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. “Ugh, you

“I know."

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

“I know."

the Moon Goddess's name is going on with

a hand through the soft waves on top of his head. “You know what

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

move up in the Royal Engineers. That means I can't… I just can't go

Are there a whole bunch of

my arm. “You

it that way? I'm not 'interns.' I'm Sasha." I knew I looked wounded when I glanced up

groaned and pulled me against him again, letting his warmth and the tantalizing citrus-rosewood scent of him to seep into me. “I'm sorry, princess. I know it doesn't make any sense to you. But I just… I can't

words trailed off and I shoved away from his chest. “You can't be seen with me? Are you afraid that people might

Lucas reached

dodged his hands. “Blah blah… Lucas Black… blah blah… Royal Engineers… blah blah… Reputation… blah blah. Your career

didn't deny my assessment. Why would he risk his career for someone like me? It

fixed on the ground. “I

hand toward me but then dropped it again. He closed his

made a strangled sound, and I looked behind me. I was at the

“What the…?" I gasped.

is holy, knock it the f**k off!" Lucas yelled, grabbing 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 can't keep

I stuttered

You'll be reassigned soon enough," Lucas snarled. “I won't have you

“I wasn't—“

roughly in the direction of the road back to town and gave me a shove.

wanted to tell him something

fled down the road, tears

Damn Lucas Black anyhow.

I didn't notice until one started tearing. I stopped, only to feel like the forest was closing

and kept running, my chest tight with exertion and claustrophobia,

back like a rubber band. I leaned

“Sasha?" a voice asked.

up, and I locked eyes with Doc, who put up his hands in a

terrible, dear. Let's go

started to shake my head, then looked at my watch. It was another

his wrinkled one and tugged me along at his

I looked like, but Jay's eyes widened as soon as he saw us, and he hurriedly

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

He'd brewed tea? When?

looked down at the tea, then at my watch. Half

my forehead and took

to apologize for their own pulse. “I-I had a bit

looked at each other. I glanced at my watch again. Another seven minutes had passed. What was going

is your mate, Sasha?" Jay

“Mate?" I echoed.

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

isn't my mate,"

minutes–at least time seemed to be catching up to

“Could have

twenty-one yet," I babbled. “I will be soon. Even if Lucas was my mate, I bet he'd reject me. He doesn't

said. “But that's beside the point. What

me