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.”

Ro would fight the decision to break 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 brink of another major, far-reaching war. The Alpha’s of the west were already gathering thanks to

couldn’t quite wrap my head around who those people were or what they wanted. I dismissed the

now, looking up at a window on the fourth floor. A piece of plywood covered it from the inside, the glass broken and glistening in the sun

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

son.” Talon laid his hand on Ernest’s

go to get Maeve alone. I thought we had more

have done,” I said sternly, hoping to ease some of his guilt. Ernest looked at me, his blue eyes sharp and focused as he let

was my fault. I showed… I showed Julian of Greenbriar the tunnel system.

come on kid. This wasn’t-” Talon began, but I turned to Ernest, cutting off Talon with a wave of

Julien? How-but he’s an old

wasn’t old. He was close

Greenbriar?” Talon looked from Ernest to

sister, or wife, I honestly wasn’t

fingers through my hair, remembering the blonde woman with the beady black eyes who had been in the castle whén Rowan and I came to the Mirage for

his brow, waiting for someone to explain,

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

leave before-” Ernest began, but

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 inner workings of the castle so Julian the younger could go back to Damian with a plan. With

with Mirage? From what you told me about

I snapped, my skin prickling with adrenaline. Goddess, this was getting more

with you guys?” Rowan walked up

back to Winter Forest,” I said, giving Ernest

got here! There’s

rolled up and tucked under his arm, cursing under his breath as he

the invasion, Rowan,”

over

leaving, not yet,” Ernest said

Talon retorted, his voice carrying a stern, fatherly

do you know?” Rowan was looking from face

for an explanation. A few minutes passed

about the situation. Rowan was clutching his blueprints in his hands, his