Page 21 of Lycan

I wove around a protruding branch. The chickens in the coop went crazy as I passed them.

Jason’s wide brimmed hat moved within sight. I crested over the slight hill and the rest of him came into view.

“Jason,” I shouted in relief. He was okay—he was alive. He popped up to his feet. His eyebrows rose high on his forehead as his gaze dragged down my body. The small shovel in his hand thumped on the ground next to the flowers he tended. He yanked the gloves from his hands and tossed them to the side as we approached each other.

His blond eyebrows furrowed, meeting in the middle. A quick scan was all he needed to do. His gaze lingered on the swell of my breasts peeking over my arms wrapped around them.

My face burned with embarrassment. He took hold of my shoulders, looking down at me with a stiff expression.

“What have you been up to?”

“A monster took me. He was injured in the shack?—”

“You’re naked,” he cut off the start of my babbling, not seeming to process what I was saying. Or if he was, he was too focused on scanning my body. My face burned hotter. I dropped my eyes to his chin, embarrassed about what I’d done with themonster. For enjoying it so much, and even worse, for wanting more.

“I-I . . .” Anxiety swelled my throat, making it difficult to push out an explanation.

“Why are you fucking naked?”

I’d never heard him sound like this, it was usually Pam that cursed up a storm. Jason was always quiet, reserved, watchful.

I didn’t understand the anger marring his features. The hot flush spread down his neck and a vein popped at his forehead.

“Answer me, what have you been doing?” he said lowly. The hair raised on my arms, my instincts bidding me to pull free from his hold and run. I shook my head. This was Jason. He’d raised me, he wouldn’t hurt me. I struggled to swallow.

“T-there was a situation.” I grappled for words. Not knowing what I should say. All I wanted was for them to hide, or leave, just until the coast was clear. Jason’s fingers dug into my arm. The slight stabs of his nails weren’t as painful as Fenrir’s claws, but it still smarted.

“You’re hurting me,” I croaked. His grip barely loosened.

“Is that a hickey?” His eyes narrowed on the swell of my breast. What was a hickey? I followed his gaze to the red spot on my boob. On the top side there were the slightest marks. I knew it had been either the graze of Fenrir’s fangs or the scrape from escaping the pole, but it looked like a nibble of teeth from this angle. He scoffed, grip becoming hard again.

“Stop making shit up. What have you been doing?”

I blinked.

“I . . .” I shook my head hard, eyes wide. What was he saying?

He pulled me after him, dragging me into the house and up the staircase. I tripped, but he didn’t stop to let me gather my footing. The side of my leg scraped unpleasantly against the carpeted step.

“I ordered you to stay away from the other side of the lake.” He shouted. “A boy found you over there didn’t he?” I trembled so hard. “Didn’t he!?” Tears dripped off my chin. I couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

“Pam,” I shouted, half sobbing.

“Quiet, girl,” he hissed.

“Why?” I shouted, fighting fruitlessly. He kicked open my door, dragging me toward my bathroom without answering my question.

Vomit crawled up my throat. He shoved me into the bathroom.

“Wash yourself clean of his filthy touch.”

“Mia?” Pam called from downstairs, a question in her voice. Jason’s eyes narrowed.

“Pam,” I shouted. He slapped me hard enough to rattle my teeth. My legs gave out and I fell to my knees. I clasped my face, my eyes wide on his. What-I-This didn’t make sense. My face crumpled.

“I will take you to see her once you shower,” he said. “Stand up, Mia.” I struggled to get my legs under me. He shoved me forward once I was up and I stepped into the large bathtub.

“I-is?—”

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