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,

turning in a circle. "Where am

nose on my sleeve and sniffling as I gingerly crossed the threshold. Lightning lit up the sky overhead,

up the sky. striking a 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

unnerving and messed with my senses as I ran blindly into the woods. I tripped, falling hand onto my knees and ripping my pants. I could feel my broken skin as I lifted my head to look in

on my body stood on end as another flash of lightning lit the area, and the figure was bathed in a second

breathed, relief flooding me as he

of my face, and I leaned into his touch, letting my tears soak into his skin. "I'm going to fix this," he said, his voice a distant echo. “I'm sorry. Lena.

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

for you." someone said behind

my head and

falling around me and pelting my skin as it ceased. The moon was moving rapidly around the man's head, shadows dancing

face was beautiful. I realized, too perfect to be real. He tilted his head to the side as he looked me over, his wide, frill mouth flexing into a

he took a step forward, bowing his head to me. "My

whispered, my mouth going

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

But it can

"For what-"

only be you." he repeated, liis eyes flashing a crimson

my hands trembling as I held them out to steady myself as I walked backward over the twisted tree roots along the forest floor. "I

and

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

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

forest and W'as momentarily blinded by the sun. I fell

nibbing my eyes and then clawing at the ground, trying to crawl blindly forward on my hands and

in

as my breath

first female voice said sternly, chuckling a little. "She'll get her bearings soon enough. But she shouldn't be

"Where am I?"

"Safe." she said.

She was dressed in a strange way, wearing a long, flowing dress made of what looked like a mix of silk and fresh

seen another goddess before, have you. my love?" She gave me a warm smile, extending her

"That man-"