Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 19 : Get Away from Me!

*Lena*

I slept like the dead the entire train ride back to Morhan. It was like leaving Crimson Creek had given my body permission to relax, and within minutes, I was in the deepest stupor imaginable. Seven hours later I found myself walking through the college town Morhan University was named after, my duffle bag slung over my shoulder as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

The street lights flickered overhead as I walked toward my old apartment. It was fall break, and normally that meant my roommates and I would have an entire week of downtime to study for our semester finals. But this year, our senior year. I would be alone while Heather. Viv, and Abigail were away for their field studies.

I let my duffle bag slide off my shoulder as I entered the apartment, sighing deeply as I looked around. Nothing had changed, for which I was grateful. It felt good to be home, even if it meant my field study was on pause. Even though my old room was currently packed away in boxes, I'd have a pillow to lay my head on in a bed I didn't have to share with Xander.

Xander. I hadn't even thought about him since I woke up from my journey back to Morhan. I sighed, trying to brush away the feelings of regret lingering in my heart as I bent to untie my shoes in the narrow front hallway.

I stepped into the apartment, dragging my duffle bag behind me as I made a mental checklist of everything I needed to do while I was home. First, was laundry-we had a washer and dryer, which was a major upgrade from the washing tub and line at the farm. Next. I wanted to spend a few days in the library researching anything I could find about blood root. Last, I had a few phone calls to make and letters to write, which I was dreading.

"What're you doing here?"

I dropped the strap of my duffle bag and looked up at Abigail, who was standing in the center of the living room in nothing but a terry cloth robe and a towel wrapped around her hair.

‘•What are you doing here?" I repeated.

We were shocked to see each other. I w'as supposed to be in Crimson Creek, and Abigail w'as supposed to be across the sea, in Mirage.

“You first," she said, furrowing her brow at me.

“It's a long story-"

“I was just about to have a glass of wine. Want one?"

Yes. I definitely did.

Abi kept her eyes fixed on me as she stepped into the kitchen and popped the cork on a half-full bottle of cheap wine. She looked suspicious. I'm stue my expression was very much the same.

“So?" I said, accepting the wine she’d poured.

“So... I'm obviously not in Mirage." she said with a little sigh, but then her mouth twitched into a smile. "I got another opportunity, and I will leave next week."

“Where?"

for the royal wedding. I'm going to Avondale for a few7 weeks to train with the Alpha of Poldesse's head florist before graduation. Then, well, I guess I got that invitation to the wedding after all. I'll be at the palace the day of the wedding, setting up all the flowers and

gave her my best smile, but

sipping her wine before fixing me with an intense stare. "Enough about me.

took a deep breath,

“Lena?"

I said, then brought my glass of wine to my lips, draining the entire glass. “I slept with

a snug table overlooking the street. Abigail was listening intently as I told her

the insane happenings on Radcliffe Fann-the murder, the dying plants, and the

a waiter to bring us another round. I shrugged, miming my

weren't really together," I

against her

“What do you mean?"

basket gathering cool plants? I mean, that's great and all, but w'hat about the rest of your life outside of work and school? Don't

Xander's not my mate. I feel like I would know7, even just

did he say w7hen you ended

told me he'd see me when I got back, that w7e'd talk about it

it doesn't seem like

"I

a curious

how71 could even explain

curtain of practiced calm reserve. I rarely raised my voice. My smiles were often forced. I languished in an

was chipping away at that, and sometimes I

person I become when I'm around him," I said, thinking that was close enough to the truth to

not a

think he's great. But he's bossy, and demanding... and sometimes cold. And. the events of the past few7 weeks threw7 us together, Abi. It's not like I even had

asked with a twinkle in

my head. "It doesn't matter how71

is your first time falling for someone, isn't it? Not as easy as the novels make

She glanced over to the other end of the bar, where a group of older women w7as gathered around a table. They were obviously a book club, judging by the books stacked

finger on the table. A waiter placed tw7o mugs of mulled wine in front of us, and she smiled her thanks up at him.

it about?" I asked, thankful the

the southern pass, if you can believe it. It's incredible. It doesn't even feel like fiction. It has pirates, treasure, and a love story. She finds her mate, but he

w'ine, struggling

She shrugged again.