Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 794

Chapter 5 : What Are You Doing in Here?

“Eliza* It was my third full day at the grand estate of Jared, otherwise known as “His Royal Highness the King of Murderous Criminals,” who now employed me as a laundry maid.

I thought that title fit him perfectly, and felt rather clever for coming up with it.

I was used to being around men with chips on their shoulders, like the pompous, arrogant assholes who thought their presence at even the most insignificant archeological dig site was a divine gift from the Goddess herself.

Jared was a bit different, though.

Everyone here worshiped the ground that he walked on.

He wasn’t boastful, or rude.

But he was standoffish, cold, and looked at me like I was a disease threatening to spread among his people.

He was suspicious of me, sure.

But I was just as suspicious of him.

That man had secrets, dark ones.

And even though I should have been focusing on my imminent escape, I couldn’t help but lean into my undying curiosity about not only Jared, but his lands, and his house.

It was bizarre, really.

My first full day at his house had been spent on strict bed rest overseen by Miriam.

She was sure I’d knocked my brain right out of my skull, and she may have been right.

I definitely had a concussion, but the wound had healed nicely, and quickly, much to her surprise.

She kept me in bed regardless, feeding me warm, hearty meals and always making sure I had a hot cup of tea next to my bed as I let myself spiral into oblivion.

I’d been sure, at least during that first day, that I would be killed, or worse, by these people.

I thought I’d never see my family again, that all of my dreams would be unfulfilled, a life only half lived.

But on my second day, by then fully lucid, I began to shed that fear and the old Eliza sprung back to life, ready to be nosy, searching for answers to the mysteries that seemed to be lurking in every darkened corner of this odd house.

First, I was given clothes—an ankle-length gray homespun dress and a starched white apron.

Miriam tried in vain to tame my hair to no avail, eventually giving up after my curls ripped through the third ribbon she’d used to try to tie it ina neat bun.

The house seemed to lack electricity, had very little in terms of running water and other basic utilities, and was no doubt haunted by spirits only the earty gods could name.

I felt as though I’d been thrust back through time, and had half convinced myself of it before getting my hands on several newer-looking books with the publishing date stamped in fresh ink during a brief stint in the library.

Today was my first day in what Miriam called “the laundry.”

tt was a large, stone room on the lowest level of the house with two wide tubs of scalding water that we were meant to stir with wooden paddles to beat the clothes senseless before wringing them out and hanging them to dry.

It was hard work, really hard, and by midday, my arms were trembling with fatigue.

Then came the mending, which was my specialty, according to Jared.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and the single shirt I’d spent nearly two hours sewing back together showed that clearly.

my rogue curls that were now sticking straight up due to the humidity in the room before sending

found myself with my back pressed against a wall, holding my breath as Archer

or at least they didn’t act like

my defense, this house was

I was or how to get back to the staircase leading

have once been a wide, open foyer, an afterthought it seemed, to cram as many rooms as possible

now I found myself hiding in the shadow of an awkward, off-kilter commer, hugging a basket of laundry to my

likely that Archer would tease me relentlessly for being lost rather than

harmless, of course, at least

it was Jared I was worried about, and I watched with bated breath as he slowly turned back into the room that he’d just come out of, closing the door

sighed heavily and released my death grip on the

through the house, searching for a

leaving the basket in the

you doing up here?” came a whisper from down the

was standing looking somewhat shocked and pale only a few yards

toward her as she peered

here unless you’re delivering

have no idea who

handing her the basket.She sighed, balancing the basket on her hip in a practiced fashion as she motioned me to follow her back

aptly named with her thick, dark red hair.But she was quiet, shy, and a strict follower of the rules.I hadn’t been able to get much information out of her

quarters,” she continued, leading me through a

like us

I asked, becoming

noise in her throat that told me she hadn’t gotten close enough to know for herself.She set the

was so close, he could’ve

later, toying with a shirt

back to me, her hands back

“What is his deal?”

“His deal?”

said he doesn’t like being

one, I guess.I’ve never asked

was giving me

Alpha in

had an Alpha, but I think he’s dead.And to

Aeris.

thread as Scarlett eyed

Aeris is the Alpha

“Oh, there you are,”

the doorway, her brow glistening with

basket of laundry in front of me, this one looking much

Jared’s room for

look with Scarlett before rising from my stool, nodding my agreement to Miriam, who

Scarlett is being nice to you.She

her eyes slowly going back to

as I grabbed the basket and turned toward the door, following Miriam

hours had passed since I’d run into Jared and his shadows, Archer

heard that the crew of bandits liked to drink at the village tavern in the late evenings, so

be with

doors in that hallway, and the one he came out

way, I was likely to be successful in delivering at

resistance, and had to suck in my breath

nearly dropped the basket as I looked around and walked blindly toward a couch, dropping