Page 29 of Lycan Prey (Little Secrets Duet #1)

· 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?”

I glare at him. “You’re insane!” I snap at him, but he doesn’t let go.

The absurdity of the situation almost makes me laugh.

“Insane for you, for an entire week,” he adds, and I can’t help but let out a reluctant chuckle.

“That was so cheesy,” I laugh. Soren stares at me, and I roll my eyes at him; he can’t be serious.

“Please, once I get rid of them, we can return to normal,” he adds, pressing closer.

“And what about Max?”

“I’ll explain to him, I promise,” he whispers.

His hand gently slides along my arm, stealing my breath away as it leaves a trail of goosebumps.

He presses closer, eliminating any space between our bodies.

Heat rushes through me at the contact, his muscular chest against mine; I peer up at him and sigh, seeing the desperation on his face.

What’s a week? I can pretend for a week, right?

As I gaze up into his eyes, seeing raw emotion burning there, it makes me ache for him despite everything.

“Fine.” I push against his chest, and he steps aside and says something, as I open the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To bed!” I snap.

“You’ll be sleeping in my room,” he tells me, and I stop. Oh, hell no.

“Excuse me?” I spit at him, my frustration evident.

He glances at me, confused by my hostility, and then responds, “My parents always stay in my quarters. They’ll think it is odd if we don’t share a room.” His eyes widen as he notices my sudden change in demeanor.

I blink rapidly, trying to regain my composure. “I understand, but it’s just… I never imagined I’d be put in this position.”

He holds my gaze unflinchingly as he says, “I know you may not like this, it’s just how it has to be, though. We need to make it seem like we love each other to keep up appearances.”

“What’s that got to do with sharing a room?” He raises an eyebrow at me like the answer is obvious. To me, it’s not, then again, Rhett and I shared a room despite not sleeping together.

I growl in frustration, my patience wearing thin, but I let out a breath and concede, “Fine, but on our fake break up, you’re the one that cheated, not me!” I snap. Soren lets out a breath, dropping his head on my shoulder.

“Thank you. I promise I will be the best fake fiancé you’ve ever had.” I laugh, though I’d rather him be horrid; I don’t think my heart can handle comparing him to Rhett.

“Can’t be worse than my last one,” I laugh bitterly.

He pulls away to look at me. “You’ve been engaged before?”

I look away. “That is none of your business, My King. Now I want to go to bed. I need to grab some things from my room first.”

“I will send the staff,” he says, watching me curiously. I can tell he wants to ask more questions; he must think better of it. Instead, he laces his fingers through mine; I stare down at his hand holding mine when his other hand grips my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Anyone who refuses to marry you is a fool,” he whispers.

“So now you’re saying you do want to marry me?” I ask.

He frowns. “And if I did?”

I roll my eyes and slap his hand away. “You’re a King, and I’m a werewolf. Don’t fuck with me, King Soren. This is already difficult enough. Let’s not pretend this is anything but a lie. Blurred lines end in broken hearts,” I tell him, turning to leave.

“But that wasn’t a no, had I been serious.”

“I also never said yes. As I said, let’s not pretend.”

“Except around my parents,” he adds, and I nod, wondering how the heck we will pull this off. “Thank you, Bree. I seriously owe you for this.”

The tension in the room is palpable as we step into his lavish quarters.

King Soren’s accommodations are homely, unlike the stark and colder impression I get from the rest of the castle.

Elegant pieces of art hang on the walls, a grand piano sits in one corner, and books are scattered around in a disorderly fashion.

It’s nothing like the opulent chambers one would expect from a King. Instead, it’s merely comfortable and has a lived-in vibe. A few of Max’s toys are also scattered in the room, and I know Max has a habit of sneaking into his father’s bed at night when he has nightmares.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he says as he quickly rushes around his room, trying to clean up the mess. He seems flustered, embarrassed even. “Sorry, I rarely let the maids in here; I don’t like them in my personal space,” he mutters, scooping up toys.

“It’s fine,” I wave him off, peering around his room. It makes me wonder how uncomfortable I will make him in it.

I walk over to a nearby window and stare out at the expansive grounds of the castle.

The moonlight seems to highlight the quiet serenity outside, while inside, my mind is in a frenzy.

Soren moves toward the huge double door off to the side, which I realize is a walk-in closet that is as big as the room I was staying in.

“I’ll make space for your stuff,” Soren says, entering his closet, which is already filled to the brim with his clothes.

“Thanks,” I say as he disappears farther into the closet.

I take that as an opportunity to explore his quarters more closely.

His room is a warm sanctuary, lit with a soft glow from the scattered lamps, and despite everything, I feel a sense of comfort.

The sound of hangers scraping against metal as Soren tries to make room for my clothes is loud in the quiet space.

I spot a photo frame on his bedside table. It’s a picture of him and Max, both of them grinning widely at the camera. His arm is wrapped around Max’s shoulders, and he holds the boy close to his side.

I smile at the sight. Despite everything, Soren is a remarkable father, always ensuring Max feels loved and protected. I touch the frame lightly, tracing the contours of their faces.

Footsteps approach and I quickly pull my hand back. All around me are the little details that make the King who he is – a man of power, yes, but also a man with a gentle heart that continues to surprise me. The room feels like him – strong yet sensitive, rugged yet refined.

“Are there any specific items you need?” his voice echoes from the closet.

“Just my pajamas and toiletries for now,” I reply, turning around.

He has an armful of clothes, and he dumps them in a basket before turning to look at me.

I take a second to really look at him. His hair is more tousled than usual, and his eyes hold an unspoken tension that wasn’t there before—proof this situation is affecting him just as much as it is me.

There’s an awkward silence between us, fraught with uncertainty and something else — something deeper and far more intimate. It’s then Soren’s eyes wander to the king-sized bed at the center of the room, and he swallows visibly before muttering, “We have to figure out sleeping arrangements.”

I choke on my own spit at this statement.

“We need to figure out sleeping arrangements?” I echo incredulously.

“Well,” he begins cautiously, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “I mean, we don’t have to share the bed if you don’t want to.”

“I’m not sleeping on the floor,” I point out flatly. He looks taken aback by my defensive tone.

“I wasn’t suggesting you should,” he replies quickly, raising his hands defensively. “We also can’t just ignore the fact there’s only one bed and—” he stumbles over his words, looking anywhere but at me.

“Right.” I’ve made him uncomfortable. For all his bravado and status, Soren is still a gentleman at heart, and I understand his unease.

Exhaling a tense breath, I walk over to the bed and gingerly sit on the edge. The mattress dips under my weight, and the soft comforter crinkles beneath me.

“We’re adults, Soren,” I say finally, breaking the awkward silence.

“I…we could…I could get another bed; there’s room in here,” Soren stutters, his eyes darting around the room as he suggests this. There’s a panicked look in his eyes, one I’ve never seen before.

“You’re saying we can’t share a bed?” I question, crossing my arms over my chest defensively. Is that what he means? That he is happy for me to lie for him and play along with him touching and kissing on me around people and can’t share the bed? The thought stings more than I admit.

“That’s not what I meant, Bree.” His voice is gentle, but there’s a hint of frustration behind his words. “I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

I scoff.“Nothing about this entire situation is comfortable. I’m sure we can share the bed. It’s just a bed.”

I can see a sense of relief come over him—eyes softening, shoulders visibly relaxing. He lets out a short laugh—a mixture of disbelief and amusement—raking his fingers through his hair.

“You’re right,” he concedes with a nod, “We’re adults.”

“Be like a sleepover,” I offer, and he snorts.

“Yeah, a sleepover.” The corners of his mouth twitch upward in a small smile. For a while, we just stand here, staring at each other, caught in this bizarre limbo between our past and whatever this is turning into.

He eventually lets out a soft cough. “I’ll go get your toiletries.”

As he leaves, I sink back onto the bed, my mind whirring with thoughts.

Sleeping in the same bed as Soren… It’s a world away from where we were only days ago.

The shock of it all hasn’t entirely faded yet.

Neither has the anger, the hurt, or the pain that still throbs underneath it all like an open wound.

Why do I have a feeling this is going to fall apart around us, or am I?