Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 32 Everly POV I had been trying to avoid the conversation all night, but Valarian followedaround 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 followedaround 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, leavingwith 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.

0.00% <+ 0 ||| = O Chapter 32 "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." 288 iVouchers "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 13.16% (+ O Chapter 32 288 Vouchers 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 tin 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 cutsoff, 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 tossedaway when they found out I was 22.93% x+ ||| O < Chapter 32 288 iVouchers pregnant with you; they threwaway because I was a rogue whore." "But the officer, he said this Valen was your mate, that I looked like him." Of all the times Valen could mess with me, why did it have to be when my son was present to witness? "Alpha Valen is your father. He is also my mate," I admit to him.

"Then why isn't it safe? He has a pack. We could be a real family." "We are real family Valarian; we don't need him to be a real family. We have Zoe and Macey and everyone here," I explain.

"It's not the same," he protests.

"It is. How do you know how it would be different?" "It's not!" he screams at me.

"Sometimes family isn't what you expect it to be, Valarian. My family doesn't want me, they don't want you. You have people here that are family to us. They want us." "And my father? Would he wantif he knew about me? 34.56% x+ O < Chapter 32 18 222 doces Does he want you?" I drop my head, and my shoulders sag.

"It's not safe." "Why?" Valarian screams, his face turning red.

"Because he will take you from me!" I yell back at him when Zoe comes out.

"Everly?" Zoe asks before pointing at the door. I hadn't realized how angry I had become, and Valarian looked atfor the first twith 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 lets her comfort him, something I should be doing and not her.

"Go! Run it off, Everly," Zoe says, and Valarian rushes off to his room.

"Valarian!" I call after him, but Zoe grips both my arms.

"Go, calm down. You can talk to Valarian tomorrow when everyone is more levelheaded." ** *** Valen POV Officer Richards rang just as I was getting ready to sit down for dinner. I smile as I see the phone ring, wondering how long 43.03% ||| O < Chapter 32 1288 iVouchers it would take before I received an angry call from Everly, complaining about officers harassing her and her friends.

"Richards," I answer.

"Alpha, I did what you asked, but no more, I can't do it tomorrow." "And why is that?" "Well, for one, she threatenedwith you for starters, and secondly, I don't want to ruin my chances with Zoe." "What do you mean to ruin your chances with Zoe?" "I um, turns out my son has a daughter, she agreed to letbring Olena to meet her." "Wait, Micah has a daughter?" I ask, perplexed.

"Yes, Zoe's child is my granddaughter; I met her today when I pulled her over." I sigh, no doubt Micah had sexplaining to do, and he'd wanna do the right thing by Zoe and her kid.

"That's fine, Richards. You have done enough," I tell him.

52.08% 111 Chapter 32 11 288 5/5sckers "Thank you Alpha, I can send you the tickets if you like?" "No, it's fine. I trust you," I tell Officer Richards before hanging up. Well, that was short-lived. I had barely placed my phone down when it rings in my hand again and I see my father's face pop up on the screen. Marcus was quietly stewing over his car and sitting across fromwhen I hand him the phone.

He glances at it and grits his teeth before rolling his eyes and answering it.

"Alpha Kalen," he answers in a bored tone. I hear my father ask where I am before Marcus answers.

"He is taking a shit, ate something, and 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 runny bum, crapped his pants in the elevator too, shit explosion." My fists clench, and Marcus smirks at me, knowing if I speak, he would have to puton the phone.

"I will be sure to tell him, night Alpha," Marcus hangs up the phone, and I growl at him.

"Was that fucking necessary?" I snap at him.

"Answer your own damn phone then," he retorts.

59.88% ||| Chapter 32 288 iVouchers "Oh, and your father recommends gastro stop, apparently you can get it from a chemist," he taunts.

"What did he want?"

"He wanted to know if you made your mind up about Ava," Marcus shrugs before cutting into his steak.

ьшая I not marrying that woman; I wanted nothing to do with Alpha John, and the fact my father meddled still tickedoff.rejecting her would undoubtedly cause a war between packs, but I refuse to marry that girl. "Richards?" he asks. I shrug.

"He said he won't help anymore." "So that's it, she gets away with wrecking my car?"

"She didn't wreck your car. Besides, I am planning on heading over there tomorrow, you can cif you mif you want?" smile, and his eyes light up. Marcus had been beggingto take him there all day so he could give her a piece of his mind. "About time, I get to meet this woman that has you swooning and begging at her feet. Plus, I want to meet the woman who trashed my car and thinks she can get away with it," he adds I roll my eyes at his tics.

"Oh, she can get away with it because she is my mate." 70.78% +4x+ 111 O Chapter 32 288 ¡Vouchers "If you expectnot to say something to her, you are sadly mistaken; she crossed the wrong Beta." "You do realize you are her Beta too, right?" "Only once you mark her.!" "Be nice," I tell him, digging into my dinner. I can't help but feel the excitement bubble up within me, knowing I would be going to see her tomorrow.

"What do you plan on doing about your father?” Marcus asks me, and I don't think I have another choice but to tell him now. It would be best we sorted this feud out before it becan all-out war.

"Maybe tell him you found your mate," Marcus offers, and I nod. "Yeah, I don't think I have a choice now," I tell him honestly, and he hums in agreement.

"All I know is I can't wait to meet her. If she has you this worked up, I bet she is a real crazy one in person," he laughs. I glare at him, and he shrugs.

"Well, she must be crazy. Who rejects an Alpha, especially a rogue woman?" he says.

81.37% ||| < Chapter 32 "Any luck on her last name?" I ask him.

1288 Vouchers "Nope, not really. I did find a Summers, however, but it was a maiden name." "Are you going to leavein suspense or tell me, maybe that's how she becrogue, maybe she divorced someone?" "Doubtful, and I doubt there is any relation because I could not see the Alpha shunning a family member." "There is no Alpha's with the last nSummers," I tell him, confused on what he was getting at.

"No, not an Alpha but a Luna; Summers is the maiden nof Alpha John's wife. Claire Summers," Marcus tells me. I sigh, another dead end.

However, something bothered me.

Something Ava had said to her father before he cut her off. I'm sure it was ve a coincidence. If Alpha John had apother child, we would know about her by now, just look at Ava; she was already a handful for him, and if he had another child. Indeed, he wouldn't be allowing the wayward one to be his successor if that were the case. *** ** 90.57%