Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 830

Chapter 41 : I Didn’t Miss

*Eliza*

Jared was gone for the rest of the day, leaving me alone in his huge bed. It was quiet in the house, and out the windows that lined the far wall of his bedroom, I could see people working in the gardens that circled the old manor. Large puddles of muddy water covered the village, reflecting the lights spilling from the cottages and shop fronts that wove along the well-beaten trail weaving through town.

I had no idea what Jared was up to. I also had no idea what exactly he wanted me to be doing right now.

I went through his dresser, trying to find something that would fit me other than the cotton pajamas I’d been wearing all day. All I had to my name was my journal, my pajamas, and the gray dress I wore during my job as a laundry maid… which Miriam hadn’t brought with her when dropping off my “things.”

I pulled out a soft, cream-colored long-sleeved shirt from his dresser, snapping it through the air to shake out the wrinkles. I changed into the shirt, which hit me mid-thigh. I rolled up the sleeves to my elbows and continued to rifle through his dresser, opening every single drawer until I found a pair of thick wool socks and a pair of thermal leggings that looked like they would have fit Jared when he was a child.

“Perfect,” I said, holding them up to test the length. I’d have to ask him for new clothes, I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror above the dresser. I ruffled my hair, grabbed my journal, and walked out of the room.

His study was just down the hall. I figured the best way to pass my time as the pretend lady of the house was to go through every book and artifact in his study and start to piece together the mystery of the Cryptex.

I closed the door behind me and looked around.

Dusty rays of muted daylight poured through the gaps in the shuttered windows. The bookshelves touched the ceiling on the far side of the snug room, some housing glass globes and crystals. It smelled like him in here, leather and parchment. I loved it, but also couldn’t work in conditions such as these. My mind was a tangled web in ordinary circumstances. I needed to do a little organizing, cleaning, and cataloging before any work could be done.

I knew Jared was going to be pissed I was touching his stuff, but I didn’t care. Wifely duties, right?

I walked to the windows and pushed open the shutters one by one until the room was filled with gray afternoon light, the smell of rain filling the room.

I set to work pulling books from the shelves, writing their titles and a brief description of their contents in my journal. I worked through a pile of books taller than me for what felt like several hours. I moved them into new homes, organizing them in sections by topic and content. He had quite a collection of lore and mythology, which would prove useful to us, I was sure, but I resisted the urge to start researching Draven and the Cryptex.

I needed to know everything he had in his collection and exactly where to find it, first.

Soon I’d gone through every single book he had in his study and cataloged every single one in my journal. This was a start, and a good one at that. Tomorrow morning I could wake up and get to work. I was impressed by the work I’d done today, smiling at myself as I looked down at his spotless desk and tidy shelves.

But I was impressed by him most of all. Some of his collection was just… unreal, a dream.

I couldn’t wait to talk to him about it the next time I saw him.

Another hour passed as I walked around the room, cataloging his collection of artifacts. By the time darkness fell and the room was cast in shadow, my journal was bursting with notes, and his study had never been so clean and organized.

I was just packing up to leave when I heard soft footsteps in the hallway outside the study, someone walking back and forth.

“Eliza? Are you up here?”

I opened the door to find Giselle and Scarlett standing in the hallway, both of them looking a little worried.

the

you missed dinner,

let out the

like someone was seriously

back, looking up and down the hallway

know how to reply. “Uhm, kind

the tavern to talk about this!” Giselle whispering, nudging Scarlett. “Effie’s apricot

men–” Scarlett began,

of times! Come on, it’ll

unsure, but Giselle turned her gaze to

go,” I chirped. “I’ve never

then, it’s getting

went about their evening routines. Giselle rifled through the coat closet, handing me the same jacket I’d worn to

here at all?” I

her arms through her jacket. “I didn’t see him or Brandt at

Interesting.

and Giselle. Lanterns lit the trail as we went along, our

reached the tavern, which was a modest two-story building tucked in the center of the village, the largest building in the village other than the house it would seem. Its windows were well lit, shadows moving against them as

and warmed by a fire roaring in a fireplace that took up half the room. A bar stretched across the

into Jared here, but I didn’t see him or any of the men I would have

the bar, leaning against it and speaking with a man I didn’t recognize while Scarlett and I sat down at a table next to the window, overlooking the front porch and the

alright, when you saw him last?” she asked

look at her, noticing the lines of concern etched into

get home,” I said

bit as she turned her gaze back

pink-hued liquid bubbling lightly as she grinned

sip, marveling at the sweet flavor. Whoever Effie was, well, she could make

without giving too much away. I knew I could trust them, but I wasn’t sure how much they knew about Jared in particular. I did explain the certificate, and how Brandt and I had had to run for our lives

we’d finished our glasses

I was putting on my jacket and looked up to see

corners of her mouth tugging into a smile as

“Are they mates?”

know; I think so. Giselle never mentioned whether or

the tavern, glancing over my shoulder and smiling as Giselle whispered what I assumed were sweet

her gaze to the sparring ring, where

are,” I said lightly, making out Jared’s form

a chance to meet,” came a feminine voice behind