Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 29 : This is Paradise

*Lena*

“I didn't mean to." I whispered. Dad had his back turned to me as he gazed out the window. His hand was on the windowsill, his eyes on the garden below. "What did I do to her?"

"Try to get some rest-"

"Is she okay?" I asked in a choked whisper.

He turned liis head, but looked past me at the door to my bedroom, his eyes vacant of emotion.

I followed his gaze, noticing the ivy snaking up the walls of my bedroom. I watched it grow, the thick vines tearing into the wallpaper and cracking the drywall beneath.

"I don't know how to stop." I cried, turning to look at Dad again. But he was gone.

"Dad?" I said into tire empty space before me. I looked up at the ceiling where the ivy was crawling and spir aling, mapping itself around the chandelier. "Mama!"

I wiped tears from my eyes and got out of bed. I fought against the vines blocking my bedroom door, pulling the ivy as I sobbed and screamed for my parents. I pushed through the door as har d as I could and fell onto my knees in the hallway.

But it was cold, and the floor was made of stone, cool to the touch. I str aightened out my Angers, pressing my palms to the floor as I looked up. I was staring down tire aisle of what looked like a church, a temple, my eyes focusing on the only color other than the gray of the granite walls, and pews made of wood so old they had faded to a soft, dusty silver.

White roses covered an altar at the end of the aisle. They were wilted, their petals falling to the ground as I rose to my knees. A woman was sitting in the first row of pews, her back to me. Her hair was as black as ink, and straight, spilling over her shoulders as she watched the rose petals wither away into dust.

I rose to my feet but stumbled on my first step forward. My misstep echoed through the temple, but the women didn't turn to look at me.

"Hello?" I said.

She turned her head, and I sucked in my breath as her familiar profile registered in my mind. She was incredibly young, my age. in fact.

"I didn't think I'd see you again." she said softly. “I come here often."

"Where are we?"

She wasn't looking at me. but I saw the faintest smile touch her cheek. Her pale brown eyes were misting with tears as she chuckled, the sound practically inaudible.

"You told me you wouldn't remember." she whispered.

"What do you mean?" I took a single step forward. But I blinked, and in a split second, she was gone.

through the spires of granite blocks that were still standing. I opened and closed my mouth, my

cried, turning in a

temple. I walked toward it. wiping my nose on my sleeve and sniffling as I

nearby tr ee. It burst into

the shelter of the temple, but it was gone, replaced by trees that had been str ipped bare of all their leaves, their branches twisted and gnarled. I had nowhere to seek refuge from the storm

my senses as I ran blindly into the woods. I tripped, falling hand onto my knees and ripping my pants. I could

in shadow. Every hair on my body stood on end as another flash of lightning

relief flooding me as he began

soak into his skin. "I'm going to fix this," he said, his voice a distant echo. “I'm sorry. Lena. This wasn't

his touch was gone. I reached out to him. but he was far away, his shadowed figure turned away from me. I could hear his voice, but it was

waiting for you." someone

turned my head and saw another

as it ceased. The

was a stranger. His face was beautiful. I realized, too perfect to be real. He tilted his head to the side as he looked

forward, bowing his head to me. "My wife. Mother

my mouth going

liis head. liis dark hair falling from behind his ears and over his shoulders as

with so many. But it

"For what-"

repeated, liis eyes flashing a

my hands trembling as I held them out to steady myself as I walked backward over the

and I

and sharpened to a fine point. His lip curled over his teeth as he laughed. Dozens upon

could cany me. I was screaming Xander's name. I felt pressure on my shoulders, like I was being held down. Voices erupted around me. mixing together in a way that was impossible for me to understand what I was hearing. I screamed for help over and over again. I could

momentarily blinded by the sun. I

I screamed, nibbing my eyes and then clawing at the ground, trying

said a female voice somewhere in front

fragrant. I squeezed it between my fingers as my breath began to regulate.

sternly, chuckling a little. "She'll get her bearings soon enough. But she shouldn't be here, not

"Where am I?"

"Safe." she said.

to clear. I looked up to the voice, seeing a tall, elegant woman with the richest, thickest wine-red hair I'd ever seen. She was dressed in a strange way, wearing a long, flowing dress made of what looked

my love?" She gave me a warm smile,

"That man-"