Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 831

Chapter 42 : Are You Trying to Kill Me?

“HEY!” Jared’s voice boomed through the area, ricocheting off the nearby buildings as I brought Carmen to her knees. She looked up at me, her eyes glowing with the first hints of transformation.

Jared yanked me backward by the collar of my shirt, dragging us apart while Brandt took Carmen roughly by the arm and led her in the opposite direction. She was screaming profanities that would have made even the most hardened pirate blush. I would have been impressed if I hadn’t been absolutely burning with rage.

“What the f**k is going on?” Jared snarled, turning me to face him.

I fought out of his grip, pushing him away. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins and I was panting, totally unable to control my breath. I swatted him away again as he reached out to me, but he didn’t flinch. He took my face in his hands, turning me from side to side as he inspected the damage I couldn’t yet feel.

“She called Scarlett a used-up breeder,” I said as I fought for air. “I didn’t like that.”

“I could tell,” he said in a low whisper, running his thumb over the bridge of my nose.

I hissed in a breath, meeting his eyes. “That hurts–”

“It’s not broken,” he said, a wry smile touching his lips. “You might have broken hers, though.”

I peer over his shoulder at the group of men lingering behind him, all of whom were chuckling and talking in low voices about what had just happened.

“I didn’t know you could fight like that,” Jared said, dropping his hands.

“I’ve never punched anyone before,” I admitted, flexing my hands. The knuckles on my right hand were raw, likely split open from the impact with her jaw. I was starting to feel it now, every bruise and scrape. I’d feel it for days.

The pain ignited some deep within, a buried fury that I’d been trying to stifle since the day we left Suncrest. I stepped away from him, glaring as I slowly turned to Scarlett, who was hovering nearby, hugging herself.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

She only nodded, looking more pale than usual.

I turned back to Jared, letting every raw, unfiltered emotion show on my face. “I’m going inside,” I said, and walked away before he could protest.

I put my arm around Scarlett’s shoulder as the group of men parted to let us pass.

“Thank you,” Scarlett whispered, her voice quivering.

“No one gets to talk to us like that, okay?” I replied, meeting her eyes.

me a soft smile as we neared the house. Miriam appeared on the front porch, her

the love of Lycaon, what

***

sank lower into the bathtub, drowning out the sound of their lifted voices as the water swirled around me. Everything hurt. I was going to feel like hell

like hell now, and knowing I was about

doorway. I slumped into the water until I was consumed by it completely and held myself there for several seconds, opening my eyes beneath the surface and watching as his distorted figure moved

the surface, smoothing

side of the tub, “then why is she

arm as he looked me over. I hadn’t bothered to look in the mirror.

planted by Aeris, a spy.

up a rag. “Are you

“Eliza–”

past the painful lump in my throat. I’d only half convinced myself that I’d gone berserk on Carmen because she was incredibly mean to Scarlett, not because I was jealous of her past relationship with

though. She knew exactly what to say to make me

had known you were

would have told me I couldn’t go, right? Because

to do

the f**k is going

blanket of tension settling over the room. He bit down on the inside of his cheek, his eyes narrowing before he finally surrendered and kicked off the vanity, pulling

was here when I first arrived in this village, looking for work.” he sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. “She was the daughter of an Alpha but ended up working here, in the house, for Miriam.” He dipped his fingers in the water, swirling the bubbled surface. “I was fifteen when I came here. I had nowhere else to go, no way to take care of myself.

have to do

water. “Carmen was a kitchen maid and notorious with the younger men who lived in the village, the ultimate prize. She’s a couple years older than me. I didn’t give in for a while, but like I said… I was young, stupid, starving for attention and glory. She… used me in a lot

my chin

the village. I knew Aeris from my childhood and thought we could form a professional alliance. He was more interested in using me to overthrow my brother. I refused, of course, but when Carmen found out who I really was she just… couldn’t let it go. That whole trip she was begging me, going as far as to try to manipulate me into accepting Aeris’s offer to help put me on the throne. I came home and she broke into my study one night. I caught her doing it. I forced her out of the village the next day and haven’t seen

at me, a brief smile touching

Alpha, even a late one… she had a chip on her shoulder. She used that to for own gain to access the courts of nearby territories. She’s been married twice, from what I’ve heard. She’s secured herself quite a fortune. How she ended up a prisoner of Aeris…

“And now?”

in and guarded. She won’t be able to get out until I’m ready to talk to

swung on her. She was solid, unbreakable. Maybe in a way,

same man I was three years ago. She hasn’t seen the full extent of my dark powers, not since I’ve been losing my

gets to touch you like that,” he said, his voice edged with silent, stifled

handled it okay,” I replied,

you should go to the sparring ring tomorrow,” he said, dipping the rag back in the water. “You’re tough. You took a fist to the nose and got right back

access to my neck. The water was perfect, and smelled richly of pine and sandalwood soap. Miriam had dumped a bag