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 we’d moved, it didn’t even seem like we were a

spend every day from now until my birthday digging, and we

wandered to

fire, which had burned to coals

on her lap and her eyes were

grinned, loving to see that look of concentration, the way her brow scrunched up just a

she was focused, not

should have packed some dynamite,"

I asked,

doing all this work and we don’t even know for sure if this is the right way to Eliza’s mythical

trust her.If she says this is

"Hey guys!"

attention.She clamored up the rock pile, waving the map around.Her feet slipped on the shifting rocks, causing several to

careful! We’ll come

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

it?" Abe

She handed us each

"Oh, you’re a Goddess!"

and guzzled water down, streams flowing over the edge of the canteen, around the corners of his mouth, and down his throat.I shook my head

drinking the

took

"Alright, I’m hydrated.

What’s the big deal?"

asked, handing Eliza

over her shoulder and pointed to

been studying the map, and I think I might

smiled sheepishly and

as it means we don’t have to dig through these rocks anymore, all is forgiven,"

sighed and flopped down

I knew if I sat down, I wouldn’t want to get back

can’t promise it will be cleared, but it might

hallelujah! What other way

throwing

and ran her finger along a few of

"Here."

She tapped the map.

this is supposed to be a river that goes into the city.But I didn’t realize it because…

river?" I

and looked at

went into with

out that cave and then the

think that cave is our way

following an underground river?" I

whole thing sounded a little

rivers weren’t something that

might have a mythical underground river

big and imposing, just like in real life.But I honestly didn’t think much of it because I was focused on this road.Now, I’m

"Yes!"

jumped up and threw his fist

more.I mean, I was the one that pointed it

Eliza glanced at me.

looked over

worked so hard but made hardly any

it turned out to be

back and get back to

much in the grand scheme of things

take a look.But I don’t want to spend days exploring the cave in hopes of finding something so we don’t have to come back and

can check the cave while you keep working on

any time clearing the path."

"Get your things.Let’s go."

packed up the campsite

up coming back, it was

would make it

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

Eliza asked as

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

bond, if we really were mates.But small moments like this made

about this,

"Do you?" I sighed.