Sold 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.

on the floor at my feet with a splash as it met with the water pooling

it all down. Every single thing I remembered, just the way Mom had taught me. She said I could eventually control my dreams this way, elongate them, determine when and where

out of this dream. I could never find my way forward, my way

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

backed away from the closet, swallowing against the burning lump in

out of it, Mom!” I 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

could hear me, and maybe they could. They would no doubt think I was even more deranged than

Dad was sending me away to marry Wrenn. I would join his pack, live amongst

I could from Red Lakes and the stain of my mother’s death that had

the chain now wrapped around my

how his arrival had thrown a wrench

all the time, saying

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Chapter 26: It’s Complicated

my eyes. He couldn’t peer into

he did. I don’t think he even realized he was

down and linen to try and rid myself of

Rowan. My

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 the

go with Wrenn. I would find the way out

say a word to Rowan. Because the closer I got to him, the more challenging my

Rowan

behind me, her blonde hair whipping in the salty wind coming off the water as the seaplane approached, its floats bobbing

I hissed, stealing a glance back at her before turning my head back to the plane, which was nearing the dock. “Why

tell me. I know

“Have you tried?”

me to step forward. One of Eugene’s warriors turned his head, giving me a curious look. I straightened up, watching the plane intently as it

He nearly took half

around the plane, my chest tightening with sudden longing as my dad stepped out onto the dock. I

Alpha Ethan looks exactly the same as he did

her. She nudged me with her elbow again, harder this time, and I momentarily lost my footing on

his eyes, and I thought I might’ve seen a smile twitch

tell we’re not mates, you know.”

do you

family. Rowan, Family

that conversation with him. Not right now, at least. Not until I was able to

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

he comes!” she teased, flicking me on

“Shut up!”