son from preschool.

“Everly.”

“What? Alpha Valen, I am busy,” I call over my shoulder. He jogs after me.

“Too busy to speak with your mate?” he asks.

“Yep, definitely too busy for you,” I tell him, continuing toward the door that led outside and refusing to make eye contact

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with him.

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“Hmm, so you hire liars here because that cleaner just told me you should be going on your lunch break right now and that you aren’t busy,” Valen says before gripping my arm. Sparks rush up my arm, and I jerk away from his touch as I turn to face him. Valen growls at me, and I glare at him.

“Geez, what is your problem? No need to act repulsed by me,” he snaps at my reaction.

“I never said you repulsed me, but thanks, I will add repulsion to my list of reasons for hating you,” I tell him, though that was a lie. I didn’t hate him, his arrogance and the fact he couldn’t remember me irritated me, but hate was too strong of a word for my mate.

Everything in me was calling me to press against him, to touch him and mark myself with his scent, some primal urge to claim him. But I shove it down, ignoring it. He had my hormones and brain all muddled when he was near, and I wanted to run from him, disliking the feelings he brought out of me. How could I detest and long for someone

simultaneously irritated me?

of Ashley?”

to walk away from him. He grips my arm, turning me back to face him again. I growl at him and try

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only tightens.

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down to him. Or maybe he was butt hurt that I wasn’t tossing myself at him

following words proved the latter. “I have every right to touch what is mine, and you are mine Everly, every inch of you is mine, mine to touch, mine to mark, you are

in against the wall by him; his nose moves along my jaw to my

belong to, and you do belong to me,” he says, his breath fanning across my neck, and I inhale his addictive scent. My own gums tingle with the urge to mark him, claim

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Chapter 22

control, my heart rate increases, and my breathing becomes heavy as his scent wraps around me. Valen moves closer, his entire body against mine, and a deep thrum from his chest vibrates against mine as he purrs into me. Yet my body gives into his calling, the urge to let him take me, overriding common sense. He’s using my own instincts against me. Usually, she–wolves are unable to resist the call of their mates. The sound calls me to give in to my mate on some instinctual level, like a sedative that made my brain suddenly stop working. He nips at my neck, and much as I hate what he’s doing, the thought of him marking me also excites me on some level. The experience was bringing forth feelings for him I thought died long ago, reminding me of the urge to nest when pregnant. The hatred was replaced with a longing or compulsion to do what came naturally but also felt uncontrollable at the same time because it took free will from us; it was all instinct and

still repulse you, Everly, because your body says otherwise?” he whispers against my skin before grazing my neck where his mark should be with his teeth again. I shiver when I feel his lips press against my skin before he runs his tongue

and my hands feebly clutch the front of his shirt. I didn’t know if I wanted to pull him closer or shove him away, my brain and body fighting with each other. But damn, did his body feel good pressed against mine, so warm and my skin

outline of his abs hidden beneath his shirt,

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open at the noise I make. Valen’s hand moves higher before he squeezes my breast through my bra and growls softly before nipping at my jaw. I want to shove

someone clearing their throat makes me jolt back into reality, and I jump while Valen growls menacingly. I push him away from me instantly, the fog lifting. As soon as his touch is gone, I miss it. Looking down the corridor, I see Macey and my cheeks heat, and she raises an eyebrow at me before tapping her fingers on her wrist. My brows furrow, and I quickly glance at my watch. Shit, I had to get Valarian from the rogue preschool; it would close soon. I knew

ask, and she nods.

gone to get,” she looks

soon,” Macey says carefully, letting me know Zoe was grabbing Valarian

be down soon. I

go back to whatever you were both doing, but keep it PG, this is

Chapter 22

cheeks flush.