Chapter 4 I stare at Merikh's back; the moonlight filtering in and highlighting the jagged raised scars that litter his skin. My fingers itch to touch them, to trace it down under his shoulder blade and across his spine, but I do He wasn't wrong when he said he carries many scars but not on his face. A deep gash catches my attention, and it sit up slightly, leaning in to get a better view. It looks like teeth marks and a chunk of his flesh My hand gently flutters across it, his hot skin sending a thrill up my arm and straight to my chest. What had he done to get these scars? Who had he fought and how awful was his pain? Questions rush to the f well, verbally mated to the scariest guy in the lycan and werewolf realms, he is just a man.
"Do they gross you out?" He asks and I jump, my hand recoiling from his skin as I blaze in embarrassment at getting caught.
"Where did you get them?" I ask him. Merikh sits up in the bed, his back muscles rippling around the scars that make up the majority of his skin.
"Do they gross you out?" he asks again and I frown.
"Of course not." I tell him, though he doesn't seem to believeas he scoffs and reaches for a shirt. He tugs it over his head with a heavy sigh, then looks over his shoulder.
"When do we leave?" I ask, changing the subject as I watch him slide on a pair of denim pants and move toward the dresser.
"Are you eager to leave?" He asks, pausing and looking atover his broad shoulder.
"yes..." I admit.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Then we will leave now." He says. "All your stuff was packed and placed in the vehicle up last night." "But it's two in the morning..." I tell him, my mouth gaping open, the thought of not being able to say goodbye to Grady, rejected mate or not. He was the only light spot in my life for so long. "I just want to be hwith my Luna." He levelswith a stare and I gulp. "The pack will be excited to meet you." 1/5 Chapter 4 I feel that thick sludge of shcreeping back up in my mind, and I look away. His pack will hatewhen they sense how weak I am. Will I be sjoke there too? Or worse, am I just the means to an end for a political statement and he has someone else back in his pack? It would explain his desire to get home. His lack of wanting to be intimate as the mate bond dictates and even as we k*ssed I could feel His hesitation. My chest burns at the thought and I tuck a hair behind my 1. me.
I am weak, easy to manipulate, and less likely to comment on him having a preferred mistress. And why shouldn't he? It's not like I would promise him any strong heirs. No, I'm a pawn.
A piece on his chess board to further his reach in the werewolf lycan communities. And I'm okay with that. I think. But if that were true, then why does the thought makewant to throw up? "What is going on in that mind of yours?" He asks softly and I lift my eyes, my gaze clashing with his. I force a smile. But he doesn't seem to buy it, though he doesn't say anything either. "Just excited to leave this place." I tell him honestly.
"Good. Percy will be here in a moment to take you to the SUV." "Percy?" I ask "The redhead. He is training to be a gamma." He says and I nod like I know what that means. I've never understood the role of a gamma as not all packs have one, like ours.
"Is it not a sign of disrespect to leave without informing the alpha first?" I ask him and he chuckles.
"Is it not a sign of disrespect to be physically accosted by the Alpha's daughter when you are a Luna?" He parries and I look away, ashamed.
A knock on the door savesfrom the silence filling the room, and Percy enters, an excited grin on his face. "The SUV is being pulled around as we speak, I can walk Luna Colette out, so you can go say the cordial goodbyes?" He asks, looking between us. I slide a glance to him, his eyes trained onand he quirks a smile.
"No need, a disrespect must be returned. If Bentley takes issue with our leave, he will reach out to letnow and then I can inform him of his daughter's slights," he says, walking toward me.
2/5 Chapter 4 151 His big, warm hand engulfs mine, the little sparks from our new bond rippling through my skin as he urgesalong beside him. It's not entirely easy keeping up with a man about a solid foot or more taller than Not a single soul is up as we exit the front door and clamber into the black vehicle. Percy hops in the passenger's seat, and Merikh slides in next to me, his b*dy imposing as it takes up more space than a normal person would. Again, he is a huge individual. And one whose thigh is pressed against my leg As we drive along, the trees pass by, the moon light cascading down along the landscape dusting it with a beautiful glow outlining everything I have never seen in the area.
"Will you miss it?" Percy asks from the front, as I watch miles stretch by separatingfrom the pack that I called home. The pack that looked down onand the people who made it their life's journey to all ways "No." I say firmly, knowing for a fact I will never miss this pack.
The only person I will ever miss is Grady. My stomach twists at the thought of him and move around in the seat. trying to get comfortable and force him from my thoughts. Goosebumps erupt over my arms as I ever be accepted as their true Luna.
A warmth seems to radiate from Merikh, and I look up at him, catching him watchingwith an amused look. Then he frowns and his arm lifts, swapping around the back of the seat, his hand resting on my sh warmth wraps aroundand I can't help the sigh that breaks from my lips.
"You are cold," he murmurs, and I shake my head.
"Not anymore...thank you." I offer, but he doesn't respond. He then clears his throat, his thumb rubbing circles on my upper arm as he seems to grow nervous.
"What do you like to do, Colette?" he asks, and I drop my head to the side in thought.
"When I have time, I like to read." I offer, but he doesn't seem satisfied.
"I mean, what hobbies do you have? You can't have tended to Leslie at all times?" "I'm not sure what you are hoping for, but I have no talents, Alpha." "Merikh. To you I am just Merikh." he whispers, leaning his head closer.
3/5 Chapter 4 "Yes-Merikh," I say and I swear I feel him shiver.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Do you not draw? Or garden or even sing?" "Ha!" I giggle. "Drawing would require materials, which I would not have been granted. I would kill a garden if had one. I would never be able to give it the tit needed." "And singing?" he muses, and I shake my head.
"I am an awful singer." I say with a soft chuckle.
+5] "Oh, I doubt that." He says sweetly and I smile up at him for the first twith a genuine, unscared smile. "Sing something for me," "Definitely not. If my status didn't scare you away, then there is no doubt my singing will. I was told my voice was so terrible it could kill any poor soul who had to hear it."
"Well then, I suppose we won't get you singing lessons anytsoon," m he jokes, and I find myself at ease with him "You will need to think of shobbies or fun things you wish to do. You will be busy as a Lu "Well, I do like to read a lot," "Then you should make use of the massive library we have." My eyes light up in excitement. "We have a library?" I ask, turning my b*dy to face him.
Merikh's eyes grow wide, his mouth falling open as he yanksclose to his b*dy and a loud crashing soun Νο echoes through the air. Glass breaks and my b*dy floats, slamming hard into the roof of the car. Ou It feels like we roll for ages, every rough landing bruising my b*dy bone deep until the last one. A crunch vibrates up my leg and pain follows behind it as I inhale sharply and release a sobbing cry. When I look at my leg, I grow lightheaded, the blood pools aroundas I focus on the white sharp object sticking out of my flesh.
"Is that..." I murmur before falling back, dizzy and bile rushing to my lips at the sight of my bone slicing through my thigh.
The pain only grows more prevalent by the second as I reach out, feeling for Merikh. A hand grabsand I cling 4/5 Chapter 4 +5 to it, waiting for him to pullto safety. Tears roll down my face as he roughly freesfrom the tangled metal, and then he disappears.
I feel his hand on my ankle, then suddenly he tugs on me, makingcry out in sheer agony as dots dancing. across my field of vision.
"Merikh," I whimper out, hoping to beg him to stop. "Please..." I know my words are weak, barely audible as my consciousness wanes.
"Colette!" I hear him scream and I force myself to look behind me, where I see him limping in my direction as I am pulled away. The pain is replaced with sheer terror as the person stops dragging me, dropping my leg haphazardly.
"You don't pood to
be awake for this bit," a deep voice murmurs, walking over to me, a hood darkening his face though Fcan see a glow of red in his eyes. Then an object strikes my cheek with a dull thud and the world slowly fad 5/5