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

and 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.

* Xander*

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

was growing more and 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

me. The scratches on my back and shoulders, which had already healed without an ounce of discomfort, were

right. Lena needed to stay asleep, and calm, until the

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

I couldn't

family. She 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 to know what was going on in Crimson

him about what had been happening. The Alpha of Breles likely didn't care about what was happening this far west. Maxwell Radcliffe was

now a

around her, gripping her upper arms for a moment and saying

was listening to my pleas for not

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

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 before heading toward the front

eat something other than soup," Alma said in a motherly

hoping that would be enough, and stepped out onto

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

told her about what Alma said, not yet. I hoped that one

going

had to be done. And I was going to be the one to do

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. But the words that had been coming

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

weak, and tired, and pleading for us to

but I want answers," I said as I

move her head at this point, but her eyes lowered to look

“Your friends?"

and Henry. Where

to him," she said