Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

Chapter 21

Merikh stands next to me, the entire pack of lycan's watching anxiously from the center of the new town square. I wish I would have been able to have a moment alone with him before we started all of this, but this is the life I have to get used to. There are far more important things than me. Especially with traitors among us here in the pack and the red-eyed wolves who seem to have it out for him.

My light blue dress ruffles in the wind, my hair tickling my check as tensions grow. I reach out, touching his hand, hoping he picks up

my nerves and maybe wraps it up in his. He doesn't, instead he slides his hands into his pocket and looks in the opposite direction, making my heart lurch in fear.

on

"As you all know, there has been a new member in our pack these past few weeks." Merikh says, looking out at the crowd. "Many of you have seen her in training down at the lake or roaming around the hiking trails. Today I would like to introduce

her to you.

He slides his icy gaze to me, my heart skipping a beat at the lack of warmth in his eyes. If I didn't trust the words, he has told me many times, I would think he hates me,

He places his hand out before me, waiting for me to place mine in his palm. I hesitate for a moment before accepting it and he pulls me forward with him. The pack members watch me, waiting for something to happen.

"This is Colette. Your Luna, and my new mate." Merikh announces, his voice booms through the air, authoritative and firm. The pack members collectively drop their gaze, bowing their heads before looking back up and watching me, then Penny and Percy, who stand at the front of the crowd, step toward us..

"We accept you as our Luna, and we pledge our lives to you in service. They kneel, dropping their heads. A tingling starts in my chest, a warmth spreading and my eyes go wide in surprise. Hayes steps up to my side, sliding me a warm and encouraging smile.

"Accept them," he whispers, and I realize I am supposed to be doing my part,

I glance at Merikh, frustration tickling my mind that he is not helping to guide me through this, but maybe it's a test to see how I handle the stress of all of this. Which is fantastic because I have proven frequently how poorly I do with that.

"I accept your promise, and I promise to do my best as your Luna. To lead you only where you can follow and follow only when I know it is right to do so. I only wish to serve you all and prove myself worthy of your loyalty."

Merikh chortles quietly next to me, shaking my confidence, but I don't let it show. The pack members all lift their heads and Jet out a howl that resonates through the air, vibrating the ground as my chest seems to burst with white energy that spills into pale blue. It whips around me like a storm, stealing my breath away.

Each passing breeze calls to me, voices of encouragement and love before the air stills and the world seems to pause for a moment. A whooshing screams past my ear, the light zipping away before spinning and heading straight for me. I close my eyes, tilting my head back as it hammers into my chest, the whispers echoing through my body until they rest in my chest and I gasp.

The mind link. The world around me is silent, but internally I can hear the excitement, the whoops and hollers for their new Luna, and tears flood my eyes. They accept me. They want me.

A warm hand takes hold of mine and I squeeze it, looking at Merikh who wordlessly holds it up in celebration, though he doesn't look at me. I ache to feel his gaze on me, but I relish the touch of his skin instead, looking down at Penny and Percy, whose eyes flash blue and then their usual shade. They grin from ear to ear and I hear them in the mind link.

-Welcome to the pack Luna Letty, we are honored to serve you-

"Now!" Hayes announces, filled with giddy excitement. "Who the heck is ready to party?"

We watch as everyone disperses, and I turn to face Merikh. His eyes find mine looking hollow and again my heart races. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my very being

"Merikh..." I whisper and he seems to focus on me.

Chapter 21

he asks, then he snaps

ask

feel my old self wanting to rower and hide, begging to just drop this and let it fester but the new me. The stronger one with a wolf who is nearly at her full strength for the first time in our lives stands firm. I am a Luna now. Not the maid who is being reprimanded for

I do something

for a moment, a hurricane forming

a good question. Is there something you wanted

He has to know otherwise why else would he be asking me. It was idiotic to think he wouldn't have known that someone like Grady was on his pack lands.

I swallow roughly, licking my lips. "I need

smirks. "But it will have to wait. We have a party, and then I have a

leaving me stunned and teary-eyed as every terrible possibility swirls in my head. Did Penny tell him? Or maybe he was watching me the whole time? Heavens, I have been so stupid. Merikh

coming. Luna?" He calls out, stopping and looking over his shoulder. "Our pack members are eager to meet you

myself of the negative thoughts. Merikh

in

The tables are covered in delicate lace covers with a gold satin beneath,

sway in the breeze." The attention to detail down to the tiny fountain with water lilies and white fish swimming in the rippling pool. There is a bow on the fountain, the twinkling water sounds, making

with a

now, if that's okay?" She asks,

Merikh bites out as Pengy pulls me to the fountain where

"Percy and I were trying to come up with the

your

is glowing, and her happiness is contagious as

has given me. I bite my lip, fighting back tears as I step forward and touch the water, playing my fingers over the top and then a sob breaks free. I throw my arms around the two of

hugs me back and Percy pats me. When I pull away, I see Percy's red cheeks and Penny elbowing him with a "we did

Chapter 21

it Percy says.

pleased you

has ever.." I pause, calming myself. "This is the most personal gift

going to do great things for our pack, and the

think so?" I ask that old insecurity creeping in as 1 catch Merikh watching me with a

smile. Someone taps on my shoulder and I

at me with a soft smile. "My son was hoping

I grin

"Persistence pays off sometimes,

smiles and then buries his face into his mother's shoulder

look at Penny and realize Colette might be too long for a little kid to say, so I decide to rename myself right here. "Letty. Call me Luna Letty. Can you say that?" "Luna Letty," he says a lisp, making the I's sound like w's. His

He looks up at his mom,

And I'm

years old?" I ask,

Then he looks at his mom. "I'm

shoulder to see Merikh standing there with a satisfied grin on his face. "Seeing how happy

whiplash. He takes my hand in