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.

my hands.

“I know."

that run less hot and cold!"

“I know."

Moon Goddess's name is going on with you?!" I

hand through the soft waves on top

what you wanted back at the bar, but now I have

That means I can't… I just can't go around sleeping

of us? Should I be

arm. “You know it's just

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

of him to seep into me. “I'm sorry, princess. I know

you afraid that people might get the

Lucas reached

“Blah blah… Lucas Black… blah blah… Royal Engineers… blah blah… Reputation… blah blah. Your career comes first. Message received loud and clear,

as if he was at a loss for words. But he didn't deny my

step back, my eyes fixed on the ground.

Lucas pleaded. He reached a hand toward me but then dropped it

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

“What the…?" I gasped.

all that is holy, knock it the f**k off!" Lucas yelled, grabbing me by the arms and pulling me a few

I stuttered

and don't come back here. 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

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

fled down the road, tears stinging

Damn Lucas Black anyhow.

pages of my notebook flapped as I ran, and I didn't notice until one started tearing. I stopped, only to feel like the forest was closing

the notebook in my bag, not caring how many pages ripped, and kept running, my chest tight with exertion and claustrophobia, as though

the trees snapping back like a rubber band. I leaned over

“Sasha?" a voice asked.

locked eyes with Doc,

look terrible, dear. Let's go to the bakery,"

head, then looked at my watch. It was

tugged me along at his

of mess I looked like, but Jay's eyes widened as soon as he

take 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?

at my watch. Half an hour had

took my

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

at my watch again. Another seven minutes had passed.

is your mate, Sasha?" Jay

“Mate?" I echoed.

who was

my mate,"

least time seemed to be

snorted. “Could have fooled

if Lucas was my mate, I bet he'd reject me. He doesn't

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

me away,"