Traded To The Lycan King

"Merikh POV

I lounge back in the chair on the deck, taking in the clear sky above me, showcasing the stars and the waning moon. My whole body feels like it's vibrating with every emotion. Rage, guilt, betrayal. All of them meld together, ripping through my mental state like nothing I've felt before.

"So you did it, huh?" Hayes says, approaching me from behind. I roll my eyes, knowing I should have expected him and his usual confrontations. It's what makes him such a great beta. That and I can't kill him off for his honesty,

"Hello to you too, brother." I grumble.

I ignore him as he takes a seat next to me, sighing heavily, keeping my eyes trained on the sky.

"So how did she take it?" he asks, and I scoff.

How did she take it? Not fucking well. That's for sure. Hell, the more I think about it, the more I try to convince myself I didn't see how hurt she was. How betrayed she was. But I need to get used to that look, and the feeling it carves into my s

"I think.. I exhale, looking over at him finally, "I think I broke her heart."

"Of course you did, Merikh. You took her options away." He says like she ever actually had any.

"What option? Could you explain what exactly I took from her?"

"Well, her choice, for starters.

"We both know that the blood oath is entirely reversible." I grumble. "I took nothing from her, I just delayed it."

"We know that, but she doesn't. How can she when you refuse to tell her you guys are second chance mates?"

"Colette agreed to this. Okay? She agreed to being Luna and take my mark one day." I say, sitting up and swinging to face him.

soul.

"Yes, but she meant being marked. Not the blood oath that you use on a top warrior or someone you have to keep close."

"Damn it, Hayes" I growl. "Without this oath blocking the pull to her, I will lose control! It's intoxicating, SHE is intoxicating. I want to claim her. Shit, more than I wanted to claim Lauren. It's like a festering inside my chest, like a fucking infection that keeps growing. There is no antidote or cutting it out. But this oath, it's a bandaid. It buys me time, it's to keep me sane,"

"Buys you

time for what?" He scoffs.

"To figure out what the hell to do next!" I stand abruptly.

You should have just told her you are second chance mates, so that she knows the oath can be broken when you mark her."

"I want a mate I can trust!" I roar, my chest pinching at the memory of Colette kissing Grady. The moment my trust for her shattered. "How does telling her prove this I can trust her?"

trust." Hayes says softly and I

I mutter, annoyed, looking

are the alpha. You

shouldn't have to

party yet?" Hayes says, his voice firm, like

1/4

Chapter 24

care of this pack My job to finish what father tried to fix before MY MATE fucking killed him with her vampire lover." I release him, but I stay in his face, making

laying at the feet of the traitorous bitch who had told me the night before she wanted to carry my pups. It wasn't Hayes who had to step up and keep his shit together to lead a pack that was broken and distrusting of

the whispers; the rumors doubting me and my role in all of this. Lauren had planted seeds, and they bloomed into black blossoms of doubt overnight after being watered with our father's blood. "Merikh, dad's death

trusting her, and the wrong people on the committee that have the Lycans weaker than we have ever been, and the werewolves exposed to the fucking other

you think tricking her into an oath where she can't backstab you, while you use her to get your way

I did it for her, and for me." I grit out. "I need to trust that she won't try to leave me when

looking disappointed in me. "You wanted her to be forced to stay

wouldn't have the same effect?"

dragging his hand over his

you are sacrificing so much to do what you think is best..But you are on the path to messing this up beyond repair" I sigh, looking

late." I mutter

committee meeting"

do you suppose I do that

you are second chance mates. Go tell her why she is so important. Tell

her past." I bite out. "We need the element

one that is fake. You don't want to tell her all of that yet? Fine. But the oath is already in place and she deserves to know that when you two

at him, seeing more and more of dad in him every day. Hayes has the heart of our mother and the wise words of

"Okay, I will tell her what she

eye grow wide and then he smirks

she will slap you?" He teases and I frown. From a wise father like figure to idiot brother in ten seconds

to the room is anxiety ridden, my lycan pouting in my mind, still angry with me for doing what I did. Maybe if he were a more controlled beast, we wouldn't have had

Chapter 24

feel the emotions brewing. The anger I feel for her and the ache in my chest to hold her. Such

at me from her spot on the ground, sitting with her back against the bed and her eyes red and raw. There are no tears anymore, only the residue from the ones that have fallen and my heart breaks. I did that. I put those tears

you." I swallow, "If you allow

I have a choice?"

ability to push me the way I have done to her. Instead, she sniffles

you need?" she asks, her

If you want me to mark

I know what a blood oath is. I may have been raised as a maid, but I know things. I will never get to experience

loopholes," I remind her and she