Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 69:1 Felt Her Go

Ethan

Mirage was in shambles, but it was quiet. All around us people were moving as though in slow motion. It had been roughly

eight weeks since Damian invaded and tore the place to shreds. But oddly enough, the destruction was the only trace left of his invasion.

All of his warriors were gone. The castle was empty.

We had left Winter Forest three days ago, shortly after Ernest and Gemma had arrived. Rosalie and Georgia had stayed behind, and with good reason. Gemma was too far along to risk travel, and Rosalie seemed to have plans for Hanna.

U glanced over my shoulder at Rowan, who was huddled amongst a group of men pouring over several sheets of blueprints. Rowan was pointing to the lopsided radio tower that rose out of the trees and was covered in vines, his eyes shining as he explained his course of action.

I watched him for a moment, seeing at once the man he would one day become. A leader. The next Alpha King. He would inherit it all. The West. The East. Whatever lands Maeve found past the Southern channel. It would be his.

I wouldn’t let him inherit ruin. I was going to end this, whatever it was.

Ernest was walking ahead of us as we sauntered around the castle grounds, bending every once in a while to examine debris left behind by Damian’s men.

“He feels guilty for leaving,” Talon said, tucking his hands into his pockets as we walked.

“He shouldn’t; there was nothing he could have done.”

I believed it wholeheartedly. Mirage was a city of many packs, the territories bleeding into each other the closer you got to the city. Ernest didn’t flee like a coward. He had hidden Gemma in the center of Mirage while he gathered the other Alphas. together, placing a few in charge of caring for those people who had been displaced, and the rest to fight and guard their hold on their territories that bordered the city. Then he brought Gemma home, praying to the Goddess that things didn’t unravel further in his absence.

He was born and bred to be the Alpha of Drogomor, the sole ruler of Mirage. Ernest felt like he had abandoned his people, but what choice did he have? We didn’t know then what we knew now.

And he was after her, right now, while we tried to put the pieces of Valoria back together.

“He will come back to rule, of course. Gemma too.” Talon bit the inside of his cheek, shaking his head.

“I think you and Georgia should stay as well-”

“Of course, we wouldn’t think of leaving. But this is his throne now, Ethan. I have no desire to take over.”

the family apart again, and she was probably right about it. Regardless of the fact that Damian and his army had already left Valoria, we were on the

there was Lycenna to think about. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around who those people were or what they wanted. I dismissed the thought,

the fourth floor. A piece of plywood covered it from the inside, the glass

said sadly as we caught up to him, flanking him on either side. “Gemma heard it happen, but she

his hand on Ernest’s shoulder, squeezing. “We‘re

her go to get Maeve alone. I thought we had more time. We all

ease some of his guilt. Ernest looked at me, his blue eyes sharp and focused as he

I showed Julian of Greenbriar the tunnel system. He asked me about it

began, but I turned to Ernest, cutting off Talon with a wave

old man? What use

wasn’t old. He was close to Rowan’s

Talon looked from Ernest to me,

yes. He came with his sister, or wife, I honestly

the beady black eyes who had been

his brow, waiting for

Greenbriar was blond, wasn’t he? Strange looking guy?” I asked Ernest. Ernest nodded. “F*ck. We need to go back

I can’t leave before-” Ernest

I was stuttering, trying to organize the plot playing out in my head. Blond, black eyes, the strange, lifted accent. Opaline and Julian weren’t of Greenbriar, no. They were Lycennian. I’d bet my life on it. Julian was likely a grandchild, or however his crisscrossed genetics tied him to Alpha Julien of Lycenna. Ernest had unknowingly opened the door to him, giving him a glimpse of the

want with Mirage? From

prickling with adrenaline. Goddess, this was getting more and more

walked up to us,

Forest,” I said, giving Ernest a commanding

We just got here! There’s work to be done,”

and tucked under his arm,

on the invasion, Rowan,”

his arms over his

not leaving, not yet,” Ernest said

retorted, his voice carrying a stern,

How do you know?” Rowan was looking from

little patience for an explanation. A few minutes

bull-headed about the situation. Rowan was clutching his blueprints in his hands, his mouth drawn