Traded To The Lycan King

Merikh stands next to me, the entire pack of lycan's watching anxiously from the center of the new town square. I wish I would have been able to have a moment alone with him before we started all of this, but this is the life I have to get used to. There are far more important things than me. Especially with traitors among us here in the pack and the red-eyed wolves who seem to have it out for him.

My light blue dress ruffles in the wind, my hair tickling my check as tensions grow. I reach out, touching his hand, hoping he picks up

my nerves and maybe wraps it up in his. He doesn't, instead he slides his hands into his pocket and looks in the opposite direction, making my heart lurch in fear.

on

"As you all know, there has been a new member in our pack these past few weeks." Merikh says, looking out at the crowd. "Many of you have seen her in training down at the lake or roaming around the hiking trails. Today I would like to introduce

her to you.

He slides his icy gaze to me, my heart skipping a beat at the lack of warmth in his eyes. If I didn't trust the words, he has told me many times, I would think he hates me,

He places his hand out before me, waiting for me to place mine in his palm. I hesitate for a moment before accepting it and he pulls me forward with him. The pack members watch me, waiting for something to happen.

"This is Colette. Your Luna, and my new mate." Merikh announces, his voice booms through the air, authoritative and firm. The pack members collectively drop their gaze, bowing their heads before looking back up and watching me, then Penny and Percy, who stand at the front of the crowd, step toward us..

"We accept you as our Luna, and we pledge our lives to you in service. They kneel, dropping their heads. A tingling starts in my chest, a warmth spreading and my eyes go wide in surprise. Hayes steps up to my side, sliding me a warm and encouraging smile.

"Accept them," he whispers, and I realize I am supposed to be doing my part,

I glance at Merikh, frustration tickling my mind that he is not helping to guide me through this, but maybe it's a test to see how I handle the stress of all of this. Which is fantastic because I have proven frequently how poorly I do with that.

"I accept your promise, and I promise to do my best as your Luna. To lead you only where you can follow and follow only when I know it is right to do so. I only wish to serve you all and prove myself worthy of your loyalty."

Merikh chortles quietly next to me, shaking my confidence, but I don't let it show. The pack members all lift their heads and Jet out a howl that resonates through the air, vibrating the ground as my chest seems to burst with white energy that spills into pale blue. It whips around me like a storm, stealing my breath away.

Each passing breeze calls to me, voices of encouragement and love before the air stills and the world seems to pause for a moment. A whooshing screams past my ear, the light zipping away before spinning and heading straight for me. I close my eyes, tilting my head back as it hammers into my chest, the whispers echoing through my body until they rest in my chest and I gasp.

The mind link. The world around me is silent, but internally I can hear the excitement, the whoops and hollers for their new Luna, and tears flood my eyes. They accept me. They want me.

A warm hand takes hold of mine and I squeeze it, looking at Merikh who wordlessly holds it up in celebration, though he doesn't look at me. I ache to feel his gaze on me, but I relish the touch of his skin instead, looking down at Penny and Percy, whose eyes flash blue and then their usual shade. They grin from ear to ear and I hear them in the mind link.

-Welcome to the pack Luna Letty, we are honored to serve you-

"Now!" Hayes announces, filled with giddy excitement. "Who the heck is ready to party?"

and I turn to face Merikh. His eyes find mine looking hollow and again my heart races. Something is wrong. I can feel it in

he seems

Chapter 21

then he

ask him, and

old self wanting to rower and hide, begging to just drop this and let it fester but the new me. The stronger one with a wolf who is nearly at her full strength for the first time in our lives stands firm.

do

a hurricane forming in

you do something wrong?" He asks, arching a brow. "That is a good question. Is

He knows. He has to know otherwise why else would he be asking me. It was idiotic to think he wouldn't have known that someone like Grady was

lips. "I need

wait. We have a party, and then I

possibility swirls in my head. Did Penny tell him? Or maybe he was watching me the whole time? Heavens, I have

calls out, stopping and looking over his shoulder. "Our pack members are eager to meet you

I mutter, shaking my head, ridding myself of the negative

Merikh, rounding the outside of the building and turning the corner to see a beautiful garden decorated with string lights and floating jasmine flower balls. The tables are covered in delicate lace covers with a gold satin beneath, each one decorated with a stunning display of white lilies, ivy and

streamers sway in the breeze." The attention to detail down to the tiny fountain with water lilies and white fish swimming in the rippling pool. There is a bow

rushes up to me with

and I would like to give you our gift now, if that's okay?" She asks, looking

Pengy pulls me to the

in a squeal. "Percy and I were trying to come up with the best gift, and we couldn't

your

is glowing,

given me such a thoughtful gift. Heck, no one has really ever given me a gift at all unless we are counting the few little things Merikh has given me. I bite my lip, fighting back tears as I step forward and touch the water, playing my fingers over the top and

as Penny hugs me back and Percy pats me. When I pull away, I see Percy's red cheeks and Penny

pleased you like

ever.." I pause, calming myself. "This is the most personal gift I

do great things for our pack, and the whole

ask that old insecurity creeping in as 1 catch Merikh watching me with a scowl from the forest

me a sweet smile. Someone taps on my shoulder and I spin to

up at me with a soft smile. "My son was hoping to meet you in person, and he

and give him a wink. "Persistence pays off sometimes,

then buries his face into his mother's shoulder before

say, so I decide to rename myself right here. "Letty. Call me Luna Letty. Can you say that?" "Luna Letty," he says a lisp, making the I's sound like w's. His cute little