Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 848

Chapter 54 : Class Reunion

*Jared*

Archer nudged the black mass of the dead wolf with the toe of his boot, his face twisted in a grimace.

I could scent both women in this cave. The fire they’d started was cool to the touch, but the charcoal was still oily from whatever they’d used to start it. I rubbed the ash between my fingers as I crouched, looking around.

“How’d they get so far off course?” Brandt said from the entrance of the cave as he slid his favorite dagger back into his belt.

“Lock was here too,” Archer said quietly, his boots leaving bloody footprints as he walked out of the cave and looked around. “And two scouts, I think.”

“I know,” I breathed, rising from my position and running my fingers through my hair. I didn’t mention that I could smell blood other than the wolves. They knew it too, but none of us were willing to admit what that meant.

“All of their things are gone,” Brandt said absently as he turned to glare into the setting sun. We’d been running for days through a colossal storm. Picking up their scent again had felt like a miracle, but now….

“f*****g Lock,” I said through gritted teeth, glancing around as I scanned the area around the cave. We weren’t far from the edge of Abel’s territory. We’d make it there by morning if we traveled through the night.

If we didn’t run into Lock, first.

“I haven’t seen that prick in years. Not since the war,” Archer bit out, dragging the wolf out of the cave by its tail. I watched him as he bent to examine it, pulling back its fur to show the deep gash on its neck. “Think he did this?”

“Eliza did it,” I breathed, closing my eyes for a moment.

I let myself be momentarily racked by guilt at the thought of Eliza having to defend herself from this rogue. It was a true rogue, too, the soulless kind who had no master but itself, driven by primal urges like hunger and the need to chase and hunt.

“Eliza?” Brandt said, his brow furrowed.

I lifted one of its paws, her blood dried against its talons. Archer let out his breath as he rose to his full height, the three of us looking at each other for a moment.

“The other camp we passed had their scent, so they’re likely still alive,” Archer said coldly, his fingers grazing his knife belt.

“Abel wouldn’t kill them. He has no reason to,” Brandt added.

Silence fell again, the space between us filled with the sounds of the forest. The women had made it through the Dark Forest alone, and alive.

“We’ll shift and keep moving,” I said, undoing the buttons on my shirt.

We didn’t have a concrete plan when it came to when we’d eventually reach Abel’s territory. He had some of the fiercest scouts in the lands, and I knew that to be true because Abel and I had trained together for years before he left our village. We were a physical match for each other, but he had something I didn’t.

I’m sure he knows we’re here now,” I warned,

his clothes into his bag before shifting and shaking out his coat. Brandt gave me a careful eye, then undressed, his eyes downcast as he tucked his knife belt in

was a shadow, damn near silent as he crept through the woods. He was too striking to be a spy, not with his scar, deep-set silver eyes, and raven black hair that

uncontrollable. He was only half wolf, the other

up my backpack between

my head to motion for them to fall in line in front of

was listening that Eliza was on her toes, using that big head of hers to think rationally. Abel was sharp as a tack, and

fallen for

***

grasses swaying in a humid breeze. The wall around Abel’s village

as we roused ourselves from shallow sleep. They made no moves on us and kept their distance. We were unwelcome guests in their territory. They’d been waiting for us, just like

remainder of the forest until we reached the sweeping plains at the base of the Northern Mountains, then

fists or teeth?’

figures moving along the top of the wall,

changing into my clothes. Brandt was dressed by the time I’d secured my knife belt over my waist, but Archer stayed in his wolf form,

men, Archer. Shift, now,” I said, flexing my jaw as I started forward. I kept my eyes on the men now running along the top

on the front door like the old friend that I

yet filled out his new-found height. I paused midstep,

aside. I have

“Y-you’re not welcome!”

asking,” I said sharply, fixing

turning his gaze slowly back toward the wall, where several of

being tested,” I said as the

me, shirtless, his muscled physique gleaming in the sun. Brandt came up on my

of us do

“N-none–”

men up there–” Archer pointed to the wall, wiggling his fingers in hello as the men jeered and shouted at us. “We were all one in the same, okay? Trained by the same masters and hardened by the same Dark Forest that separates our villages. Choose me, and I’ll rough you up with only my fists. Choose this guy–” Archer jabbed his thumb at Brandt, “Well, he likes to

boy said, his face draining of color as he

knots inside of me, begging to be

“We’re trying to help you out, kid. You think we haven’t been in the

Archer. I stepped out of the way, crossing my arms and glancing at the dozen or so men now walking in our direction, shaking

The boy looked absolutely shocked as he staggered backward, his cheeks flushing

moment. “Never back down after the first hit–” He reached out, grabbing the boy by the shoulder, then picked

laughter and surprise rang out along the

few familiar faces came into view. Abel’s departure after I’d been voted the leader had split our village and crew into pieces. Some of these men I’d trained with, some of them were

of them knew