Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 52 Max's question cuts through the air, his innocence adding to the complexity of the moment.

"Your father is marrying Brielle, Max. How do you not know?". my mother explains, her voice filled with joy. "Pardon, I'm-" Brielle starts to protest, but I silence her by turning her slightly and kissing her, a bold move that surprises us both. My arms wrapped securely around her are the only things that stop her from running; I can feel it in how tense she is. I bite down on her bottom lip, demanding entrance, she makes a sound between a moan and a whimper. But I take advantage of her parted lips, sweeping my tongue across hers to silence her. Brielle's body tenses under my strong embrace, and I can feel her heart racing against mine.

Oh she is going to kill me. I know that much because she bites me, hard on the bottom lip makingjerk back. My gaze holds hers and her eyes are blazing, yet she must see the desperation in my gaze because when I dip my face back to hers to peck her lips she doesn't pull away, but also doesn't kissback.

My gaze is pulled from Brielle's when Max's excited squeal adds to the surreal nature of the moment. Pulling away from her she looks atin alarm, and I am glad I turned her so my parents couldn't see her face.

I sweep her hair behind her ear. "We just haven't had a chance 0.00% O Chapter 52 to tell Max, yet, isn't that right, love?" I ask her, my gaze holding hers. Her eyes widen but she seems to get the message and she forces herself to relax in my hold.

288 Vouchers "We wanted to surprise him," she murmurs, her gaze not leaving mine and I can tell she is furious at being put on the spot, but a mask slips in place as she turns back to face my parents with a small smile on her face. Max looks between us both. "You're really getting married? I'm going to have a mom?" Max squeals, Bree flinches at the word, and Max rushes over to wrap his arms around her legs. She stiffens slightly at hearing him say that, but my fingers squeeze her hip. She nods looking down at him and hugging him back. I can tell it hurts her to lie to him and I know I won't be prepared for the tongue lashing I receive from her because my lips still tingle from where she bit me.

"Yep, and you're going to be the best man," I add, trying to lighten the tension. Max's eyes light up at being included, and he starts bouncing with excitement. She glances at me, and I see a flash of anger in her eyes before she masks it with a smile - the sfake smile she giveswhenever I've truly pissed her off.

I evade her gaze, I can't bring myself to look at her just yet, so I focus on my parents. My mother claps her hands together in delight, wiping a tear of joy from the corner of her eye.

"Oh, we'll have to start planning right away! This is going to be such a beautiful wedding! I have so many ideas already!" she exclaims, already lost in a world of flower arrangements and seating plans.

My father studiescarefully. He may not say anything 26.01% ||| O < Chapter 52 288 Vouchers aloud but his gaze says it all; he warnsthat there is more to discuss later and he knows something is amiss and now I need to convince him there isn't. But for now, he steps forward and congratulates us, giving Bree a warm hug while subtly studying her reactions.

Every so often, I catch a glimpse of Bree's icy stare piercing throughfrom the corner of my eye; however she keeps up the ruse with an impressively convincing facade of a doting soon-to-be wife.

After the initial greetings, we sit down, the atmosphere filled with a mix of celebration and confusion. My parents are full of questions, and I find myself weaving a story that feels both true and false at the stime.

"Brielle, tell us about yourself," my mother urges, her eyes warm and inviting.

Brielle shares bits and pieces of her life, her words careful yet genuine. But she takes great care in not revealing anything about herself. I watch her, gratitude and guilt mingling within me. She's playing her part perfectly, yet I know the emotional toll it must be taking on her.

As the day progresses, the pretense of our engagement feels increasingly real especially once dinner is called for. Dinner is a blur of small talk and forced laughter. Brielle plays her part perfectly, deflecting questions and changing the subject smoothly with an occasional side glance at me. Each look is like a blow, remindingthat I'll have to answer for this.

Max is ecstatic. His enthusiasm is infectious, and it's hard not to smile at his innocent excitement. He chatters on about what he hopes our wedding will be like, his eyes shining bright 57.74% O Chapter 52 with anticipation.

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There's laughter and a sense of family that I hadn't realized I missed. But beneath it all lies the unspoken truth, a lie that binds Brielle andin a delicate dance of deception.

As night falls and my parents retire to their room, I find myself alone with Brielle. The weight of our act hangs heavily between us, a barrier and a bridge all at once as she glares at 1. me.

After what feels like an eternity, we finally manage to escape to them privacy of my study The The moment we step into the room Brielle rounds onlike a typhoon.