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.

been working and for as much as we’d moved, it didn’t even seem like we were a quarter

could spend every day from now until my birthday

wandered to Eliza

burned to coals since it was daytime

was on her lap and her

see that look of concentration, the way her brow scrunched up just

she was

should have packed some

I asked, creasing

we don’t even know for sure if this is the

she says this is the way, then this is the

"Hey guys!"

map around.Her feet slipped

come to you,"

head and reached us at the top before

is it?" Abe

water." She

"Oh, you’re a Goddess!"

down, streams flowing over the edge of the canteen, around the corners of his mouth, and

drinking the nectar

took several more

"Alright, I’m hydrated.

What’s the big deal?"

handing Eliza the

her shoulder and pointed to

the map, and I think I

and bit her

means we don’t have to dig

sighed and flopped down

ached from all the squatting and lifting but I knew

the city.I can’t promise it will be cleared, but it might be a lot easier

What other way

throwing his head

the map and ran her finger along a few

"Here."

She tapped the map.

be a river that goes into the city.But I

underground river?" I

at the rough

went into with the

pointed out that cave and then the original line she’d

that cave is our

following an underground river?" I arched

sounded a little

that came up

have a

so 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 thinking it is worth going back and exploring

"Yes!"

threw his fist in the

mean, I was the one that

Eliza glanced at me.

over the rock

worked so hard but made hardly

at the cave and it turned out to be a dead end, it wasn’t

come back and get

day wouldn’t mean that much in the grand scheme of things

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

and I can check the cave while you keep working on the pile,"Abe suggested with

time clearing the path."

"Get your things.Let’s go."

packed up

if we ended up coming back, it was better to clean

was anyone following us, it would make it harder for them

up on anyone last night, but that didn’t

Eliza asked as

I cupped her cheek.She knew me so well it was like she

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

sure about this, I trust

"Do you?" I sighed.