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."

not sure you do. That girl is afraid

afraid of me." I huff

of the alpha of death she was forced to accept to save her pack. If you say

him, and he finds the statement even more

for her or nice as in you let her know she has broccoli stuck

for an

her

of your back." He reminds me and I

not ignored her. I

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

and he shrugs, trying to hide a

at least I know how to flirt and win over the

big bad alpha lycan is hiding

"I'm n

hiding." I say

date, maybe?" I have to actively remind myself if he weren't related, he wouldn't speak to me the way he does. But then again, I have always nee headed. Even if he has a

I growl, and he

slide closed as I hide the way my

Lycan nearly

not bothering

wanted to see

"Percy said you

blaze as I glare at Hayes, who looks away, biting back a smile. This asshole mind

was hoping you would

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

Emergency calls onlyO

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

vas!

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

I'm unable to fight the draw to her. She swallows and looks away grow closer,

a little different from when I spoke to her last. Every day 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

plush pink lips and

satisfied.

movie kind of girl."

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,

it." She admits, "But I understand that it's not

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

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

needed to 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 bark out a laugh, my head falling backwards.

between her teeth, looking nervous. "You are my

calls only "Why not?" I shoot back, reaching out and cupping her cheek. She tries so hard not to