Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 17 : Was This a Mistake?

♦Lena*

Xander wasn't there when I woke the next morning. I was somewhat gratefol for it.

I wasn't sure how I felt as I rolled over in bed and looked at Xander's empty sleeping bag. I was sore, but that was a given. I'd known what to expect in that regard. While my very private parents had been more reserved and conseivative during my upbringing, not all of my family members had been. That, and living with roommates for three years, had given me a pretty clear expectation about how these things were supposed to go.

But I hadn’t been prepared for what I'd feel like emotionally.

I was embarrassed and slightly ashamed of my behavior.

And Xander's absence made me realize I may have made a mistake.

I didn't have much time to dwell on my feelings, however. A shadow passed in front of the bedroom window, and then someone knocked on the front door. I got up and pulled on my pajama pants, having only redressed enough to cover my breasts and other bits before falling asleep, and walked out into the snug living area.

"You missed breakfast, and someone made cinnamon rolls." Elaine grinned as she stepped inside and handed me a plate she'd covered in foil. I smiled, thanking her as she produced a fork from her pocket.

I sat down on the trunk to eat. while Elaine settled in the armchair. I was absolutely famished, and exceedingly gratefol she'd thought of me.

"Wliat're yoti up to today?" I asked, sighing as I took another bite. "These are really good!"

"Owen made them. He's not good for much outside of his baking skills." she teased, crossing her legs.

I hadn't had a single conversation with the man in question, but he seemed nice enough, and was just another one of the many seasonal workers who were present at Radcliffe estate.

"They kind of taste like... pumpkin?"

"Pumpkin icing," she nodded, shrugging her shoulders. "Speaking of pumpkins, that's what everyone is doing today. The fall harvest stalls next week, and the pumpkin patch is the most labor-intensive part of it. It's technically still the weekend, but we're getting a head start. You wanna join?"

I couldn't really refuse. Maxwell had put a pause on our field study, and it was likely Henry would drag me out of the herb garden if he caught me down there. I nodded and set the remains of the cinnamon roll on the counter before going to change out of my pajamas.

Ten minutes later. Elaine and I were walking through the grain field. The farm was truly expansive, and it took us a while on foot to reach the pumpkin patch. Several figures were milling about as we approached. They were cutting large, perfectly orange pumpkins from the vines and setting them in the back of a trailer, which hooked up to the back of Bethany's truck when it was foil.

“Where's Bethany?" one of the workers asked.

Elaine shrugged, waving her hand in dismissal.

"She went into the village on an errand. She took Xander with her." she shouted in reply as I followed her into the patch.

I was carrying my toolbox, which housed a variety of gardening tools I likely wouldn't need for this chore, but I felt better having them with me nonetheless. I planned on getting a soil sample, regardless of the rules.

"Xander went with her?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. I must have failed, because Elaine gave me a fonny look as we decided on a section of ripe pumpkins and knelt in the soil to begin freeing them from the vines.

"In a hurry. He was early for breakfast. The coffee hadn't even been brewed when he came to the bunkhouse, and when Bethany mentioned she was going to the village he jumped up. knocked his chair right over. They were gone in a flash."

“Weird," I mumbled, my face prickling with heat. Had he been trying to avoid... me?

“What's up with you?" Elaine grunted as she cut into a thick pumpkin vine. She snapped it with her hands, then examined the pumpkin before looking up at me expectantly.

"Nothing, just tired-"

head as she hacked into another vine. “You look better rested than you have since you arrived. And... you have a glow to your cheeks. What'd you and Xander get up to after dinner last night? We saw how

They were heavy, but I wanted to get as

me with her eyes as I hurried away, chuckling under her breath. I dumped my armfill into the trailer and wiped my brow, looking up to see Maxwell Radcliffe walking

I'd find you out here," he said, his mouth stretching into a

was handsome when he smiled,

to do." I

away from mine as he looked out over the field. “Where's that partner of

went into the village

out loud. He turned his gaze back to me, looking me up and down before offering

a question: it was a

**♦

Every inch of the facade was carved hi intricate designs and covered in thick, dark green vines that snaked up three stories toward the two

as I followed Maxwell along the path through

answered the door and ushered us inside, and I felt incredibly underdressed in my grimy work clothes and apron as I stepped into

motioned for me to follow him into a sitting room situated off the foyer. The hearth was absolutely blazing as I sat opposite him in a high-backed aimchair, and I felt a little sweaty and claustrophobic as

Maxwell seemed relaxed, liis skin staying the same, slightly pale color

"A drink?" he asked.

murmured, tugging at

glass of iced tea in front of me. and I drank it as quickly as was appropriate. The ice melted almost immediately, but it did

was drinking something hot. It smelled odd. and was quite pungent, even though he was seated several feet away. He was

whereabouts are

teased, taken aback at Iris lack of knowledge. Surely he received my student file before I arrived: that was the whole

his empty teacup on the coffee table, eyeing

sure. But there was something about his voice and the way his eyes bored into

heat washed over, and not from the hearth. I quickly changed the subject, wondering what the hell was the matter with me. "Henry said your family has lived

he's correct hi

the manor, and estate that it sat on. I listened as intently as possible, feeling more and more like I was going to die of heat stroke as a servant came in to put another log on the fire in ten minute

sat in a stupor of conflicting emotions and overwhelming heat. It wasn't until a different servant came in with a kettle

fragrant liquid into his tea

the smell

as I could, but found it impossible

blood root. I could smell it. That smell was burned into

Who was this man?

about the investigation?" I said hastily, adjusting my position

he said slowly, not meeting my eye. "but not

into Maxwell's ear. He nodded, liis eyes flashing with frustration as

he said, and led me out of the sitting room. “I assume you know your way

he was off. walking at a brisk pace with his back straight and shoulders rigid with tension. I walked into the foyer, watching as he disappeared around a comer and

of frustration, maybe even anger,

the butler, appearing before me like

over my chest as I sucked hi my breath. The butler was a kindly looking old man. however, who was staring blankly at me as I tried to bring

“I didn't know-"