Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 39 : We Need to Talk

♦Lena*

Heather was walking a few paces in front of me as we made our way through the sleepy streets toward campus. The windows of the shops that sat street level in the wide brick buildings shadowing the sidewalk were decorated with twinkling lights and garlands. Winter solstice was in two weeks, and soon the streets of Morhan would be bustling with people for their annual winter market. It brought people to Morhan in droves, sometimes traveling all the way from Breles to witness the thick snowfall lining the streets and vendors selling trinkets and cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate.

The solstice market had been the backdrop to some of my fondest memories as a Morhan student, and every year I'd gathered up gifts from the vendors and scattered them around to my sprawling family members, hoping I'd remembered to get something for everyone.

This year felt different. As we walked along the street with snow piling around our ankles, the only thing on my mind was Xander. I was conflicted about whether or not I wanted to see him again. I'd told Viv and Heather everything about what had happened between us, but left out the grisly tidbits about the murders, and the fact I had been nearly sliced in half by an unearthly beast from the depths of Hell itself.

“It must be nice not having classes to worry about right now," Viv said, rolling her eyes as she shifted the weight of her backpack on her shoulder.

“You only have two finals left before winter break," Heather grinned over her shoulder, doing a little twirl and kicking powder- fine snow in her wake, “but it is freeing, you know, not having to even think about homework or tests or professors."

“But you're going to be a professor next semester!" Viv said with a little laugh. I looked at Heather, who shrugged, smirking playfully as she waited for me and Viv to catch up to her.

“I didn't know you were going to be teaching on campus," I pressed, linking my aim with hers. She c****d her head, her eyes glistening with mirth.

"Only for the spring semester, and it's just a 101 class for first-year students. Algebra, I believe, but nothing is set in stone. They could have me teaching literature for all I know."

“At least you won't have to share the adjunct faculty break room with Slate," Viv chimed as she linked her aim in mine on the other side, so I was snuggled between the two of them as we walked down the icy sidewalk toward campus.

“Slate?" I asked, grimacing. "Is he not teaching-"

“He got fired!" Heather exclaimed, her face brightening with glee. "Selves him right, the creep. Last I heard he was packing up to move out of town."

"That's great news," I breathed, exhaling deeply around the words.

Heather leaned her head against my shoulder for a moment, but Viv slipped, nearly dragging us all down to the ground. Once we'd recovered. Heather said, "Maybe you can apply for a job here too, and you wouldn't have to move out of our apartment. Viv and I are dreading getting new roommates once you and Abigail leave."

“I'm going to apply to the Agricultural Institute. They're looking for researchers," I replied. Heather glowered at me. shaking her head.

“And move where?"

near Red Lakes. There are a few new packs

Viv was smiling though, and she

sounds perfect for you, Lena. Maybe you'll meet your

but beneath my gloves. I felt the love line on my palm tingle painfully.

archways of snow-covered trees that led to campus. Students milled about in small groups, and the occasional person rushed past us, balancing textbooks in their hands. Viv reluctantly left us, her face shadowed by frustration as she huffed toward her classes. She'd be graduating in the spring. Only one

finals out of the park." Heather sighed, looking after Viv as we continued across

little jealous," I

"Of what? Homework?"

“Having something to study."

a day in your life, have

our heavy parkas as we stepped inside. We walked down a long hallway to the left where

overachievers," Heather gripped as she looked around the meager spread of food and cheap coffee laid out on the back table. A banner hung over the projector at the front of the room with “Congradulatians Graduates" written by hand-and misspelled. "Goddess," Heather sniffed, shaking her head. "Do they even know how much we've spent to be here? Can't even spell congratulations

carpeted floor was slightly damp from everyone's snowy winter boots. The room wasn’t very full at all. Maybe another dozen or so students milled about looking slightly uncomfortable. Heather handed me two paper cups of coffee and took off her own coat, tossing it casually on one

felt electric all of the sudden. I felt as though I'd shock Heather if I reached out and touched her. My skin felt hot as I handed her back her coffee and began to

murmuring and laughing as they came tlu ough the door. Xander had just started to pull his aims tlu ough his coat when he stopped, turning to head to look at me. My heart dropped into my stomach as his eyes locked on

touching me lightly on the elbow and effectively breaking whatever spell

gaze and turned to Heather. "Fine." I whispered. My throat felt tight, and I found it

can leave. We're not going to miss

alright, really. I'm just

us with his friend. She glared, and out

she sat down beside me.

felt her hand move, and I knew she was flipping him off based on the shocked chuckle and murmured question

woman appeared, sliding into our

here-" Gina Kelly, a classmate and close friend of Abigail, sat down next to us, smiling

rolling her eyes. "It's not all surprising. The dean's abrupt departure messed everything up for us graduates. I heard the

her ami from my shoulder and leaving forward to