Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 17: The One She Cares for the Most

I let out a low whistle, and the next moment, a lion came flying through the doorway, aiming right for my assailant, who had to let go of me.

Perceval slithered in, tripping Luther up, and the Samson the tiger came charging in with a roar and forced the man to back further away.

I rushed to Brook and wrapped my arms around her. “We need to get out of here,” I whispered to her. “Are you well enough to stand?”

She had a confused look on her face as her eyes shifted back and forth, but she quickly collected her senses and gave me a firm nod.

As we moved toward the door, I caught a glimpse of Luther. He pulled a long blade from somewhere I hadn’t seen and swiped at Linus, cutting the lion in the leg, then he turned to the tiger and did the same.

“No!” I cried. The last thing I wanted was for my friends to get hurt.

He kicked Perceval aside and quickly closed the gap between us. I realized that the animals were outmatched by him since he had weapons, and that Brook and I would be as well. I could only pray that with the animals running through the palace to get here, it had caused enough commotion to draw the attention of the guards.

“Brook, keep running and get help!” I was about to stop and go back to deal with the attacker when I heard a piercing howl. We turned around and saw a large wolf. It was

beautiful-its fur was a deep onyx black that shimmered in the light, with glimmering gold stripes on both sides of its back.

That had to be Prince Theo.

He took one look at the bleeding animals and went after Luther, who still hadn’t shifted.

Luther swiped at the upper shoulder of the wolf. Theo lunged at him anyway, pushing the attacker backward, causing Luther to almost collide with us. Immediately, the tables had turned on this battle.

I let out a breath of relief. The most powerful warrior of the country had arrived, I knew we were safe. But then Luther let out a chuckle and whispered in a voice that only I was close enough to hear, “Naughty girl….”

Before he stood to go after the prince again, he shoved something in my hand. “You may think you know everything, Ciana, but you don’t. Use that when you want to see me again -if you’re still alive then.”

Everything happened so fast, and before I knew it, Theo went after Luther again. The kidnapper was back up, swinging the blade toward the prince’s wolf.

I didn’t have time to stand around and see who won the fight because Brook still looked quite concerned. “It’s all right,” I told her. “The prince will protect us.” I believed those words, and as he went at the man again, I saw his teeth chomp down on the hand holding the blade. The kidnapper roared, let the

blade go, and tossed himself into the woods.

Night had completely engulfed the forest. Knowing that we were safe now, Brook and I dropped on the ground to catch our breaths, then I heard a familiar voice behind us.

“What did you think you were doing, leaving the castle like that?!” he asked, storming up behind us and dropping a shirt over his head. The fact that his clothing wasn’t shredded made me think he must’ve undressed before he shifted, rather than just bursting into his wolf to run into the house to save

1. us.

Priorities….

had to get to Brook,”

began to form in my head, and I thought it might be a stress headache from too much excitement all in one day. I loosened my grip slightly on my friend, which was her cue

job,” the prince said, coming up on my other side. “This is what we

down my nose at him the best I could, considering he was a full six or seven inches taller than me. “I am sorry about

blood on his neck, chest, and shoulder-based

was from

to hurt even more, and I didn’t answer. I had to turn my attention back to the walkway so I didn’t lose my footing as he continued to berate me. “Whoever that was… your job is to

want to tell him where he could

how romantic! He loves you so much, he can’t

tell her that wasn’t it at all, but then I remembered I was supposed to be pretending that Theo and I were in love-to everyone. So

splinter now. Every ounce of light was like an icicle being rammed

run away from me again, Ciana,” Theo was telling me in a voice that seemed quite

were becoming jumbled, and

back and forth when I looked at her, and I thought she was going to tumble over

me, I realized it wasn’t her

It was me.

Theo shouted as strong arms surrounded me. I heard Brook scream, and then, both of them faded away and all I could think

*****

*Theo*

name as I scooped her up into my arms. She didn’t answer though, and as her friend began to scream, all I could do was rush her back to the

woman! How did she

for the healers to be ready in my room. Her blubbering friend trailed along behind

I sprinted down the hallway and shoved my bedroom door open with my foot as I backed into the room, spinning her

about checking her-listening to her heart, checking her pulse, all of the things one usually

attack.

“I’m

the words. It was exactly as

me, Ciana’s little friend began to cry again. Jake handed her a tissue and comforted

think about than the fact that the redhead was crying once more. This was a

at the next Blood

quite a bit to learn about different magic and potions since she was in the service of my father. In a

curses certainly fell into the realm of

replied, walking over to Ciana’s side. She arranged her hair so that it

her eyes-she was kind, witty, and brave, and her eyes reflected those qualities, which

now, her eyes were closed, and

how delicate she seemed when she was so still, like she was sleeping. No, at a time

asked Dottie, wondering if I should head to the library and begin looking