Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 821

Chapter 32 : I’m Not Afraid

For once in my life, I was at a loss for words.

I couldn’t do more than stare at Jared, who was staring back at me. I was sure our expressions were identical, full of disbelief, concern, regret… maybe even some underlying deeply rooted longing that had led us into bed after the ball. But still, this was insane.

“That temple in the city, near the wall… it wouldn’t be hard to pay off the priest. Archer and I saw him at a tavern on our first night here,” Brandt continued. Now he was the one pacing. “We’d have to back-date it, of course. By six months to a year at least–”

“No,” Jared and I said in unison, cutting him off.

“This is our best option,” Brandt continued, tapping his fingertips on his thigh. “Our only option.”

“Why would pretending to be married help our situation?” I asked, rising from the chair I’d been sitting in and crossing my arms over my chest. My hand burned from where I’d sliced it open. I winced a bit as I tucked it into the crook of my elbow, hoping the pressure would ease some of the pain. I glanced at Jared, who was looking down at me, an apologetic look on his face.

“Because a marriage contract would say you were in Jared’s possession before the breeder auction. Aeris would have no case to claim you.”

“This is archaic–”

“This is the Dark Realm,” Archer interrupted.

“Any attack on us or our village would be direct violence instead of retaliation for theft,” Brandt added as he came to a stop in front of the hearth. “It’s… it’s a solid plan.”

“Would the contract hold up in her realm?” Jared asked, shifting his weight as he leaned against the footboard of his bed.

“No, not likely. Not unless there are Lycaonic churches in her realm.”

“There aren’t,” I chimed in, slightly vexed that they were speaking as if I wasn’t in the room with them.

Jared looked over at me, studying my face. I knew I’d dug myself into a hole the second I’d told Aeris I was Jared’s wife. I felt like an i***t now, but it was the only thing I could think to say that would stop him from forcibly trying to assault me right there on the dining room table.

“I’m sorry, Jared.”

“None of this is your fault.”

“I was the one who said you were my husband. It sounds like my fault.”

Jared turned to Archer and Brandt, both of whom bobbed their hands and abruptly left the room. He’d probably told them to leave over mindlink. Being alone with him now felt… somewhat unbearable. I felt nothing but guilt, and shame, and unease as I slowly turned to face him, the room going still.

“It would just be a business transaction,” he began, absently running his fingers along the wood grain on the footboard. “It wouldn’t mean anything else.”

“We’d still be married according to the law of your realm.”

“Yes, we would. You’d be my wife, and I’d protect and honor you as such, but I wouldn’t expect you to share my bed or give me children.”

I inhaled, his words hitting me like a ton of bricks.

“I can’t,” I exhaled, looking straight into his eyes, his dark irises glinting with amber in the reflection of the muted light of the chandelier. “I made a mistake when I said that to Aeris. I wasn’t thinking. It shouldn’t be your responsibility.”

“You were right to say it. Brandt’s correct; it’s the only way. With a marriage contract signed by a priest, especially one he wouldn’t know personally, we could walk out of here tomorrow. You’d be free of him, forever.”

“But we’d be married–”

not

you marrying me because you feel like you have to.

thinking Aeris wouldn’t behave like the beast that he is until

can’t marry me!” I cried,

my eyes. He pushed off the headboard, taking a few steps in my direction until we were standing

not?” he asked, his

you don’t want

if I did? If it means

I tried to take a step away from him but he closed the distance between us,

you to make

He just stared at me, cold and

Aeris’s breeder, to give him the heirs

wanted to help you

keep you alive and out of

myself a moment to compose myself, tilting my chin toward him. We were only inches apart, looking into each other’s eyes… sizing each other up, more

one corner of his

scared,” I

leaning in a little closer. My heart quickened despite my best efforts. He sensed this, I was sure, because he straightened up, tucking his hands in his pockets as he

shaking my head. “We can’t–why can’t you just… buy me? Aeris believes I’m

when it’s done in a church. Even Aeris knows that, and can’t do anything about it once

you’d rather marry?” I said, a little

cracked with emotion as I spoke the words. This was a serious thing we were doing. There was

deep regret. I swallowed painfully past the lump forming in my

the trouble

isn’t about you, Eliza. This is

being forced to marry me just to save me from being a breeder. You already saved

it again, and

bind yourself to

step toward me. “I keep you housed, and fed, and protected. Nothing would change. It

yours.

between us in a single step. I pressed my back against the door, taken

and

Not even

“It’s happening–”

not. You’ve done

Aeris have you, and that’s final. I’m responsible for you.

leave,” I whispered. “I’m going to leave this city and

could you possibly

and it doesn’t even seem like

nose brushed against mine. “And knowing Aeris put you through that tonight makes me want to rip

him?” I asked. I couldn’t believe the words were

realm. I’d be obligated to take over his pack, and the other Alphas would welcome it. I have no interest in any of

the brother of the Alpha

would the Alpha King’s brother be a

on his cheek was bloody, and I could see the bruising fanning over