Page 37 of Lycan’s Hunt

Chapter 16

• Aubrey •

My mother got a phone call this morning; she woke me in a panic, saying the doctors urged her to come in immediately, they finally got the toxicology report back last night. He had lethal doses of wolfsbane in his system which caused his heart to fail; had his Beta not found him he’d be dead. Mom is beside herself, worried he tried to end himself with all the stress of Rhett. I know my father, he wouldn’t give Rhett the satisfaction of thinking he won.

I’ve tried calling her but received no answer on my drive to the hospital. I take a deep breath as I approach my father’s room, anxiety swirling in my stomach. The sterile scent of antiseptic fills the air, burning my nostrils. My hand trembles as I reach for the cold metal doorknob. I hesitate for a moment, steeling myself for what I might find inside—hoping he has somehow woken up. I push the door open and step inside.

My heart drops.

My mind races, desperately trying to process what I’m seeing and why she is here.

This isn’t at all what I had prepared myself for. The shock of it leaves me reeling, struggling to catch my breath. I close my eyes for a moment, willing this to be some terrible dream. But when I open them again, nothing has changed.

Bianca’s head snaps up, her eyes narrowing as they meet mine. She’s perched on the edge of my father’s bed like some predatory bird, her presence a jarring intrusion in this already surreal scene as I try to make sense of why she is here. My stomach churns at the sight of her perfectly manicured hand resting possessively on my father’s arm.

In the corner, my mother’s shoulders shake with silent sobs, her face hidden behind trembling hands. The sound of her muffled cries cuts through me like a knife. I’ve never seen her so broken, so defeated. It’s as if all the strength has been drained from her, leaving only this hollow shell behind.

“Mom?” I manage to croak out, my voice barely above a whisper. She doesn’t respond, doesn’t even look up. It’s as if she can’t bear to face me.

My hands clench into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

“What’s going on?” I finally ask, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it.

Before my mother can respond, a chill runs down my spine feeling the nudge of a mate bond that I don’t want, making me gasp in horror. Rhett’s voice skitters across my neck from behind me, smooth and cold. “I warned you.”

My heart leaps into my throat, and for a moment, I’m frozen in place. The familiar timbre of his voice sends a wave of dread through me. I hadn’t even heard him enter the room. Was he waiting for me to pull up and then follow me up here?

Slowly, I turn around, my pulse racing so fast I can hear it thundering in my ears. Rhett steps into view, and the gleam in his eyes makes my stomach churn. He stands tall and imposing, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. He looks exactly as I remember him with that infuriatingly handsome face that masks the monster he truly is.

This can’t be real. It has to be some sort of twisted nightmare. But the cold fear gripping my heart tells me otherwise.

“What are you doing here?” I manage to choke out, trying to keep the fear from my voice.

“I came to see my slut of a mate,” he says, his tone as cold as the look in his eyes.

Before I can say anything, he steps closer.

“Rhett,” I manage to choke out, hating how weak my voice sounds. How did he find me? What does he want? And why isn’t anyone stopping him?

The silence stretches between us, thick with tension. I can feel Bianca’s smug gaze burning into my back, and I can hear my mother’s quiet sobs. But all I can focus on is Rhett and the threat of him as I step back, and he follows me into the room.

Rhett’s lips curve into a sinister smile, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m here to collect what’s mine,” he purrs, his voice dripping with malice.

My heart plummets. The way he says “mine” makes my skin crawl, and I take another involuntary step back. What does he mean? I’m not his, he has Bianca. The certainty in his voice terrifies me.

I can feel his presence looming over me, his eyes burning into mine with a fiery intensity. I’m no match for him - physically or mentally. Rhett always had a way of getting under my skin and making me feel small.

I can’t let him win. Not again.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and come up with a plan. “Rhett, what are you talking about? I’m engaged,” I lie, trying to keep my voice calm while hoping to deter him.

He takes another step closer, closing the gap between us until we’re only inches apart. His hand reaches out and grabs my chin roughly, forcing me to meet his intense gaze. “You know exactly what I mean,” he snarls, his grip tightening.

I wince at the pain in my jaw but refuse to show any weakness in front of him. “I don’t owe you anything,” I spit out defiantly.

His grip tightens even more, and for a moment, I think he might actually hurt me, when he lets go abruptly and takes a step back, his expression shifting from anger to amusement.

I glare at him, taking the opportunity to put some distance between us. “What do you want from me?” I ask through gritted teeth.