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

I mutter, annoyed, looking

are the alpha. You don't have

shouldn't

Hayes says, his voice firm, like he is fed

1/4

Chapter 24

collar. "Hayes, it is my job to take 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,

she wanted to carry my pups. It wasn't Hayes who had to step up and keep his shit together to

this. Lauren had planted seeds, and they bloomed into black blossoms

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 supernatural asstards that can use them how they please. This isn't a pity party. This is me trying to plan out what is best for EVERYONE

you think tricking her into an oath where she can't backstab you, while you

me." I grit out. "I need to trust that she won't try to leave me

so that is the real reason." He whispers, looking disappointed in me. "You wanted her to be

marking her wouldn't have the same

scoffs, dragging his hand

and you are sacrificing so much to do what you think

late." I mutter and he

committee meeting" He says, looking at me. "I mean it,

suppose I do that

tell her why she is so important. Tell the poor woman who she is. She is strong enough

I

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

in him every day. Hayes has the heart of our mother and the wise words of our father. The combination always brings me comfort after pissing

hands in my pocket. "Okay, I will tell her what she is to

eye grow wide and

waiting for a chat when you are done. I have to know how she responds. Do you think she will slap you?" He teases and I frown. From a wise father like figure to idiot brother

still angry with me for doing what I did. Maybe if he were a more controlled beast, we wouldn't have had to take drastic measures, but he doesn't

Chapter 24

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

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 on

need to speak with you." I swallow, "If you allow

a choice?" She

the way I have done to

she asks, her voice small

mark you. If you want me to mark you." I say,

is. I may have been raised as a maid, but I know things. I will never

are loopholes," I