Traded To The Lycan King

"Merikh POV"

"So when do you plan to announce to the pack we have a new Luna...?" Hayes asks, propping his feet up on m couch. I scowl at him, pacing over and slapping them off my furniture.

"When she is ready," I say simply.

"And what have you done to make her ready for it?" Hayes asks.

"I have been busy, Hayes. If you haven't noticed, I have been trying to track the assholes who tried to kill me." I growl at my brother. He pops up from the couch and paces to the massive bay window overlooki "Are we so sure they were after you?" He asks softly, and I don't look at him. My jaw clenching.

"Yes,"

"How?"

"How what?" I snap at him.

"How are you so sure?"

"Who else would they be after?" I ask with an annoyed sigh.

"I'm not dense, brother. I see the things even you try to keep from me."

"No. You are right, you aren't dense, But that doesn't mean you know what you are talking about with this."

"They crashed into your vehicle and left YOU." He says in a scoff, "they dragged her and left you-"

"They were baiting me." I growl at him. "Trying to draw me out and taunt me. It's what they always do."

"What if they know..." he whispers and I press my lips together in worry. It would be a lie to say the same thought hasn't crossed my mind once or twice.

"There is no way for them to know, Hayes." I give him a pointed look and he sighs, defeated. "Only we know, hell

Emergency calls only MO even Colette is in the dark on this. It is not possible for anyone to know."

"I know it's not logical to think they would know, but it feels wrong, It feels off, it feels like what happened with Lauren-"

"Don't say her f**king name!" I hiss in anger, pacing over and grabbing Hayes by the collar of his shirt. The very sound of her name makes my skin crawl and my chest burn. It doesn't matter that I agree with hi "Okay," he says, hands up in defense as I release him with a heavy sigh. "Look, I didn't mean it was happening again, I just...we ignored the signs before."

"I know," I grumble, sighing as I shuffle away from him and drag my hands through my hair. "I know, I'm sorry, I just..."

"It's been years, Merikh," he reminds me, but it doesn't remove the ache of betrayal. No amount of time can muddle the memories that remain so damn vivid in my mind. Her cries, the begging, the lies.

"We need to keep Colette safe," I say, ignoring him. "They are after me, and her real significance to me remains a secret. It must remain that way even to her. I remind him, and he frowns when I look his way. "That means you will need to officially take her as a full mate before the month is up, Merikh. You get that right?" He scoffs and I nod, glancing out the window.

"I have it all under control."

but I'm not sure you do. That girl is afraid of you." He scoffs, and

of me." I huff and

was forced to accept to

him, and he finds the statement

as in you let her know

an answer, and I scowl at

gave her

ignored her since she took care of your back." He reminds me

her. I

in about a year, she might actually let you hold her hand," Hayes snorts as he crosses over to

and he shrugs, trying to hide a

a genetic trait we share, but at least I know how to flirt and win over

be yours and the big

"I'm n

I say

maybe?" I have to actively remind myself if he weren't related, he wouldn't speak to me the way he does. But then

growl, and he

voice echoes behind me and my eyes slide closed as I hide the

Lycan nearly pants. I clench

I respond, not bothering to

wanted to see

"Percy said you

looks away, biting back a smile. This asshole mind linked my soon to be gammas, and

hoping you would join

my eyes. "In order to help you become more comfortable around him. We know he can be imposing, but I promise he rarely "Oh." she says, sounding surprised. "A movie could be fun...I've never seen one on a screen this

Emergency calls onlyO

Then I turn and look at Colette, who

vas!

do you like?" I ask her after clearing my throat. My lycan craves her

her. She swallows and looks away grow closer,

growing. It excites my lycan and me to see her this way, "Romance?" I ask with a smile on

plush pink lips and I hum, a deep vibration

satisfied.

as a princess movie kind of

Her lips press into an unimpressed line, and I realize how stupid I have been. I hav "Do you wish to be romanced, Colette?"

of it." She admits, "But I

do not think I can be romantic?" I ask her, a little offended.

shocked and uneasy. "Heavens, no! That's not what

the treaty valid. I understand you probably have someone already chosen from within this pack who will be your true Luna. Give you heirs and le I bark out a laugh, my head falling backwards. She thinks she

I ask, staring into her as she sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, looking nervous. "You

back, reaching out and cupping her cheek. She tries so hard not to flinch away