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.

“I know."

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

“I know."

the Moon Goddess's name is

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

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

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

than one? Are there a whole bunch of us?

my arm. “You

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

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

can't be seen with me? Are you afraid that people might get the wrong idea? Or are

Lucas reached for

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

my assessment. Why would he risk his career for someone

took a step back, my eyes fixed on the ground. “I

wait," Lucas pleaded. He reached a hand toward me but then dropped it again. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and

he opened his eyes again he made a strangled sound, and I looked

“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 doing that. It's

mean...." I stuttered

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

“I wasn't—“

in the direction of the road back to town and gave

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

the road,

Damn Lucas Black anyhow.

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

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

relieved in my life than when I broke the border of the town, the trees snapping back like a rubber band. I leaned over and

“Sasha?" a voice asked.

and I locked eyes with Doc, who put

Let's go to the bakery," Doc

looked at my watch. It was another two hours until the next

wrinkled one and tugged me along at his slower pace

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

keep an eye out for customers," Jay said,

He'd brewed tea? When?

down at the tea, then at my watch. Half an hour had

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

even sure if one was supposed to apologize for their own pulse. “I-I had

at my watch again. Another

your mate,

“Mate?" I echoed.

who was attacked by the rogue," Jay continued, his tone still soft and

my

least time seemed to be catching up

snorted. “Could have fooled

my mate, I bet he'd reject me. He doesn't want

don't think he'd reject you," Jay said. “But

me away,"