Traded To The Lycan King

I stare at myself in the mirror, my hair wet and dripping down my bare shoulders as I tilt my head, watching the droplets with intense concentration. My abilities take so much effort and emotion. I try to convince the droplets to float off my body but they don’t move, insteall rolling down like they would any other day before I knew what I was.

-Colette?” Merikh calls, a soft rapping on the door with his knuckles. I sigh, frustrated with the stubborn man who should still be in his bed rest, not walking around the room in search of me.

“Yes?” I call out.

“Caspian is asking to speak with us,” He says, his voice muffled through the door.

I gaze at myself once more, my stomach a mess of knots. Caspian is going to want my answer soon, and with Merikh wanting to leave as soon as possible, I need to decide what is best for me. For my pack.

“Just give me a second.” I mutter, grabbing a towel and drying my hair as best as I can. I toss on my jeans and tank top, yanking on a linen button up as I exit the door and nearly run into Merikh. My eyes fly open wide, stopping in my tracks as he places his hands out to

catch me.

“Woah.” he chuckles before he pulls me close, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Trying to lay me out again?”

“Are you kidding? Keeping you in bed is the hardest thing I have ever tried to do,” I tease, leaning into his chest as I look up into his eyes. There is more spark there, the dark circles under his eyes now gone and he looks good. Damn good,

“There are some easy ways to keep me in bed,” He winks, leaning downL

His lips press to mine, soft and sweet, before my fingers curl into his shirt, tugging him as close as possible. My mouth part, and his tongue teases me, darting out to skim the small opening I provide him. A little needy moan tumbles out and I can feel him smile against my lips before he applies more pressure.

He latches onto my bottom lip, nibbling on the sensitive skin before he overtakes my mouth with his tongue. My hands glide up his neck. holding him in place, afraid he will pull away before I am ready to let him go. I can feel his fingers dig into my hips before they move lower, tucking into the back of my jean pockets.

“We need to go,” he murmurs against me.

“Mhmm,” I agree, not giving him the chance to stop us. He hasn’t been well enough for anything like this, me too afraid to hurt him and his need to be on his belly has really diminished any ability to be intimate. But if he can stand long enough, sit on the edge of the bed. then there are ways we can be together, or close. Right?

Merikh pulls away, a grin on his all too handsome face as

leans down once more, this time stealing a chaste

since we have been

time.” He says, stepping away from me as he entwines our hands and walks us toward the door. “We will have all the time in the

to make hanging over my head. Merikh eyes me suspiciously but he says nothing as we

we approach dining room, we see Hyacinth sitting with Elm who

turning back to her brother who she tries to convince to take a bite of avocado toast as he stares at the wall. As we make it to the other hall, far enough away, I look

think he will end up choosing her?” I ask, uncertain where the line

lead his people down the path she has chosen. Elm doesn’t know me all that well, but we have a mutual respect for each other. What happens when it comes down to love vs.

first and foremost. What she has done, the predicament. she has put them in, it proves where her heart lies and

loves her-“I say, but Merikh sighs, making

already made his choice. That is

approach my biological father’s door. I reach for the handle, but Merikh pulls me back, making me look up

whispers,

“What?” Task

the same page. He says firmly. “We are leaving tonight, heading back

telling me this?” I scoff, frustrated that he is only just now telling

for that. Add in the fact that I will heal faster in our pack than here.

best for me? My strength is untested, unknown. Is it best for me to head home and cower? To go and hide behind my people who will fight for me while I am sitting around, too weak to be

swinging open. “I was wondering when

hand, making my way to a chair, using it as an excuse to not have to touch him when I’m growing

pleased to see you up and moving. You had

thought to search for a different way to heal what