Page 20 of Lycan’s Hunt

Chapter 8

• Aubrey •

I turn the tap on and splash cold water on my face, trying to calm the storm inside me. I can’t go back in there—not with Rhett sitting so close, not when everything feels like it’s unraveling.

However, when I step out of the bathroom after stalling as long as I can, he’s waiting.

Rhett grabs me by the arm and shoves me into a nearby corridor, his grip tight, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re coming home with me. You’re my mate, Bree. I won’t have you playing pretend with a king.”

Fear lances through me. “Rhett, let go.”

“You belong with me,” he growls, stepping closer, his breath hot on my face. “Not him. Is that where you’ve been hiding all this time with him, pretending to be your dead sister?”

“What did you expect after what you did?” I snap at him. “To watch you with Bianca? Fucking hurts, doesn’t it?” Rhett growls, and I try to jerk my arm from his grip.

Before I can push him away, Damian walks in. “Everything alright here?”

Rhett loosens his grip, his expression smooths over into something resembling calm. “Yes. Bree was lost. I was just showing her her way back.”

Damian narrows his eyes, gesturing for me to come to him. “I’ll take her from here.”

Rhett steps back, his eyes burning into me as I walk past him, my heart racing. Damian doesn’t ask me any more questions as we head back toward the conference room, but I can feel his suspicion.

When I return, the tension in the room has lessened slightly, however I can still feel the heaviness lingering. Max looks up at me with his big, innocent eyes, a bright smile on his face as if the world isn’t falling apart around us. I force a smile in return, ruffling his hair as I sit back down beside him.

“The meeting’s over,” Soren says softly, his eyes flicking to mine, searching for something. “You alright?”

“Yeah, just tired,” I lie, keeping my tone light. The last thing I need is for him to start asking questions, especially not here. Not with Rhett pretending like nothing is wrong, like he hasn’t just been plotting my fate.

Soren watches me for a moment longer, his gaze lingering before he nods. “Alright. Let’s get out of here, then. Max, ready to go to the movies?”

Max’s face lights up, and he jumps out of his seat, grabbing Soren’s hand. “Popcorn time!” he announces, and for a split second, his excitement manages to cut through the fog of fear clouding my mind.

We make our way out of the building, the cold air hitting my face as we step outside. The sky is dimming, and the city’s lights flicker to life around us as we head toward the theater. Max is practically bouncing beside us, chatting away about the movie, his small hands gesturing excitedly as he describes the scenes from the trailers he watched.

But I’m not really here. My mind is still back in that conference room, still tangled up in Rhett’s threats and the council’s concerns. The idea that war between the packs could spill into the human world is terrifying. I know how dangerous Rhett can be, how reckless he is. And now, with the council breathing down his neck, it feels like everything is on the verge of falling apart.

We make it to the theater, and Soren buys our tickets while Max pulls me toward the concession stand, pointing out all the snacks he wants. I try to focus, try to be present, but everything feels distant, like I’m moving through a haze. I nod along to Max’s chatter, smile when I’m supposed to, yet inside, I’m unraveling.

We sit in the empty theater, Max between us with his arms full of popcorn and candy, while the king’s guards cover all the exits. The lights dim, and the movie starts, but I can’t focus on the screen. The images blur, the sounds fade away while I’m off in my own little world, and all I can think about is the punishment he’s promised if I don’t come back. I know him too well. He won’t just let this go. He’ll come after me—he’ll destroy everything if I don’t find a way to stop him. Yet the idea of telling Soren I know will ruin things; either way I’m screwed. The thought of losing Soren and Max, the life I have built with them is soul crushing.

I glance over at Soren, who’s watching the movie with a small smile on his face as Max laughs beside him. Soren seems so at ease, so unaware of the storm brewing just beneath my surface. Unaware of the guilt twisting in my stomach at having deceived him for so long. Can someone be forgiven for deceiving the person they love? Love, something I never thought I would feel after Rhett, yet I feel it with every fiber of my being when I look at him. I should tell him the truth, but how? How can I admit I’m the thief Rhett framed, that I’m the one they’ve been discussing all day? How can I admit that I’m the reason everything is falling apart?

“Bree?” Soren’s voice reaches me as I stare off into nothingness. I shake my head, snapping out of my thoughts, realizing Soren is looking at me, concern etched clearly on his face. “Are you okay? You seem a little… distant.”

I force a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

Soren watches me for a moment longer, his eyes searching mine, I hold the smile until he finally nods, turning back to the movie. I exhale quietly, relieved he didn’t push the issue while swallowing the lie I just told.

By the time we leave the theater, my exhaustion feels like a weight dragging me down. We pile back into the car, Max falling asleep almost immediately in the back seat, his head resting against the window.

Damian drives us home in comfortable silence, but I can feel Soren’s occasional glances in my direction. I lean my head against the window, the cool glass soothing against my heated skin.

When we get home, Soren carries Max to bed, and I slip into our room, closing the door behind me. I pull out my phone and stare at the screen, not wanting to turn it on but curiosity getting the better of me. I know Rhett; he’ll try to get hold of me, I need to speak to Soren first to explain my side.

Switching it on, I have a million missed calls and texts. But I only look at the last one he sent. Sent a few hours ago. A message from Rhett:

Come home. I’ll forgive you. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret it.