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," she

honest." I

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

+

hear her

I say, deciding to give her back a little control. "If you would prefer to stay

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

says, shaking her head. "I'll be

I check

feel my fast beating heart. Her eyes soften, but she says nothing. Instead, she

and moving toward her as she slips her feet into a pair of

be they can be a lot. You thought I was a monster being the Alpha of Death? You are about to come face

lips. She is

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

or not, those words are what 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

wink using the name she

some monsters."

is chatting merrily, laughter floating through the large space before it stops and

sitting roughly back in

Johannes says with a devious smirk, pulling a chair closer to him. I growl vibrates through my chest as Florence laughs and the others watch in silence. It's strange how the others don't

deep, tired voice says from behind us. I turn and watch as Caspian, who was supposed to be coming late into this whole charade, saunters into the dining room. Everyone seems to grow stiff, Johannes glancing away and

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

his navy shirt and linen pants with a stern look. He smells of the ocean breeze and I

He asks, taking his seat, thin looking up at

announce,