Traded

Chapter 87

Hayes steps back, his lycan retreating, leaving him in the scraps of his shredded clothing, his back heaving up and down as he stares into Leandra’s

eyes.

She looks up at him, shock and fear all over her face as she clasps her hand over the mate mark on her neck. Johannes chuckles to himself as I stare at my beta in equal parts surprise and disappointment.

“Well, I guess I won’t be needed after all,” Johannes says, sounding disappointed.

“Why would you…” Leandra whispers, searching his silent face for an answer.

He stumbles back a step and then turns his forlorn face to me, like he can’t believe what just took place.

“Fuck,” I mutter, dragging my hand down my face.

“I’m sorry,” He murmurs. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Yes you do,” I groan. “She is your fucking mate and your lycan thought you were going to lose her, so he took action without you.”

“No,” he says, taking a tentative step toward Leandra. “No, it was a mutual decision. I panicked. I have never panicked before and I thought… I was worried I would lose you forever.”

“It was a simple compelling trick.” I remind him but he doesn’t look at me, instead he stares at Leandra, who is pressed against the wall white as a

sheet.

“Can you forgive me?” He whispers to her, tilting his head. She skirts her eyes to me for a brief moment and then back at Hayes.

“Why did you do it? You were the one that fought accepting me for so long? I didn’t think

wanted me- you

19

“Him compelling you is an invasion of your mind and ability to control yourself. It feels like what lily did to you all over again but with a different species. I couldn’t let you do that again, not when you are just finding yourself again.” Hayes rushes out to explain, licking his lips to wet them.

He makes a fair point, one I hadn’t openly thought about or expressed due to the nature of my desperation. But Hayes is right. I was asking her to step back into the very thing she had finally escaped. It wasn’t fair, even if it is used to save my Colette.

“I agreed to it this time.” She says, and he shakes his head.

“You agreed out of guilt.”

“I want to help,” she retorts, and he sighs.

“Then let me help you do it.” then he drops to his knees, inching closer as he takes her hand in his and his other on her waist. “Finish the bond, accept me fully.”

She furrows her brows and then looks around the room and back down at Hayes.

“This is sweet and all, but am I needed or can I go?” Johannes says with a fake yawn as he rolls his eyes.

“Leave,” I tell him with a glare, and he grins before he saunters off. Caspian gives me a small nod as he follows suit and I step up to my brother and his half accepted mate.

“Will this work?” she asks me, worried. “If I accept and mark him, will you be able to get what you need from me?”

I see the pang of guilt and hurt in Hayes‘ face as he turns to look at me.

“It is wrong of me to answer this in any way other than telling you that you accept a mate bond because you want it, not because someone needs it. I can not tell you what to do because when it comes to my mate, I am selfish and I will sacrifice your happiness for her life.” I admit.

“Look at me, Lea,” Hayes says softly. “I have been a stubborn asshole and I am so sorry. And I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I see it all so clearly now, I want you safe. Even if we are at odds, your safety is more important.”

“Do you think you could love me? Not right now, not yet, but one day…?” She whispers shyly, dropping her other hand from her neck. Hayes stands, moving his palm to her cheek as he cups her face.

“Yes.” He whispers.

She reaches out and grabs his face, turning his neck to the side, and I look away, letting them have their moment, but I don’t go far. As much as I want this to be their choice, I now have no option but to capitalize on it to help us save Colette. I keep my back to them for several minutes before I hear Hayes clear his throat.

1/3

Chapter 87

“Are you finished?” I ask him, my back still turned.

“For now.” He says and I spin to look at them. They are both shy about their new bond, looking like a new couple, as Leandra blushes but wears a determined look.

“I would like to officially become a member, alpha.” She says, bowing her head respectfully.

“Do you swear to protect your pack and our kind with your life?” I ask her and she nods. “As the mate of the Beta, his responsibilities, if he is not able or away, will fall to you to execute in his place. Are you capable?”

“I am capable and willing.” She responds.

“Then I accept you into our pack and as a subject under my protection.” I say, bowing my head in return. She gasps in shock, her eyes going wide before they flash, and she grins, placing her hand over her heart.

“How do you feel?” Hayes asks her and she giggles.

“I feel…accepted. Like I am finally home.” She whispers looking at him giddily.

I clear my throat and she blinks at me before giving a curt nod and her demeanor changes. She braces herself, bending her knees as she waits for my alpha command.

“It will be best if you try not to resist. The alpha command can feel strange at first, but if you are willing to share the information, it won’t feel like you are being forced into anything, as it’s your choice.” I tell her and she nods.

“I have nothing to hide.”

“Leandra, show me your lycan.” I command her.

Her head snaps back and her arms fly out. Hayes takes a step to the side, watching closely as her bones crack and her skin changes. It looks like a first shift, one where she is in serious pain, her cry breaking through the large room as she falls to her knees.

Her lycan reveals itself, looking right at me before bowing in acceptance of me as it’s Alpha.

“I will ask you yes or no questions. Answer truthfully.” I instruct and she growls in acceptance.

“Do you have any memory of when you were being controlled in your form?” I ask and her lycan nods yes.

“Did you travel in lycan form often?”

Another head nod yes.

“Did you kill any other lycans or werewolves?”

She drops her head in shame, looking directly at Hayes as she nods her head yes..

“It’s okay. You are not to blame for what you could not control.” I tell her gently before continuing. “Did you stay with all the others who were under Lily’s control?”

Instead of shaking her head, she growls with a simple nod yes.

“Was it the same place?” I ask and again, her lycan nods yes.

I move closer, trying to think of how to ask where they were so I can gather an idea of if the others are at this mountain and a part of this ambush that will be waiting for me.

“The mountain?” I ask, and I see the lycan processing before tilting her head to the side, confused. “Unblock the memories from your other half so she can see them.”

The lycan blinks at me before bowing its head. After a few moments, it roars and turns back into Leandra, a panting, naked ball on the ground as

she shakes.

Hayes is on her in a second, wrapping her in a blanket and scooping her up in his arms. She sweats profusely as she reaches around him, pulling him close.

up

and

wraps

her arms

“I see it all, feel all of it,” she whimpers.

“The memories?” I ask, and she nods into Hayes‘ neck.

“Everything, all of it. I know where they are, what they want to do with the pack they are controlling. All of it…” she whispers, tears swelling in her

eyes.