Traded To The Lycan King

Warm air brushes over my cheeks, a gentle feeling as if it were a soft kiss barely touching me. I feel strangely relaxed, safe, as I try to force myself to move. My body feels heavy, my eyes aching with a dull pain behind them as I blink them open, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion when I see him."

Hayes lays next to me, his eyes closed as the sun beats down through the leaves of the trees above us. His breathing is even and soft, his gentle breath heating my face as I find myself frozen, transfixed on just how much he has changed. I don't mean because of his burns, but rather the way his cheek-bones are sharper, his jawline tense and his lips... his lips look more tempting.

I try to turn onto my back, but I find myself trapped beneath his arm over a gray, dingy blanket. His arm lifts just enough for me to squirm and that's then I realize my arms are stuck inside the massive shirt I have on. My nose scrunches in confusion as I shimmy around, finding the arm holes that are twisted to the sides, before I push my hands through.

"Are you awake or having a seizure?" Hayes' groggy voice asks and I scoff, looking over at him only to see his eyes are still closed, but there is a quirk of a smile at the corner of his lip.

"Did you get me dressed?" I ask him and he exhales, popping one eyelid open, unamused.

"I did the best I could for someone more limp than a dead snake."

My mouth falls open, and I lick my lips, smiling even if he is trying to offend me to pick a fight.

"You didn't think to put my arms through the holes?" I ask him, waving my arms around in their newfound freedom.

"Figured you'd be warmer," He shrugs.

"You also tucked me in?" I ask, arching a brow, and he frowns before sighing.

"Kyra, you were shivering. What was I supposed to do, let you freeze to death?" He mutters, turning his back to me. I pause, nibbling my lip as I try to figure out how to say thank you.

The words that seem so easy somehow don't want to come forth the more I remember. I have many more things I want to say: curse words, questions, really snarky comments about his intelligence. But I push it all aside and clear my throat. "Thank you, Hayes." I murmur. He turns, looking at me suspiciously over his shoulder.

"What?" He asks, and I roll my eyes.

"You're going to make me say it again, aren't you?" I ask him and He lays his head back down, but not before I see a smirk.

"Say what again? You were mumbling, so I couldn't hear anything." He lies.

abandoning me." I say louder, crawling over to him as I lean over his side to make sure he can

flinches away, leaving me watching him with wide eyes as he scurries to a standing position, leaving me on my knees. I tilt my head to the side, my

his throat as he rubs the back of his neck and looks away. My stomach twists, and I look

my foot, the world spinning while my eyes close and I find my balance. A soft groan slips out and a gentle pressing at my back makes my eyes snap open. "Are you okay?"

I croak,

says, giving me a quick, half smile before he turns and bends down to gather the blanket. His jeans

confirmation that he is listening. "Where did you find those

face me, tucking the blanket under his arm before crossing

"Why do you ask?"

breaking free as I press my lips

all." I manage to choke out. He rolls

a little tight."

still a fine specimen to look at. Especially in jeans a size too small, riding low on his hips. These jeans are far from bad, though I dare say he may find them annoying on the journey. "You might be more comfortable in the nude."

looks down at his

argues. I nod, giving him a

my throat and look around. "We really should get

nods. "Yeah, I had a feeling you

the better for everyone." I tell him. "Well, other than you, since you

gives me a side eye before he looks away. No denial of what I accuse him of. And even if I know that's what his endgame is, all of me had hoped he would try to deny

says, motioning

we used to have meaningful conversations?" I ask him as

"Why want to have one

back. There used to be no wall between us, no worrying about hurting each other's feelings when we spoke as best friendsz What needed to be said was said,

snorts and I shoot him a glare over my

begging to just let you go was just a joke?"

a heavy sigh escaping as he slowly lifts