Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 13: She Bit Me!

♦Xander*

Every once in a while, I caught a glimpse of Lena in the crowd, her platinum blonde hair piled high on the top of her head, which made her a few inches taller than she normally was, but she was still very short, and disappeared often in the swell of people lingering in large groups around the bar.

I clutched my pint of beer as I watched her talk to the dark haired man, who occasionally looked in my direction, giving me a careful eye.

He was standing a little too close to her, his eyes lingering on her for a little too long.

And Lena was enjoying it, smiling and laughing at pretty much every word that came out of his mouth, which made me irrationally angry as I drained my first pint and parted the crowd for another.

As I waited by the bar for my drink, I scanned the crowd. I saw no sign of Jen, and for that I was thankful. Elaine's comment in the car earlier had made my stomach tie in a knot, and not because Lena was there to overhear it. I'd always found it difficult to turn down the attention of an attractive woman, and Jen's attention had been incredibly public. I'm sure people assumed something was going on with US.

But after last night. I'd been doing everything in my power to avoid her.

rd been closing up my workstation in the warehouse. I knew everyone else was at dinner and that I'd have a few moments to work alone without the constant noise of repairs being made to the tractors and people walking in out to grab supplies. I didn't even see Jen come through the door of the warehouse. She was suddenly just there, wrapping her arms around me in a hungry embrace.

I'd given in because I am stupid. Maybe not stupid, but something along that line. I didn' t really want Jen, but she was a good distraction from the overwhelming feelings of unrequited desire I felt for Lena. And, I figured she'd have information about the farm that I v/ouldn't be able to get out of Henry or Bethany.

But at that point I could tell that Jen's original acceptance of a casual make out session from time to time was turning into something I hadn't agreed to.

I hadn't meant for it to go this far, however. Using Jen for information was one thing, but people were starting to talk. She was starting to talk, and I knew I needed to end it before anyone got hurt.

I told her as such, with her arms still wrapped around my shoulders. She paused, her fingernails digging into the back of my neck. It had hurt a good deal, and I tried to push her away, but something came over her, a transformation of some kind, and she went absolutely ballistic.

She bit me, hard, hard enough to draw blood and give me a swollen lip for the rest of the evening. I’d had to fight her off, and she was surprisingly strong. I thought she was about to shift. The dark rings around her irises were glowing, and her fingernails were suddenly sharper than they had been before as she gripped me by my forearms, trying to drag me toward her again.

When she bit me a second time, this time on my chest, I knew I needed to do something. She damn near took a chunk out of my chest as I pushed her away, hard, and retreated toward the door, holding my hand over my chest to stop the blood from dripping down my stomach.

"What the hell is the matter with you?* I growled.

And she bared her teeth at me.

I wasn't sure what I saw. The shock of the moment, and the extreme stress of the last few days, was likely messing with my head. But for a moment I was sure her teeth were longer, and sharper, than they should have been.

Needless to say, I got the hell out of there and spent the rest of night sitting in the armchair by the door with a skillet I'd borrowed from the bunkhouse, ready to use it on Jen if she burst through the door, looking for a snack.

because I hadn't expected Lena to want to go. I thought we'd have a few moments together tonight, just to talk, hopefully about what had happened between us

saw her getting into Elaine's rust box on four bald tires, I barely had enough time to catch up to

by myself

beer. She'd appeared out of nowhere and laughed at my shock. I could feel my cheeks coloring as I fixed her with a glare, but she only nudged me in the ribs. I winced as

"Lighten up, Xander."

introduction. I don't want to

on the bar and grabbed her drink. “It's

"You don't know me-”

And you, despite your dark, brooding aura, are just a man. So, are you going to stop that man from stealing your girl, or are you going to let her

already walking in Lena's direction before Elaine could finish speaking. I heard Elaine laugh behind me, but ignored her, stalking over to where Lena and the man were

"Lena,* I said sharply.

at me. “Ben, this is Xander. He's my field study partner," she said sweetly, nudging me in the ribs when I came up behind her. I wished people would stop doing that, especially since my chest and abdomen felt like I was bruised all over after my run-in with Jen. I was standing very close to Lena, close enough

you," Ben said, his eyes sizing

lower lip, arching my brow

tone of my voice.

here. A

that right?" I narrowed

"Whereabouts, exactly?*

"A few miles away-”

"In what direction?'

a warning tone, her cheeks

his beer, his eyes leaving mine to look back at Lena. "I was just telling Lena that I'd show

weekend, of

Not on my watch.

been a situation at Radcliffe, but I'm sure you've heard, being a local and all,' I said curtly, waiting for Ben to respond. I saw the glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes as he internally scrambled. I realized, with a smirk, he had no idea what I was talking

word hadn't spread around town about the murder at Radcliffe,

for her to be out and about, with a stranger,

guess-' Ben

the village, Xander, I'll be

I said, taking her by the arm. "It's time

"What?"

but she didn't. I led her away, but she turned back

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