Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 49: The Sacred

Maeve

Troy and I walked through the building, surprised by the amount of noise coming from the corridors as we headed down the many, many stairs to the lower-level courtyard.

The buildings are where everyone lives, stacked on top of each other,” Troy said, smiling as a little girl ran past us, chasing after what must have been her older sister.

*This place is ancient, Troy. How old do you think this place is?”

Troy exhaled, looking around as we walked towards the courtyard, reaching up to run his hand along the wall.

“A thousand years, maybe more?”

“More?” I sucked in my breath, unable to process it.

“Well, how many White Queens have there been over time? Count back and that’s likely as old as this place, and even Winter Forest, should

be.”

“Mom said Winter Forest wasn’t the original settlement of the White Queens. There’s a ruin on an island across from the inlet. That’s where the pack used to live, but everyone believes it was taken over by the water hundreds of years ago.”

“See? This is very, very old stuff.”

I nodded, swallowing against the anxiety tightening my chest and throat. This was an old place. A strange place. And I had the oddest “out of body feeling as we walked the halls. We finally turned the corner and passed through the archway leading to the courtyard, stopping short of the entrance as Duck came bounding towards us, followed by Myla and Pete.

“Where’s Robbie?” Troy asked, furrowing his brow.

“He’s out chasin’ tail,Myla said with a laugh. Pete blushed deeply, lowering his gaze to his feet.

“Still?” Troy snorted, shaking his head.

“So, you saw him? And he was alright?” I asked hurriedly. Myla nodded her head, wiggling her eyebrows at me and Troy.

“Oh, he’s more than alright, I’ll say that much. He told me all about it,” Myla said.

“Why?” Troy asked, looking from Myla to Pete, who was looking more and more uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Why not?” Myla said with a soft chuckle, “What else were we supposed to do while we were waiting for you guys to come down? What were you up to, anyway?”

stifled a blush. Myla arched her brow, puffing out her cheeks

annoyed, “Please, can we talk about something

is a little jealous-”

am not!” Pete was blushing. And I had the opportunity

Troy laughed, crossing

saving himself

very gallant of you, Pete.” I said, smiling

behind us. We turned around, finding a young girl standing still as a rod in the archway, her eyes wide with nerves as she spoke. She was young, very young, likely no more than ten or

over the river. People were swimming in the slowly moving, shallow water. It looked like a refreshing activity in this unforgiving heat. I made a mental note to

valley through a thicket of trees. Stepping out of the trees, we stopped, all of us looking out over a massive,

setting sun.

towers at the city’s entrance. Music was wafting up from the lake, and voices lifted in gaiety

beneath several rows of paper lanterns that were strung through the trees. It was beautiful, and quite romantic, and I felt a sudden urge to find a dark corner and rip Troy’s clothes from his

looked down at

losing my mind,” I murmured, feeling a little hot.

Keaton were here to see this!” Myla exclaimed, looking up at the sea of paper lanterns

out, “Have you been able

her head, “No, I tried but I couldn’t get through. Do you think we’re

mine as we walked, “Something is weird about this place. Do you

“But I don’t think

firmly, but his eyes were still hyper focused

a wide dock. Flowerpots lined the dock, and sprays of flowers I

had been laid out around a huge, circular table that was low to the ground, and Una was sitting there, waiting for us,

nodding to one of the two men sitting on the cushions. The older man must have been Ismir, Una’s husband. The younger one couldn’t

with us!” Una said, excitement evident behind her eyes. We sat around the table, as did the young girl, who elbowed her brother before taking a seat next to him. “This is my family,” Una said, beaming with delight, “My mate,

children?” Myla said, her eyes wide,

Keaton,” Troy whispered, leaning his head close to mine

Una’s brood. “Myla will have ten children, I’d bet my life

at him, seeing the confusion flash behind his eyes, his tanned face

is it about this place that is making us

looking directly into his eyes, my heart quickening as

boys?” He laughed, his eyes creasing with what I

my mouth to say something, but the words were lost, hanging on the tip of my

you, I thought,

tasted were brought out over the course of three hours. Hot, spiced tea was poured in a constant stream

eyes met Una’s, who was watching me closely, a look of mingled hope, and