Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 69 : Swallowed By Darkness

*Jared*

I woke before the sun and pulled my arms from around Eliza.

For a moment, I just watched her.Her face was so soft and peaceful as she slept, hair curling around her soft features so perfectly.

It was hard to pull away.I could have laid with her in my arms forever.

But Abe and I had a lot of work to do.

I kissed Eliza’s cheek and brushed my fingers lightly down her face.

She squirmed and turned away from me.I smiled to myself.She was perfect, and she was all mine.

Stretching, I threw some clothes on and nudged Abe’s tent.

"Get up, sleepy.We’ve got a long day ahead of us."

Abe groaned and I heard him shifting around.

While he got ready, I lit a fire and threw together a quick breakfast for us–a few fried eggs, some coffee, and bacon.It was the perfect energy boost we needed.

Abe crawled out of his tent and took the coffee I offered him.

He guzzled it down and then devoured his breakfast.

Afterward, he stood up and stretched, yawning like a fog horn.

"Ready to get to it?"I asked.

Abe smirked.

"That rock pile doesn’t look so bad.I bet we’ll have it cleared by noon."

"Right…."

The first rocks we moved out of the way were small and easy to toss aside.

It was just like brushing pebbles or gravel out of the way.

But it didn’t take long for Abe and me to get to the larger rocks.

One by one, we lifted them and hoisted them out of the way.

By the time Eliza woke up and started on her own breakfast, we’d been working for a few hours, and it barely felt like we’d made a dent.

I let my eyes wander toward Eliza as she moved around the camp.

Her tight pants clung to her hips, hanging low enough that I could see the edge of her underwear.

When she bent over, the hem of her shirt pulled up her back, revealing a lickable amount of her skin.

Unconsciously, I licked my lips.

"Hey, are you working, or am I going to do this whole thing myself!?" Abe snapped.

I shook myself out of my daze and looked at my friend.He was huffing and puffing as he shifted a massive rock.I went to him and helped lift.

"I just needed a little break," I smirked.

"Yeah, I know what you needed."

Abe shook his head.We tossed the large rock aside and each got back to work on some of the smaller, more manageable rocks.

The sun was getting higher in the sky and hotter.

Sweat soaked through the back of my shirt and dripped off my brow.

I pulled my shirt off and used it to wipe the sweat off my face and the back of my neck.

I tossed my shirt on the ground.

Abe did the same, only he tied his shirt around his head like a doo rag.

I shielded my eyes from the sun and looked at the rock pile.

as much as we’d moved, it didn’t even seem like we were a quarter of

could spend every day from now until my birthday digging, and we might never get

wandered to Eliza

burned to coals since it was daytime and there

her lap and her eyes

look of concentration, the way her brow scrunched up just a tiny bit, and how her

I knew she

have packed some dynamite," Abe

asked, creasing my

wide open! I mean, we’re doing all this work and we don’t even

trust her.If she says this is the way, then this

"Hey guys!"

the rock pile, waving the map around.Her feet slipped on the shifting rocks, causing several to knock

careful! We’ll come

shook her head and reached us at the top before I could make a move closer to

is it?" Abe

need water." She

"Oh, you’re a Goddess!"

edge of the canteen, around the corners of his mouth, and down his throat.I shook my head

like drinking the nectar

I took several

"Alright, I’m hydrated.

What’s the big deal?"

Eliza

it over her shoulder and pointed to the

the map, and I think I

smiled sheepishly and bit her

it means we don’t have to dig through these rocks anymore, all

flopped down on

knew if I sat

there is another way into the city.I can’t promise it will be

What other way

throwing his head

ran her finger along

"Here."

She tapped the map.

river that goes into the city.But I didn’t

river?"

leaned closer and looked at the rough map she’d

that cave we went into

cave and then the original line

cave is our

following an underground river?" I arched

whole thing sounded a

rivers weren’t something that came up commonly

a mythical city might have

the cave in my vision.It was so big and imposing, just like in real life.But I honestly didn’t think much of it because I was

"Yes!"

and threw his fist in the

agree.We should explore the cave more.I mean, I was

Eliza glanced at me.

I looked over the

but made hardly any

go look at the cave and it turned out to be a dead end, it

could just come back and get back to

day wouldn’t mean that much in the grand scheme

don’t want to spend days exploring the cave in hopes of finding something so we don’t have to come

Eliza and I can check the cave while you keep working

lose any time clearing the path."

"Get your things.Let’s go."

packed up

ended up coming back, it was better to clean up our

it would make it harder

hadn’t picked up on anyone last night, but that didn’t mean they

you sure you’re okay with this?" Eliza asked as

to her, I cupped her cheek.She knew me so well it

had more to do with our mate bond, if we really were mates.But small moments like this made me feel like it was true, even if we couldn’t fully sense it

about

"Do you?" I sighed.