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?

Because of Ashley?” he asks, and I scoff

nothing to me,” Valen says when I start to walk away from him. He grips my arm, turning me back to face him again. I growl at him and try to shake his hand off,

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only tightens.

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being challenged by his mate, or was it just my refusal to bow down to him. Or maybe he was butt hurt that I wasn’t tossing myself

is mine, and you are mine Everly, every inch of you is mine, mine to touch, mine to mark, you are mine to claim, and I will claim you,” I swallow and

swallow, finding myself caged in against the wall by him; his nose moves along my jaw to my neck. The sharp points of his teeth grazed my skin, and my eyes shut, my

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

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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

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

skims under the side of my blouse. I gasp at his touch, and my hands feebly clutch the front of his shirt. I didn’t know if I wanted to pull him closer or

of his abs hidden beneath his

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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 him off, but at the same time, I didn’t want him to stop, I wanted to feel his hands all over me without the clothes in the way.

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 I shouldn’t have taken such a late lunch. I would typically be waiting ať the gate by

I ask, and she nods.

she looks at Valen.

back soon,” Macey says carefully, letting me know Zoe was grabbing Valarian with Casey.

you, Macey; I will be down soon. I just need to deal with

doing, but keep it PG, this is a hotel,” she chuckles,

Chapter 22

cheeks flush.