Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 4 My son cries louder, and I reach for him. The man's eyes dart to him before he sniffs the air. I stare back at him, confused, and tug my son to my chest as if he's threatening to take him away from me.

"It's only temporary; please don't call child services," I tell him, and he cocks his head to the side; his gaze appears to be more thoughtful than scrutinizing.

"Does your car run?” he asks, looking at it before he kicks a tire.

"I have no fuel; I will leave tomorrow, I promise," I tell him, panicking. Maybe he was a council worker? I doubted it because of his expensive suit.

He looks at me, his nose scrunching slightly, "you smell familiar," he mutters.

I swallow, wondering if he remembers me, but he doesn't appear to, and I also didn't want him questioning which pack I was from. My father and his Alpha were not on good terms, yet maybe if he could getin to see Alpha Valen, he might help with his son. However, that thought also frightenedhaving to face the man who ignoredand refused to even do a DNA test. He declined to cto check stating my claims were lies, but if he just met him, he would see. We 0.00% ||| 0 < Chapter 4 72% Yourber could always sense our own kin. I stare at the Beta, wondering if he would leave when he pushed the hatchback open further before reaching in. I scooted further back, looking for a weapon in case I needed it.

"Calm down; I can't leave you here knowing you are sleeping in your car with a baby," he says, grabbing the car seat.

"I will leave; just don't take my son," I tell him. He looks atlike I am mad.

"I'm not," and his eyes mean it. "I want to help." He's being sincere.

"You want to help?" I repeat, slightly disbelieving. I must have heard that wrong.

"Con, you can stay at the packhouse until I speak to my Alpha," he says, wavingforward.

"Grab a change of clothes. We can cback to your car tomorrow," he says.

Terrified, I don't move. It had been so long since anyone had helped me. He sighs before grabbing a bag. He grabs a tin formula, the nappy bag, and sof my clothes, stuffing them inside the bag.

"Con, wouldn't you rather have a warm house than a cold car?" he asks. I look down at my son, wondering if I should 14.30% < Chapter 4 288 Vouchers trust him. He grabs the car seat. I climb out, and he handsmy umbrella before shutting my trunk.

"This way," he says, walking to his car. I follow him to his electric blue sports-looking car. I always wonder why he didn't drive to work. And why would he leave such an expensive car at a train station? He puts the seat in before scratching his head. "You know how to clip it in?" he asks, and I nod.

"Okay, you put it in, and I will hold your..." His eyes dart to my son.

"Son," I tell him, and he nods, holding out his arms for him. He takes him from me, and I lean in, making sure to keep an eye on him while I clip the seat in before turning around. Retrieving the baby, I clip him in his chair before climbing in beside him. He then passesthe bag before shutting my door.

He turns the heater on when he hops in before glancing atin the mirror.

"Your son has odd-colored eyes, remindsof my Alpha's. He is the only person I know with amber eyes besides his father," he says. I look at him, and he looks away, looking back at the road. He definitely has his father's eyes, but I keep my mouth shut. Though maybe this would be my chance, he would be able to tell if he saw his own son. We can sense our own family, plus their resemblance was unmistakable.

27.62% ||| 0 < Chapter 4 "Who is your Alpha?" I ask, pretending I don't know.

11 288 Couchers "Valen the Blood Alpha,” he says, his eyes darting to mine in the mirror again, gauging my reaction to his words.

I feel excitement bubble in me, knowing I am correct in who he is.

"He will be fine with you bringing a rogue in the territory?" I ask him.

WWW "He won't be there, and I will speak with him tomorrow." "Are you hungry?" he asks, and my belly rumbles loudly at the mention of food. He chuckles at the noise.

"I will take that as a yes," he says, and my face heats. I give my son his binky, his amber eyes peering atin the darkness of the car.

"What's your name?" "Everly," I answer him.

"Odd name, what pack were you from, or were you born rogue?" "No, I was in a pack," I answer, but I refuse to tell him which one. It was no secret my family's pack and the Blood-Alpha were constantly at war.

43.55% < Chapter 4 "Your name, I can tell you have Beta blood," I tell him.

288 Vouchers "Marcus, and yes, I am Valen's Beta," he says before pulling into a drive thru. I grab my wallet.

"I don't want your money," he says before ordering. He asks what I want, but I don't say anything feeling awkward, so he orders two of the sthing.

"Is he asleep?" he asks, and I look at my son. I nod my head as he pulls up to the next window.

"Climb in the front," he says, which makeslook at my son again, worried.

"I don't bite, climb over," he says while patting the passenger seat, and I unclip my seatbelt before climbing over into the front. Placing the seatbelt on quickly, I notice that he doesn't have a mark on his neck. That means he hasn't found his mate yet. A bite on the neck always meant that anyone, man or woman, had been “marked" by their mate. He opens scup holders and places the drinks in them before passinga paper bag.

"You can eat in the car," he says. I thank him and open his burger box, letting him pull it out.

Marcus pulls over on the side of the road before flicking the interior light on so we can see better before turning in his seat to face me. "Eat. I won't hurt you." 54.58% ||| 0 < Chapter 4 288 Nouchers I open the burger box, the smell making my stomach melt. My hands are shaking as I retrieve the burger.

"Are you cold?" he asks, turning the heat up.

I nod my head. It was a lie. I was fine in the car; it was the fact I hadn't eaten a hot meal in ages or actual food that wasn't canned spaghetti or granola bars. I bite into the burger, and a sob nearly escapes my lips; I am quick to suppress it, so he doesn't hear. I chew slowly, savoring the taste and the warmth. Looking up, I see that he is watchingwhile eating his burger.

I blush, embarrassed that he was staring. He must think I am pathetic. I feel pathetic accepting a stranger's help.

"Thank you," I tell him while taking a sip of the cold coke. It fizzes in my throat and on my tongue but tasted so good.

"Where is your family?" he asks curiously.

"He is my only family," I tell him, looking at my son.

"They tossed you, didn't they, for being unmated?" I swallow, looking down.

"My mother was a single mother, not a rogue, my dad died; she raisedalone, she struggled, but had the pack. Must be hard having no one," he says. I don't say anything. What could 69.39% O < Chapter 4 I say? I am the disgraced daughter of an Alpha.

11 288 Vouchers

We eat in silence, and for the first tin ages, I feel full, yet still, he handshis chips, tellingto eat them before starting the car again. It takes twenty minutes of driving, and I realize we were getting close to my old pack before he turned to the opposite side of the road. It takes another twenty minutes of driving through his territory before he pulls up at a large three-story house. I could hardly see it was that dark, but I could tell it was modern-looking.

"You okay? Stepping across didn't make you feel sick?" I shake my head. It was odd. Usually, rogues feel sick crossing a border, but I didn't. "Huh, odd," he mutters.

"Are you sure it is okay forto stay here?" "Yeah, no one is here, and you can stay in my room tonight; I have pack patrol, so I won't be home." I nod. "The Alpha won't mind?" I ask.

"Na, he won't even know till I see him tomorrow. He is in the city partying tonight; you will have the place to G.O yourself," he says, opening door. He opens the back door, and I climb out before walking around the car and grabbing my son. He places the bag over his shoulder before putting his hand on my lower back, showingto the front door. I watch as he 8364% 111 Chapter 4 unlocks the door before motioning forto enter.