Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 569

Chapter 69 : In the Builder’s Garden

*Xander*

I realized quite suddenly that something was off about this place. I’d been following the orbs of light through the forest for what felt like ages. At first, I daydreamed. I went over my argument with Lena on the beach and the storm that had come out of nowhere.

I was going to ask her to marry me, but not there. Had her demonic little cousin not ratted me out for having a ring, I would have waited until the perfect moment and gotten down on one knee.

But I’d thought, at least at the time, that a discussion beforehand was the right thing to do given the situation. She knew I had the ring, so why not make my intentions clear and give us both a chance to talk about a probable future instead of just springing the question on her?

That conversation needed to happen regardless. The idea of being separated was the only thing keeping us apart, and I hadn’t had the chance to sit Lena down and explain to her that it was likely we’d be apart for a very long time, and not because we were ruling different kingdoms, no.

War was coming. War was already happening in Crimson Creek. War was threatening both of our realms if I didn’t stop it.

Her grandfather had passed me a note on the day of the wedding. He’d stared at me during the ceremony, no doubt trying to catch a glimpse of my answer in my eyes. When I’d gone to see him in Winter Forest, I’d told him everything I knew, warning him of what I believed was to come. I’d left to find Gideon and only found ruin.

And his note during the wedding? A simple question. “When?”

The longer I walked through the forest, the more time I had to wonder how the hell Rowan had been able to ship me off to Goddess knows where without me having had a chance to answer to the patriarch of the family first.

It didn’t make sense, but neither did the trees and flowers I passed that looked nearly identical. Neither was the strange vacuum of silence in the forest, not a bird nor rustle of leaves to be heard. The sky remained a pale pinkish violet, never once fading or brightening to show the changing of the hour, yet my legs were growing faint from hours upon hours of walking.

I paused, letting the orbs carry on without me, and gazed at a rock formation I could’ve sworn I’d seen before, just a few hours ago, actually. White roses bloomed from throned vines that snaked around the top of the rock, like a crown.

These vines weren’t even connected to the soil–

I whirled around, peering closely at the trees around me.

Perfect–everything was too perfect to be real.

I dropped to my knees and ripped at the grass, which was plush, blemishless, and as soft as cashmere.

Wrong, wrong! Everything was wrong!

“Where the f**k am I?!” I screamed with my fists clenched to my sides. Laughter ripped through the silence, fading away as the orbs disappeared from view.

“It’s not far now,” said the voice, but I shook my head, breathing heavily as I whirled around again.

“What are you? Who are you?”

that question. I don’t

patches from the earth. I’d held them in my hands, felt the deep brown soil falling between my fingers. But now? The grass was untouched, long, green, and dappled

the voice said as though whoever or whatever was speaking was standing right behind me. It snickered into my ear. I punched the air wildly, which elicited more

“Then where am I?”

realm,” said the voice with

“Who is the Builder?”

Goddess. You should be grateful she granted

The Goddess?

the trees as reality crashed

little laugh, shaking my head. “Hm,

first time and realized I had no memory of leaving the beach. One minute I’d been standing in front of Lena, begging her to

me!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the

time its reply was not followed by mocking

motherfucking Moon Goddess, that’s who. She zapped

“Zap?”

however it works. Sucked me in. Does she know that I’m here? How do I get

There was no answer.

place. I hurt myself over and over, my face bruised and skin torn from my attempts to climb trees and reach the top of the canopy that sheltered the forest floor, but every

but it was no use. She’d

the Builder

being around to converse with. I straightened my shirt, the same one I’d been wearing

“She’s my mate.”

you ARE the

I was exhausted. I felt like I’d been up for days. I had no

“We’re not far–”

“Not far from what?”

“The Builder’s garden–”

not going anywhere.

opened one eye, watching for those

you are. You’re some kind of spirit, right? Or are

“The Builder, you mean–”

of the Goddess. What is this place? Am I…

and

with the story

canopy, watching the leaves. This place looked and felt like I was inside of a painting. The

Moon Goddess and the mother of your false God

God?” I said with a little

followers, those who followed him