Traded To The Lycan King

“I should get back to Merikh,” I mutter. Confliction stirring in my head and chest.

I know Caspian is right. My powers, whatever they may be, could very much come in handy and, as someone who can’t offer much in the way of my werewolf abilities, this would be a huge advantage for us.

What I did in the woods with the fake giants was something I had no idea I could do. Heck, I’m not sure I could even do it

if I tried. But if the ocean makes me stronger than the fresh–water lake in my pack, should I not try to see what it can do again for me?

“Promise me you will consider it?” He asks. The sincerity in his voice is enough to make me see he wants this not to just keep me safe where he lives, but he wants me to learn, to grow.

“I will think about it.” I tell him with a tight smile as I back away and turn, heading toward the mansion that once was so grand.

As I enter, I see Hayes storming out of a room, his fist flying into the adjacent wall as he screams in anger. I stop, watching as he drags his hands through his hair and then leans forward, resting his forehead above where he punched a hole.

“Hayes,” I call out to him, walking in his direction as he straightens himself up and turns, shock written on his face. He tries to hide the hole in the wall, leaning against it with his back and clearing his throat.

“Luna,” He says, bowing his head in respect, which only makes me raise a brow. Hayes has been respectful to me, but he is my brother through my mate, not just a beta or a pack member. It is so obvious that he is hurting and it’s not just Merikh being injured.

“Leandra still not speaking?” I ask him and he looks down

“How am I supposed to reject her if she can’t respond?” he growls, though his anger is not directed toward me.

“Why would you reject her?” I ask him and he looks at me like I’ve lost all ability to speak coherently.

“She is a traitor. I can’t take her as my mate now.”

I frown at the man I know to be wise beyond his years. One whose opinion is highly valued not only by Merikh but everyone who knows him. But maybe that is why he is so great at advice. Because he can see things from the outside perspective and with this situation, he is in the thick of it. Making terrible mistakes without asking anyone for their external thoughts or opinions. When it comes to his own life, he is lost.

“Being a traitor is a conscious choice.” I say softly, “I doubt she asked to be bewitched and used against her own kind. Seems to me she was used, not asked.”

Hayes presses his head back into the wall, lifting it and slamming it back. He does it again, hammering it against it twice, now three times, before I step closer and place my hand where the back of his head is repeatedly hitting. He stops and tilts his head to look at me, sadness in his eyes.

sounding broken. “Seeing her out there, fighting us..I can’t erase it. The colors of her eyes

tell him honestly, my shoulders popping up in a

went to hell when those damn zombie wolves arrived and now…now we are stuck there. Burning for the sins of our ancestors and tearing everyone else down with

it, 1 admit. “Not quite how

his frustration seeping through his words. “We’ve been attacked so many damn times I can’t count anymore. We make

just life.” I shrug. “For so damn long, I was living in hell. Stagnant. Nothing to do or

Chapter 64

day. I lived longer. Sometimes one person’s hell is another person’s salvation. All of this? These fights, these losses? That’s proof we are still fighting.

long enough, eventually we will win one?” He scoffs,

up on the things that can make what you call

snaps his mouth shut, looking at the door across from us. Then he

they have on him. Then he will

imagine how hard it will be for her to understand what happened,

“And happening

free…” He whispers. “I just don’t know that I can do it. She is my mate, who I have waited for. But

frown, hating how stubborn he is, but then again, he

to terms with everything first, Hayes.” I say. “So I am going to ask you to not reject her for a month. Let her heal, come to terms with how used she was. Who knows, maybe you both will help

I shake my head and step away

not ‘your Lauren! She was a one of a kind backstabbing bitch. She chose to betray Merikh and you. Leandra had no control over

suppose.” He murmurs, pushing off

use my mate against you, Hayes.” I give him a stern look and he frowns. “There is no need to be in hell when you have the option of heaven. Stop being such a stickler for your made

forward to throw it open, but Hayes beats me to the handle. The door flies open and Leandra is on the ground writhing in pain as

figure out what to do. I rush over to her, touching her skin, and notice how cold she is and how frail she feels. She is malnourished and something, or someone, is causing her immense

his forearms, holding onto Hayes tightly as her eyes roll to the back of her head. “Shit, shit shit.”

of the room. I don’t make it three steps before Brent breaks into the room, his face

is going on?” I ask him, and he sucks in a

are fighting

is fighting back?” I ask and Hayes looks