Traded To The Lycan King

*Merikh*

I hold Colette close, knowing that the second we arrive there will be no time to be close to her. There is a very real probability the people we love will die. Not all of them, but some, and potentially one of us.

The reality of that knowledge doesn't go unnoticed by anyone in the SUV as Johannes careens closer to where my pack was supposed to be hiding. It infuriates me beyond all things that I once again was blind to what Lauren might share with the enemy.

Granted, I had hoped the rumor of her existence had been false. The fact remains, I failed my pack again. Little mistakes that could change the tide of any war plague me at every turn and I need to force myself to be prepared for whatever outcome may arise.

"What is the plan?" Johannes asks, his gaze meeting mine in the rearview mirror.

"We need to get to Giselle. Get her alone and piss her off beyond belief." Colette says.

"Care to share why making her angry is so important?" He asks.

Colette launches into explaining the thought process behind it all as I zone out, preparing myself for every scenario.

"Alpha," Melody says softly, grabbing my attention. "Are you feeling up to this?"

Her question is quiet, while Colette and Johannes chat as if they have been on the same side for all their lives.

"I am fine," I tell her, even if it isn't true.

There is no choice but to be fine in our current situation. Yes, we could have taken another day and hoped Giselle would have been patient, but that is not how either me or my luna are. My brother and pack are on a fish string, teetering over the edge, and we are the only ones who can catch them.

"Will you be able to fight?" She asks, concern etched in her face. My gaze skirts over to Ezrah, who is very much pretending to be asleep.

"Of course I will." I frown, "Why don't you just ask what you are really trying to get to? You want to know if I will be able to protect Colette in my weakened state?"

She clears her throat and looks away, ashamed. I lean back on the seat, turning slightly.

"Let me be very clear. There is nothing, not even death, that will keep me from making sure she is safe." I whisper, and she nods.

eyes drift to the window, and I feel she is holding something

slips up to the passenger's seat, speaking with Johannes about potential problems and what we anticipate while I pin her

Caspian choose not to come?" I ask her, and she grows rigid. Her hands twist at the

to hide her face, but she is too

tone harsh and I watch her throat bob as she swallows. "There is no way he wouldn't be here unless you asked him not

is coming separately because we can't be in the same car." She admits, her hand reaching to the back of her neck. "It physically hurts to be near him. To know that all this time he never once thought that perhaps we weren't dead and he

than upsetting

alive, I understand that, but...it feels like home. He feels like home, but that doesn't mean I am wanted there. Caspian spent ten years moving on from me, getting over me. I

I scoff and force back a disdainful chuckle. She convinced him to stay away because it's painful? Life hangs in the balance and she is more concerned with her own feelings than the thought of potentially

my brother on his way to come for us. Thankfully, the phone for the Siren's is still in that cabin, and if I am lucky, Calvin will be there, and inform Caspian of what I

text, then slam the phone shut. Colette slides a glance in my direction, her brows tugging together in a silent question, but I ease her worry with a smile. I motion for

heart before exhaustion takes over and I slip away into a deep sleep. There is nothing in my dream

nagging, as if I am being tugged on like a fish finally hooked by an eager fisherman on the shore. My lycan

but merely existing with my mate in my arms. Until that hum of

on me as if it is struggling to separate me from the very life I ever refuse to step away from. My lycan howls loudly in my head, a distorted, distant sound as pain laces through my side. The world falls silent

that was forcefully put inside of me? Then a fluttering blossom in me at my cheek, a wetness under my eyes and the sound of wind barreling through a

in flames as I blink and find Colette's tear-stained face. Her look of horror turns to one of sheer relief as she kisses

a raging burn down the side of his pale

taking stock of everything. "What the

second we crossed the border, they attacked." Colette whispers, "They weren't waiting for us to talk or discuss

who still feels miles away. All I did was fall asleep. For what? Fifteen

long was I asleep?"

She frowns. "Eight hours,"

ignoring the pain in my side that ripples up my body, making me shudder. "Feels like fucking forever and that is saying a lot coming from an immortal." Johannes responds, creeping over to us while keeping his head down. “Who pulled me out of that?" I ask, nodding

says, a smirk on his thin

you were stuck, so I crawled back into try

wide as I force myself

where Hayes and Leandra are. We thought she would be safest with him since they don't know he is no longer neutral." Colette says, pushing me back

forcing myself to sit up. Her hand grips to mine, and she bites her bottom lip, looking