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."

girl is afraid of you."

me." I

The tiny, weak werewolf isn't afraid of the alpha of death she was forced to accept to save her pack. If you say so," he mutters.

remind him, and he finds the statement

you let

for an answer, and I scowl

her silk

you have ignored her since she took care of your back." He reminds me and I scoff

not ignored her. I

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

asshole," I grunt and he shrugs, trying

genetic trait we share, but at least I know how

fated to be yours and the big bad alpha

"I'm n

hiding." I

little 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

I growl, and he grins, proud of

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

My Lycan nearly pants. I

not bothering to turn to

wanted to

"Percy said you

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

was hoping you would join

help you become more comfortable around him. We know he can be imposing, but I promise he rarely "Oh." she says,

Emergency calls onlyO

rushes off as I glare at him, my desire to pummel my brother strong. Then I turn and look at Colette, who looks like she

vas!

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

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

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 on my lips as her fiery eyes glance up to meet

small smirk hiding behind her plush pink lips and I hum, a

satisfied.

more as a princess movie kind of girl." I

lived through one of those scenes." Her lips press into an unimpressed line,

was a girl, I dreamed of it." She admits, "But I understand that

her,

"Heavens, no! That's

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 and le I bark out a laugh, my head falling backwards. She thinks

her bottom lip between her teeth, looking nervous. "You are my one

She tries so hard not to flinch away from my touch, but I catch the twitch and it