Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 26: It’s Complicated

Hanna

Water. I was walking through it. No, on it, my feet covered by choppy, white-capped surf. I could hear her singing in the distance, the same lonely song

she always sang

Who are you? I asked, my voice echoing over the endless horizon, nothing but water for miles and miles.

But there it was the white building in the distance, the small, barren island rising above the sea. I looked up at the sun and moon, the two sitting next to each other, separated by a field of stars.

Who are you? I asked again, my steps quickening. I was running, my chest heaving with effort, but the building was still far, far away.

Please! Please wait for me!

But the water gave way beneath my feet, and I was submerged, floating down, deeper and deeper until the light from the surface of the waves disappeared.

Shrouded in darkness. Nothingness.

“Hanna!” she called, her voice watery and distant.

“I’m here!” I screamed, water flooding into my mouth, suffocating me. Please, I thought, stay asleep. Stay. Stay in the vision.

I tried to scream again, to bring her in. I could see her, a dark outline in the water, her hair twirling around her as she inched closer, and closer”:

I bolted upright in bed, water pouring from my mouth as I coughed and sputtered, reaching up to grip my throat that burned violently from the salt.

My bed was soaking wet, my nightgown sticking wetly to my skin as I retched, another burst of water running out of my mouth and down my neck and chest.

Learning to control this curse, or blessing, or whatever it was still seemed out of my grasp.

“Damnit!” I cried, exhausted. I reached up to wipe the tears rolling down my cheeks, hot against my chilled skin. I heard footsteps in the hallway and my bedroom door swung open, Kacidra’s figure filling the doorway.

She looked at me, terror and confusion etched into her face, the same look Dad always gave me, the same look he had always given Mom.

Kacidra stood for a moment, lingering with her hand on the doorknob before she closed the door again, her footsteps receding down the hallway and out of earshot

I let out a sob, reaching a shaking hand toward my bedside table and fishing in the drawer for the key I kept taped to its underside. I stood, my dress heavy as it fell around my knees, walking over to my closet and leaving wet footprints in my wake.

The journal was hidden among the tangle of thick jackets hanging in the closet. I reached into the emerald green coat, a piece that had once belonged to Mom, and pulled the thick, leather journal from the inner pocket, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the lock.

The key clicked into place, and the metal band that held the journal closed fell away, landing on the floor at my feet with a splash as it met with the water pooling beneath me.

I remembered, just the way Mom had taught me. She said I

had never made it out of this dream. I could

the metal band, securing it back in place before taking out the key and putting it back

the closet, swallowing against the burning lump in my

said in a whispered cry, sniffling like a child. “I don’t know where the door is. I’m trapped in it. I don’t understand why don’t understand what I

Dad could hear me, and maybe they could. They would

would join his pack, live amongst

would get as far away as I could from Red Lakes and the stain of my mother’s death that had a chokehold on my sister and father. The distance would free them,

an ocean could break the chain now wrapped around

how his arrival had thrown a wrench in

asked where I went swimming all the time, saying something

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Chapter 26: It’s Complicated

peer into my mind

don’t think he even realized he was doing

my pillow and breathe in the smell of goose down and linen to try and rid myself of it. He smelled like green things, like walking through the

Rowan.

wouldn’t risk losing Ethan as an ally by allowing his insane daughter to set foot upon Ethan’s territory. No, he would send Kacidra. Kacidra the beautiful. Kacidra

would go with Wrenn. I would find the way out of my

to Rowan. Because the closer I got to

Rowan

me, her blonde hair whipping in the salty wind coming off the water as the seaplane approached, its floats bobbing in the surf. “I’ve looked

days, Kacidra!” I hissed, stealing a glance back at her before turning my head back to the plane, which was nearing the dock.

won’t tell me. I

“Have you tried?”

me with her elbow, the force of it causing me to step forward. One of Eugene’s warriors turned his

Some pilot you have, huh? He nearly took half

crossing my arms over my chest and watching the figures moving around the plane, my chest tightening with sudden longing as my dad stepped out onto the dock. I had missed him. I

exactly the same as he did when

don’t even remember you being there, you know.” I said, knowing it would get a rise out of her. She nudged me with

out of the corner of his eyes, and I thought I might’ve seen a smile twitch across his face as he shook his head and handed a large duffle bag to a

be able to tell we’re not mates, you know.” Kacidra said,

you

Rowan, Family

wrong. I didn’t want to have that conversation with him. Not right now, at least.

to the woman I was betrothed to, and I hadn’t even said a single word to her yet. How

teased, flicking me

“Shut up!”