Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 33: Loss of Privileges 

Maeve

It was full dark when I woke up, the room still and empty. Moonlight was drifting in through three circular windows on the wall above my head, long beams of pale light casting shadows across the room.

I rose and stretched; the superficial wounds on my skin were gone, and any soreness from the fall had been mended.

What now?

I didn’t know my way to the infirmary, but I wasn’t technically a prisoner. I decided to wander for a bit and try to find Cleo, maybe even something to eat

The ship was massive and easy to get lost in. The hallways were narrow, no wider than the average man’s shoulders in some spots. It was dimly lit too, but I noticed electric lights along the ceiling that were not in use. I wondered why they were using sails to move the ship instead of engines. The boat was silent, ghostlike, as it moved in the waves.

After an hour of exploration, I finally found the infirmary. It was situated toward the bottom of the ship, not quite the lowest level but close enough to feel chilly and claustrophobic. There were no windows down here, not a single one. I placed my hand on the wall as I made my way toward the entrance of the infirmary, knowing that on the other side of the wall was the sea.

The infirmary was just a room, a small one, lit by a single lantern. There was a small nook in one corner, separated by a curtain. I could hear the doctor snoring as I came into the light, smiling and nodding at Cleo, who had looked up from the book resting on her lap.

“How is she?” I asked, sitting down in a narrow, uncomfortable chair next to her.

“Fine, I think. The doctor thinks it was a concussion, a bad one, probably. But he stitched her up, and she seems to be comfortable, at least. We won’t really know until she wakes up. My midwifery skills only go so far.”

“I’m sorry, Cleo. I tried—”

Cleo took my hands in hers, brushing her knuckles against my fingers. “Don’t fret, Maeve. This wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was my fault, wasn’t it? If what Troy said about Alpha Damian is true?”

“No, darling. Please don’t think that way. All of this was out of your control.”

I sighed, leaning back against the chair and resting my head against the wall. We sat in silence for a long while, Cleo eventually falling asleep sitting upright in her chair. I watched Myla breathe, her chest rising and falling in a smooth rhythm.

I thought about opening up my skin again and giving her my blood, but stopped myself. What good had it done before? Troy was an absolute mess before Cleo had been able to align his broken bones and pop his shoulder back in place. I had just been able to ease his pain temporarily, I think

I stood, closing the door of the infirmary behind me as I walked into the narrow, chilly hallway, feeling along the walls until I reached the stairwell. I walked up, and up, and up until I reached the floor where my room was, Troy’s room, but I stopped before turning the corner to go back. Up the stairs was the entrance to the main deck, and I felt the urge to push open the doors and breathe in the air.

But I didn’t want to run into Troy, especially if he was alone. I didn’t trust myself around him. I wanted him as much as I had before I found out who he really was. But I also loathed him, fiercely, and I knew if given the opportunity I would toss him over the railing of the ship into the water below and like it.

But I didn’t have the strength to do that right now. I hadn’t eaten in over a day. I had slept for a few hours at the most. I was sick to my stomach with grief, with fear.

I wanted my parents. I wanted to go home.

“You thought you had it rough before, huh?” I whispered, thinking back on my time in the castle. Suddenly, a thought struck me, piercing through me so intensely that I nearly toppled over. I held onto the wall, bending over by the waist with one hand pressed against my stomach

Oh, Goddess. I could very likely be pregnant!

to give the Drogomor pack an heir. I was supposed to be Luna, at

what would I have? Not the heir to Drogomor, but

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Troy’s real identity? I

out into the field of grass. His dream of losing his mate had come to fruition. My anger at them didn’t

“Are you alright, miss?”

to the voice, seeing a young man standing in the hallway

“Yes, 1-”

A little seasick?

it

get your sea legs soon enough. Happens to the best of us!” He tilted his head toward the stairwell. “The galley’s just

hurriedly, my stomach

said as I followed him down the stairs. He turned his face to me,

Young Pete and not

being called that. He goes by Peter, actually. But it doesn’t matter. You

for me to follow him through a darkened archway that opened up to a large room with wooden tables and chairs in neat rows, illuminated by the

here, honestly,” he breathed as we crossed the room

“Privileges?”

“Came down and made myself a little treat. I found some salt pork in the pantry and ate it, and it was delicious. In my defense I didn’t know it was the last of it, and we had nearly three weeks until we made port again. Oh, man. Troy looked like he

as he rummaged, wondering if I should start asking him the burning questions I

you want

I said quickly, but stopped myself before I said

large glass jug, the amber glass reflecting in the lamplight. “Take it up to your room with

I asked, holding the heavy

the galley during the day. You’ll find

setting the growler on the counter as he continued to rifle through the pantry. He handed me a basket of snacks: dried fruit, crackers, and a few

make the sea sickness worse.

at him. I could eat an entire roast with all the fixings right now, by myself. A few crackers and a dried apricot weren’t nearly enough. But Pete seemed like

you know where we’re headed?” I asked as he closed

Have to wait for this all to

Panic rose in my throat, but I swallowed it

against the counter. “Do you have somewhere you

“Home, ideally.”

home for

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33: Loss of

“I paused, pursing my lips. Maybe I shouldn’t