Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 576

Chapter 76 : Has He Talked About Me?

*Lena*

Hale’s tour of the castle was totally innocent, and as I wandered the halls alongside him, the guilt that tied my stomach in a knot began to lessen. He showed me every room and told little stories along the way.

He’d been born and raised within these walls along with his older brother and Clare. Their father never truly recovered after their mother’s death, and the last years of Hale’s childhood had been dark and lonely.

He walked me back into the library where a lunch service was waiting for us, and I sat down across from him in front of the hearth while he dished out sandwiches, fruit, and cups of tea.

“Clare should have been Alpha,” he said as he sat down, bringing the tea to his lips before adding, “She was made for it, you know. She has the personality for it. But she’s the youngest by two minutes, so… it didn’t work out that way.”

“She would make quite the formidable Alpha,” I said with a knowing smile as I sipped my tea, and Hale nodded in agreement.

His eyes were shadowed, however, and I knew he was about to tell me what I already knew, at least, the side of the story Clare had told her family.

“She was really young when she had Sasha–too young. Sasha has been such a blessing to our family, though. I… I love her. I mean, you know her–”

“Sasha is nothing but light.” I smiled, tears welling in the corner of my eyes.

He nodded, chuckling a bit as his own eyes watered. He sighed, clearing his throat as he leaned back against his couch.

“So, uh,” he began, reaching up to wipe a tear from his cheek as he attempted to change the subject. “Who is Adrian to you? You said he left for a while?”

A week ago, I would have lied. I would have spun some story, maybe even telling Hale Adrian was my cousin or a friend from college. But as I sat within the walls of the castle of Cedar Hollow, I felt an overwhelming desire to accept who I was, and to be proud of it. Clare’s situation, her strength, had changed something within me. I leaned forward, exhaling as I met his eye.

“Adrian is my mate’s Beta,” I said. “And he left to find someone who–”

“You’re mated to an Alpha?”

I nodded, wincing a bit at the note of shock in his voice. He leaned forward, suspicion lining his gentle features. At the moment he looked like the Alpha he was and not a shy, quiet man harboring an unrequited crush.

“What are you doing here, then? Did he reject you–”

“He may have,” I replied quickly, cutting him off. I sipped my tea to wet the abrupt dryness in my mouth and set the teacup down on the try, preparing to explain everything.

“But his Beta–”

“No one has seen Xander… Alpha King Alexander–”

Hale stood, confusion and fire igniting behind his

teeth as I nodded, then slowly rose from

you… you can’t be

I said with a short laugh,

him and leaving him drenched. His eyes went wide as he attempted to take a step

“You’re–”

Valoria,” I said, extending a hand for him to shake. “It’s

maintained his composure as I watched the color drain and then slowly return to his face. I took the deepest breath possible as I met his eye, and then I told

and all at once. Hale listened intently, his eyes not once leaving mine. I realized that Hale and I had something in common, the only reason

way even our parents couldn’t have predicted. Gone were the days of breeders and arranged marriages–for now, anyway. Gone were days of mailing letters and taking months long journeys by boat to reach the nearest

worldly, and bored. Often times, we were born into roles we didn’t want, but didn’t have the option of

father and brother had died, was a twenty-one year old leader of his people, tasked with the care and keeping of his

shared this crushing

knew about Crimson Creek. I told him how Xander and Adrian had alluded to war on the horizon but were keeping me in the dark. I told him about how Xander had either left on his accord or was in trouble, and that Adrian was here to find

to set. The lunch tray was full, untouched. And Hale simply blinked, and nodded, turning on his heel to leave

returns,” he said over his shoulder, “have

he

***

and had no way of contacting him. I went to work. I ran errands. I borrowed some books from the

the rain patter on the gravel road outside the front gate of the garden. I watched the villagers walk

cottage. I stood up from the rocking chair, nearly knocking it over as I darted off the

met her

whispered as she pushed

and her cheeks were pink

need to tell me everything,” she panted, then threw her arms around me in a tight

***

you’re starting to believe Adrian is right in that Xander is in trouble,” Abigail said as she stretched her legs out

sounds awful, but I want to believe he didn’t just abandon and reject me. After what Clare felt, or saw, however her powers of sight work… I just can’t shake the feeling

It wasn’t something I’d asked for, but it was something I realized I desperately needed. If I was going

he go back to

no, he

can’t use your powers to find him?” she asked, arching one of her crimson brows at

what all I can do,” I murmured, slouching into

watching bits of undissolved sugar dance at the bottom of the cup. I told

the fire… I had no idea what it was or how to control it. I also hadn’t used my powers of sight in years and wouldn’t even know how to

surprised nor impressed, and I