Page 46 of Lycan Prey
Chapter 19
• Aubrey •
“I didn’t think it through… I’m sorry...” Soren begins again, his voice soft and apologetic. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I wasn’t expecting them to come visit me here.”
I turn to him with fire in my eyes, “You told them you are engaged? And you never thought of mentioning it to me? Why?”
He flinches, knowing he’s in deep trouble. “I’m sorry, Bree, but they’ve been trying to force me to marry since I lost my wife.” He has no idea the pain this causes me. How I was once engaged, and how badly that ended for me. And now I’ve been thrown under the bus, only this time, this engagement is a sham.
“So you told them we are engaged! I don’t even know you!” I snap at him, my voice a mixture of anger and desperation. He stares at me and opens his mouth to say something, but I shake my head. Nope, I am done, I can’t do this! I turn to leave the room.
“Where are you going? You can’t just run off like that,” he says, his voice a strange combination of concern and command.
“To my room and away from you!” I retort, my voice rising when he grabs my arm to stop me.
“Let go of me!” I seethe, trying to break free from his grasp. He releases my arm but continues to stand in front of the door, blocking my exit.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I say firmly, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You have to,” he insists, his voice pleading now. “Please, Bree. Just for a couple of days until they leave. Then we can figure everything out.”
I shake my head, frustration bubbling inside me. “No way. I will not pretend to be engaged to someone I barely know just because you couldn’t handle your parents’ pressure!”
“It’s not like that,” he argues, desperation evident in his tone. “You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand,” I challenge him, raising a brow at him.
He takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair before speaking again. “My parents have been trying to get me married ever since my wife passed away. They want me to move on and have a happy life. But I’m not ready for that yet.”
I feel a pang in my chest at his words and the mention of his late wife. I can only imagine how painful it must be for him to talk about her.
“But why did you have to drag me into this?” I demand. He can give me all the puppy dog eyes he wants; I am not going along with this!
“My mother called, talking about setting me up with Sancha’s daughter. I panicked and said I was engaged. Okay!”
I shake my head. “No, you tell them, or I will. I can’t do this, I can’t break Max’s heart like this, and I refuse for this to go further.”
“Bree!” he growls when I shove past him, reaching for the door.
“If you need me… for Max, I will be in my room!” I snap at him when his hand falls on the door, stopping me from opening it. I growl, but he growls louder behind me, pressing his chest to my back.
“Well, that won’t be happening, not until they leave, at least,” he counters, and I spin around to glare at him. He steps closer, his gaze holding mine.
“No, I am not playing this game, Soren. I agreed to be your son’s nanny, not lie to your parents for you!” I snap at him, pressing against his chest.
I’m about to argue further when he pins me against the wall, his eyes searching mine. “Please just do this, and I’ll wipe your debt for the funeral. It’ll be a week max, and once they leave, I will tell them you cheated,” he says, almost pleading. I scoff at his words and turn my face away from him.
“Wait, not only do I have to pretend we are a loving couple, but you then want me to be the bad one when our sham engagement is called off. Hell no.”
“Fine, then you can tell my parents you’re calling off our wedding.”
“We aren’t even engaged!” I yell at him when he clamps a hand over my mouth.
“You’re right. I need to get you a ring to make it look more legit,” he mumbles while I glare in horror at him. “So what will it be? Am I telling them you cheated, or are you playing along?” he asks, removing his hand from my mouth.
“Now you’re blackmailing me?”
“Is it working?”
