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.

fighting angered my father. He saw my skills as some sort of a parlor trick, something he could show off to his friends

to the old way, he threw me in

must learn to respect your 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, and make full use of it! Your kingdom needs it, and you shouldn’t be ashamed. Your

not weak!” I protested. “None of your warriors are able to take

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

a group of twenty or so prisoners, but this time, they were different from the criminals I usually fought. They didn’t look fierce or evil.

they?” I

didn’t answer me. Instead, he asked me, “Do you want to

Your Majesty.”

choice. Use your abilities to kill two of them,” he said cruelly.

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

They’ll let you out. Otherwise, you will stay here until you

of the prisoners looked at me in terror. They were probably right to be terrified by me, a monster. But I’d made up my mind. I didn’t want to kill for

neither does anyone else!” My mother’s words

the stories about me. They are all true. If you come at me, I will have no choice

a corner and no one bothered me. For days, I stared outside, doing nothing. I didn’t talk, didn’t eat, and didn’t even drink much. I felt my body getting weaker and weaker, yet for the

died like that. At least I

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

force me, father,” I told

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

said. “That’s exactly

them?” I didn’t understand. I hadn’t attacked any-

you do whatever you want for the rest of those

what had happened. I could only as- sume that after I had

needed to in order to save me–I might have sucked

walk away, a single

I

I went to my mother

“Mother, what do I do? I did

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

*Ciana*

elbow for a second as I tried to remember exactly what had happened. I looked at my hand and saw it was

room, and Jake and Theo were near me, as they should have been. Across the room, near the doorway that led to my chamber, Brook and Warren lay on their sides, and in my room, Sophia was spread out, her arms and legs split like a star. She looked a little silly, but I wasn’t in

had happened. I wondered how long we had been

He wouldn’t be able to use the crystal to replant the dreamberry sooner than the next blood moon.

around, trying to figure out who was waking up. Jake sat up abruptly, looking around the