Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 68 : The Alpha of Cedar Hollow

*Lena*

“I'm sorry," said the man, his wide mouth curving into a friendly smile. “I heard the village got a new teacher today. I was curious. It was rude of me to intrude."

I gripped the door handle, trying to calm the rapid beating of my heart and the gut-wrenching disappointment rippling through my veins. The man could've been Xander; he looked like him from behind at least. He was very tall with dark curly hair, but his face was unlike Xander's in every way. He had bright blue eyes that sparkled in the light of the porch lamp. They probably changed color depending on what he was wearing, at least I thought so. He was handsome but boyish, with pale freckles dotting the bridge of his sharp nose. He couldn't have been much older than me, maybe even younger.

There wasn't a shadow of darkness around him, either. He was just… happy–happy, with a kind, welcoming face.

I smiled at him.

“Word travels fast," I replied, clearing my throat as I let go of the doorknob and stepped out onto the porch.

“Yeah, it really does. In this town, at least. My name is… uh, Hale."

“Lena." I smiled, which was met by a brilliant smile in reply. A beautiful smile, I realized, as my stomach did a little flip, followed by a wave of guilt. I tried to hide the flush that drained the color from my cheeks as I tried in vain to push the thought of Xander from my mind.

“I'm sorry again, for disturbing you. I don't know what I was thinking–"

“It's fine, really. I was just heading out. The groundskeeper said there was a diner nearby."

“Oh, Granny's Diner? Yeah, it's not far. I can walk you there if you want." A blush colored his cheeks, and some of the tension left my shoulders. “But it's okay, if not. It's easy to find, actually. It's the only thing that's open this late."

“Sure, we can walk together. I didn't really have a chance to explore today."

It was true. I'd been led out of the small office connected to the bus station straight to the cottage, and that had been that. I hadn't even seen the village yet. The only other building I'd seen during the walk from the station to my cottage was a large castle built into the side of the nearby mountain, and as I looked up at it now, amber light filled multiple windows, washing out the rest of the castle and making the windows seem like stars nestled against the gray cliffs of the mountain. Hale noticed my gaze and gave me a half smile, c*****g his head in the direction of the distant castle.

“The Alpha lives there," he said shyly and with a little shrug.

“I figured as much," I answered with a little laugh. “I don't know many people who just live in castles for the hell of it."

He extended his arm to me, and I slipped my arm into his as he led us out of the front garden and down a darkened road.

We hadn't made it far before a rustling cut through the airy silence, and a group of four wolves darted across the pathway in front of us and back into the trees. I stiffened, but Hale chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Better get used to it. You'll see a lot of that around here."

“Your village doesn't have limitations for when and where people can shift?"

“No, not at all. You can shift whenever you want, wherever you want."

“Hm." I smiled, watching a lone wolf dart out of the trees and sprint along the path in front of us before it disappeared into the treeline again. I'd heard some of the western packs were strict about shifting. “I can't shift yet."

“Really?"

“I'm not twenty one until this summer," I said with a shrug.

“I just turned twenty one last month," he said with a little sigh. “And honestly, it wasn't as intense as I thought it would be, you know? Turning into a wolf is cool and all, but it wasn't this big, magical event."

“That's actually nice to hear," I said with honesty. I was done with big, magical events. I'd be happy to never use an ounce of my powers again.

We continued down the gravel path, and eventually, the straight trail turned abruptly to the right, and through the trees, I could see more cottages scattered through the darkened woods, their porch lamps the only light cutting through the inky black night.

“How many people live here?" I asked.

“Oh, maybe sixty adults. I'm not sure how many children are around right now. This territory was only claimed thirty years ago. Most of the children born when the pack came into existence are having kids of their own now."

I wanted to ask him how many kids I'd be up against when school started, but I knew my voice would waver on the words.

“This place used to be home to a rogue tribe, but they were chased out of the area when the road was built through the northern continent. But some of the buildings in the village are from the era. It's an interesting history. At least I think so."

As he spoke, the village sprang up beneath us as he walked down a gentle hill. It was circular, with three loops of buildings and shops encasing what looked like a temple in the center. A few lights in the village were on, but it was easy to spot the diner, which was lit up like a lighthouse against an endless sea of night.

“Do you want some company while you eat?" he asked, then pursed his lips as I looked up at him. “That was forward. I'm sorry."

“Do you always say sorry so often?" I teased.

He arched his brow, his mouth twitching into a smile. “I'm sorry–I mean, yeah. I guess I do."

“You can eat with me if you want. I don't know anyone else here except for Olive and the groundskeeper. I didn't catch his name."

“That would be Randell–nice guy, not much of a talker. Olive, though… how was she? I try to avoid her if I can."

“She's odd," I laughed as we approached the diner, “but friendly enough. She offered me the job. I came here for the position of horticulturist for the Alpha, but it wasn't available."

“Huh," he said, stopping short of the diner. “I didn't realize that position was even open in the first place."

He almost seemed like he was talking to himself, his eyes lost in faraway thought. He arched his brows, shaking his head a bit as he held open the door to the diner for me.

I walked inside, and Hale walked in behind me.

It was a dark, cozy place. Everything was dark wood and red velvet, which seemed odd given the patrons who took up the booths along the darkened windows. Men covered in grime and coal smears drank pints of beer, and a few women mingled in a group near a jukebox, turning their heads as we entered. One of the women was young, my age at the most, her curly golden brown hair piled in a bun on the top of her head. She looked surprised as she locked her gaze on Hale as we sat down in an empty booth, then narrowed her eyes on me.

“Don't pay her any mind," he smirked, nodding his head at her in greeting. “That's my sister."

“Oh–"

“Twin sister. She's mad at me right now."

“Why?"

“It changes every day," he said with a shrug, picking up a menu. “Do you have any siblings?"

“Yes," I said without thinking, then swallowed back the lie.

He eyed me for a moment before looking down at a laminated menu on the table. I was waiting for him to start asking where I was from, or about my family, but he didn't. He ordered the “special," whatever that was, and I did the same, hoping it was something I would end up liking.

“So you have no teaching experience?" he asked as I stirred a sugar packet into the iced tea I'd ordered.

“Not a bit, but I do have a lot of young cousins. That has to count for something."

He sighed deeply, giving me a playful look through his lashes.

“What?" I asked, smiling at him before sipping my tea. “What's that look for?"

“You're in for it, is all. I'm sure Olive told you about the previous teachers. You're teaching kindergarten, right?"

I pursed my lips. Had I told him that?

“Yeah, I am."

“Hm, well. That particular class has gone through four teachers in the last three months alone."

“What? Why?"

“Because they're hellions. They'll need a firm hand. I hope you're up for it."

My stomach twisted in a knot, but he chuckled beneath his breath, shaking his head.

“I'm joking–"

“Are you? You don't seem like it–"