Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 24: Should I Date Him?

*Warren*

Sitting on the bench in the gardens, sipping wine, and listening to Ciana’s story, wave after wave of confusion washed over me.

She was speaking about an incident eight years ago, and yet… I didn’t remember it at all.

Lost in the woods? Wounded? Collecting a flower blossom for her from the top of a mountain on the cliff? I was fairly certain that if I had been there, I would remember at least a bit of this.

When she concluded her story with, “When I saw your bracelet, I knew for sure… you were the one. You were the young man I found in the woods all of those years ago. All this time, I have been dreaming of meeting you again.” Her cheeks blush a dark crimson, and I understood that she was saying these things as more than just a girl who has found a long lost friend.

She had feelings for this young man-for me?

“Wow…” I said, not sure how else to respond. “All of this time….”

“Right?” She beamed and then looked away from me, sipping her wine. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to find out it was you.” She wouldn’t look at me now, and I felt my own heat speeding up.

Ciana was a beautiful young lady. Her long blonde hair and light colored eyes that glimmer in the moonlight make her stand out, even above all of the other girls that had been brought to the castle by my father to court my brother.

Any man would be happy to be paired with such a lovely woman. Any, except for my brother. Just thinking about Theo set my mood off, so I decided not to think about him at all.

But the story Ciana had told me didn’t line up at all with how I’ d gotten this bracelet. She seemed certain that this was the same bracelet, too, the one she’d given to the young man.

So… how had my sister come across it?

I remember distinctly the day my older sister, Maggie, gave it to me, slipping it onto my wrist as she told me it would be a good luck charm for me, that she’d found it in a special place, and it would bring me blessings if I wore it every day.

Well, if it brought me to Ciana, then… my sister was right. It was definitely good luck.

Nevertheless, something wasn’t adding up here. Perhaps I was so injured in the woods that I simply couldn’t remember the events?

No, I was positive I had never been in that sort of situation. Whoever she’d met in the woods, it wasn’t me.

When she turned to look at me again, her cheeks were still pink, and she was smiling so happily at me, I couldn’t bring myself to be the one to make that smile fade. Rather than telling her the truth, I said, “I’ve always wondered what happened to that girl in the woods.” Her smile widened even

more. “It’s amazing that fate has brought us together again.”

“Yes, isn’t it?” she agreed, laughing softly before she diverted her gaze again. She raised the red liquid to her perfect pink lips again and took a sip.

I was lost in her smile for a moment.

and that made me curious. I’ d wanted to know how it was possible that

her.

reading them because, honestly, my schedule was fairly empty most of the time. No one had noticed I’d been in the library for days, just like no

the books talked about how some of the most dangerous, deadliest curses could not be completely cast on those who had been blessed by the Moon

Ciana was one of

in my kingdom believed in the power of the Moon Goddess anymore or worshiped her much at all,

how my brother had become slightly interested in her. Perhaps he could

it. All of a sudden, I’d made up

you all right?” Ciana asked

despite my thoughts lingering on Theo. “I’m fine. I was just… remembering my

like something was bothering her. I couldn’t help but

skin sent a bolt of heat and excitement

kind, and… brave. She seemed to always know exactly what she wanted and took actions to make them happen. Like this time, she escaped my brother’s dungeon to make her way home when it was so far away, over such rough terrain. I couldn’t imagine any other girls in her group would’ ve even

but had lived a life that

palace, she was like sunshine, brightening the days for those who were around her, making the usually

She was truly special.

from my brother, and my heart longed to help

anymore,” I told her, continuing to run my fingers through her hair. She was smiling at me, but there was a

it was almost a whisper. “What

eyes widened. “Haven’t we been doing that?”

help but grin and chuckle at her. “Well, yeah, I guess so. But

She looked surprised but

bright red. “I mean, if you want to. You

that told me there was more to what she was thinking than what she was saying to me. I didn’t

just glad

and she was

There was a “but,” of course. Why

is happening there is true, I need to find out

if you still

my index finger against her lips and assured her again,

The red on her face deepened,

been full of revelations. Just when I

not.

most welcome, my

***

*Ciana*

may have

since I’d first seen the bracelet on his arm, since I’d first seen his eyes