Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“What? A month long meeting?” I gasp and he nods.
“It is not like one formal long event. It’s similar to a vacation with friends.”
“Only everyone will want to steal me from you if I don’t smell like you, and the fate of the werewolves and lycans depends on this going well.”
“Yeah, there is that…” he says, chuckling nervously. I tilt my head, looking at him closely, noticing the dark shadow under his eyes for the first time. “Merikh,” I say softly, “Why do we need to be a member of the council?”
“That is a loaded question,” he exhales.
“I think we have some time.” I offer and he watches me close, his eyes scanning my face looking for something. Then he sits forward and rests his hands on his knees.
“We were banned from the council for two hundred and fifty years.” He says, “Before that there was peace, rogues nearly never happened and everyone lived happily. Until my great great-great-grandfather killed a council member.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask him, shocked, and he shrugs.
“How my father explained it was that my ancestor found his fated mate, but was denied her because one of the other species did not agree with breeding outside their kind. Hybrids would be too powerful, and hard to control with no knowing what they would be like once they come into their powers” He explains.
1 feel like my mind is about to explode as I revel in all the possibilities and process the information at hand. Hybrids. First, there are other supernaturals. Now there are rules against hybrids?
“Do they not realize a wolf or lycan needs their mate? That is not a choice we make, but a completion of our souls.” I say.
“Like I said, different species with different kinds of mates and purposes for them.” He explains.
“So if our kind was banned for two hundred and fifty years, how much longer do we have to wait?”
“Our time has been up for years.” He says with a frown. “My father tried many times to bring us back in but we are refused what is ours. And it is because they do not want us to have our time as the head of the council”
I shake my head, confused. “Wait, wait. Head of the council?”
“The head of the council changes. Every twenty-five years, it cycles through from species to species to keep things hair. Our term should have started the year Lauren betrayed me.” He says simply. “Why would they do that?” I ask, completely shocked. “Why would they not give us what is ours? Especially after we served our time?”
“Because the current head of the council is a power hungry asshole who took not only his species term, but another booted species and now ours.”
“You aren’t doing a lot to help me want to be nice to people” I mumble. He smiles at me and I grin before realizing I am mad at him. I look away with a scowl. “So, who is the current head?” “King Caspian.” He tells me. “The King of the sirens and complete asshole.”
I look back at him and then frown. Crossing my arms over my chest as I lean into the chair.
“Who do you think has been the one attacking me?” I ask him and he blows out a puff of air, settling deep into the chair, leaning back into the leather headrest,
“That’s tough to tell. Many of them have magical powers. There are the witches, vampires, Fae. Any of them could easily manipulate a werewolf or other species to do their bidding.”
“Is that the reason you brought me?” I ask, tilting my head. “To keep me safe, here where I am protected from all of them?”
I watch as his muscles tense and he looks out the window, refusing to look at me.
“Something like that.” He mutters. But I get the feeling he is yet again not being truthful.
Colette is nervous, her hands shaking as we exit the vehicle and come face to face with the enormous remodeled castle. The once gray stones have been painted over in a soft white.
Pristine bushes frame the heavy wooden double doors, the spiral pattern climbing the height so the entrance. A thick line of hydrangeas line the stone wall, in full bloom and tall enough to kiss the bottom of the tall windows.
Percy unloads behind us, pulling our luggage to the door before tugging a chain and bells chime, announcing our presence. Penny was as angry as a raging bull when I told her she wouldn’t be coming with us. But with her unmated and around the likes of a few of these assholes, I’m more comfortable with Percy “I will be your shadow as always, Luna.” He says, giving her a nod and Colette gives him a gentle smile. The same smile I used to get and I’ve come to realize I miss more than anything.
“I’m glad you are here, she admits, then she looks at me, her face going cold and looks forward. I lean into her ear to whisper something snarky, but the door creaks open instead.
Ezrah gives me a smirk and I take an internal sigh of relief. I was worried one of the others would answer. There is one person in particular I am trying to avoid.
“You answer doors now?” I ask him and he chuckles.
Thankfully, no, I am on my way out after delivering the message you would be arriving “You have been monitoring us, Ezrah?” I ask, and he shrugs. “How did they take that?” I quirk a brow and he fights a grin.
“Oh, with an air of grace, Alpha. As always. But I can hear the teasing lilt in his voice. I am sure they took word of my arrival with rage and a side of bitterness.
“Ah, yes. I am sure they did.” I clear my throat, looking to Colette, who watches Ezrah with a curious eye “Ezrah, this is my Luna, Colette,” I say. She bows her head in respect and Ezrah barks out a laugh.
“Oh, I like her.” he grins. “I should bow to you, Luna, I am no one, just a low messenger.”
“And I was a maid until recently. Your station doesn’t matter much to me, but your kindness does. You seem to trust each other. She says, shooting me a look..
Ezrah arches an amused brow “Trust? Hardly. His great grandfather killed my kind.”
“Great, great-great-great..-maybe a few more in there somewhere-Grandfather. It’s been a few generations now.” I remind him, and he nods knowingly.
“Yes, I am aware of how you all get over things in time. But it is much harder for the people who live much longer.”