Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

I slip on my still damp clothing, sliding an annoyed side eye over at Kyra. There is no way her clothing is even close to dry yet if mine is still this wet. I don't say anything. I already have to be wary of what I say now that she overheard me and Koda talking. Not that I didn't say anything I wouldn't say to her face. Well, maybe I wouldn't say all of it to her face, but the point remains the same. I didn't speak any mistruths.

"Remind me again why we are leaving now?" Nisha mumbles, unhappy about not staying out of the rain longer.

"Because we need to catch up to Ezrah.," Kyra says with a heavy sigh. "Do you guys even want to find this guy, or is this really just some cover to avoid helping with the war?"

"The fuck did you just say?" I Koda growls, his head snapping up as he glares at her. "You think this has been a damn picnic for us, sweetheart?"

Kyra doesn't even flinch as she reaches out and grabs her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

"No, I questioned exactly what you all have been doing out here for two years. I never said it was easy, just that it seems like you guys are trying to avoid-" she says, gripping the strap tightly, the only show of her nerves.

"He heard what you said, Kyra." I break in, giving her a stare that pleads with her to shut up. The last thing we need is a group of pissed off lycans and werewolves at our backs. I know for a fact they will protect me, but I need to know they will protect her, too. She isn't making it all that easy.

"She makes a point," Marcos says, and Koda scoffs, shaking his head.

"Of course you would try to agree with her, you want in her pants," he grumbles.

"Marcos is right, Koda." I say, reaching for my bag. Koda scoffs and chuckles dryly. "Or do you think I want to get into his pants?"

He frowns at me and shakes his head as if this whole conversation is unbelievable.

"No, I don't get the vibe you want in Marcus' pants." He says finally.

"We should be jumping at every opportunity to get Ezrah. We have become complacent in our failure. Clearly, we have forgotten what it is like to have a lead." I remind everyone, looking at Nisha, Dean and Koda especially.

"It's just rain," Dean says, trying to break the residual tension.

"Yeah, nothing like a wet dog," Nisha grumbles to herself as she slides a glance at Kyra and Marcos.

"Enough." I say, my voice low but firm. "This bickering and bullshit is done here and now. Do you understand me?"

Nisha nods like a child who has been scolded, and Koda mutters in agreement. Dean throws his hands up like he has had nothing to do with all of this while Marcos looks around, also trying to appear innocent. When my eyes land on Kyra, she is chewing the inside of her cheek, her face flushed and her grip tighter on her strap.

"Sorry," she whispers.

"Good. Now-"

me off with raised eyebrows.

annoyed to see almost all

me?"

kind of are part of the problem with all the bickering and stuff...no offense." Dean explains. I snort

leader. I don't

all the time." Nisha points out, crossing her arms over her chest. "How are we supposed to

an angry monster as I

grit out as they nod. "I trust Kyra with my life and yours. If you doubt her, then you are doubting me. Do you doubt me?" "No, of course we don't."

conversation is over and the shitty attitudes are gone." I grunt, walking to the door and

snap and the door falls to the side as I realize I might be a little more frustrated than I thought. I clear my throat and let it fall to the side; the others following

Nisha makes a point. My constant arguing with her does no one

you mean it?" Dean asks abruptly, his words quiet as he frowns at me. My brows pull together and my mouth pulls

be a little more specific?" I ask him, and he lowers his

this mission, you told me your goal was to find

down my face, clearing it of rain for a mere second before it

say, giving

now?" He asks, and it feels like he has something more to say, like there is something hidden between the words, a reason for his curiosity that makes my

to catch Ezrah

is returned." I

have before. He seems to weigh my answer, his mouth opening and closing before it presses together in a

still want to die, Hayes? At the end of all of this, is your goal to die in this

hips as I shake my head and look

anger don't cloud my judgment and I understand now why no one has felt a sense of urgency to find Ezrah the way I have. "Merikh set you up to this, didn't he?" I ask, my chest burning with an unfamiliar feeling

this whole time, all along, you have been what...? Ensuring I don't find Ezrah because you are

as I realize the others

what? Merikh asked you to watch me for him? Hmm? Make sure I

one will make eye contact with me. Nisha rubs the back of her neck and Koda

makes sense. The need to find Ezrah has always been there, but the urgency has only recently come. "We have never done anything to keep us from finding him, but it worked in our favor when you didn't want a tracker...In a way,

we accomplish our mission concerns none of you. We will Find Ezrah and do what we must in order to end the war for our kinds sake. That is the mission. That is all any of

She says and after a long moment, everyone seems to agree as they turn and walk in that

behind, collecting