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,

afraid of me." I

The tiny, weak werewolf isn't afraid of the alpha of death she was forced to accept to save her pack.

and he finds

or nice as in you let her know she has broccoli stuck in her teeth?"

brow, waiting for an answer, and I scowl at

her silk

took care of your back." He reminds me

not ignored her. I am giving her

might actually let you hold her hand," Hayes snorts as he crosses over to me and slaps me on my

asshole," I grunt and he shrugs,

know how to flirt and win over

yours and the big

"I'm n

hiding." I say

remind myself if he weren't related, he wouldn't speak to me the

growl, and he grins, proud

slide closed as I hide the way my

her. My Lycan nearly

I respond, not bothering to turn to

to

"Percy said you

who looks away, biting back a smile. This asshole

was hoping you

for me and I issue silent death threats with my eyes. "In order to help you become more comfortable around him. We know he can be

Emergency calls onlyO

at Colette, who looks like she is trying to shrink herself down. It's painfully obvious

vas!

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

for a few days, I'm unable to fight the draw to her. She swallows and looks away grow closer, then she suddenly rolls her shoulders

last. Every day she seems stronger, her wolf more alert, more present, and I can see her confidence growing. It

a small smirk hiding behind her plush pink lips and

satisfied.

I pegged you more as a princess movie kind of girl." I

expect to ever experience, action however, well, I've already lived through one of those scenes." Her lips press into an unimpressed line, and I realize how stupid I have been. I hav "Do you wish to be romanced, Colette?" I ask, and

She admits,

romantic?" I ask her, a little offended. "Do

"Heavens, no! That's not what 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

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

reaching out and cupping her cheek. She tries so hard not to flinch away from my touch, but I catch the twitch and it