Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
My chest heaves up and down as I force myself to remain calm and understand where he is coming from. Merikh and I were all we had, and then Colette came and she became family. I thought he would be okay, that he had someone, so he wouldn’t need to rely so heavily on me anymore. Clearly, I was wrong.
“I left because I wasn’t strong enough. Leandra died because I was weak, and I needed to prove to myself I deserved to be a beta. How the hell could I protect you or any of your future children if I couldn’t protect the one person I was meant to protect? Merikh, she didn’t just die, she suffered horribly in the most awful way.” Tears stream down my cheeks and I wipe at them with my nub of a hand.
“Hayes,” He whispers, his face falling and that look of sympathy I used to hate so much taking over. Only this time I don’t hate it like I used to. This time, it feels medicinal.
“I wanted to die, yes, and I was angry at you for your alpha’s order, but in the back of my mind, I knew you were doing it for me. It’s not about a mate. My coming back is solely due to me understanding myself beyond anger. Kyra did what she always does for me. She cleared my mind, she challenged me and she forced me to think.”
I press my head into the pillow, looking up at Merikh.
“And what will you do now that Kyra will stay here and raise Tiago?” He asks.
“Well, can’t exactly be a top-notch warrior without a hand,” I tease, and he rolls his eyes at me. “But I figure I can help where I am needed. Maybe be a dad and an uncle.”
Merikh nods his head, then sighs and shoves his hands back in his pockets.
“Truth be told, I just missed your ugly mug and now that you are home, I don’t know who to worry about.”
I break out in laughter, my good hand flying up to my hair as I run my fingers through it. “Worry about those trouble makers of yours, especially Dylan.” I tease, and his eyes widen in agreement.
“That boy is freaking Houdini and apparently he is rather skilled with water.” He says.
“Yeah, I heard Percy mention that. You, uh, ever get to the bottom of that?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“Is it weird that I was surprised? I mean, I shouldn’t be. Colette is royalty, of course she can manipulate the water. But I just sort of assumed it would be less prominent down the bloodline.” He mumbles, then he glares at me.
“What?” I say innocently.
“You have gotten better at changing the subject.” He says, pressing his lips together.
“You can be angry with me again later.” I say, faking a yawn.
“I can see right through that tactic.” He mutters, smirking before he walks over to the door.
“Merikh,” I call out to him and he looks up. “The war is over. Now is the time to rest. Let Colette help you and rely on Thatcher. When I am better, we can discuss how I can help you and the pack.”
He nods, a happy smile on his face.
“Welcome home, Hayes. It’s good to have you back.”
*Kyra*
Tiago and Dylan play in the corner of Merikh’s office, giggling as they mash little toys together, letting them fly to various parts of the room before chasing them down. Silence falls between Merikh and me as we wait for Colette to return from putting Harmony down for bed.
“They seem to play well together.” He offers, nodding to the two boys who are up way beyond their bedtime now. My soft smile spreads over my lips, the notion that they would generally be natural born enemies not lost on me.
“I am glad they do.” I admit.
“In truth, I was worried the twins might be considered strange or avoided for their unique powers, if they both have them.”
I sigh, a small frown on my lips. “That is something I have thought about with Tiago, too. His kind, both his kind, have wreaked havoc on the supernatural world. He was meant to be the ultimate weapon against everyone.”
Merikh surprises me by chuckling before nodding in agreement.
“The thought has crossed my mind, too. But then I remind myself that Colette came from a home with little love aside from her early years and she turned out just fine.” He says.
“Yes, but sirens are a more peaceful race,” I remind him, looking at my dark-haired, sweet boy who chose me to be his mother.
“Dragons are peaceful. They had been for many, many generations. It was their king’s desire for love that led to all of this. Perhaps the right kind of love is what is needed to help guide him in the right direction.” Merikh says, his brow raised in surprise by my candid comment.
I press my hand to my temple, allowing my eyes to fall closed for a moment before I frown and open them again.
“His mother was a creature of chaos.” I remind him and he exhales, sitting back in his chair, his eyes trained on Dylan and Tiago.
“The best we can do for now is hope that the dragon has won out over the Phoenix in him.”
The door opens behind me and I spin to see Colette enter and hold the door open, revealing Hayes hobbling his way in with modified crutches. My eyes widen as I jump up, rushing over to help, but before I have the chance, Tiago rushes over and throws himself into his good leg.
My chest seizes as I watch the look on Hayes’ face go from surprise to utter adoration as he releases his hand from the crutch and ruffles Tiago’s hair. I can feel my lip quivering witnessing the sweet exchange and I capture it between my teeth, forcing it to steady. I will not cry over this sweet moment, instead, I will lock it away forever in my heart.
“Hey there, my little spitfire. What are you up to?” He asks him and Tiago grabs his hand, trying to drag him over to Dylan. “Whoa, whoa, hold on. How about I follow you? Okay?”
Tiago agrees as he rushes to Dylan, who grins, holding up his car for his Uncle Hayes to see. He shoots me a wink as my heart pounds in my chest just seeing him up and moving. What I want to do is rush over to him and hug him, holding him tight. Instead, I move over to him, intercepting him right before he gets to the boys, and he grins down at me.
“Oh, you are here too?” He teases and I lick my teeth in feign annoyance.
“Did you think you could just walk in here and not give me a kiss?” I ask, my hands finding my hips as I toss a little sass at him. He arches a brow and leans forward. He removes his hand again and wraps it around my back, tugging me close to him.
“I was hoping you would be just as needy as me,” He whispers before he presses his lips to mine with the most impeccable softness before he pulls back. “Any more than that and I won’t be able to be in public for a while.”
“Hmm, well, we can always fix that later now that I know you are able to put some work in.” I take a step back, then reach out to his arm that is wrapped in leather bands and attached to the crutch above, where he lost his hand. “Does this not irritate it?”
He shrugs. “Not really. The more weight bearing strap is up on my bicep so it doesn’t tug on the sensitive skin.” “Hess…” Dylan calls impatiently before I gently rub his arm and step to the side.
“I’m coming,” he rushes out, lowering himself into a chair next to the kids.
“Are you supposed to be up and moving?” Merikh asks, frowning down at his brother.
“Was I supposed to get a doctor’s note to wander the halls?” Hayes asks, and Merikh chuckles.
“Oh great, feeling well enough to have adopted your mate’s attitude.” He mutters, and I gawk at him.
“Excuse me?” I say and Colette laughs.
“I am so excited to have you back, Hayes, and to get to know you, Kyra.” She says, then she looks at the boys and grins. “I have a feeling poor Harmony is in for a lot of pranks from these two.”
My stomach twists at the thought of a prank gone bad. What if Tiago uses flames and doesn’t understand the consequences of what it can do to non dragons? What if he grows angry and can’t control his heat or flames? I swallow roughly at the thought of having to face Merikh and Colette if something terrible happens and one of the kids gets hurt.