Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

Chapter 24

"Merikh POV

I lounge back in the chair on the deck, taking in the clear sky above me, showcasing the stars and the waning moon. My whole body feels like it's vibrating with every emotion. Rage, guilt, betrayal. All of them meld together, ripping through my mental state like nothing I've felt before.

"So you did it, huh?" Hayes says, approaching me from behind. I roll my eyes, knowing I should have expected him and his usual confrontations. It's what makes him such a great beta. That and I can't kill him off for his honesty,

"Hello to you too, brother." I grumble.

I ignore him as he takes a seat next to me, sighing heavily, keeping my eyes trained on the sky.

"So how did she take it?" he asks, and I scoff.

How did she take it? Not fucking well. That's for sure. Hell, the more I think about it, the more I try to convince myself I didn't see how hurt she was. How betrayed she was. But I need to get used to that look, and the feeling it carves into my s

"I think.. I exhale, looking over at him finally, "I think I broke her heart."

"Of course you did, Merikh. You took her options away." He says like she ever actually had any.

"What option? Could you explain what exactly I took from her?"

"Well, her choice, for starters.

"We both know that the blood oath is entirely reversible." I grumble. "I took nothing from her, I just delayed it."

"We know that, but she doesn't. How can she when you refuse to tell her you guys are second chance mates?"

"Colette agreed to this. Okay? She agreed to being Luna and take my mark one day." I say, sitting up and swinging to face him.

soul.

"Yes, but she meant being marked. Not the blood oath that you use on a top warrior or someone you have to keep close."

"Damn it, Hayes" I growl. "Without this oath blocking the pull to her, I will lose control! It's intoxicating, SHE is intoxicating. I want to claim her. Shit, more than I wanted to claim Lauren. It's like a festering inside my chest, like a fucking infection that keeps growing. There is no antidote or cutting it out. But this oath, it's a bandaid. It buys me time, it's to keep me sane,"

"Buys you

time for what?" He scoffs.

"To figure out what the hell to do next!" I stand abruptly.

You should have just told her you are second chance mates, so that she knows the oath can be broken when you mark her."

"I want a mate I can trust!" I roar, my chest pinching at the memory of Colette kissing Grady. The moment my trust for her shattered. "How does telling her prove this I can trust her?"

"Forcing that trust isn't real trust." Hayes says softly and I chuckle dryly

I mutter, annoyed, looking

alpha. You don't have

shouldn't have

says, his voice firm, like

1/4

Chapter 24

finish what father tried to fix before MY MATE fucking killed him with her vampire lover." I release him, but I stay in his face, making sure he understands the

night before she wanted to carry my pups. It wasn't Hayes who had to step up and keep his shit together to lead a pack that was

whispers; the rumors doubting me and my role in all of this. Lauren had planted seeds, and they bloomed into black blossoms of doubt overnight after being watered with our father's

my mate who fucked our pack over. It was me trusting her, and the wrong people on the committee that have the Lycans weaker than we have ever been, and the werewolves exposed to the fucking other supernatural asstards that can use them how they please. This

think tricking her into an oath where she can't backstab you, while you use her to get your

"I need to trust that she won't try to leave me when shit

disappointed in me. "You wanted

marking her wouldn't have the

scoffs, dragging his hand over his stubbled

what you think

I mutter

meeting" He

do you suppose

second chance mates. Go tell her why she is so important. Tell the poor woman who she is. She is strong enough to handle it

knowing her past." I bite out. "We need

not one that is fake. You don't want to tell her all of that yet? Fine. But the oath

day. Hayes has the heart of our mother and the wise words of our father. The combination always brings me comfort after pissing me off first. So instead of taking his advice into consideration,

my hands in my pocket. "Okay, I will tell her what

grow wide and then

think she will slap you?" He teases and I frown. From a wise father like figure to idiot brother in ten seconds flat. Might be a record. I chuckle, giving him a gentle shove as I turn and walk back into

trip back to the room is anxiety ridden, my lycan pouting in my mind, still angry with me for doing what I did. Maybe if he were

Chapter 24

in my chest to hold her. Such conflicting emotions are becoming a constant in my life and it's going to cause permanent damage to my brain. I

and her eyes red and raw. There are no tears anymore, only the residue from the ones that have fallen and my heart breaks. I did that. I put those tears

with you." I

have a choice?"

me the way I have done to her.

you need?" she asks,

mark you. If you want me to mark you." I say, fumbling over my words, choosing the most direct

I know what a blood oath is. I may have been raised as a maid, but I know things. I will never get to

you know there are loopholes," I remind her

my second chance mate, and I can't do that with the oath in

he can find you." I swallow,

She furrows her

felt the pull, didn't you? How