Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

"Let go of me!" I grit out, throwing my elbow back, my funny bone tingling up my arm and into my fingers as I hit something solid. The hand on my neck releases me and I stumble forward into the wall, whipping around, ready to fight. I stop, blinking as I look at Hayes, who frowns at me and rubs his solar plexus. "Ouch," He says, looking unimpressed. "All of that so-called training and you went with an elbow jab?"

An amused laugh bubbles up my chest as I allow my body to go lax and lean onto the rock surface for support. The cool stones soothe my aching muscles from my falling and I sigh heavily.

"Forgive me, but I'm not in the mood for any verbal sparring at the moment." I huff out, my stomach pinching and churning violently as I lean forward, hands on my knees.

"What the hell were you thinking, running off like that?" He asks, but for once, his words aren't demanding or condescending.

"I was tracking." I say, turning my head to look up at him from my bent over position.

"Looked more like you were falling." He says with a grunt.

I don't have the energy to fight with him. Going from the high of tracking to near death and then to the scare of being attacked does something to the nerves I can't quite explain.

My heart is in my throat still, the bile burning the back of my throat as I try to bring my blood pressure back to normal. Hell, fighting that damn dragon felt way less taxing.

"Ezrah is close." I whisper, standing up again before hunching back over and hurling out the acid that had settled in my throat and around the bitter taste buds around my tongue.

My muscles contract painfully, tugging at my injuries and making me groan in near agony. I have now fallen off two cliffs since starting this mission. If this starts to become a habit, I may have to send myself home. If I had a home to go back to.

"What do you mean?" Hayes asks, his body going rigid as he steps in closer to me. I slide my forearm over my mouth, cleaning it as I swallow roughly.

"I caught the scent of the egg, and then when I looked closer I could see signs they went this way-"

"Are you sure?" he asks, his voice low as he reaches out and takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to meet his intense questioning eyes.

"Of course I am sure." I tell him, trying to struggle away from his touch, the sparks flooding through me and calming the painful storm of my wounds.

Kyra." He says seriously, moving

I say, making sure to say my words clearly so he doesn't question it again.

you said." He mumbles, dropping his hand before he turns

excited?" I ask, hating how much it disappoints me to not please him with my work. Isn't this what

and glares at me. I stutter under

have a bite to them that makes my brows furrow. His mood seems to shift faster than the wind in a raging storm, and his words feel like a punch to the gut. "I know that. There is no way I could ever confuse the two of you." I snap at him. "What I mean is, this is how

freaking out." I say as a sound

tumbles from above us and Hayes snaps his head up, his reflexes moving quicker than mine as he grabs me, tugging me into his chest before

revolting, now calms and butterflies emerge, dancing amidst a field of a love they want so desperately to live freely in. "Hayes," I whisper, my lips barely moving. His chest vibrates softly, sending a shockwave through

I press my lips together, closing my eyes as

feeling I haven't felt in a long damn time. My lycan is preening and

I can't bring myself to look. I am wrapped in

he actually cares and

we hiding?" I ask him, trying to lean forward and look around

head, his body pressing harder

his breath on my ear, tickling the loose hairs that

minutes and the air seems to grow

a second more of being this close to him. I shouldn't crave this or enjoy it. He isn't the Hayes I knew, and he isn't someone I

he can't

the one that draws me

damn way. The second he feels it, I will reject him and we can both be on our way. I just

a fierce look before he takes another step away, leaning to the side and looking up. I watch as he wipes his hands on his jeans and clears his throat. "We should get back to the others." He

tilt my head, knowing the words

go the wrong way?" I ask him, "Ezrah