Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

 Chapter 17: Ernest’s Mate

Maeve

“Don’t say your name? Why?”

*Just in that context. I don’t… we can’t-”

“I know,” I said hurriedly, feeling foolish. It couldn’t be personal. That had to be what he meant. I fidgeted, looking past him toward the door. He followed my gaze, then snapped his head back around, giving me a serious look.

“Leave them alone, Maeve. I know what you’re thinking.”

“I just really need to talk to Ernest—”

“No, you don’t.”

“You don’t understand, Aaron. Gemma is in a bit of a crisis right now,”

“Because they’re mates? That doesn’t sound like a crisis to me.” He stood there, staring at me blankly as my jaw dropped open.

“How the hell did you know that?”

“Uh, he told me? Is it supposed to be a secret-”

I turned from him, pacing over to a set of couches that had been pushed up against the wall so that the maid could polish and wax the floor. I felt a little guilty as I looked down at the very obvious footprints left in the fresh wax, but the room was rarely used. It was my first time spending more than a few minutes here myself. “Well, if you know about it then it’s not a secret, is it?”

He shrugged, reaching up to crack open the window. “What do you need to talk to him about that’s so pressing you’d interrupt them?”

“I wasn’t going to interrupt them,” I lied, pursing my lips as he cast me an incredulous look. “I just wanted to talk to him privately.”

“About why he won’t marry and have children?”

Igaped at him again, my jaw nearly hitting the floor. “You know about that? You know why?”

“Yeah, he told me all about it.” Aaron’s tone was so casual that I laughed, unable to stop myself. He peered at me, tilting his head as I sat down on one of the dusty couches. “Do you seriously not know? How could you not know? Your whole reason for being here is to produce the heir he refuses,”

“Refuses? No, he can’t have children.”

“Oh, he’s perfectly capable of having children.”

“1-How?”

rest with his legs splayed open. I could see the outline of his cock in the comically tiny shorts he was wearing, and he made no move to hide it, either. He caught my gaze and I blushed, which was actually the reaction he had wanted. His mouth twitched into a smile as he stretched his arms above his head, groaning loudly as I waited for him

“Aaron!”

couch, facing me. “Ernest said he had a vision that his mate and

brow, trying to gauge whether

me his own mother had the same vision, and she

felt myself flush, my skin prickling

There were wolves who had special traits, like my mother, but seers were rare if they were real at all. At least, that’s what my parents told me after Aaron’s own mother cursed me, after his accident. My mom’s powers were well known, but we descended from the Moon Goddess herself as White Queens. Aunt

I promise. And I know how ridiculous it sounds. He said he thought it was just a dream until his mom said

words. My Uncle Talon and Aunt Georgia had ruled over Drogomor in my father’s place. Dad wanted to be in Winter Forest with us, not thousands of miles away in Valoria. I didn’t know the details of the exchange of power, but I do know Ernest became Alpha at a ridiculously young age, sixteen or seventeen, when his parents decided to leave Valoria and travel west to take up residence in Breles. Ernest had refused to go with them. The

well, Ernest believes it. I tried

true,” I said

head. “You’re kidding, right? It’s fanciful at best-” He paused, the muscles of his neck contracting in the

mother cursed

have. It’s not real, just like

the infirmary to save some of my blood for healing and she only… she

woman said now determines your future? How do you know your blood doesn’t have healing

intentionally, his eyes lingering on mine. “She believed it. I could see it in her eyes.

exactly is

over my knees to look down at the floor. “That I won’t find my mate. That I won’t come into my

“Well, when’s your birthday?”

looked up at him.”Not

holding out his hand

“Where are we going?”

he’s being

you said not

changed

arched my brow as I took his hand, suspicious beyond measure. Aaron was a master of deflection. He obviously didn’t want to talk about the day he got hurt in front of me, or his mother, or my possible curse. But, I was thankful for the break in conversation. I didn’t want to think

Ernest walking quickly down the corridor away from us, his back turned and

you going?” Aaron

his grasp, but he squeezed my hand, tucking it behind his back, and we all came to stop in the

flustered. “I forgot the Alpha of Greenbriar was arriving for a conference today. I have to go down to the village to escort him to the castle. Give him a little tour.” He sighed deeply,

him stiffen beside me and inhale, but his face was calm and firmly fixed

sure? I haven’t heard great things about this guy. Lance says

him and noticing the abrupt change in his demeanor. He was looking forward, his gaze traveling well past Ernest and into a darkened corner of the corridor where it wound back

us. I swallowed, exhaling as Aaron removed his heel from my

But why?

over the top of Ernest’s head at the figure lurking in the shadows. Did I just see

and his entourage from the train station to the road leading to the castle. Lance will meet them there. I’d definitely feel better