Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 801

Chapter 12 : Little Pink Flowers

*Jared*

Early morning sunlight drifted through the curtains in my bedroom as I slowly laid out the final piece of clothing Eliza had mended on my bed, staring down at what she’d done.

I was at a loss for words. I’d noticed the bandages covering her fingers, and her fatigue had been obvious. I’d even felt guilty about what I’d hardly considered a punishment being so physically grueling.

But then I found out why it had taken her the entire day and well into the night to complete the job.

I picked up a shirt she’d tactfully mended and turned it into the sun. Little needlepoint flowers stitched in pale pink thread adorned the sleeves and surrounded the patches she’d sown across the chest.

I looked down at the bed where the rest of the clothing had been laid out, all of it mended, all of it clean, all of it decorated with flowers.

She’d bested me.

“Damn,” I breathed, more impressed with her tenacity than annoyed that she’d ruined nearly all of the clothes I wore to the ring and on hunts.

Even the socks I’d thrown into the basket were decorated with flowers. I pulled the socks onto my feet, wiggling my toes.

I knew Archer and Brandt would tear me to shreds if I wore any of it to the ring. I’d never hear the end of it. But, that was the point. I’d punished her for sneaking around and stepping over my boundaries, and now she was punishing me… for punishing her.

I gathered up the clothes and dumped them back in the basket before pulling a fresh shirt and pants from my dresser. I’d get her back for this–how, I didn’t know. But I would, that was a promise.

Archer would be waiting for me in the ring by now. I’d been sleeping in much later than usual. I didn’t know if it was the thought of Eliza and her schemes keeping me up at night, or if my body was starting to succumb to the ticking clock within my soul that was inching closer to midnight with each passing day. But I was tired.

I left the room, passing a few maids on my way to the kitchen for a quick bite to take with me to the ring. I stopped in the hallway outside of the laundry and listened to a soft conversation between what sounded like Giselle and Eliza.

“I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself in her sleep,” Eliza whispered.

Giselle sighed, and I heard a stool creak as one of the women sat down, shifting their weight.

“I don’t know what happened to her, but it was bad. I think… there was a rumor there was a baby–”

I backed away from the doorway, my chest tightening with unease. I knew what had happened to Scarlett. So did Archer. So did Brandt. And now, so would Eliza.

I ran my fingers through my hair, ruffling it with frustration as I turned back the way I’d come and chose to forgo eating breakfast and go immediately to the ring.

Archer was already training a few young members of our crew when I walked up to the ring, shielding the bright glare of the sun from my eyes.

“Mornin’ darlin’,” Archer teased, then he grunted with effort as he threw a practice jab toward one of the youths, who flinched and covered his face with his arms. “Ah, see? Now your belly is exposed. Dead!” Archer knocked the teen in the stomach with his fist, not enough to hurt the kid, but enough to show him that had Archer had a knife, his life would have been over.

“Good morning,” I gruffed, leaning on the railing and looking over the group who had assembled for the morning session.

Brandt was on the far end of the ring, talking to a group of men. I watched Brandt for a moment until he caught my eye and I was able to motion him over. Archer clapped his trainees on the shoulders and muttered something about them calling it a day, and to rest up for tonight’s debauchery.

an invitation to get piss drunk without repercussions,”

settling against the railing next to me. “Eh, they’ll drink more than they should and spend tomorrow paying for it. Everyone has to learn that lesson the

not wrong

look out over the village. Everyone was slowly getting ready for the celebration tonight. Tommy, once a scrawny, fresh-faced teenager when he started training under

including the employees of my house, would be roaming around the village enjoying the

to enact my revenge on Eliza

“Tomorrow, then?” Brandt asked.

dawn, as the sun comes up.” I turned to Archer,

for sure, the scout came back with the news this morning. The river is too high to cross safely,” Archer confirmed, which wasn’t the news I was hoping for, but it was the

Elmorn to Saboreef

bringing

not our

said, his eyes flashing

It was the truth, but traveling in the Dark Forest also meant traveling exclusively on foot in our usual forms–no shifting unless totally necessary. The nightmares that called the forest home

was an incredible risk, but I didn’t have much of a choice if I was going to pay my men for their help fetching the bounty and retrieving the scroll Aeris had promised me for killing

sure Aeris will keep Eliza?” Archer asked, and for a reason I wasn’t yet willing to

her because we’re not going to offer her to him,” I said flatly, turning to look

why are we taking her with us?” Brandt asked, his concerned expression melting into

she could be of some use to us there. I’d like

started, but I

of humbling anyone, including the most hot-headed and overconfident woman I’d ever come across in my

opportunity to run?”

then shrugged as I left his gaze

she’d scanned the sketch of the artifact. I knew, without a shadow of

She could help me.

is the reason for taking her–to Aeris’s

don’t think she is, but she sure as

talking about,” Brandt said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’ll take one look at her and want

His pack still follows

bought Eliza at the auction, it won’t matter. If he has heard, then we will deal with it

face. I gave him a look, narrowing

Brandt shifted his weight and exhaled

she can handle

mulled his question over for a moment as the three of us

and I meant it.

her with my life–” Brandt replied, which was interrupted by a grunt from Archer, who

will,

man to the

was exactly what she’d do to Brandt. He looked tough, but deep down he was a romantic at heart, and Eliza would

contemplative silence passed between the three of us for

my best to keep my voice level. Archer went rigid beside me, not looking