Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 69:1 Felt Her Go 

Ethan

Mirage was in shambles, but it was quiet. All around us people were moving as though in slow motion. It had been roughly

eight weeks since Damian invaded and tore the place to shreds. But oddly enough, the destruction was the only trace left of his invasion.

All of his warriors were gone. The castle was empty.

We had left Winter Forest three days ago, shortly after Ernest and Gemma had arrived. Rosalie and Georgia had stayed behind, and with good reason. Gemma was too far along to risk travel, and Rosalie seemed to have plans for Hanna.

U glanced over my shoulder at Rowan, who was huddled amongst a group of men pouring over several sheets of blueprints. Rowan was pointing to the lopsided radio tower that rose out of the trees and was covered in vines, his eyes shining as he explained his course of action.

I watched him for a moment, seeing at once the man he would one day become. A leader. The next Alpha King. He would inherit it all. The West. The East. Whatever lands Maeve found past the Southern channel. It would be his.

I wouldn’t let him inherit ruin. I was going to end this, whatever it was.

Ernest was walking ahead of us as we sauntered around the castle grounds, bending every once in a while to examine debris left behind by Damian’s men.

“He feels guilty for leaving,” Talon said, tucking his hands into his pockets as we walked.

“He shouldn’t; there was nothing he could have done.”

I believed it wholeheartedly. Mirage was a city of many packs, the territories bleeding into each other the closer you got to the city. Ernest didn’t flee like a coward. He had hidden Gemma in the center of Mirage while he gathered the other Alphas. together, placing a few in charge of caring for those people who had been displaced, and the rest to fight and guard their hold on their territories that bordered the city. Then he brought Gemma home, praying to the Goddess that things didn’t unravel further in his absence.

He was born and bred to be the Alpha of Drogomor, the sole ruler of Mirage. Ernest felt like he had abandoned his people, but what choice did he have? We didn’t know then what we knew now. 

And he was after her, right now, while we tried to put the pieces of Valoria back together.

“He will come back to rule, of course. Gemma too.” Talon bit the inside of his cheek, shaking his head.

“I think you and Georgia should stay as well-”

“Of course, we wouldn’t think of leaving. But this is his throne now, Ethan. I have no desire to take over.”

of the fact that Damian and his army had already left Valoria, we were on the brink

as I tried, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around who those people were or what

piece of plywood covered it from the inside, the glass

to get Maeve out of the castle,” Ernest said sadly as we caught up to him, flanking him on either

laid his hand on Ernest’s shoulder, squeezing. “We‘re safe, all of

go to get Maeve

the tunnels. There was nothing you could have done,” I said sternly, hoping to ease some of his guilt. Ernest looked

of Greenbriar the tunnel system. He asked me

come on kid. This wasn’t-” Talon began, but I turned to Ernest,

old man?

he wasn’t old. He

Ernest

yes. He came with his sister, or wife, I honestly wasn’t sure. She

hair, remembering the blonde woman with the beady black eyes who had been in the castle whén Rowan and I

waiting for someone to explain, but

asked Ernest. Ernest nodded. “F*ck. We need to go back to Winter

can’t leave before-” Ernest began, but I cut

woman… I didn’t even realize it until now,” I was stuttering, trying to organize the plot playing out in my head. Blond, black eyes, the strange, lifted accent. Opaline and Julian weren’t of Greenbriar, no. They were Lycennian. I’d bet my life on it. Julian was likely a grandchild, or however his crisscrossed genetics tied him to Alpha Julien of Lycenna. Ernest had unknowingly opened the door to him, giving him a glimpse of the inner workings of the castle so Julian the younger

with Mirage? From what you told me

Talon,” I snapped, my skin prickling with adrenaline.

with you guys?” Rowan walked up to us,

Forest,” I said, giving Ernest a commanding

got here! There’s

and dropped several of the blueprints he had rolled up and tucked under

the invasion, Rowan,”

arms over his chest,

yet,” Ernest

to,” Talon retorted, his voice carrying a

you know?” Rowan was looking

little patience for an explanation. A few minutes passed as

protesting and being overall bull-headed about the situation. Rowan was clutching his blueprints in his hands, his mouth drawn in