Traded To The Lycan King

Steam rolls off the glistening pool, beautiful purple petals dotting the surface with sprigs of lavender and other various herbs melding together to make the perfect recipe for calm and healing. It smells amazing "It feels amazing, doesn't it? The air?" Penny says, releasing a satisfied groan. Then she moves around me with a plush navy robe and a set of slippers. She sets them on a chair near the steps of the water ar much."

"Is everyone allowed to use them?" I ask her, and she shakes her head.

"Yes, but this one is for the alpha family's personal use. We all have one in our own homes, but without all the marble and ornate gold displays. Also, much smaller, like ten person bath, not 200 person pool." She gives me an amused wink.

"I see." I mutter, moving over to the chair and slipping off my shoes.

Penny apparently figured

out my clothing size and sorted out a bikini for me. Not that I'm not grateful, but this might be more revealing than the underwear I own. I'm not quite comfortable in my skin, so I wait for her to give me a nod as

I release a nervous sigh and undress down to my suit before taking one last look at the untouched water. It's amazing how much it just looks like it will heal me. So I step in, dipping my toes into it first as heat s "Healing water, my ass," I mutter to myself. "More like boiled Colette soup with how hot that is." I bite my bottom lip, groaning in lead

up before I gently step down onto the first step, holding my breath to keep from letting out a squeal.

The liquid burns my skin, the oils and herbs latching onto my flesh as I step down one more and then another. until I am fully in the pool. I bend my knees, allowing the water up to my n*ck as I exhale in relief, Every Achey muscle seems to meld with the water, feeling like it is just an extension of me. It almost tickles, the way it swirls around my skin and draws out my pain with something as simple as heat and medic herbs.

I reach up and pull my hair out of its elastic band and tilt my head back, submerging it up to my hairline as a satisfied gasp dances past my lips and I smile. My wolf is happy. Each moment leads to more relaxa washes away.

For a second I feel the pull to put my head under the water, but my stomach tightens in fear and I decide to give myself a little more time. The last time my head was fully submerged was in my nightmare state. at least not at this precise moment.

Instead, I move to the stairs and sit, resting my head on one of the upper steps as a sort of anchor, then I allow my b*dy to float up. My b*dy is weightless, my mind free as my eyes fall closed and my wolf pran Since being here, since losing Grady, she has done nothing but hide, only doing what she must to keep me aware of her presence. It felt like we were no longer in sync- well, for years really, but now, she has allowed me back in. Her presence growing stronger by the second. And my heart and soul feel at ease.

I hum in the large room, my voice echoing back to me. I've never had an affinity for music, but it feels natural to sing when

you are at peace and right now is the most at peace I have ever been. My mind wanders many places, from the dream to my terrible past and back to the present where I am.

throat as I choke on the air, looking around frantically, watching

healing waters. But mentally, visually, I am lost and scared. I drop lowe There are no green orbs, no other person other than me, and a voice. Her voice. Then she appears and I watch as my mom takes a seat and rests her head back, closing her

one of legends told,

my love, in the ways

mate cries out in the

other must

singular cry in their time of

to

come complete your soul,

mate is

mate is calling

tone, the way the words break her heart, and I watch as tears stream down her face. I reach out, remembering this is all in my mind. Her eyes turn to me, distant at first be My

a memory fading, the thought gone even as I try to conjure it back.

at the steam, my consciousness back in the now. The words of her song resound in my

from me. How? I don't know how,

be the truth.

darkness. No matter how hard I

a voice, an image I thought was made up or thought was just a nightmare. And

My mom's

the one of the water, is replaced with a reverence. This is where I

lips as I head to the steps again, and sit. I never want to leave this

song tumble out of me, echoing through the room as it makes me feel closer to her. I

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