Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 797

Chapter 8 : A Witch is Near

*Jared*

I was watching two teenagers beat the s**t out of each other, both of them covered to their ears in mud. Archer was barking commands and encouragement as the youths sparred, working on their stealth and awareness. It didn’t feel that long ago that I had stepped into the ring for the first time, just as scrawny and full of confidence as these two boys were.

Now I leaned against the railing, watching my second-in-command lead the training sessions that used to be solely my responsibility. I flexed my hands, drawing them into fists. How much time did I have now, four months? Five, at the most.

Archer called the match to a halt, stepping between the two youths as they swayed and tried to steady themselves. He showed one of them how to strike without breaking his knuckles against his opponent’s flesh, which was something I wish I’d known before getting into my first real fight.

It was a tough world out there for young, packless men. It was especially harder for those who hadn’t yet come into their powers. Fighting with swords, daggers, and fists was their only option.

In two short years, the teens sparring in the ring would turn twenty-one and feel their wolves for the first time. There would be a celebration for them. The entire village would gather and shift and run into the woods beside them. These boys would be ready. They’d be strong and capable. And, if they were smart, they’d survive.

I wouldn’t be there to witness it.

I ran my fingers through my hair, squinting into the bright, midday sun. Archer appeared at my side, mud-soaked and sweating. He took a swig of water from a large clay jug, one finger outstretched.

“What is she doing?” he asked through a mouthful of water.

I followed his gaze and saw Eliza walking through the village, her eyes downcast. She was swinging a large basket, her steps somewhat uneven on the mud and ice. I squinted at her, seeing her mouth curved into a playful, somewhat mischievous smile.

“She’s daydreaming,” I said softly, chuckling to myself as she stubbed her booted toe on a rock. She grimaced, muttering to herself before starting forward again.

“Who let her out of the house?” Brandt asked as he came up beside us.

“Maybe she’s making a run for it–” Archer began, but I shook my head, still watching her with interest.

“She’s not,” I said under my breath. I found it highly likely she was coming to the sparring ring to fight with me again. I’d spent the entire night lying awake in bed, staring at the ceiling and going over every single word she’d said in my study.

I was more suspicious of her now than I had been when I rescued her from the breeder auction. She was far more educated than I’d realized, and in history, of all things.

I leaned against the railing as she continued toward the sparring ring, swinging her basket.

I wondered what she was going to fight with me about this time. She was going to flaunt the fact that she’d escaped the house–I was sure of that at least.

But she walked, and walked, and walked… right past the ring.

began, but I didn’t hear the

railing, landing in the snow melt and mud with a splat that soaked through my boots

of the village, toward

***

house!” I growled,

her toward me and away

hissed, digging her

danced and trembled, sending a chorus of bells through the air. My skin prickled with adrenaline as the wind ebbed around us before flowing back in the direction it came, like the

is dangerous,” I said firmly, shoving her toward the

her heels, glaring

Miriam sent

sent her here, not to the forest, or the healer for that matter. Our healer, an ancient gentleman named Ramus, had been on a journey up north for weeks, on

had sent with Eliza, which Eliza hadn’t read, was to me. “Be nice to her,” it read. “You could use some company of equal intelligence and–”. I hadn’t bothered to read the rest before I had crushed the note in my fist and

Eliza would have to walk past the sparring ring. Eliza would see us here and be curious, no doubt. But she hadn’t accounted for Eliza being totally distracted

the forest was whispering Eliza’s name,

but stood still, which was an improvement from trying to hit me. “There are things in those woods that

“Like fairies and elves?”

down at her, furrowing my

to keep them out

group of boys going into the woods on the

of Ortiz to the south, which leads to the sea,” I breathed, reluctantly giving this directional information away, “and to the

village here if

My village is safe here. My people are sheltered,” I

behind us at the Dark Forest once more

“I didn’t know–”

softly. I was fighting off a smile, and not a smile

was searching my eyes, a look crossing her face that made me want to take a step away

asked, tucking my hands behind

casually, tilting her head to

“Uh, thanks–”

a bad way,” she corrected, taking a step toward me,

roiled within my chest, a silent warning. Familiar? No one outside of my family had eyes like mine

chill ran through me as clouds began to gather

my eyes still locked on hers. “You