Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 58 : All Grown Up

*Xander*

I'd never seen so much pink in my life.

I felt a little nauseous as I walked through the throng of people gathered to witness the nuptials of Prince William of the Isles and whoever the hell he was marrying. Pink flowers lined the walkway that wove through the tropical back garden of the palace, which would have been beautiful had it not been tarnished by the bubblegum color streamers hanging from the palm trees.

People did comment on the absurd decorations, but nobody looked more uncomfortable than the Luna of Poldesse, who was looking just as green as I felt as she greeted the guests with a mask of dignity and grace.

William hadn't been at the dinner the night before, and neither had his betrothed, and as dinner progressed and the wine was poured, it was painfully obvious to me that no one was particularly looking forward to the marriage.

I'd heard the rumors, of course. It was hard not to after spending several months on campus in Morhan, where every girl had a marked obsession with the princes of Poldesse. Poor Prince Oliver was jilted by his longtime lover, and now she was marrying his brother.

It made my complicated relationship with Lena look like a walk in the park.

Speaking of Lena, I hadn't seen or heard from her in the past twenty-four hours. I knew she was avoiding me, especially since I'd been invited to stay at the palace until the wedding took place and had accepted the invitation. I'd hoped to get her alone again by now to clear the air and patch things up, but that seemed more and more unlikely as the day went on.

Now the guests were filling the aisles of white wrought-iron chairs woven with pink tulle, and Lena was nowhere to be seen.

I lingered in the back, hoping to catch a glimpse of her before I took a seat but found myself glancing toward the only shred of gold shimmer against the dense foliage and tower palms that sheltered the garden. The palace was just visible as I turned around, watching as two figures moved behind the foliage. If they were trying to stay hidden, well, they weren't doing a very good job.

Curiosity got the best of me and I broke for the trees, nodding my hellos to the passing nobility of whatever the hell packs they came from as I walked briskly toward the palms.

I saw the glint of a glass bottle catch in the sun as I walked around the palms along a stone pathway, and I came face to face with Oliver and Charlie, who were standing out of view from the guests and leaning against the back wall of what looked like a pool house. Oliver paused with the bottle of bourbon in his hands, his eyes meeting mine before he lifted the bottle to his lips and took the longest, most deliberate swig I'd ever witnessed.

“You're going to throw up," Charlie said as he took the bottle from his brother, then tilted his head to me in greeting. Oliver wiped his mouth, his cheeks going ruddy as the alcohol burned through him.

“If you do, aim for the flutist," I said, giving both men a wry grin.

“Ears ringing too?" Charlie said with an arch of his brow.

I liked Charlie. He'd been at dinner that night before, and I found his company agreeable and enjoyable, which was rare. I was only a few years older than the triplet princes, and Charlie and I were both men of the world and had an awful lot in common.

Everyone had been kind, actually.

Oliver, on the other hand....

“What do you want?" he slurred, reaching for the bottle that Charlie was holding just out of his reach.

“Entertainment," I deadpanned, motioning for the bottle, which Charlie handed to me without hesitation. I took a swig, but not nearly the amount that Oliver had just downed. He looked as though he was maintaining his composure, at least.



The three of us stood in awkward silence for a moment before Oliver fixed his gaze on me, looking me up and down.

“Have you seen Lena?" I asked.

Oliver narrowed his eyes, giving me a ferocious scowl. Charlie, ever amiable, shrugged and shook his head.

“I've seen her like, twice, the entire time she's been back on the island," Charlie said as I passed him back the bottle. He bent down and tucked it behind a rock, ruffling the leaves a bit to cover it lest someone walk by. “She keeps to herself."

“Oh–"

“She's avoiding you," Oliver said sharply, pointing a finger at me.

“I'm sure she is," I replied, which startled him a bit. “I did wrong by her. I'm here to make it right."

“Really?" Charlie chuckled, looking somewhat confused.

I'd talked to him for most of the dinner the night before, but not once had anyone mentioned Lena's name. It wasn't for me to talk about, anyway. This was her family. This was her decision.

“He said she's his mate," Oliver said hotly, but Charlie only seemed slightly amused as he looked at me with those familiar blue eyes–blue gems, sapphires. Oliver had one that color. He had his father's set of mismatched eyes, one blue, and one gray. The combination made Oliver look like some unearthly being, especially with his red hair and the snarl plastered on his face as he looked at me.

“She is," I said slowly, beginning to raise my hands. “But we ended things–"

“She obviously doesn't want anything to do with you," Oliver snapped, but Charlie held his hand up, his curiosity overwhelming whatever desire he had to protect his cousin's heart.

“She didn't know who I was, not fully. I need to talk to her. Where can I find her now?"

“Well, the ceremony is starting any minute," Charlie said, straightening up and smoothing his tuxedo. He was dressed to the nines, whereas Oliver was wearing a loose-fitting button-up shirt, shorts, and sandals. He looked more like he was going to the beach than his brother's wedding. “The bride is running late. I assume Lena is with the other women, helping her dress, or whatever they do during these things." Charlie waved his hand in dismissal.

“In the palace?" I asked, taking a step to the side to take my leave.

Charlie nodded, but Oliver straightened to his full height, his chest puffing out like he was readying for a fight.

I could take him. All of the princes were strong, built like workhorses just like their father. I doubted Oliver had done much combat training, however. I'd have him on his belly the second he lunged at me.

I eyed him, nostrils flaring as I silently willed him to try.

“Would you relax?" Charlie hissed at his brother.

“Leave Lena alone," Oliver growled. I realized then, based on the look of pure, unadulterated hatred toward me in his eyes, that Oliver might know the whole truth about us. I'd wondered if Lena had a close familial confidant, and that was definitely Oliver.

“I will," I said, taking another step backward, “once I have a moment to talk to her–"

“Hey!" Oliver snapped as I turned on my heel and walked briskly toward the palace.

I heard Charlie mumbling at him, telling him to calm down.

I walked along the side of the palace where guests were mingling in small groups, standing in the shade while they waited for the wedding to begin. No one seemed to notice when I rattled a few side doors to the palace, eventually finding one unlocked, and slipped inside.

***

*Lena*

The red dress fit like a glove. I ran my fingers over it as I stood in front of the full length mirror in my room, my mom looping the crimson pearl buttons up my back.

“It's beautiful," she breathed, her eyes twinkling as they met mine in the mirror. “This color is incredible on you."

“I thought the wedding was taking place in the cathedral," I murmured, unable to hide the color rising in my cheeks. “It feels too formal for a garden wedding."

“It was a last-minute change. Your aunt is… Maeve told me she's taking a long vacation after this is all said and done," Mom said with a wry smile, walking around to look at the front of the dress. She fluffled the sleeves and smoothed the fabric over the bodice as I held my arms out for her. “Just lovely, Lena. I'd never thought of a cut like this for you. It suits your body so–so well–"

Her eyes were watering as I looked up at her. She was starting to cry.