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-"

shaking her 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

standing up with two pumpkins in my arms. They were heavy, but I wanted to get as far away from the conversation as

breath. I dumped my armfill into

here," he said, his mouth

man. I couldn't quite read his expression, but he was handsome when he smiled, at least. I straightened my back a little as he

to do."

eyes away from mine as he looked out

into the village

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

a question:

**♦

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

gape up at the impressive stained-glass windows as I followed Maxwell along the path through

I felt incredibly underdressed in my

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

seemed relaxed, liis skin staying the same, slightly

"A drink?" he asked.

murmured,

in front of me. and I drank it as quickly as was appropriate. The ice melted

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

whereabouts are you fr

arrived: that was the whole point. My file would have shown that my studies aligned

set his empty teacup on the coffee table, eyeing

myself. Maxwell had a strange, overwhelmingly charismatic aura about him. He was handsome, that was for sure. But there

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

correct hi

of heat stroke as a servant came in to put another log on the fire in ten minute intervals.

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

fragrant

the

it impossible to move. Manners

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

Who was this man?

there any news about the investigation?" I said hastily, adjusting my position in

he said slowly, not meeting my

into Maxwell's ear. He nodded, liis eyes flashing with frustration as he set liis teacup down and stood, offering me his

said, and led me out of the

nod before he was off. walking at a brisk pace with his back straight and shoulders rigid with

a scream of frustration, maybe

said the butler, appearing before me like

was a kindly looking old man. however, who was staring blankly

“I didn't know-"