Traded To The Lycan King

“How are you feeling?” Hayes asks, sitting next to me as I lay on my stomach for yet another damn day waiting for the green light to move. If it weren’t for my inability to sit upright, I would have been gone the same damn day, back to our pack where we are safe, where Colette is safe.

“Like a dragon tried to burn a hole through my body.” I grumble, my mood more sour by the minute.

“Considering that’s exactly what happened, I’d say you are fairing pretty well.” He says with a smile, though I can see the way it doesn’t reach his eyes. He looks tired as he plops into the chair opposite of my bedside. “Where did Colette go?”

“With Penny to change and shower, then grab some food.” I tell him and he nods before a yawn breaks free. I watch my brother as he fights to keep his eyes open, no doubt running ragged because of my injury and his mate he has still told me nothing about. “How is she?” I ask.

“Colette?” he asks, snapping his eyes open. “Uh, she seems stressed, but she is managing well enough.”

“No. I mean Leandra.” I say with a point stare. He drags his hand down his face, leaning forward, his elbows landing on his knees as he exhales.

“That would be easier to discern if the woman would talk to me. Instead, she refuses to say a damn thing,” he groans. “It’s like she just shuts down when I am around. She has spoken with Penny and Brent. But me? Nothing.”

“Maybe you make her nervous?” I offer and he scoffs..

“Why the hell would I make her nervous? We are mates, we are supposed to calm each other.” he stands angrily. He paces away from me before he quickly spins, his hand on his hip as if he is thinking.

“Have you discussed the mate bond? Accepted each other verbally yet?” I ask him, and he scoffs.

“She is a traitor to her kind. Why the hell would I accept her?” He asks, like it’s a simple assessment.

“Hayes.” I say, and he shakes his head, scowling at me.

“No, no. I already know what you are going to say. Trust me, I have thought of every scenario. I know what I have to do next. It’s just that…I don’t know that I can do it yet,” he blabbers on, rattling nonsense as if I have the strength to follow his ramblings. I try to get his attention, but he is so far lost in his own thoughts.

“Hayes!” I yell and he freezes, blinking at me like he can’t fathom why on earth I am yelling at him. “What the hell are you on about?”

the only option? “Why do you think you have to reject her?” I ask him, arching a brow as I try to move. My back burns and I hiss, pushing myself up despite the pain. Hayes rushes over

of them.” He replies,

one of them?” I ask him, my hands gripping the side of the bed for dear

head.

He is our

because we don’t

been living in our pack and yet, no one knows

from me. “I will take that as a ‘no‘ then. How about tell me what

matter?” He exhales. “Clearly I have to reject her, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t even acknowledge I’m

there with her

had the redeyes?” I ask him and he throws his hands up

the enemy,”

1 stare

me think harder than I wish to at times. He is so

bond is difficult, and though Lauren was a nightmare, without her, without the pain and suffering I experienced at her betrayal, I would not be who I am today. I would not have found the one person who can see beneath my shit mistakes and issues and

as a puppet.” I remind him. “Her actions were not her own and

he asks, sounding defeated. “How the hell do I trust someone who could kill us

ease the soreness

was when she was under someone

around yet, Merikh,” He says, rushing

are avoiding the subject.” I frown at him. “I am fine here. You need to go talk to Leandra. Not as her mate, but as my beta, perhaps she will answer

head and sighs before he runs his hands through his hair. “I’d really rather not,”

see the way this all hurts him. Hayes has always been the sensitive one. The one I turn to when I am being too dense or hard to notice something needs a gentler touch. Hayes has waited for his mate for years only to find her not able to be herself. Of