Page 23 of Lycan

I snapped myself out of the thick numbness creeping over my thoughts. If I gave in, I would become a puppet. I needed to keep my thoughts clear to escape him. He guided me to the kitchen. A few feet away was the same stove Pam taught me to cook on. Hours upon hours of her going over instructions.

“Why did you kill her?” I croaked.

His eyebrows furrowed, a deep indent appearing on his forehead. The familiar face had turned into one of a devil.

I’d thought Fenrir was a monster, but I preferred him to whatever evil stood before me.

“Mia,” he murmured, palm cupping my jaw. I stiffened. Revulsion keeping me stiff. “We don’t need her anymore. Now that you’re a woman, we can be together,” he cooed.

“Have you been waiting for me this entire time?” My lips felt numb every time I talked. Like I floated outside my body.

“No, no, dear, I’m not a perverse man.” He said it with such assurance. He believed what he was saying with his whole body. “But a man can only control himself to a point.” His thumb caressed my cheek. “There comes a time where he must satisfy his urges.” A load of words that meant nothing.

I struggled to swallow.

“Did Pam know?” I tried so hard to keep my voice from shaking. Maybe I could escape if he thought I wanted this too.

Jason sighed, his mustache twitching with the movement of his lips.

“She started to suspect, but only a night ago she walked in on me touching myself in your bedroom.” He sighed again. “We’ve been waiting for you to return.”

I stopped breathing. “Here I thought you were spending your time working, not being a whore.” His words turned into a hiss.

“I wasn’t,” I croaked. A lie and I couldn’t hide the reddening of my face. His eyes turned into slits.

“You belong to me.”

He leaned down, his familiar face coming much too close. His lips fell on mine and vomit rose in my throat. No. I could not do this.

I drove my balled fist into his stomach. He doubled over and I whirled to make my escape. He lashed out and grabbed my wrist.

I didn’t want this. Please, let this be some horrific nightmare. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I dug my fingernails into my palm as I tried to pull my wrist out of his grip. Wake up. Wake up! He yanked me by my forearm, forcing me to face him again.

His nose touched mine, the look in his eyes searing into my soul.

I wasn’t sleeping. And there was no escape.

Fenrir would have stopped him . . . if he hadn’t left me.

THIRTEEN

FENRIR

I paced through the woodlands.They must die. Every single one of them, especially thescientistthat enjoyed carving his way into my chest.

I lifted my nose, tracking my scent back the way I had come. There had been no rain, so it should be strong enough for me to follow. Travel would take time, but if I did not stop, I could return soon. What she had had of my release would hold her over until my return.

Vengeance would be mine . . . but my human.

I slowed to a trot, rounding a tree again.

Leaving her behind . . . I did not want to and it caused me to pause and pace since I left her. She eventually stopped screaming for me, but I couldn’t force myself past the boundary of the property. Destroying them would not take me long. I would return once I avenged myself. Another few paces forward and I slowed again. The distance between us grew and I did not like it. I slashed my claws through a trunk.

The human had ruined me.

I could not leave her.

A far-off scream, familiar and fearful caused my ears to twitch. That was my human. Mine! A roar burst from my chest, and I sprang forward.

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