Page 21 of Lycan’s Hunt

My hands tremble as I read, bile rising in my throat. I knew this was coming. I knew Rhett wouldn’t just let me go. He’ll never stop until he has me back, until I’m under his control again.

I swallow hard, closing the message and sinking onto the bed. My mind races, a thousand thoughts and fears swirling inside me. What am I going to do? How long can I keep running? How long can I keep this secret from Soren?

I sit there in the dark, clutching my phone, my pulse racing as the weight of Rhett’s threat presses down on me.

I don’t know how much longer I can handle this.

I’m getting out of the shower when Soren returns. Wrapping a towel around myself, I step into the bedroom to hear him sigh loudly.

“Are you okay?” I ask him and he glances at me. His eyes flicker, his Lycan coming to the surface as his gaze drinks me in.

“Yeah, it’s just a long day,” he comments, passing me to head into the shower himself. Shaking off his strange mood, I quickly dress and lay down in bed. When Soren finally climbs in bed, he still says nothing, just flicks the lamp off while I’m staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the feeling of dread tightening in my chest. Soren is next to me, his breathing steady, but I know he’s not asleep. There’s a tension in the air, an unspoken weight hanging between us, and I can feel it pulling us into a conversation neither of us seems ready to start.

I turn my head, watching the rise and fall of his chest, the lines of his face softened in the dim light. He’s always so composed, so in control, but tonight there’s something different. A vulnerability that feels strange coming from him.

“Soren?” My voice is soft, hesitant, but it’s enough to break the silence.

He shifts slightly, turning to face me, his eyes searching mine. “Yeah?”

I take a deep breath, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “Are you okay? You’ve been… quiet tonight.”

He runs a hand through his hair, sighing softly. “I’m thinking about the council.”

I wait, giving him space to continue. The silence stretches between us, thick with unsaid words.

Finally, he says, “You know, being king isn’t just about ruling. It’s… constant pressure. Always making decisions, always weighing lives against one another. There are days when I can’t be bothered, that I don’t want to rule.” His voice is low, like he’s ashamed to admit it.

I blink, surprised by his honesty. Soren never lets his guard down like this. “You carry so much, but you’re only one person.”

He shakes his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “It’s not that simple, Bree. I’ve made mistakes—big ones. And they’ve cost me. I never should have vouched for Rhett, and now it’s caused this mess. I’m worried it’s going to come back on me, on Max and you,” His voice falters, and I see the flicker of pain in his eyes. “My last wife… I didn’t mark her. I thought we had time. I kept putting it off, waiting for the right moment. But that moment never came, and she was killed before I could save her.”

I reach out instinctively, placing my hand on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat. “I’m sorry, Soren.”

“Don’t be, I never would have met you otherwise. I loved my wife, but…”

He closes his eyes a moment, as if gathering himself. “That’s why I can’t wait with you, Bree. I don’t want to risk it again. If anything were to happen to you…” His voice breaks, and the weight of his fear presses down on me.

The idea of him turning me, of becoming like him, is something I’ve tried to avoid thinking about. But now, hearing the pain in his voice, the fear of losing me like he lost his wife, I realize how much this means to him. However, I’m still trapped by the lies I’m hiding, by the truth I can’t bring myself to tell him.

“I understand,” I whisper, though my throat feels tight. “But we still have time, right?”

He nods, though his jaw is tense, his eyes fixed on mine. “The council has been asking questions. They’re worried about the pack tensions, about the possibility of war. I worry about this causing wars, not just with the packs. And…” He pauses, searching my face. “They’ve mentioned not being able to find any records of you. It’s strange for someone not to be registered with any pack or territory even if you are rogue.”

My heart skips a beat, and I have to force myself to keep my expression neutral. I knew this moment would come, the questions about my past, about where I came from. I still don’t have the courage to tell him the full truth.

“I was never registered,” I lie, my voice steady even though guilt is eating me alive. “My family… we kept to ourselves. There are no records of me because, in the system, I don’t exist.”

Soren watches me carefully, his brow furrowed. “That’s dangerous, Bree. Without any records, if something happens, the council won’t be able to protect you.”

I nod, forcing a small smile. “I know. But I’m here now, with you. That’s what matters, right?”

He exhales, his shoulders relaxing just a little. “Yeah, that’s what matters.” He pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around me, and for a moment, the tension between us fades, replaced by our quiet breathing. “I just want you to be safe.”

“I will be, I’m not going anywhere,” I murmur, resting my head on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat comforting me. But the guilt is still there, gnawing at me. I’ve lied to him again, held back the truth about who I am, about my connection to Rhett, about everything that happened before I came into his life.

As the minutes pass, the silence between us grows warmer, more comfortable. But deep down, I know this closeness is built on a lie. And every day, the secrets threaten to unravel everything.

My mind questioning how much longer I can keep this up. How much longer can I keep pretending everything is fine when the truth could tear us apart? It’s only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down, or Rhett comes for me.