Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 807

Chapter 18 : Don’t Eat the Food

*Eliza*

I ran. I didn’t know what else to do. The forest passed in a blur as I worked my way through the dense underbrush, trying to put as much distance as I could from the battle taking place in the clearing that had once been our camp.

I couldn’t hear anything taking place at our camp from my hiding spot beneath the trees, but then a scream had ripped through the forest… then another, then another. After the third scream, I jumped to my feet and ran like my life depended on it.

If Jared was still alive, which seemed unlikely, he’d find me.

Right?

Jared’s wolf had been a shock, almost as shocking as the situation I found myself in now… Black as night with crimson eyes, large and agile.

But that shadow he cast as he sprinted away from me was what had stunned me. It was a part of him, something tethered to his soul that he couldn’t shake. It was… power, a dark power… something he couldn’t control.

I braced myself on a tree, panting as I struggled to catch my breath. I couldn’t hear the chaos taking place anymore. I’d run far enough now, I believed. Jared had told me to run if it came down to it, but where? I looked up into the trees, then back down along the forest floor. There were no fallen logs or large rocks to hide behind. The forest was nothing but an endless, moss-covered maze.

I walked in no particular direction, trying to catch my breath. I felt it was better to keep moving than cower in the open. The men would find me soon enough, I was sure. But in the event they didn’t come for me… if they were dead, and I was out here alone….

“Keep moving,” I said to myself, and I did.

I was chilled and aching when light started to trickle in through the canopy above me, the trees growing more sparse and allowing sunlight to flood into the forest. I looked up, noticing the forest seemed to fall away in the distance, a large grassy area dusted with golden morning light spreading out in front of me.

I’d reached the edge of the Dark Forest, and beyond lay a wide river valley.

I allowed myself to stop and rest, falling to my knees in the grass just outside of the forest.

“I’m not sorry,” Jared had said to me before he shifted.

“Neither am I,” I’d replied.

What if he was dead?

I blinked into the sunrise, letting the sun warm my skin. I shivered against the sudden warmth, having spent what felt like hours running through the forest in nothing but the thermals I’d worn beneath my coat.

I’d left everything in the clearing. I had no food, no water.

I looked down at the dagger in my hand. In the light I could see markings etched into the handle, long, swirling divots that wrapped completely around it. The handle was made of ivory and was worn and discolored from use. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the markings were the same as the tattoos that ran up the length of Jared’s arms, tattoos I’d yet to have the opportunity to really examine.

I lay down in the grass, tucking my knees into my belly with a firm grip on the dagger. I was exhausted and hungry. My eyes were heavy with fatigue, and after a few minutes of laying in the sun, I fell into a shallow sleep.

came a

and blinking into an incredibly warm sun. “Eliza,” the voice said again, followed by the soft echo of windchimes as I turned to look

standing at the edge of the forest, dressed in a pale gray dress and billowed out from her lean waist. Golden hair reached her knees and hung loose around

girl,” the woman said, extending a hand to me.

was cast in the shadow of the forest, as if she wasn’t able to cross the

“Come, child.”

said, a chill running up my spine as she took another step toward me, but she hesitated as the sunlight brushed against the hem of

from home,” she said, her voice a lullaby to

felt a little weak all of the sudden,

tilted her head to the side, smiling brilliantly. “You must

speak but found it impossible to make a sound. My body was up and moving against my will and soon she had her hand wrapping lightly around mine, pulling me back into the forest. I willed my body to

Where are the men?” I tried to say, but I no longer had

sensation snaked up my arm as she led me through the forest,

***

witch’s house was very grand and seemed out of place within the forest. It was three stories tall and made of stone the color of

which was in full bloom. None of it made sense. I hadn’t even seen the house until we were

brought me inside, and I was instantly

and pastries, and bowls of potatoes and green beans. I hadn’t realized she’d led me to a chair until she took a seat

to her lifted, leaving me breathless and

eat the food,”

pitched and growled

help yourself,” she

it hard to swallow as I looked over the spread. Everything looked… incredible. It smelled incredible. It was a feast even my royal aunts and uncles couldn’t have

Jared’s words filled my mind again. He hadn’t said why, but it was enough

against my mind. My fingers twitched towards the fork next to

breathed, closing my eyes

all of this myself,” the witch

eyes, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were pure silver, fanned by golden lashes the

very center of the table, sitting on a tall cake stand that towered over the rest of the food. I hadn’t seen it there before. I knew

mom had chided

was my

flicked to the witch, a feeling of dread washing over me.

she said sharply, noticing my sudden change in

levelly, curling my hands into fists under the table. I froze, noticing the cool weight in my right

her seat. Her teeth were bared, and I noticed how sharp

“No,” I growled.

table and the room shattered around me, replaced by ruin. I looked down at the table that had once been filled with a feast. Now it was nothing but decay–mold and bones and putrid meat buzzing with flies. I fell backward out of my seat in my haste to get away, my ankle twisting around the chair leg. I was going

It was

a flash of pale gray and looked up through tears as the witch stopped before me. She was no longer beautiful. Her golden hair was gone, replaced by thin strands of gray