Page 11 of Lycan’s Hunt

I can only nod, my body still trembling from the aftershocks of my orgasms.

Soren holds me close, pulling out of me and I collapse against him as he moves to lay on the soft mossy floor.

I nestle against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. For the first time in what feels like forever, I allow myself to hope for a future with this man.

I trace lazy patterns on Soren’s chest, relishing the warmth of his skin against mine. I lift my head to meet his gaze, finding a mix of tenderness and uncertainty in his striking blue eyes.

“So,” I begin, my voice barely above a whisper, “where do we go from here?”

Soren’s hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb gently stroking my skin. “I won’t pretend it won’t be complicated.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “The king and a werewolf. I can only imagine the gossip.”

“Let them talk,” Soren says fiercely, pulling me closer.

My heart swells at his words, but anxiety gnaws at me. “There’s so much you don’t know about me, Soren. My past—”

“Tell me,” he urges softly. “Who was your ex-mate? What happened?”

I freeze, panic rising in my throat. If I tell him, he’ll know everything. My true identity, and that nagging part of me tells me he’ll toss me out and believe Rhett. I can’t. Not yet.

“I can’t,” I whisper, hating the hurt that flashes across his face. “Please understand. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but…”

Soren sighs, his brow furrowing. “I respect your privacy, Bree. But I hope one day you’ll feel safe enough to share everything with me.”

I nod, grateful for his understanding. Desperate to change the subject, I ask “Are you prepared for the backlash of being with a werewolf?”

His jaw tightens. “It won’t be easy. There are those in council who will see it as a weakness, a betrayal of Lycan purity. I’ve never cared much for their outdated prejudices.”

I bite my lip, my mind racing. “Your parents… they seemed so accepting when we met. I thought maybe—”

Soren’s expression softens, but there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Bree,” he says gently, his fingers tracing my cheek, “my parents didn’t react negatively because they expect me to change you afterward.”

My breath catches in my throat. “Change me? You mean…”

“Turn you into a Lycan,” he confirms, his voice low. “It’s what they assume will happen. In their minds, it solves the ‘problem’ of our relationship.”

I pull back slightly, my heart pounding. The idea of losing my werewolf nature, of becoming something else entirely… “And you? Is that what you want?”

Soren seems to consider his words before speaking. “If I do want to change you?”

I close my eyes, feeling the pull between us—magnetic, undeniable. When I open them again, Soren is watching me with an intensity that makes my knees weak despite laying down.

I take a deep breath. ”If... if I was to be changed, would it hurt?”