Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 28 : The Truth

*Lena*

‘•What do you remember?" Xander asked as he handed me a glass of water.

“Everything," I winced, swallowing against the pain that seemed to radiate over every inch of my body. I'd been out for three days, according to Xander. He looked like he hadn't slept the entire time.

He told me everything that had happened after I lost consciousness. I listened as intently as I could, even though I was on the edge of sleep once more. I felt like my body was fighting itself, every cell and fiber at war with some unknown enemy. My throat was sore, and my eyes watered. I felt like I had a cold or flu, to be honest. I didn't necessarily feel like my stomach had just been ripped open by a raging, rabid beast who Xander told me, point blank, had been Jen.

“I thought you were going to die," he said after a long pause in his retelling of the past three or four days. His voice was stem, almost like he was disappointed in me.

“I'm sorry-"

“No, I am sorry. This situation... I acted out of impulse."

“You were trying to find my friend." I replied weakly, my voice catching in my throat. We'd captured the beast, but there was still no sign of Elaine and Henry. I tried to give him a smile, but didn't have the strength. In truth, waking up from my pained, uneasy slumber to his face looking down at me was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Dramatic, yes, but I could barely describe the relief and sheer joy at the fact he was alright.

He'd saved my life by allowing me to stay here, with total strangers. My wounds were healing slowly, but they were healing. Xander had stayed by my side the entire time.

“I don't think I can get out of bed yet." I whispered, closing my eyes again.

“It's fine. There's nowhere you need to be-"

"Our field study-"

“It's over. Lena. It's done. We can't go back. When you're well enough to walk, we'll stay in Crimson Creek. Gideon has an apartment there-"

“But graduation-"

“Morlian is giving you back every single penny you paid in tuition over the years, as well as your diploma and a stellar recommendation to any job you want after this, Lena, mark my words. I'll wring the dean's neck if not."

I couldn't help but smile. For the first time in my life, I had not a single care in the world. It felt nice. I was relaxed. I was happy, if that was even possible given the situation. I wondered what kind of medicine I'd been given to make me feel this way.

Xander coaxed, but I

I couldn't keep it down," I said, opening one eye to peer at him for a moment before closing it again. "But I did drink the tea. It

* Xander*

her mouth slightly ajar as she drifted away mid-sentence. She'd been doing this for days

anything down but an occasional sip of tea. I knew Alma was dosing her heavily with something to

given me when she bit me. The scratches on my back and shoulders, which had already healed without an ounce

right. Lena needed to stay asleep, and

she'd run another vicious fever. She'd cry out for her parents, her whimpers cutting into my soul as I held her against my chest, rocking her back and forth as though

that I couldn't

was closed off in that regard. She was a fantastic actor, I could give her that much.

to his heavily guarded compound to try to tell him about what had been happening. The Alpha of Breles likely didn't care about what was happening this far west. Maxwell Radcliffe was gone, apparently,

now a waiting

a blanket up to Lena's chin and tucked it around her, gripping her upper arms

listening to my pleas for

to have realized I was falling in love with her until she was on death's doorstep, and I hated myself for

I was met by the usual cooking smells as I walked down the stairs. Alma and her youngest brother, a young man named

a roast on for dinner. You need to eat something other than soup," Alma said in

smile, hoping that would be enough,

at Gideon's farm. I spent most of the day with Lena, talking to her even though I didn't think she could hear a word I said. I checked on her

what Alma said, not yet. I hoped that one day I'd have the

going to kill

be done. And I was going to be

his brother Silas. The two of them were leaning against one of the old stalls, watching as Jen slumped against the fallen beam, her body wasted and sunken.

no longer there, and she hadn't

and tired, and pleading for us to just kill

want answers," I said

to look me straight in the face, her

“Your friends?"

Henry.

to him," she said in