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–”

confusion and

slowly rose from my

Are you… you can’t be

said with a short laugh, “is

like a rogue wave, washing over him and leaving him drenched. His eyes

“You’re–”

Selene of Valoria,” I said, extending a hand for him to

but maintained his composure as I watched the color drain and then slowly return

story so fully 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 he was willing to listen and empathize with me while I spoke, weaving together the story of when, of what,

were modern in a 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

bored. Often times, we were born into roles we didn’t want,

twenty-one year old leader of his people, tasked with the care and keeping of his pack. He hadn’t had the opportunity to live any other way or experience anything outside

this crushing

about Xander, and what I 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 him because of our bond. I

finished my story, the sun was beginning to set. The lunch tray was full, untouched. And Hale

Adrian returns,” he said over his shoulder, “have him come to

he

***

I went

rolled around once more, I took my usual perch on the front porch to watch the rain patter on the gravel road outside the front gate of the garden. I watched the villagers walk by, sometimes dressed in thick sweaters and raincoats and sometimes in their

toward the cabin, her damp red hair sticking to her raincoat as she hurried toward the cottage. I stood up from the rocking chair, nearly knocking it

her

she

was dragging a suitcase behind her, and her cheeks were

she panted, then threw her arms around me in

***

letter, it sounds like you’re starting to believe Adrian is right in that Xander is in trouble,” Abigail said as she stretched her legs out on the couch. She sniffed her tea, then reached for the sugar bowl on

me. After what Clare

spent the last two hours filling Abigail in on the situation. I was shocked that she was here, but happy about it. It wasn’t something I’d asked for, but it was something I realized I desperately needed. If I

back to

no, he did

your powers to find him?” she asked, arching one of her crimson brows at

can do,” I

bottom of the cup. I told her what I knew I was capable of.

had no idea what it was or how to control it. I

I spoke. She was neither surprised nor impressed,