Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“There.” The healer says in my ears as they ring violently, Kyra’s gentle hand rubbing my back before she lowers me down.
“That sucked.” I sputter out, my body shaking with exhaustion and agony.
“Yes, well, it sucks less when it is a surprise,” the healer murmurs as he goes about securing my leg. I spit the taste of vomit out to the side and glare at him.
“Says who?” I ask, not hiding my annoyance, and he shrugs.
“I read it in a human medical book once.” He shrugs. “Not entirely sure it is the same for us or not, but I presume as much.” “You presume?” I scoff and he ignores me, milling about before he hums, and then he exits the room without another word.
“How are you feeling?” Kyra asks, her eyes filled with worry and her lips pursed to the side.
“You want the truth?” I ask, my eyes sliding closed as the exhaustion takes over.
“Of course I do.” She chuckles.
“I feel fucking awful,” I admit, then I draw her hand to my lips. “Yet, I have never felt more whole in my life.”
I peek through my eyes, catching a glimpse of her perfect smile. Then she leans down, her face hovering over mine as she lets go of my hand and strokes the hair from my face. Her fingers graze over my scared face, and she doesn’t grimace or pull away. Instead, she smiles the most genuine of smiles filled with the purest love.
“I still can’t believe you saved Tiago,” she whispers in awe.
“He is our son,” the word slips out, but it feels so right and she hides the sweetest grin. “Plus, I have underestimated you far too many times to think you couldn’t handle yourself.”
She arches a brow in surprise. “Oh? Is that so?”
“Mmm, maybe. I don’t know,” I grin, letting my eyes fall closed once more. “I might be delirious from all this pain.”
“Oh, most definitely.” She teases back with me, and then soft as a breeze, I feel her lips meet mine and the pain melts into nothing, my heart pounding in my chest and my lycan whimpering in happiness. So much agony in the past two years has only made these happy moments feel so much sweeter.
Someone shoves on my shoulder, making me groan as I drag my heavy eyelids open. I jolt away from Merikh’s face that is far too close for comfort, an annoying grin on his face. My brows pull together and I frown at him, reaching up and shoving his face away.
“He’s alive,” He pronounces to the empty room and I roll my eyes.
“What do you want?” I ask him, and he shrugs, just moseying his way around the room.
“Can’t a guy check in on his baby brother?” He asks, and I scoff.
“You came to just check on me?” I ask him and he nods.
“Actually, yes, I did,” He says sticking his hands in his pockets. “I knew you weren’t going to die on us, but three days of sleep does seem excessive and everyone was convinced you just needed the rest. Me? Not so much.”
“I am healing a broken leg and other injuries.” I remind him, wincing when my hand begins to tingle and burn. “Ugh,” I grunt, lifting the freshly bandage limb.
“How is it feeling?” He asks, finally looking serious.
“Partially numb and partially painful.” I shrug, noticing a difference in length.
Panic rises in my chest as I swallow roughly and lift both arms. The unmistakable size difference hits me hard as I grow teary-eyed and unable to breathe. The healer had mentioned the possibility of amputation, but I figured they would give me the time to heal first.
“Kyra tried to stop the healer, if it makes you feel any better. She insisted we wake you up to speak with you about it.”
I scoff, shaking my head before I drop my arms and slam my head back into the pillow.
“Might have been nice to have a say in it.” I mutter, and he frowns before he walks over and takes a seat on the bed.
“Hayes, Kyra did try to wake you up, but there was already an infection setting in and you were out because of it…It was my call to move forward.” He frowns and I can see the guilt and the lie on his face.
“It was Kyra.” I say softly.
“No, it was me.” He insists, and I give him a look, which makes him glance away and exhale.
“I am not stupid, Merikh and no amount of time can make me forget how you look when you try to protect someone else.”
“She was against it at first…” He sighs and shakes his head. “But when you wouldn’t wake up, that’s when she panicked. She hasn’t slept since you went to bed, between Tiago and her worry for you…”
“She made the right call.” I whisper, looking at where my hand used to be, a dull ache in my chest as I try to weigh the emotional toll this will all have. “She did,” He agrees, but he keeps his eyes trained on me as if looking for something more. I roll my eyes and sigh.
“What?” I ask and he shrugs.
“Just making sure you are actually okay.” His concern is moving but ill placed. At least, right now. Until the time comes that I have processed what I have lost, then I will need people to lean on.
“How is everyone?” I ask, changing the subject. “Dylan? Harmony?”
“They are unharmed and unphased.” He says, looking sad. “Both a curse and a blessing at times of war where young child have to learn to understand the meaning of life and death.”
“You can’t shield them from everything that happens, Merikh.” I give him a half smile of encouragement and he chuckles.
“I hate how true that statement is,” he mumbles, lifting his hand and rubbing the back of his neck. Merikh looks exhausted as he drops his hand down to his lap and sighs heavily.
“How are you?” I ask, my brow arching up as he looks at me and the corners of his mouth drop.
“I am struggling.” He admits.
“How could you not be? This war took many lives, but a lot of good came from it too. Alliances, and the ability to work with other species.”
He nods along, agreeing with me.
“Yeah, yeah,” He groans, standing up as he paces away. “We lost so many more than you know, Hayes. In the two years you were off trying to get yourself killed, I was struggling to keep outer packs alive.”
I chuckle dryly, licking my lips. There is the anger have expected from him all along. One thing about Merikh that I know will never change is when he is angry he must let it out. He had been holding this in for too long, understanding of my hurt and self loathing for too long. Now he has hit his limit and I know what he wants from me.
“And I was doing nothing?” I ask, knowingly stoking the flames of his frustration.
“You were running away, and I get it. But you had duties too. You walked away from them because you were heartbroken.” He says, his voice calm, but I can see the anger behind his eyes.
“It wasn’t about being heartbroken.” I whisper, closing my eyes tightly before opening them again. “In a way it was, but that was just the surface of it.” “Then what was it? I am trying so hard to let go of my anger and hurt from the past two years, heavens knows I am trying, but Hayes, you disappeared within yourself and then reemerged when you found your new mate. Are you here because you want your mate or because you want to be here?”