Traded To The Lycan King

"Merikh

11 POV

Colette steps out of the bathroom, her scent wafting from the steam that follows behind her. She looks more prepared, like the shower provided her with liquid courage.

Her hair is soft and wavy, falling over her delicate shoulders that are exposed in her pale blue summer dress. The soft ruffles. remind me of waves lapping at the shore as they cascade over her bust and down one side where a slit reveals a portion of

her smooth skin.

She looks divine. A breath of fresh air after a lifetime being lost in the Marianas trench. My heart races as I meet her eyes, my mouth dry. Colette watches me curiously before growing noticeably nervous and she crosses her arm across her belly. holding the other arm while she looks away. I hate she feels she has to hide, like she has no idea how damn stunning she is

"Don't do that." I rasp out, standing from the edge of the bed as I move toward her. "Do not ever hide."

"I'm not used to dressing like this..." she frowns,

"You look beautiful." I tell her sincerely.

It won't be hard to make it seem like I can't keep my hands off her in a dress like this. The lycan in me is rallying against my sane mind, begging to make me force her to change. To cover her up and not allow anyone to see her like this but us. But I want everyone to stare. I want them to look at her and gape.

Colette needs to see what she can do, what she has always been capable of. She has always been stunning, but since coming to my pack, she has flourished. I know she wasn't being poisoned in her old pack. Not in the way she thinks she was. But she was sickly, her soul malnourished and her wolf suffered, making her thing and gaunt.

Not anymore.

A month of good food, exercise and people who treat her well. Well...most people who treat her well. I wince inwardly, hating that I'm the one who causes her stress. I am the one who hurt her and ruined us. It's not fair to punish her for my insecurities, but yet... I can't find it in my pride to tell her that. Not yet.

Not when I know that this is just a small amount of the hatred she will send my way when she finds out at the first meeting.

Her soft hand touches mine, and I shake myself from my thoughts, taking her in once more. Damn, she is perfect. Her lips part and I lick mine.

to flatter me,"

being honest." I say

undoing it and then I look her in the eyes, making sure she can see the sincerity. "Are you

+

a sigh. It pains me to hear her say that, knowing I forced her here. Forced all of

would prefer to

a simple lie. To them, we are recently mated, and it would be perfectly reasonable to say we got carried

she says, shaking her head.

are sure?" I check

presses her hand to my chest, and I know she can feel my fast beating heart. Her eyes soften, but she says nothing. Instead, she hides a smile and steps past me, heading to the door. "Are you

as she slips

escape, you only need to lean in and whisper. These people can be they can be a lot. You thought I was a monster being the Alpha of Death? You

her shoulders and sets her lips. She is damn cute when she

and Lycans," she says firmly. "They don't

I have needed to hear from a mate for so long. My heart feels lighter and my lycan purrs with delight as I reach down and take her hand in mine,

give her a wink using the name she announced

some monsters."

enter the dining area. Everyone is chatting merrily, laughter floating through the large space before it stops and all eyes land on us. Johannes smirks, and Florence rolls

groans, sitting roughly back

my chest as Florence laughs and the

from behind us. I turn and watch as Caspian, who was supposed to be coming late into this whole charade, saunters into the

and flashing a quick smile. "We weren't expecting you for at

a sideways glance. He commands the presence of everyone in his navy shirt and linen pants with a stern look. He smells of the ocean breeze and I glance at

is this?" He asks, taking his

announce, and he frowns,