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.

eat something." Xander

one eye to peer at him for a moment before closing it

* Xander*

her mouth slightly ajar as she drifted away mid-sentence. She'd been doing this for days now, flowing in and out of consciousness. I chewed my bottom

concerned about her as the days went on. She hadn't been able to keep anything down but an occasional sip of tea. I

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 what Lena

right. Lena needed to stay asleep, and

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 fact that Lena was

hated that I couldn't

was a fantastic actor, I could give her that much. There wasn't anyone

Crimson Creek's warriors laughed me away when I went 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, on some errand far north, and no one could get ahold

was now

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

was listening to my

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

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

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

tight smile, hoping that would be enough, and stepped out onto the

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 from deteriorating from lack of movement and strain. She'd already grown

I hoped that one day I'd have the

going

done. And I was going to

against the fallen beam, her body wasted and sunken. She didn't look like a person any longer. It was truly horrific. But the words that had been coming out of

saying anything and everything to try to convince us to let her go. But I could hear the lies in her 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

today she was weak, and tired, and pleading for us to just

answers," I said as I

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

“Your friends?"

and Henry. Where are

took them back to him," she said in a gravelly