Traded

“Colette”

+5

My wolf wars with me, whining and reminding me he was telling the truth. We are mates, truly and whole fated to be together. Him as my Alpha, me as his Luna. But fate doesn’t erase the lies and the hurt he has brought me. Trust is more than love and mating.

It’s showing up for each other, its expectations being met and open communication. How am I supposed to forgive him for failing to meet two of the three requirements? I know in time, the feeling of betrayal will fade and the bond will nearly erase it along the way. But I need him to fully grasp how it felt to be branded as not only untrustworthy but set up to fail when he wanted to trust me.

“Are you okay?” Merikh asks, his hand sliding up my arm as he rubs it lovingly. His warmth oozes into through the bond, the purity and the depth of his emotions both terrifying and beautiful.

“Let’s just see what is going on,” I say, avoiding the question.

me

“Letty,” he says, his voice dropping low as he stares into my eyes. I am certain he can feel my inner fight, just as I can feel his glow of warmth.

“Now is not the time, Merikh,” I tell him firmly and he frowns, then he nods. I push the door open, Caspian looking up, an unusually icy look on his face, and I look around the room, seeing Johannes in the corner with Elm.

“You just invited yourself in, huh?” Johannes snorts with disdain. I roll my eyes, really sick of this asshole’s snide remarks.

“We were invited, so I assumed he would be expecting us.” I retort, and his eyes widen, a little shocked by my annoyance. The fact that he is here, along with Elm, makes me think that one of the two men were involved in trying to hurt my gamma. A gamma I happen to care very much about.

“Knocking is respectful,” my dad says and I bite back another annoyed response, instead of realizing that he is right. I can be informal when it is just us, but in front of the others we are putting on a show. No one can know, not yet anyway, who I really am.

“I apologize,” I sigh, bowing my head in respect. “You are correct. I am just eager to have some answers.”

1/7

“Our gamma is important to us and when we heard there was an update, we got a little excited.” He says with an air of authority. “We meant no disrespect.”

“I can understand that tensions are high, especially after what we are assuming was an attack.” Caspian says respectfully, but I see a glimmer in his eyes, the hidden tenderness he has for me, and I give him a soft smile.

“Thank you.” I say, then I look around the room. “May we sit down?” I ask.

“Yes,” He clears his throat. “Please take a seat. These two have something to share.”

“I hardly think being here is necessary for me,” Johannes complains, but Caspian silences him with a glare.

“Are you not at fault for Percy’s incident?” Merikh asks, choosing to stand behind me as I take a seat.

“You think it was me who did it?” He snorts. “Typical.”

“You have a history with our kind.”

“Yes, I either screw them or I kill them. I don’t beat on barely of age children and leave them for the hell of it.” His comment clearly makes him feel proud as he flashes and big knowing smile at Merikh, but I don’t feel the hatred I thought I would from him.

“Enough bickering.” Caspian groans, rubbing his temple.

“It was me.” Elm clears his throat, his eyes finding mine as I blink at him in shock. I look at the man with a usually calm demeanor, recalling our conversation.

“Why?” Merikh asks and I can feel he is feeding off my emotions. I don’t believe Elm was the one who attacked Percy and Merikh is feeding off of that.

“Does one need a reason?” Johannes scoffs, rolling his

eyes.

“Why are you here if it wasn’t you?” Merikh snaps at him and Johannes‘ nose twitches as he tries to keep from saying another smart ass remark when Caspian glares at him.

“I overheard him discussing it with another council member.” He bites out, then he glowers at Merikh and me. “Look, I know I am an unforgivable dick. But rules are one thing I follow. No violence on council grounds. That is

2/7

the grounds with your beta. Please be careful. I’m not entirely sure who we can trust anymore.”