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.

to eat something." Xander coaxed, but I shook my

one eye to peer at him for a moment before closing it again. "But I

* Xander*

drifted away mid-sentence. She'd been doing this for days now, flowing in and out of consciousness. I chewed my bottom lip as I looked down

more concerned about her as the days went on. She hadn't been able to keep anything down but an occasional sip of tea. I knew Alma was dosing her heavily with something to keep her at rest and relieve

again, I remembered vividly the pain of the wound Jen had given me when she bit me. The scratches on my back and shoulders, which had already healed without an ounce of discomfort, were markedly different from

and calm, until the near-fatal injury began to

seemed to get a little better, but then 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 she were an infant. I'd already sent a letter, being as vague as possible about the situation and hiding the

I couldn't tell them the

was closed off in that regard. She was a fantastic actor, I could give her that much. There wasn't anyone else I'd trust to lie througli their teeth like Lena could. But someone needed

of Breles likely didn't care about what was happening this far west. Maxwell

now a waiting

to Lena's chin and tucked it around her, gripping her upper arms for a moment and saying another desperate

my pleas for not only her survival

that I was too rigid and closed off to have realized I was falling in love with

was met by the usual cooking smells as I walked down the stairs. Alma and her youngest brother, a young man named Abel, were standing near the health talking in low tones as I nodded in their direction

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

hoping that would be enough,

day had been the same since I'd arrived 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 wounds and moved her legs on occasion, trying to keep her muscles

hoped that one

was going

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. She didn't look like a person any longer. It was truly horrific.

voice. Gideon was right. Jen was no longer there, and she hadn't been for a long time. Whatever she was now, well, was primal, second nature, something hidden deep within every shifter that was never meant to see the light

she was weak, and tired, and pleading for

I said as I knelt a few feet in front

at this point, but her eyes lowered to look me straight in

“Your friends?"

Henry.

said in