Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 48: The Daughters of Artemis

Maeve

I followed the group of women down into a steep, rocky valley. Myla and Pete flanked me on either side, still in their wolf forms. They were beginning to tire, their breathing heavy as we made it to the base of the valley, the sun beginning to set over the mountains to the west.

We approached a wall of vines growing up the side of a rock wall. The trail we had been walking on ended abruptly at the wall, and I looked around, confused.

But then the women walked into the vines, one by one. I followed them, holding back the vines and entering a long, lightless tunnel.

“What?” I murmured, apprehension tingling across my skin. Light began to trickle in, the tunnel opening up to a valley of green, rolling hills and towering cliff faces. I gasped as I stepped out into the light, seeing the buildings carved into the rocky mountain behind me and the waterfall flowing into a wide creek in which several bridges weaved over the water.

“Welcome to the city of Dianny,” the woman said, her dark eyes creasing into a smile. She hadn’t yet told me her name, but based on the fact that her pack mates were coming up to her, bowing their heads in greeting, I assumed she was their leader, or at least their Luna.

The city was ancient, the buildings built into the mountains were totally carved out of stone and towered high above our heads. All of the facades had carvings on them, symbols etched into red stone. The lower levels were painted in colorful, sweeping murals, telling some story I didn’t understand.

I heard a yelp behind me and turned, watching as Myla and Pete were surrounded and led away.

“Hey!” I called after them, but I lost them in the crowd.

“Don’t worry,” the woman said kindly, “They’re not in danger. We will give them clothes and food, and reunite you when they’re rested.”

“Who are you?” | asked, my tone brass and slightly bitter. I was nervous.

“My name is Una. I’m the Alpha of the Daughters of Artemis.”

“The Alpha?” I looked around at the crowd of people that had begun to gather, ripples of hushed conversation surrounding us.

“Yes,” she laughed, waving her hand in dismissal, “Much like the White Queens, we are led by a female line. Come, I will take you to your mate.”

“He’s not,” I shut my mouth, biting my lip to stop myself from saying anything further.

The crowd parted for us as we walked across the soft grass of what looked to be a market square, and soon we passed under the entrance of one of the tall buildings built into the side of the mountain.

It was cool inside the building. It was lined with archways leading back outside, a cool breeze wafting through the open space and as we turned down a hallway, several children ran past us, squealing in delight as they tossed a ball back and forth.

So many people, I thought, how did I not know about this place?

Una motioned me to follow her as she turned a corner. I walked beneath a large, ornately decorated archway into a courtyard bursting with fruit trees and tropical flowers.

“Troy?”

He looked up from the book on his lap, his eyes blinking as he straightened up, looking at me as though he’d seen a ghost.

suspiciously on her for a moment before stepping forward and pulling me to his

would come,” Una smiled sincerely, no

mouth to my ear,

replied, looking at Una.

said, looking Una

do you

legends, the myths,” Una said, her voice lifted as she began to walk around

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48: The Daughters of

asked, and Troy opened his mouth to

that you are not prisoners here, any of you.

our leave now, “It would be wise for you to stay, at least long enough

come?” Troy took my hand and took a step forward, standing protectively in front of me as

everything-in time. Now, it is time to rest. I will show you to your room. Follow me,” she walked out through the archway and back into the corridor.

and she led us to a door.

will be your home during your stay, and whenever you decide to

I unlocked the door, pushing it open to reveal the most beautiful room I had ever seen in my

red stone walls were vibrant against the polished, pale wood furniture. Troy’s mouth dropped open as he looked up at the half-dome ceiling, a

doorknob. “Dinner is in a few hours. Please join us in

and I alone in

rolling hills and great waterfall

apartment?” Troy asked as he walked into the bathroom, running his hands over the giant bathtub that had been carved out of

soft to the touch. I pulled off my clothes before Troy could

see your nipples,” Troy snorted, coming out of the

and held it up to him, noticing the strange clothes he was already

shirt over his head. It fit him in a strange way, so different compared to the usual garb he wore on a daily basis, but the people I had seen in the square had been wearing similar fashions of loose, flowing fabrics that were lightly dyed. He shrugged, looking at

to you

they had been smoked out by what they believed to be Wolfsbane, how they had met a group of men when they awoke, the leader of the group turning out to

in my arm,” he

of jealousy rippling over my skin. “I thought White Queens were the only ones with healing

on the edge of the bed, then

heard of the

“Of course, everyone has.”

a fable. These

and propping myself up

at least, that’s what I’ve gathered in

“How is that possible?”

Queens possible? Aren’t you all supposedly descended from

“Yes…”