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."

I'm not sure you do. That girl is afraid of you." He

not afraid of me." I huff and he

of death she was forced to accept to save her pack. If you say so," he mutters. Okay, He may have a point

to her." I remind him, and he

her or nice as in you let her know she has

an answer, and I scowl

her silk

care of your back." He reminds me

her. I am

actually let you hold her hand," Hayes snorts as he

an asshole," I grunt and he shrugs, trying to

we share, but at least I know how to flirt

fated to be yours and the big bad alpha

"I'm n

I say

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

growl, and he grins, proud

Colette's timid voice echoes behind me and my eyes slide closed as I hide the way my b*dy

her. My Lycan nearly pants.

not bothering

wanted to see

"Percy said you

blaze as I glare at Hayes, who looks away, biting back a smile. This asshole mind linked my soon to be

hoping you

and maybe a snack," he says 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 imposing, but I promise he rarely "Oh." she says, sounding surprised. "A

Emergency calls onlyO

as I glare at him, my desire to pummel my brother strong. Then I turn and look at Colette, who looks like she is trying to shrink herself down.

vas!

type of movies do you like?" I ask her after clearing my throat. My lycan craves her nearness and, with keeping him

to fight the draw to her. She swallows and looks away grow closer, then she suddenly rolls her shoulders and

she seems stronger, her wolf more alert, more present, and I can see her confidence growing. It excites my lycan and me to see her this way, "Romance?" I ask with a smile

pink lips and I hum, a

satisfied.

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

to ever experience, action however, well, I've already lived through one of those scenes." Her lips press into an unimpressed line, and

I dreamed of it." She admits, "But I understand that it's not meant to

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

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

make 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

into her as she sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, looking nervous. "You are my one and only Luna, Colette. In

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