Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 55: An Old Friend

Ethan

Don’t look at me. I will come to you.’ Otto’s voice filled my head as I tried to maintain eye contact with the Alpha of Lycenna. I nodded, once, in response to Otto, who I knew was looking right at us.

Otto had been one of my best and most loyal warriors. He had also been a friend, someone who Rosalie and I had loved dearly. Otto had been a large part of our lives when Maeve and Rowan were young. He had asked to be part of the expedition team, and I had let him. I blamed myself for what I believed was his death.

And now? What the hell was he doing here?

“Alpha King,” said the Alpha of Lycenna, dipping his chin to his chest in a short, dramatic bow. I furrowed my brow, narrowing my eyes at the man as he reached for a goblet, his hand shaking as he brought it to his mouth.

“You laid hands on my son,” I said, my voice booming.

“Ah, yes. A misunderstanding, I’m afraid. You are our guests, here. Welcome to Lycenna. I am Alpha Julien, and these are my elders,” he motioned towards the group of men who flanked him on either side. The word elder seemed a strange choice, given that the men were much younger than him. I swallowed, looking them over, steeling my expression as they stared back.

“If we are guests,” I began, “Then we will be leaving,”

“So soon? I’m afraid that’s impossible at the moment. A storm, you see.”

“We can fend for ourselves,”

“Come, sit with my pack. Eat and rest. Tomorrow morning, we will give you what you need to continue your journey north.”

‘Don’t drink the wine,’ Otto said over the mind-link, his voice harboring a plea. I fought the urge to look at him, keeping my eyes forward and locked on the Alpha instead.

Two men stepped up beside Rowan and I, ushering us to another table where we were seated, plates of food set in front of us.

The conversations around us began again. Every once in a while, someone craned their neck to watch us. Rowan chewed his food slowly, his jaw obviously bothering him. I made a mental note to ask about the warriors who had so roughly apprehended us. I would beat the living hell out of the one who had dared to hurt my son.

Rowan reached for his mug of wine, and I reached out, taking it from him. He blinked, looking up from his plate. I shook my head, slowly, pretending to roll my neck and shoulders to hide the motion. He licked his lips, mouth dry, and continued to pick at his food

I took a moment to look around, noticing everyone seemed to look alike here. There were two types of people; one group had dark hair, pale skin, and dark eyes. They were slightly shorter than their lighter counterparts who had tawny hair and darker skin, their eyes a strange, deep gray. I felt a chill run up my spine as I scanned the

room.

Something wasn’t right about this place. Not at all. How had I never known about Lycenna? Or that a pack lived in this unreachable place?

to your room,” said a

to my feet, clasping the man

up in surrender. I glanced up at the Alpha, who was still seated, his beady black eyes watching

followed the man out of the room, and I stole a glance back to where Otto had been standing, but he

***

the bed

kind of cave system that had elongated with rooms

place or its people. Especially the Alpha, who had been watching me throughout our dinner. I hadn’t liked the way he looked at me, but especially at Rowan, a strange, unreadable

it into place before crossing the room and throwing his arms

f*ck

much.” He shook his head, looking Rowan up and down with a sober smile on his face. “You were just a boy when I

nodded, but suspicion was lining his face as he

Rosalie?

can wait,” I said in a hushed voice, grabbing Otto by the shoulders to face him toward me, “How did you

I don’t have time to explain!” He pulled on my

happened? It’s

at me helplessly, fear moving through his face as he swallowed.

for a few days. The weather was bad, it rained constantly. The river wasn’t where Seraphine thought it would be. We could hear landslides in the distance and knew we needed to stay put until the weather turned. Seraphine, she… she argued with us about stopping. She

With you?” I said, my voice

“No, she she died a few years

loss washing over me. I stole a glance at Rowan, who was looking

she die?” I

with her while she passed away. She… said you’d come.

had, of course, sent scouts out to find the expedition, but the mountains

trying to leave on her own. We were

said behind me, his voice soft and

have been killed from exposure-“|

didn’t know it then, but now…” He paused, inhaling deeply, “Listen. This pack is different, okay? Not different in a good way. They don’t worship the Moon Goddess. They worship Lycaon, you know the fable? Anyway, some of

They don’t worship the

on,” I

choose mates based

insane, Otto. You must be

going to kill you, Alpha. But they need

what?” Rowan quipped,