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.

threw up my hands. “Ugh, you make

“I know."

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

“I know."

in the Moon Goddess's name is going on with

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

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

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

As in more than one? Are there a whole bunch of us? Should I be starting a Lucas-is-a-dickhead support group?!"

“You know it's just

you have to put it that way? I'm not 'interns.' I'm Sasha." I

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

with me? Are you

Lucas reached for

“Blah blah… Lucas Black… blah blah… Royal Engineers… blah blah… Reputation… blah blah. Your career comes

he didn't deny my assessment. Why would he risk

my eyes fixed on

dropped it again. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath,

a strangled sound, and I looked behind me. I was

“What the…?" I gasped.

grabbing me by the arms and pulling me a few paces back, only to give me

didn't mean...." I stuttered in

f**k this. Go home, Sasha, and don't come back here. You'll be reassigned soon enough," Lucas snarled. “I

“I wasn't—“

roughly in the direction of the road back to town and

tell him something was wrong, something dark and evil.

the road, tears stinging

Damn Lucas Black anyhow.

until one started tearing. I stopped, only to feel like the forest was

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

broke the border of the town, the trees snapping back like a rubber band. I leaned over and clutched my knees, breathing hard, sweat trickling

“Sasha?" a voice asked.

eyes with Doc, who

go to the bakery," Doc

watch.

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

as soon as he saw us, and he hurriedly set up

you upstairs, but I have to keep an eye out for customers," Jay

He'd brewed tea? When?

at my watch. Half

my forehead and took my pulse. “Your heart's fluttering faster than a

not even sure if one was supposed to apologize for their own

looked at each other. I glanced at my watch again.

your mate,

“Mate?" I echoed.

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

my mate," I

least time seemed to be catching up to

“Could

twenty-one yet," I babbled. “I will be soon. Even if Lucas was my mate,

he'd reject you," Jay said. “But

me