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.

window, and I feel she is holding

speaking with Johannes about potential problems and what we anticipate while I pin her mother

and she grows rigid. Her hands twist at the seat belt before she fiddles with the hem of

can ask Ezrah too if you like." She tries to hide her face, but she is too much like

I watch her throat bob

hurts to be near him.

upsetting

painful if we were exes." She whispers. "He didn't or doesn't feel the bond the way I do. There was no way for him to feel I was alive, I understand that, but...it feels like home. He feels like home, but that doesn't mean I am wanted there. Caspian spent

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 losing a daughter

whip around, leaning forward as I grab the phone Johannes had taken from 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

short, and fire off a 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 her to crawl back with me and she grins, slipping over the armrest

finger rubbing gentle circles over my heart before exhaustion takes over and I slip away into a deep sleep. There

I can feel a constant nagging, as if I am being tugged on like a fish finally hooked by an

but merely existing with my mate in my arms. Until that hum of the bond is gone, ripped from my

pulling 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.

blossom in me at my cheek, a wetness under my eyes and the sound of wind barreling through a

me burns, the vehicle we were in up 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 my

damn time!" Johannes roars, a raging burn down the

taking stock

weren't waiting for us to

body awake, trying to reach out to my lycan, who still feels miles away. All I did was fall asleep. For what? Fifteen minutes at most and suddenly I wake up in

I asleep?" I

She frowns. "Eight hours,"

my side that ripples up my body, making me shudder. "Feels like fucking forever and that is saying

me," Johannes says, a

were stuck, so I crawled back into try to

I ask, my eyes wide as I force myself to sit up a little

safest with him since they don't know he is no longer neutral."

and forcing myself to sit up. Her hand grips to mine,