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–”

you not okay with

not okay with you marrying me because you feel like you have

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

I cried, cutting him

exhaled, nostrils flaring as he looked into my eyes. He pushed off the headboard, taking

not?” he asked, his

don’t

if I did? If it means walking out of

take a step away from him but he closed the distance between

you to make

He just stared at me, cold

you want to stay here and be Aeris’s breeder, to give him the heirs he so desires? Or

to help you break your

alive and out

gave myself a moment to compose myself, tilting my chin toward him. We were only inches apart, looking into each other’s

said, one corner of his mouth twitching like

not scared,” I

efforts. He sensed this, I was sure, because he straightened up, tucking his hands in his pockets as he took a step away from me. The air around me felt chilled without

I said, shaking my head. “We can’t–why can’t you just… buy me? Aeris believes I’m his because he purchased

ownership. This is a sacred bond designated by Lycaon himself when it’s done in a church. Even Aeris knows that, and can’t do anything

you’d rather marry?” I said, a

This was a serious thing

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

the trouble

isn’t about you, Eliza. This

being forced to marry me just

it

let you bind yourself to me

toward me. “I keep you housed, and fed, and protected. Nothing would change. It would just be a piece of paper that will tell anyone who tries to take you from me again that

not yours. You

in a single step. I

what I want and don’t want, Eliza.

marry you. Not even if it’s

“It’s happening–”

not. You’ve done

Aeris have you, and that’s final. I’m responsible for you. I don’t care what you

going to leave,” I whispered. “I’m going to leave

exactly, could you

to break your curse, and it doesn’t even

so the tip of his nose brushed against mine. “And knowing Aeris put you through that tonight

just kill him?” I asked. I couldn’t believe the words were even coming out of my mouth so

of the Alphas in this realm. I’d be obligated to take over his pack, and the other Alphas would welcome it. I

were the brother of

would the Alpha King’s brother

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