Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 835

Chapter 46 : Leave This Village

*Jared*

Eliza didn’t look back over her shoulder as she walked out into the night. I hadn’t expected her to, not after the conversation I’d overheard from my position on the porch.

I flexed my jaw as I leaned on the railing and watched her walk away, debating whether or not to follow.

That would really depend if I was going to kill Carmen now, or save that for later.

“What’re you going to do?” Brandt asked in a low whisper as the crewmen I’d posted to guard the cottage changed their positions behind us.

“Nothing Carmen said was inherently wrong,” I replied. The words left an acrid taste in my mouth as I glanced at Brandt, shaking my head. “Though I need to find out who she’s working for if it’s not Aeris.”

“But, Eliza–”

“I’ll deal with Eliza,” I said sharply, not meaning the words to be so harsh. In truth, my blood was boiling and I was two seconds away from dragging Carmen into the Dark Forest by her hair and doing what I should have done years ago.

The shadow of power within me was roiling as I walked down the steps shoulder to shoulder with Brandt. It was full dark now, the sky nothing but deep black as we walked through the outskirts of the village. It would rain again tonight. I could feel the electricity in the air as we turned onto the trail leading to the house. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation I’d have to have with Eliza tonight.

I had no plans to defend myself or my history with Carmen, I’d already said everything that needed to be said.

It was Carmen’s offer to Eliza that needed to be discussed, and immediately. Eliza still saw Egoren through a faded lens, seeing only what she wanted to see. Carmen had enticed her. I knew that for a fact.

“Do you know the schedule for the trade ships that travel between the realms?” I asked as we broke from the trees.

“The last time I was in the Capital, there was a trade ship at the port of Egoren, the first in many months.”

“s**t,” I breathed, shaking my head.

“I don’t think Eliza is dumb enough to take anything Carmen says as the truth,” Brandt cut in, coming to a stop. “She wouldn’t go off with Carmen–”

“She will if she believes Carmen can help her break my curse.”

“Isn’t that what you want?”

“I don’t know anymore,” I said, meaning it.

The idea of putting Eliza at risk was an immense weight on my shoulders, and I was finding it harder and harder to focus. She was in harm’s way just by being with me, and the only thing I could do to protect her was to just… be here, be with her, and pretend to be her husband if the wrong people came calling.

A shrill howl sounded somewhere to the east, followed by howls of recognition as Brandt and I turned to the sound.

“The scouts–” Brandt said, his voice catching in his throat as he furrowed his brow.

of adrenaline prickled over my skin. They were sounding

of them holding onto young children who were rubbing sleep from their eyes. Brandt began to take off

six or seven howls much more faint, but closing

I commanded through the mindlink. Within seconds, the sounds of shouts echoed through the village

into the darkness, silent as

past me, some of them on foot and some in their wolf forms as I stalked into the woods. I unsheathed a blade, testing the sharpened edge

the village quieted behind me, everyone who hadn’t been called to guard the village tucked safely within their

thought of Eliza, knowing damn well she’d be putting up a fight against Miriam, who would be rounding up the women for a

found myself in front of the cottage where Carmen was being kept, the porch now unguarded. I gripped the hilt of my blade and

laying on the couch looking bored, which I expected. I didn’t close the door behind me as I stepped over the threshold, pushing some

I commanded, my voice dripping with hatred. “I want you out of

even

snarled, teeth bared. My blade glimmered in the light of the hearth, a crimson reflection making the blade look like it had when it’d

her hair, her dark eyes fixed

“I said get out–”

entire life. I wish I could be happy for you, Jared, but you found her a little

not speaking about Eliza with

Funny how these

crossed the room and grabbed her by the elbow, dragging her out of

artifact,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing. “Consider that information a

I asked, running my fingertip over my

no. But she’d be useful to Eliza if your

village,”

is waiting for her,”

as in…

“Wait–”

tearing away as her golden wolf form sprinted into the pitch

night. It was quiet, much too quiet as I closed the distance between me and the perimeter of men guarding the village. I could barely see them moving through

the moment. The howling in the distance faded as I raked my

Witch of Shadows–she’d had a bounty on her head

bluffing. Hestia hadn’t been seen in decades. And even so, what

took off in a sprint,

Brandt screamed, his voice edged with

the command down the mindlink and the men and wolves flanking me skidded to a halt while I

of wolves I didn’t recognize stood

then stepped past him, keeping a

This is

throat. His companions whined and huffed in response to whatever conversation was taking place over mindlink between them, a connection I wasn’t privy to

couldn’t see their coloring in the dark. I had no idea where they had come from, or why.

saw Archer laying flat on his

his voice holding strong despite the quiver of panic I