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."

you do. That girl is

afraid of me." I huff

werewolf isn't afraid of the alpha of death she was forced to accept to save her

and he finds the statement

you do sweet things for her or nice as in you let

waiting for an answer, and

gave her

have ignored her since she took care of your back."

her. I am giving her

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

and he

but at least I know how to flirt and win over

yours and the big bad alpha lycan is hiding

"I'm n

hiding." I say

For a little date, maybe?" I have to actively remind myself if he weren't related, he wouldn't speak to me the way

he grins, proud of

and my eyes slide closed as I hide the way my

nearly pants.

bothering to

wanted to see

"Percy said you

at Hayes, who looks away, biting back a smile. This asshole mind linked my soon to be gammas, and the two planned this behind

was hoping you would

help you become more comfortable around him. We know he can be imposing, but I promise he

Emergency calls onlyO

brother strong. Then I turn and look at Colette, who looks like she is trying to

vas!

ask her after clearing my throat. My lycan craves

draw to her. She swallows and looks away grow closer, then

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 on my

a small smirk hiding behind her plush pink lips and I

satisfied.

princess movie kind of

lived through one of those scenes." Her lips press into an unimpressed line, and I realize how stupid

She admits, "But I understand that it's

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

uneasy. "Heavens, no! That's

to be your chosen because you 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

as she sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, looking nervous. "You are my one and

She tries so hard not to flinch away