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-"

you have since you arrived. And... you have a glow to your cheeks. What'd you and Xander get up to after dinner

They were heavy, but I wanted to get as far away from the conversation

I dumped my armfill into the trailer and

out here," he said, his mouth stretching

I couldn't quite read his expression, but he was handsome when he smiled,

to do."

mine as he looked out

into the village with

did," he replied, but not to me. It sounded more like he hadn't meant to say it out loud. He turned his gaze back to me, looking me up and down before offering me his aim. “I think it's time I showed you the manor. It's a short walk

a question: it

**♦

Every inch of the facade was carved hi intricate designs and covered in thick,

gape up at the impressive stained-glass windows as I followed

butler answered the door and ushered us inside, and I felt incredibly underdressed in my grimy work clothes and

house, though, especially when Maxwell 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

the same, slightly pale color while my

"A drink?" he asked.

I murmured, tugging at my

a 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 cure the

hot. It smelled odd. and was quite pungent, even though he was seated several feet away. He was eyeing me. tapping his finger against his

Lena, whereabouts are you fr

Surely he received my student file before I arrived: that was the whole point. My file would have shown that my studies aligned with the needs of the farm,

his empty teacup on the

myself. Maxwell had a strange, overwhelmingly charismatic aura about him. He was handsome, that was for sure. But there was something about his voice and the way his eyes bored into mine

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 here for centuries.” I said, wishing I had more tea as my breath

he's correct

I was going to die of heat stroke as a servant came in to put another log on the fire in ten minute intervals. It was not nearly cold enough outside to need such a fine, but I was a guest. Who was I to even comment

heat. It wasn't until a different servant came in with a kettle that I broke out of

poured a black, fragrant liquid into his

the

could, but found it impossible to move. Manners and sheer curiosity kept me

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

Who was this man?

there any news about the investigation?" I

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

ear. He nodded,

led me out of the sitting room. “I assume you know your

with his back straight and shoulders rigid

frustration, maybe even anger, come

sister." said the butler, appearing

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

“I didn't know-"