Traded To The Lycan King

It's been a week already and every day has been the same routine. Wake up, grab something to eat on the way out and walk with Merikh. My healing is insanely fast and I am more convinced every day that Le

Not once has he let go of my hand when we walk in the water and even though we often walk in silence, it's comfortable and occasionally he will flirt with me. Or rather, he tries to flirt with me with a gentle push with him, eat dinner or watch a movie like we did the one time, but Hayes usually rushes him away to do something or meet with a pack mate.

"I can't believe he still hasn't introduced you to the pack yet," Penny grumbles as she turns my bed down for the night. A habit she is loving doing while I stand by awkwardly and wait to just crawl my sore b*dy into bed.

"We aren't marked yet," I remind her and she frowns at me.

"An acceptance is like an engagement ring, Cole.

My heart stops and I inhale sharply as she says the nickname I nearly forgot. Or rather i have tried to forget along with the person who called me by that name. It still hurts, it feels like it will always hurt. "Don't call me that," I snap and Penny freezes, her eyes sliding to gauge my reaction before she softens and

nods.

"I'm sorry, Luna. Sometimes I forget my place and I just sort of "

"You don't have to call me Luna, but just...you can;t call me that name...please,"

"Of course." She says, walking over to me. "I'm sorry,"

"It's okay," I sigh, "you didn't know. How could you?" Then I think for a minute and I smile. “Any nickname you want but not that,"

"Hmm...I'll think of one." She winks. "Now you should get some rest. You look exhausted."

murmur, crawling into the bed as she walks

conflicted before she gives me a soft smile

It feels like I am falling, my b*dy light and chilled as suddenly I am dropped in a swamp. The muck comes up to my thighs and I grunt as I try to release myself from it, fighting with every ounce of my b*dy as I tr Then hands swoop me up, and I am freed, tucked into a warm embrace as the person runs with me, their hood up over their face as they look over their shoulder

the dark, and her worried eyes meet mine. As I try to figure out who she is, why she is in

follow me, my little water

she gives me a

stay and wait. He will be here

Then she rushes off.

out, chasing after her, breaking through the thick brush and sloshing through the

Mom said to wait here. She said he would be here soon. who he even is, I know I want to meet him, to see

swat at it, annoyed that it won't leave me, and as I hit it,

me again, and suddenly I am running from the menacing orb that is at pitched tune, making my ears ring, and I feel

Can I lose this orb in the water? My stomach churns at the thought of being in the dark water alone with no idea how to swim, bu I plunge into silence, one that calms me, and I allow myself the moment before I open my eyes and see the orb just above me. It dances over the rippling surface, like a bee trying to find the right flower to pollin for my face. All the air in my lungs

seems to come from

to tell me something, warn me, but I am too

voice in the water. "Find her before it is too late. She needs you,

to the water's edge, coughing and shivering as I try to figure out what I need to do next. Nothing makes sense, everything "Mom!" I cry out once more, my voice cracking with emotion as I watch her look back at me and then she speeds up, pushing herself to move further away as tears well in my eyes and I try to catch her. Why is "Wait!" I scream after her, fighting against the wetness in my clothes that tries to restrict

branches and leaps over roots that seem to

frantic, fear tearing at my chest as I think about losing her. She told me to wait, but I can't. I can see the distress in her and feel it as she slowly disappears and then s I growl as I rely on my wolf's strength for the first

remains still, as if she is waiting for me, like she truly wanted me to come for her