Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 49 Theo’s Past II

After Zade’s death, Father decided to put me in training. He sent the best mentors to train me. I worked really hard be- cause I wanted to become the strongest warrior; perhaps then my mother would be proud and would want to see me again.

What I didn’t know was that my father expected some- thing different from me. He didn’t need me to become a war- rior. He needed me to be a killer.

When I was ten years old, King Sebastian started a pro- gram where he would allow prisoners a chance to gain their freedom.

These were the worse sort of criminals murderers, rapists, those that had robbed others violently. He made it seem so simple for them.

“Defeat my son, a little boy, and you will walk free.”

Of course, these hardened criminals had jumped at the chance. What would a ten–year–old do to stop them? Those monsters didn’t mind tearing a child apart in exchange for their freedom.

But it never happened that way.

As much as I could use my battle skills to protect myself, I was too young and was no match against full–grown men. As a result, almost always, at the end of each fight, I’d end up draining them of their lives, along with their dreadful emo-tions before their deaths.

Watching the lifeless bodies collapse in front of my eyes became the worst of my childhood nightmares. I wasn’t able to have a single night of peaceful sleep. Whether I was awake or asleep during the night, I always felt as if numerous eyes were watching me, condemning me for taking their lives.

I was tormented. I hated my power – because of it, not only did I absorb the terror of those who were killed by me, but I also got all of their horrible traits – the parts that made them criminals to begin with. I was no longer capable of smil- ing, of showing kindness. Their emotions became mine, and I couldn’t escape them.

“Father, I can’t do this anymore…” I begged him. “I’ll work hard to be a good warrior and you can put me into any train- ing but this. Please!”

“Nonsense!” he said. Then he softened his expression and encouraged me. “They’re murderers, son,” he told me. “They deserve to die. You’re doing the entire kingdom a service in getting rid of them.”

I’d nod and try to believe that was true so that I could feel just slightly better for what I did. I was desperate, and I went to my mother again, because I didn’t even remember how many trials I’d been through without actually being able to see her.

I wanted to tell her that I was doing the kingdom a ser- vice, and that maybe she shouldn’t be locking me out of her life.

When I told her the situation through her closed door, un- like usual where she was just silent, this time, I heard her say, “Whether they deserve to die or not should not be your deci- sion, Theo.”

Tears had stung my eyes at her words. “Mother!” I shout- ed. “I had no choice! If I didn’t kill them, they would kill me!”

After a long while, I heard her say, “I know.” It seemed that she sighed, but then, her tone was sharp again. “But keep in mind that you have no right to take lives, and neither does anyone else!”

From that point on, I trained hard in battling with a knife. I was unable to shift into my wolf because I was still too young, so I had to rely on being a keen fighter in my human form.

Eventually, I became so skilled in the art of fighting that I started to win battles without having to suck the life out of anyone. In some cases, I was even able to disable them with- out having physical contact, thus sparing their lives.

some sort of a parlor trick, something he could show off to his friends and brag about. He shamed me for winning

when I openly refused to go back to the old way, he threw me in a

father and your king!” he said. “This is for your own good! You are blessed with the power, and you must respect it, honor it,

protested. “None of your warriors are able to take me down

Without your divine power, you’re just as pathetic as any of

from the criminals I usually fought. They didn’t look fierce or evil. There were elderly

they?” I

me. Instead, he asked me, “Do

Your Majesty.” I

two of them,” he said

My eyes widened and I couldn’t believe what he’d

know. They’ll let you out. Otherwise, you will

by me, a monster. But I’d made up my mind.

no right to take lives, and neither does anyone else!” My mother’s words echoed

have heard the stories about me. They are all true. If you come at me, I will have no choice but to make sure that you die.

stared outside, doing nothing. I didn’t talk, didn’t eat, and

even if I just died like that. At least I

me a couple of times, and each time, he was furious. He urged me to kill them and tried to get them to attack me. But instead, I just existed there in the cell, not eating or drinking, protesting my father’s actions.

me, father,” I

I couldn’t even remember- my small body gave out, and I passed out in the cell. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my bedroom. My father was standing at the foot of

he said. “That’s exactly what you needed to do!

hadn’t attacked any- one this

you want for the

I could only as- sume that after I had passed out, in my unconscious state, my

it needed to in order to save me–I might have sucked out their lives without even knowing

a single tear rolled down my cheek.

said years ago, I was indeed

went to

“Mother, what do I do? I did everything I could to stay away

told me, “then remember them. Remember that those men died in

*Ciana*

to remember exactly what had

were near me, as they should have been. Across the room, near the doorway that led to my chamber, Brook and Warren

wondered how long we had been gone. It must not have been long in this

use the crystal to replant the dreamberry sooner than the next blood moon.

out who was waking up. Jake sat up abruptly, looking around