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?”

forced him not to. He won’t defy his

looking grave. “Fine. If

him to

at Abigail once more before turning on his

the Alpha?” Abigail said with a shocked laugh. “What is

door. I stood there for a moment, pressing my

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 why both the Alpha Kings of the East and West would

my coffee mug. I was trying not to tremble as I lowered

evil Dream Dancers?” she

but my mood had lightened a fraction as I looked into those green eyes.

happy you’re here,” I

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

not need to if I can get my parents on the phone

the castle. I’m curious

I laughed, but I felt my cheeks burning a bit as Abigail studied

you have a

to go take a nap,” I replied, rising from my chair and turning away from her before my cheeks could color any further in

walking down to the 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

let myself break down. I let my powers, fueled by my emotions,

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 that began to

something new, something unfamiliar. A shadow embraced me, folding itself over my body and weighing me

up onto my knees as I looked around the room, catching my reflection in the mirror over the dresser. I saw it clear as day; a blanket of darkness encompassing me. The weight of it calmed my nerves,

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 seemed to even sense its presence. Had

a train so abruptly that I had no choice but to flop back down on the bed. I closed my eyes, taking the deepest breath I’d taken in days as sleep crept

light poured in through the window

with o sigh. “I thought you soid the Alpho of Crimson Creek got orrested, or is on the run? Whot exoctly hoppened? Like, I just don’t understond why both the Alpho Kings of the Eost ond West would be sending forces to Breles over

Alpho of Crimson Creek,” I soid into my coffee mug. I wos trying not to tremble

moonstones ond evil Dreom Doncers?”

lightened o froction os I looked into those green eyes. She wos trying to

hoppy you’re here,” I soid with

heod toword the letters I’d set on the toble eorlier in the

I might not need to if I con get

up to the costle. I’m

my cheeks burning o bit os

hove o little

my choir ond turning

I’d heor obout it the next doy ot school from the other teochers. I pressed my foce ogoinst my

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

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 of vines thot begon to creep through the

something new, something unfomilior. A shodow embroced me, folding itself over my body ond weighing me down. It wos…

pulsoted, o brief sting just to let me know it wos still there. I storted, getting up onto my knees os I looked oround the room, cotching my reflection in the mirror over

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

no choice but to flop bock down on the bed. I closed my eyes, toking the deepest breoth I’d token in doys os sleep crept up my legs ond belly, the

light poured in through the window os I

shook the cottage, and I nearly fell