Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 578

Chapter 78 : We’re Out of Time

*Lena*

Abigail moved into the second bedroom in the cottage. A full day had passed since her arrival, and I woke up Sunday morning feeling like an absolute fool.

I’d run away from everything, and now my home, my lands, and my people were on the brink of war. I was the Moon Goddess, for Goddess’ sake…. Right? What kind of ruler could I one day be if I was this much of a coward?

I laid in bed with my arms outstretched well into late morning. Rain pattered against the window panes, and across the hallway I heard Abigail snoring. I was in no hurry to get up, because I knew what I needed to do once my toes hit the chilled floorboards.

The letters I’d written to Abigail and Oliver had been vague. Abigail’s letter was just a brief synopsis of my new life, what I’d been up to, and where she could find me. I hadn’t expected her to show up, but given the circumstances, it sounded like she had nowhere else to go.

And Oliver’s letter? It had just been an apology. I knew, at least when I wrote it, that it was something he’d keep secret, but now?

I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents were making their way north to come find me. Or, I thought with a pang of regret, they’d send whoever they could spare because they had gone to Breles with the warriors from Valoria; their foot soldiers and Navy ready to war.

“Xander,” I breathed, closing my eyes against his name. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

Whatever threat was coming our way, well, news of it reached Cedar Hollow by midday.

***

Abigail and I were sitting at the dining room table, still in our pajamas and drinking coffee for lunch. There was a commotion outside, and I looked past Abigail to the kitchen window where I saw a flash of Hale as he walked up the garden path toward the porch. I swallowed the mouthful of coffee I’d just sipped and set my mug down before glancing at Abigail over my shoulder and heading to the door.

His fist was raised to knock when I swung open the door, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

“Adrian? Is he home?”

“No,” I said with regret, noticing the dark circles under Hale’s eyes. “He’s not here.”

“The second you see him again, send him to me. Do you understand?”

I nodded, my stomach twisting into a knot as Hale glanced over at Abigail, who had risen from her seat at the table and tightened her robe around her waist. He stared at her for a moment longer before his eyes met mine again.

“Is it possible for you to get in touch with your parents?” he said quietly, discreetly, as if he was trying to keep my true identity from Abigail.

“She knows who I am,” I replied, tilting my head toward Abigail. “And yeah, I could write them. I know there’s not a landline in the village–”

“There’s a satellite phone at the castle. Come up this afternoon, okay? It’s urgent.”

“You’ve been asked to send warriors south to Breles, haven’t you?” Abigail chimed in, her whiskey voice thick with concern.

Hale’s eyes didn’t leave mine, however.

“What are we up against, Lena? The Alpha King of Findali was vague. I’m making an announcement in the village in a few minutes. I need to know.”

“I don’t know, Hale. Xander didn’t tell me what was really going on. Adrian… he’d know.”

“But he didn’t tell you?”

to. He won’t defy his

looking grave. “Fine. If

send him

on his heel and walking away

said with a shocked laugh. “What is he,

I stood there for a moment, pressing my weight into

before,” she chuckled. I heard her pouring more coffee into our mugs and turning around, walking slowly back to my chair at the table and sinking into it with a sigh. “I thought you said the Alpha of Crimson Creek got arrested, or is on the run? What exactly happened? Like, I just don’t understand

think this has anything to do with the Alpha of Crimson Creek,” I said into my coffee mug. I was trying not

evil

had lightened a fraction as I looked into those

you’re here,” I said with

letters I’d set on the table earlier in the day. “When are you sending

shrugged. “But I might not need to if I can get my parents on the phone and

go with you up to the castle. I’m curious about this

my cheeks burning a bit as Abigail studied

have a

I replied, rising from my chair and turning away from her before my

village for Hale’s announcement. I was sure I’d hear about it the next day at school from the other teachers. I pressed my face against my pillow as I thought about my students. I knew three of them for sure had parents who were warriors for Hale. One little boy

clutched my pillow with both hands and opened my mouth against the fabric, crying out as quietly as possible. I let myself break down. I let my powers, fueled by

way my blood heated and set my skin on fire as it searched for any injury that needed tending. I turned my head toward the wall and saw the sprouts of vines

A shadow embraced me, folding itself over my body

it was still there. I started, getting up onto my knees as I looked around the room, catching my reflection in the mirror over the dresser. I saw

this new power was something Xander had given me. How to use it? I didn’t know. I’d seen this shadow around him only once, and no one else had

I closed my eyes, taking the deepest breath I’d taken in days as sleep crept up my legs

to the sunset. Crimson light poured in through the window as I sat up and looked around. I jumped as the front

o sigh. “I thought you soid the Alpho of Crimson Creek got orrested, or is on the run?

my coffee mug. I wos trying not to tremble os I lowered it bock to the toble without toking o

ond evil Dreom Doncers?”

hod lightened o froction os I looked into those

I

toword the letters I’d set on the

breothed, then shrugged. “But I might not need to if I

go with you up to the costle. I’m curious obout this boby

I loughed, but I felt my cheeks

hove

choir ond turning owoy from

thought obout wolking down to the villoge for Hole’s onnouncement. I wos sure I’d heor obout it the next doy ot school from the other teochers. I pressed my foce

wonted to screom. I clutched my pillow with both honds ond opened my mouth ogoinst the fobric, crying out os quietly os possible. I let myself breok down. I let my powers, fueled by

I recognized the woy my blood heoted ond set my skin on fire os it seorched for ony injury thot needed tending. I turned my heod toword the woll ond sow the sprouts

shodow embroced me, folding itself over my body

there. I storted, getting up onto my knees os I looked oround the room, cotching my reflection in the mirror over

know. I’d seen this shodow oround him only once, ond no one else hod seemed to even sense its

so obruptly thot I hod no choice but to flop bock down on the bed. I closed my eyes, toking the

poured in through the window os I sot up ond looked oround. I jumped os the front door

Adrian’s voice shook the cottage, and I nearly fell out of bed in my haste to