Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 74: I'll Take That as a Yes.

Alright, Tallis and Theo might be two different people, but they both could be jerks!

Since the conversation with Tallis didn't go anywhere, I decided to call it a night.

But what I didn't expect was a group of thick, muscular thugs that appeared from nowhere, blocking my way back to my parents' house. They snickered and closed in around me.

"What do you want?" I asked harshly.

"They don't want anything. However, we have an unfinished score to settle," Hawke's angry, frustrated voice barked out from behind the thugs.

"I didn't do anything to you," I insisted, crossing my arms and trying to act more like a guy.

"Well, the last time we spoke, I ended up knocked out and face down in the dirt. You're telling me that you had nothing to do with that?" Hawke shouted viciously.

Apparently, he remembered more than I hoped. He wasn't drunk tonight, either.

"Grab this little twit!" Hawke ordered.

His thugs jumped at me. I jumped back, but they'd already closed in around me and one caught me from behind. All four of them grabbed my arms and legs and pinned me down to the ground.

I struggled against them, hissing and trying to bite whatever got close to my mouth. Hawke's thugs were too well trained and they were too strong!

"Hold that little swine down. I'm going to teach him a lesson for messing with me," Hawke chuckled, shoving the toe of his boot into the ground.

Now that I was eye level with his boots, I could see they were steel toed. If he kicked me with those, he'd break every bone in my body. I had to stall him.

"That's funny, seeing as the last time we met, you seemed to be interested in me, regardless of me being a boy," I hissed, still struggling against his cronies holding me down.

One of them nearly let me go as his head whipped around to Hawke.

Hawke sneered and shook his head. "Don't listen to this piece of crap. He's just trying to mess with you. Hold him steady."

Nothing I said now would turn their heads. Whether they were all loyal to Hawke or to Hawke's cunning dad, it wouldn't save me a good beating.

Hawke pulled his foot back, knee bent, ready to deliver a horrible kick to my side. I closed my eyes and held my breath, waiting for the heavy blow.

It never came.

"What the..."

I opened my eyes just as a pack of wild animals burst from the forest and attacked Hawke.

"Get them off, get them off!" Hawke screeched, flapping his partially broken arms around like he was fending off a swarm of bees.

cronies ran at him, trying to pull the beasts away, but when

close, some of the smaller ones, the squirrels and rabbits, jumped on them and bit them. All of them were screaming

Hawke looked so pathetic, trying to fight off a gaggle of wild animals with his near useless arms. His

of wild animals pushed Hawke and his

summoned by someone. I glanced around the forest

He could also organize an animal attack

way! I didn't believe in such a coincidence!

some sort

went after Tallis. As soon as

my pace, I caught up with him. He was acting like he was trying to evade me, which made

I called, reaching out to grab his arm before

growled and pulled away from

m not who you think I am. How many times do I have to ask you to leave me alone?"

figure out some other

for that. Can you just wait a minute, please?" I asked, my voice a little

didn't turn to face me but at least,

closer to him. "It is different this time because I need your help."

to me, one eyebrow arched. "Is that supposed to be

up to show I wasn't joking. "Hawke has come after me three times now and I don't think he will stop.

asked

Can I stay with you? I can't go back to

pressed his lips thin and glared at me. He was so surly and grumpy all the time. I almost thought he was more intolerable than the Dark

wrong

at this moment, I could tell myself that I had a valid reason to stay with the man in front of me. It was for my own safety after

to stay. So, can I stay with you?" | asked again, pleading with him with my eyes.

sighed heavily and started walking through the woods again. He hadn't confirmed I could stay with him but he hadn't flat out denied me, either. I decided to take

to the carnival tent, it was quiet. It seemed like most of the performers had gone to bed for the night. Nelson was still up and he waved casually at

course, Tallis just waved in

my eyes at him. He couldn't even spare his friendly, charismatic brother a friendly greeting. Who else did I know that was just like that...?

is with you, Tallis?" Nelson asked. "Ah, young sir, hello again!"

with me," Tallis grumbled in a slightly annoyed tone.

look. "Would it kill

us, and then laughed heartily and wiped a tear

I gave him a triumphant

you two become... friends?" Nelson

office. He had a hot

dipping a ladle into the steaming broth and lifting it to his nose

admitted, my stomach

bowls," Nelson said, bustling

only one chair and Tallis nodded toward it. I sat down and he stood right behind me. I'd half expected him to run

He perched on