Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 32

Everly POV

I had been trying to avoid the conversation all night, but Valarian followed me around the hotel like a bad smell, and as we went to the apartment, I had no choice but to face the pint–sized Alpha. I never thought I would fear my son, but his aura was in full force. All afternoon, people had been glancing at him as he followed me around the hotel while I worked. I could see their curiosity, and this afternoon there was no way I could deny what he was, that he was an Alpha child.

Even Zoe had been wary around him, and as soon as we finished for the day, she practically bolted to bathe Casey, leaving me with my fuming son. Valarian slams the door loudly as he walks in after me. I wasn’t used to him acting out of anger, he never even threw tantrums as a baby. At least he held his tongue while I finished our work. When I’m finally done, I take my shoes off to rest a bit. But there is no hiding from his ever–present gaze. The officer had said too much in front of him.

“You lied to me,” Valarian states as I flick on the kettle. I grab two mugs down from the cupboard, intending to make him hot chocolate, but he smacks my hands as I go to set the mugs on the counter, the glass shattering on the ground at my feet. I press my lips together at his acting out. I know he is mad, but there was no need for that.

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“Enough,” I snap at him, and he glares at me.

“You lied,” he says before growling, which startles me.

“I did not lie; I just didn’t tell you the whole truth.”

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“You said my father wasn’t your mate. You said he didn’t live in this city,” he accuses.

“I never said that; you just assumed he didn’t live here, and I simply let you believe you were correct.”

ex

“I hate you,” Valarian snarls at me, tears burning his eyes. His words twisted my stomach painfully, and I’m hit with waves of guilt.

“Valarian, you don’t understand. It isn’t safe for you to know him,” I try to explain.

“Why? I hate that everyone says you are a rogue whore. That everyone treats us differently. I see the way people look at you because we aren’t part of a pack because you don’t have a mate,” Valarian says.

“We don’t need him, I don’t need him, we do fine on our own,” I try to tell him while trying to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“You may not want him as a mate, but I want my dad. I don’t

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want to be the rogue whore’s son, I don’t want to be treated the way everyone treats you, I want my dad,” Valarian cries.

Pain radiates through my chest at his words, the rogue whores–son. He hated how people saw me, saw him, and that realization hurt more than anything else he had said. It was one thing for an adult to be embarrassed but for him to be embarrassed for who people think I am. For the first time in a long time, I was ashamed of the title bestowed on me. I rub a hand down my face trying to find a way to explain.

“Well, you can’t have him, he…”

“Does he know about me?” Valarian cuts me off, and I look at him. His bottom lip quivers, and a tear escapes and rolls down his cheek. I reach for him again, but he steps away from me.

“Does my dad know I exist?” he asks again.

“As I said, Valarian, it isn’t safe.”

“For you or for me?” he demands. This boy was so much more intelligent than I gave him credit for, more observant than I even realized. He was far more advanced than he should be for a child of his age.

“He doesn’t, does he? Was everything you said a lie? What about your family?”

I sigh. “My family tossed me away when they found out I was

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they threw me away because I was a rogue

said this Valen was your mate, that I looked

with me, why did it have to be

Valen is your father. He is also my

it safe? He has a

a real family. We have Zoe and Macey and everyone here,”

the same,”

do you know how it would be

screams

me, they don’t want you. You have people here that

he want me if he

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want you?” I drop my head, and

“It’s not safe.”

Valarian screams, his

from me!” I yell back at him when Zoe comes

hadn’t realized how angry I had become, and Valarian looked at me for the first time with fear in his eyes. Startled by his fearful expression, I look down to see my claws had slipped out. Zoe tugs Valarian away from me, and he

and Valarian rushes off

him, but Zoe grips

down. You can talk to Valarian tomorrow when everyone is more levelheaded.”

**

***

Valen POV

down for dinner. I smile as I see the phone

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angry call from Everly, complaining about

“Richards,” I answer.

no more, I can’t

why is that?”

she threatened me with you for starters, and secondly, I don’t want

to ruin your chances

son has a daughter, she agreed to let me bring Olena

has a daughter?” I ask, perplexed.

is my granddaughter; I met her today when I pulled her

explaining to do, and he’d wanna do the right thing by Zoe and her

Richards. You have done enough,” I

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I can send you the tickets if

rings in my hand again and I see my father’s face pop

grits his teeth

in a bored tone. I hear my father ask where I am

has been running back and forth from the toilet all night.” I grit my teeth and glare at him from across the table, and he smiles. “Yep, has a severe case of

knowing if I

sure to tell him, night Alpha,” Marcus hangs up the phone, and I

necessary?” I snap at

own damn phone then,” he

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