Traded

“Colette?” Merikh calls out to me, concerned. I give him the best fake smile I can muster.

I can tell he isn’t falling for it. The fake grin to hide the pain that was creeping in and taking over my heart. He stands suddenly, reaching down and pulling me up into a warm, comforting embrace.

My hands instinctively slide up his back, cradling his shoulders as my grip grows tighter. The replay of my mother’s death in my dream plays on a loop in my mind. I wince every time I see it pierce through her, and he

holds me closer.

I didn’t even realize the silent tears had turned to sobs as he strokes my hair and hums in my ear to calm me. I

don’t want to let go, to pull away from him, but after what feels like a long time, I wrap my arms around his waist and press my cheek to his chest with a heavy sigh.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asks.

His voice is so tender and full of worry, and I feel the urge to look up at him. The need to see his green eyes and witness his gentle smile is too much to fight right now. For a man of so much death and destruction, he is so soft. with me. So gentle and patient. He watches me curiously, his thumb stroking a loose strand from my face before a serene smile takes over his perfectly plush pink lips.

“Yeah, I don’t really have any other options.” I sigh.

“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” he asks, looking over my face from feature to feature. My usual blush creeps up my neck and seeps into my cheeks as they grow warm. He seems to melt into me. “Especially when you blush.“”

“Thanks…” I murmur, stepping out of his embrace. “I think.”

“You are so much stronger than you realize. There is so much in you that you still don’t see.”

“And what is it you see in me?” I ask him. His demeanor shifts slightly, his expressions shutting down and going stoic as he seems to think about the question.

“What I see in you is a way forward, Colette.” he says. “I see the future of this pack and it all is riding on you.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. “Now I know you are lying. What kind of future or way forward can I bring? You are

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mistaken.”

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“Not about this,” he says, a small smile cracking through his cool demeanor. His compliments confuse me. The words he speaks seem like they have hidden meaning. Yet, I can’t find it, instead I’m just left feeling a little more

confused and a lot more drawn to him.

He reaches for my iced coffee and hands it to me with an indecipherable look. “I think you would really benefit

from a visit to the healing waters today.” He announces.

“Uh…but I am healing fine. Actually, better than fine. I am healing faster than anyone else I’ve ever known now that the poison from Leslie is out of my system. The healers say my leg can handle being walked now and I can try running in a couple of days.”

“You still think it was her poisoning you, don’t you?” he asks, and I scrunch my nose.

“I mean, of course I do. What other reason would it be? I’ve not thought up a more valid reason, can you?” I ask, and he shrugs.

“I’m sure there are many other logical reasons, but that is beside the point. The healing waters will ease your mind in a way that your wolf can’t. The aromatics from the herbs and oils, along with the warm water itself, is soul soothing. It will cleanse your mind of bad thoughts that try to creep in.”

I think about what he says, remembering the lake and how cold it is, but then I recall the steam from his bath and how he just mentioned warm water and suddenly the whole idea sounds appealing.

“Do I have to be naked?” I ask, arching a brow, and he looks at me like I’m crazy.

“I wasn’t naked the time you barged in on me in the waters.” he teases and I click my tongue.

“Excuse me, I just wanted to help you.” I protest and he just shakes his head in amusement.

“And help you did.” he gives a small bow in appreciation and I try to fight the growing grin.

“Fine.” I roll my eyes playfully, giving into him, “I will go to the healing waters. Happy?”

“Very much.” He nods, a glint in his eyes. “I will have someone pull it together for you.”

“Can I take it later tonight? Bathing now feels…. a little useless before a workout. I want to train today and then I

will take one.”

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“You are sounding like a Luna with those demands,” he bites back a pleased smirk.

“I feel more comfortable…I guess.” I shrug and he laughs.

“With me or the pack?” he asks.

“Both, actually…” I admit, and he exhales with a nod.

“Fine. if you feel you are ready to train today, then let’s start now.”

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My muscles scream out in total agony, my mind mush and my body covered in sweat. Merikh follows behind me and I swear I can feel him trying to hold his laughter in. Here I thought we would continue our usual training of walking through the water, but apparently he wants to kill me off before we officially mate. What actually took place was not training no, it was just shy of homicide.

“What the hell was that?” I ask him with narrowed eyes. Merikh just looks at me with a barely there smug smirk

before looking away quickly. He is enjoying this all way too much.

“Your next level of training. You were saying you are healing faster, so why not step up the training a little faster

as well?.”

“Yeah, remind me to not speak out of turn. Apparently, all I do is put my foot in my damn mouth.” I grumble and he breaks into a laugh that feeds the very core of me, making my whole body heat.

My legs feel like jello and my lungs are searing from the workout they were given as well. I look over my shoulder and watch him. I am in complete awe of how he would ever need a second chance, mate.

The rumor for so long had been that she rejected him because of his scarred face. Yet here I am. Watching the

most handsome being I have ever laid eyes on laugh like an angel. He may be one of death, but the fact remains, he is unearthly beautiful and more so when he smiles.

rikh, why did your mate reject you?” I ask him and he freezes, his entire body rigid and his eyes near dead. The transformation from warm and laughing Alpha to cold and murderous is so fast I nearly get whiplash.

“I don’t want to talk about her,” he snaps as he pushes past me.

“Why not? If you have a new mate, shouldn’t you be over your last one?” I ask, and he takes two large steps,

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overtaking me as he grips my elbow.

“It is none of your business,” he grits out before yanking his arm away and recoiling back from me. “Make sure you go to the healing waters after this. I will be late to the room tonight,” then he pushes past me, leaving me behind to gape and wonder what the hell just happened.

When I make it into the pack house, Penny finds me and gives over my shoulder to someone behind me. I glance back to see Percy nod back to her as he takes off.

“Has he been stalking me all day?” I ask, and she grins.

“Oh, for sure. I keep telling him that stalking women is a terrible habit, but what can I do? Creeps are gonna

creep.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to tell him you said that.” I chuckle and she shrugs.