Chapter 17

“Merikh POV My b*dy vibrates with her touch, my lycan damn near purring as her soft lips move against mine. It’s like the celebration dinner all over again, my b*dy gi I am forever wrapped up in everything Colette.

Her hands are warm from the water as they glide up my heaving chest, wrapping around my n*ck. My b*dy shivers under her touch and I k*ss her deepe My hand tangles in her wet hair as I tilt her chin up, giving me better access to explore her mouth. My other hand slides down her wet back, my thumb looping into the back of her bikini bottoms. The rest of my palm rests over the fabric.

I crave grabbing a handful of her ass, dragging her b*dy up me and spreading her little legs around my waist. But Colette isn’t someone you fling around, not like that. Not yet. She’s a delicate flower, a water lily that needs I can manage. For a short while.

She moans as she tries to tug me closer, her b*dy rolling against mine with a delicious vibration that only serves the purpose of making everything harde me, clearly.

“Colette,” I murmur against her lips.

She hums in acknowledgement and then she moves her head to my cheek, k*ssing my face before moving to my ear. Her breathing is like a feather ove I walk her back, trying to find something to press her against. I can’t have her, not the way I crave, but I sure as shit can’t stop this moment. Right now, it A knock sounds at the door and ignore it. f**k them. I don’t care who it is or what they want. Right now I’m servicing my queen. The knock grows louder and Colette must finally hear it as she tears away, covering her lips. and looking away.

“What?” I growl at the door. Who ever it is could have easily used the mindlink, “Alpha, I have come from the council with the official decision on your appeal to-”

0 “Yes, I will be with you in a moment.” I grit out, taking a step away from Colette who looks at me, lips parted and red. Her hair is a mess with her innocent eyes wide in shock, watching me. I tilt my head, drinking in the view.

“Exquisite,” I breathe. I reach out, cupping her cheek, dragging the pad of my thumb over her lips. “I will see your tonight,”

“I thought you said you would be working late,” she murmurs in a daze.

“I moved things around.” I smile. “You should get dressed and rest. The healing waters can only do so much, but you will still be sore tomorrow.”

She looks a little confused, tilting her head slightly and I notice a hue of blue in her brown eyes I’ve never seen before. For a moment, I think she will say “Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” She bites her lip as I turn toward the stairs.

I stop for a moment before I turn back and drag her close, dropping a k*ss on her forehead. As much as I want to deny the pull to her, I can’t. Be it the se reservations.

“I’ll see you soon,” I sigh, releasing her and rushing out of the water.

I move to the chair, grabbing my towel and changing my clothing, while Colette looks‘ away, her innocence still intact, as I grin to myself, hoping she took When I push out the door, I find the messenger from the council waiting for me. His unnatural looking silver hair flows down past his shoulders, dusting o breasted vest. At least they sent a messenger! get along with.

“Ezrah.” I nod and he grins, walking next to me as we make our way to my office.

“Good to see you again, Alpha,” he bows his head in respect and I sigh.

“I take it my appeal was once again rejected?” I ask.

“Lost by one.” He responds a small smirk on his lips. I look at him, shocked. For years, I have repealed the ruling that landed our kind ostracized by the c “One?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “Who changed their mind?”

“I am not allowed to share those details, Alpha. You know the rules.” he shrugs.

“Yeah,” I grumble, running my hands through my hair. “Yeah, I know the damn rules.”

“If you had a Luna, it might change things,” he says, looking at me and I know he sees the redness of my lips from my time with Colette.

“Why would that make a difference?” I ask, keeping my little luna a secret from him for now. She is my secret weapon, one I am not ready to let the coun “They want proof that your kind has…” He pauses, looking for the right word.

“A weakness.” I scoff. “I believe that is the word you are looking for.”

“A weakness?” He rears his head, sliding his hands into his matching blue pants. “Interesting way to put it alpha. I was going to say anchor. Someone to

unreachable. If you understand my meaning.”

“I have seen how some of the council members treat their other halves.” I frown. “There is no grounding there. Just pure ownership and S*xual drive.”

“Ah, but their kind has not been kicked from the council, nor are they notorious for acting out before thinking. Your kind, however…” he falls off, knowing I know where he is going.

And I admit, he may have a point there, but I refuse to acknowledge that. I turn, pushing my office door open and motioning him to enter. He obliges me, “Is there a message you would like to relay to the council?” Ezrah asks. He pulls an envelope from the breast pocket, placing it on the desk, and I see the same s “I see Caspian is still the head of the council.” I frown. The dickhead who keeps fighting me, even though our terms have been fulfilled and time served. He has it out for us, not that the feeling isn’t mutual.

“He is.” He watches me with a glimmer of amusement. “You know the rules. He has some time left to be the leader.”

“Because he stole my kinds term, I should be at that seat.” I growl low in my chest. “Not some fish stick asshole.”

“If your kind had followed the laws, things would be very different, Alpha. But as it stands, your great grandfather was not one for the rules and the council fears “That’s bullshit.” I hiss, hammer my fist on my desk. “They all are hoping enough time passes to make us forget. They’ve abandoned us.”

“I am merely a messenger,” He frows. Then he lays a separate note next to the one containing the refusal to let us back into the council.

“What is this?” I ask, furrowing my brow as I grab it and tear it open..

“That I do not know. I only deliver the news. This was in my pile to deliver.”

“Yet you knew what was in the first letter.” Hayes reminds him and Ezrah shrugs.

“I was given the details to share verbally, the other note I know nothing about other than the destination. But now I must go before my portal closes,” he s “Thank you.” I sigh. Even if he brings bad news, Ezrah is easily the more respectful of the messengers.

“Always a pleasure, Alpha Merikh.” he gives a head bow and sees himself out.

Hayes pops up, rushing over the desk like a hungry dog looking for a treat.

“Open the damn thing. I want to see what it says.”

“Leave.” I say, smirking. His face falls.

“What?”

“No warning about Ezrah being here and you sent him to find me.” I remind him, and he scoffs.

“I always do that with him.”

“But it rarely interrupts… things,” I growl, my lycan coming forward to show him our displeasure. Shock gives way to amusement, and he laughs.

“Damn, so you put some moves on her in the healing waters? Very unoriginal, but it’s a start,” he teases and I scowl, sitting in my chair and pointing to th “Next time you do that, I will have you punished.” I scowl at him.

“I swear on the heavens, never again…

for a while.” he grins and I roll my eyes, opening the letter glancing down at the printed font on paper with only three lines.

-Keep your Luna close. She is the stuff of dreams…or nightmares. Can’t wait to meet her at the council meeting.-

“What the fuck?” I mumble, my blood running cold as I read it again and again. Hayes takes it from my hand. His eyes snap up to mine.

*So the wolves…the stupid f**king dream weavers…”

“Someone from the council knows more than they should.” I mutter and he growls in anger.

“We have a f**king traitor.” He hisses, running his han