Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

"When did you become a smartass?" Merikh asks with a frown, but I see the glimmer in his eye. The one that says he is amused even if he is still upset with me for coming when he demanded I not.

"I've been taking lessons from Penny and Percy." I say with a smirk, the mention of my sick gamma bringing me back to the reality of our situation as abruptly as someone flicking on the light in the dark. Merikh is injured and not just a little bit. He hasn't even tried to move his arm that looks to be broken and he isn't putting any weight on his other leg. Not to mention all the blood and bruises over his exposed chest and abdomen. My hands shake and my eyes water as I reach out to touch him, so afraid of causing him more pain.

"Where is Percy anyway?" He asks like he is in no pain, but when I press my icy fingers to his heated flesh, he hisses.

I flinch, pulling my hands back in shock, and he grabs my hand with his good arm and drags me closer. My eyes meet his and my mouth goes dry, the world falling away around us as he places my fingers over his heart and then removes his hand to wrap his arm around me as he pulls me close.

"Your touch is the only thing that doesn't hurt me," he whispers, leaning down and rubbing his stubbled cheek against my smooth skin. My eyes fall closed, craving his touch, my skin needing the contact just as much as his.

"Merikh..." Hayes says behind us, the uncertainty and quiver in his voice one that puts me on alert and I pull back, looking at him. His eyes are focused on his older brother, a plea within them as he seems to dance between his two feet. He reminds me of an anxious child waiting for permission to use the bathroom at school.

"Go," Merikh says with a nod. Hayes spins on cue, sprinting through the trees like he was just given an alphas order he can't resist. "Where is Percy?" He then asks again. Penny clears her throat and straightens her shoulders.

"He is locked in the bathroom." She says. He looks down at me, confused, and then back at her.

"Which bathroom?" he asks.

"Ours," I say. He seems to think for a moment before he nods and sighs heavily.

"Good. At least we know where he is. We need to get back to the mansion." He says, groaning as he limps past me, his hand latching onto mine, tugging me along beside him. "Should you be moving?" I ask him and he chuckles. "Maybe you should lie down for a bit?"

"In war, staying still will kill you. Moving is the only option."

"But you are injured." I say, shocked.

"Correct, injured, but not dead or dying. Which means we need to move." He says, taking another step forward.

Caspian moves to his other side, sliding Merikh's arm over his shoulder as he provides stability. Merikh groans as they take a step forward, and then another me at his other side, holding his hand. "My arm and leg will be mostly healed by the time we make it back," he assures me.

"Can we discuss what the hell happened now?" Caspian asks, anger and concern in his voice.

"They were expecting us. We were ambushed." Merikh explains as he hobbles along with my father. Penny falls in behind us, and I look over my shoulder at her, only for her to give me an encouraging smile. "Who ambushed you?" Caspian asks, and Merikh scoffs.

"The fucking red-eyed dickheads, only this time they brought a whole other species."

"You were only supposed to be looking around," my dad says with a frown. "Not fighting." Merikh sighs heavily and shakes his head.

"We made it to this area and realized our lycans were being repressed somehow. That is when we turned back and ran into a group of red-eyed wolves. They were easy enough to defeat and then the fucking trolls came in and we had to run. They drove us to where we would be at our weakest."

for reinforcements." I

though he was supposed to bring Percy and not you," he grumbles, frustrated. "He will

though I am interested in why he thinks that. I can't let Hayes get in trouble for my decision. He isn't my keeper, nor is he able

tell him truthfully. "Hayes told me to stay, and I told him no," I say with a shrug, not caring if

hobbles along with my

That doesn't negate the fact that

wasn't safe there," I scoff. "You left me and then I felt your distress. When we tried to leave, Percy told me I was

he is smart,"

it, I actually did something. When all he could

look past my anger and

stops, leaning heavily on Caspian

right out into the enemy's territory and didn't

comes to ensuring you come back alive. Plus, the enemy was hanging out in my room all along. You ran off and left me with them." I hiss, stepping into his space, glaring up at

says, confused, looking between me and Penny. "What do you mean, it was hanging out

eyes snap to her, wide and full

looks at me, begging me to explain. "They got

grits out and I can see

he

"Fuck,"

how we

suddenly, a look of determination set on his brows. He hobbles, Caspian moving with him as he looks over his shoulder at Penny

the speed steady, though slow, and I can sense his growing irritation with every passing minute. Then he stops abruptly with an annoyed growl and looks

just wasting time. Switch spots with Caspian." He demands

"Why?" I ask.

as you can. If Percy is compromised, they can make him do anything they want,

he ignores me as I

Merikh. Before I can even try to get a word in, the two are sprinting off, leaving with Merikh. I look up at

he took

to

I grit out, finally getting

bathroom is hardly taken care of. You don't think he knows how to break down

stepping away from him so he can see just how angry I am

groans as he exhales deeply and shakes his

course not," he

I arch a brow. "You didn't think to ask what transpired. You just panicked and sent them away without so much as thinking that maybe I had

"Covered how?" He asks.