Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 814

Chapter 25 : Bravo, Eliza

*Jared*

I woke with a start, blinking into the early morning sunlight that was drifting through the ceiling-height windows on the far side of the room. I was incredibly warm and pleasantly satiated. It was no wonder, based on the woman currently curled up next to me with her head resting on my arm.

She was fast asleep, a rogue curl lifting and falling against her cheek every time she released a breath. I tucked the curl behind her ear, my fingertips lingering on her cheekbone for a moment. Her naked body was bathed in sunlight, glistening like gold. I fought the urge to cup her breast, my hands aching to feel the weight of them again.

Speaking of aching… I closed my eyes and hissed out a breath, trying to stop my mind from going over every second from the night before. I was ready to take her again, right now.

“f**k,” I groaned, running my hand over my face. What the f**k had I been thinking?

I slowly removed my arm from beneath Eliza, clenching and unclenching a fist as my entire arm tingled. She didn’t even stir. I watched her as I gathered my clothes, my heart squeezing in my chest as her eyelashes fluttered and a soft, sleepy smile drifted across her lips.

This wasn’t fair to either of us.

I’d f****d up royally, and I didn’t know what to do now.

I picked up what was left of my shirt and shrugged it on. All of the buttons were gone, and would no doubt be found by the maids who were likely to gossip about it to the other servants.

It didn’t matter. We’d be out of this place by midday. I’d make sure of that.

I cursed under my breath as I searched for my pants. I found my boxers at last and pulled them on, turning around the room for the rest of the remains of my outfit from the ball. Eliza stirred, mumbling something in her sleep. I froze, holding my breath as she turned over and hugged one of the pillows to her chest.

I could see my pants peeking out from underneath her. I chewed my lower lip and sighed, seeing no solution other than to risk the three-second walk across the hall to my own bedroom, hopefully without being seen.

I couldn’t wake her. I wasn’t ready to have the conversation I needed to have with her. It was going to hurt. My heart was already shattering just thinking about it.

Part of me prayed that I was the only one feeling the way I did. Maybe she was just looking for a bit of fun and a warm body to explore. But dancing with her at the ball last night had ignited something inside me that I didn’t think I’d ever feel.

It was a cruel twist of fate, truly. Rage rippled over my skin just thinking about it. Borrowed time… I only had five months.

Five months had felt like an eternity only yesterday, but now I felt like I was watching my life slipping through my fingers, a life that was lying right in front of me, still tangled in the bedsheets.

“Don’t be foolish,” I whispered to myself. There was a reason I didn’t get close to women, not anymore. I’d avoided them at all costs lately in the event I ever felt a flicker of a mate bond so I wouldn’t hurt anyone, especially myself. It was selfish, sure, but the idea of finding my mate and then watching her witness my untimely death was a crushing, suffocating weight.

And if death didn’t come on the eve of my twenty-fifth birthday?

Those dark powers would consume what was left of me. I’d be powerless against them, my wolf the only thing keeping them in check.

I unlocked the door, wincing as the lock clicked and the door groaned as I opened it, then crept into the hallway.

“Well, well, well,” Archer mused, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the corridor. I cursed beneath my breath and shut the door to Eliza’s room behind me, glaring at Archer. “You look well rested.”

“Shut up, please,” I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose.

that to your

“Leave me alone, Archer–”

be in a good mood for once in your life,”

talking

into the corridor in nothing but a shift covered by what looked like the shirt Brandt was wearing last night. She saw me and Archer and froze,

“Good morning,” Archer grinned.

tarnished ball gown clutched against her chest. Brandt peeked his head around the doorframe, his cheeks burning with a ferocious blush but a smile on his face nonetheless. Archer pursed his lips, chuckling to himself. Brandt looked me up and down and c****d his

“Eliza?” he asked.

both men as I walked between them and into my room, shutting

Great.

***

my eyes over the informal breakfast table laid out in the dining hall. She picked at her plate, her cheeks burning red as Archer and Brandt sat on either side of her. The men kept looking

teeth as I toyed with my food. I was defensive of Eliza already, but now that I’d

prick!”

sucked in his breath and squirmed, reaching under the table to rub his shin as

hadn’t verbally confirmed it. While I considered their merciless teasing

felt even worse that I’d snuck out of her room without having the decency

eyes–that crushing disappointment that lingered there, that

same deeply rooted

I said beneath my

which startled me enough to spill my

seconds longer than I meant to.

entirely. I needed to tell her, and then I needed to take her

smile in return, but only the corners of

Aeris’s voice boomed through the dining room, bouncing off the golden wallpaper and nearly bursting my

Aeris walked around the table, resting his hand on my shoulder. I fought the urge to stand and shove

gaze down at Eliza with a

bad would it be if

last night, Jared.

long on her name. I

her, wondering what exactly she was playing at. “Jared is a fantastic

art of dance. He trained for

see the

“Really?”

beside me, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Jared’s grandmother was once part of this court, before my time, but

at me, her sea-green gaze

but she only smiled, her eyes flashing with some

was the last thing I needed. Aeris was already onto her about being the breeder his brother purchased from the auction. She knew I was leaving without

I’ve known him for a long time,” Eliza lied, and

arched my brow at her, still vexed that she was playing this game but also curious about where she was planning to take this

you known my beloved

how we were introduced.” She exhaled, her

back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest as she wiped