Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 11 : A Cold Wind

*Sasha*

Lucas asked me to meet him at the library site, and, as I stood over the dark hole that had derailed both our career plans, I still couldn't figure out why I'd agreed.

The fall air had become crisp, and I hugged my sweater more tightly around me as a cold wind cut through my clothes.

If I didn't know better, I could have sworn the breeze came from the temple below.

Where in the Moon Goddess's name was he? I had an uneasy feeling about this temple and its excavation. As excited as I had been to come and work on the library project before, now I felt I couldn't leave the site fast enough.

“Lucas?" I asked when I felt a presence behind me. I whirled around, but no one was there.

I shivered. I shouldn't have come early. The foreman and the workers were gone, to be replaced by archeologists and, no doubt, a representative or two–or seven–of the Lycaon Church.

A creeping sensation crawled up my spine, and I turned back to the hole. I could have sworn I heard a dark cackle.

“Sasha, you shouldn't stand that close," Lucas said, his hand shooting out to grip my arm.

I jumped. I hadn't even heard his approach. “I—“

I looked back around and realized I'd somehow gotten myself right to the edge of the hole, my toes almost hanging over.

“Sweet mercies of the White Queen!" I gasped, grasping Lucas's shirt as he pulled me away.

“You almost gave me a heart attack," Lucas admonished me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his chest. “It looked like you were about to jump."

Jump? I felt sick to my stomach.

“I don't… I don't remember getting that close," I murmured into his shoulder.

“Yeah, well, don't do it again." Lucas huddled me away a few meters, then deliberately took my shoulders in his hands and forced some distance between us.

I frowned. Here was that hot and cold Lucas again. “You asked me here because…?" I prompted, wrapping my arms around myself now that I no longer had Lucas's warmth.

“There are some things that need to be wrapped up before we can completely abandon the construction project," Lucas said, his voice brusque and businesslike. He held out a list that had the royal seal broken on it.

I took it and looked it over. “Short list," I observed.

“You have somewhere else to be?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my shoulders back. “I might."

“Where? With Donovan?" Lucas asked.

Did I detect jealousy? “He's just a friend," I said, exasperated.

“He wants to be more," Lucas rumbled.

“Lucas, he can want all he wants. That's not going to change things between us," I replied. I folded my arms. “Why does it matter to you, anyway?"

“You know why it matters," Lucas murmured.

I turned my face away, about to push my hair behind my ear, when he did it for me. “I really don't get you, Lucas Black."

Lucas gave a long-suffering sigh. “That's the problem."

“What, that you're making it impossible to understand you?" I grumbled, turning back to him.

“No. That you don't have to get me," Lucas said.

hands.

“I know."

being completely unfair! I've had thermoses that run less hot and cold!" I ranted, frustrated past caring what

“I know."

Goddess's name is going on with

soft waves on top of his head. “You know what I

you wanted back at the bar, but now I have no

That means I can't… I just can't go

there a whole bunch of us? Should I be starting a Lucas-is-a-dickhead support group?!"

“You know it's just

I knew I looked wounded

me against him again, letting his warmth and the tantalizing citrus-rosewood scent of him to seep into me. “I'm sorry,

me? Are you afraid that people might get the wrong idea? Or are you afraid they might

Lucas reached

Royal Engineers… blah blah… Reputation… blah blah. Your career comes first. Message received

he was at a loss for words. But he didn't deny my assessment. Why would he risk his career for

my eyes fixed

but then dropped it again. He

eyes again he made a strangled sound, and I looked behind me. I was at the edge

“What the…?" I gasped.

me by the arms and pulling me a few paces back, only to give me a shake. “I get you're pissed off at me, but you

mean...." I

Go home, Sasha, and don't come back here. You'll be reassigned soon enough," Lucas snarled. “I won't have you playing stupid games around the work

“I wasn't—“

road back to town and gave me a

him I hadn't consciously gone back to the hole. I wanted to tell him something was

down the road, tears

Damn Lucas Black anyhow.

until one started tearing. I stopped, only to feel like the forest was closing in around me. Eyes–eyes were everywhere, watching

how many pages ripped, and kept running, my chest tight with exertion

of the town, the trees snapping back like a rubber

“Sasha?" a voice asked.

with Doc, who put up his hands in a sign

terrible, dear. Let's go to

looked at my watch. It was another two

took my hand in his wrinkled one and tugged me along at his

know what sort of mess I looked like, but Jay's eyes widened as soon as he saw us, and he hurriedly set

you upstairs, but I have to keep an eye out for customers," Jay said, pressing a steaming cup of tea

He'd brewed tea? When?

then at my watch. Half an hour

back of his hand against my forehead and took my pulse. “Your

to apologize for their own

my watch

is your mate, Sasha?" Jay

“Mate?" I echoed.

here with you the other night, the one who was attacked by the rogue," Jay continued, his tone

isn't my mate," I

seemed to be catching up to

“Could

soon. Even if Lucas was my mate, I bet he'd reject me. He doesn't want me messing up his

you," Jay said. “But that's beside the point. What

sent me away," I