Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 12 : The Eyes

*Sasha*

Days later, it still felt like eyes were on me. I hadn't been back out to the library site. I hadn't even been back to the town. The eyes had followed me onto the train, right into the capital.

I'd thought of connecting with Lucas until, hours after arriving at my dorm, Jay called from Doc's phone and angrily told me that Lucas had accused us both of stirring up trouble.

Lucas didn't believe them–didn't believe me.

It made a ball of resentment settle in my stomach.

“If I never see Lucas Black again, it'll be too soon," I grumbled, coming out of Professor Augustine's office. I still didn't have a new work-study, and I was officially off the library project. Lucas might as well have put up a billboard telling me never to return.

Of course, as soon as I stepped onto the quad, the eyes were back, staring a hole in the back of my head, disappearing as soon as I turned around.

I'd have shouted at them to go away, and I was tempted to, but then everyone would think I was crazy, not just Lucas. Even Amanda had given me a weird look when I mentioned the inexplicable draw to the temple and the eyes.

Still, it was unsettling enough that when I thought I was alone, I rounded on the eyes, about to give them a piece of my mind, when I ran smack into Donovan.

“Hey there, Sasha. You okay?" Donovan asked, reaching out to steady me.

I could only imagine how I looked–frizzy blond hair, dark circles under sleepless eyes. I'd let my appearance go a bit, I knew, but I just didn't like the feeling of the eyes watching me naked in the bathroom. And I could hardly sleep at all, sensing them even in my dreams.

“I'm fine," I lied.

“Yeah, right," Donovan snorted. “You done with classes? I am. Let's go to Nostalgia and you can tell me all about it."

I looked up at Donovan. He was all sympathy and smiles. “I… just have the work-study this semester," I admitted. “And my current assignment just became my former assignment."

“Oh damn. Did Lucas Black toss you off his team because you wouldn't sleep with him?" Donovan clucked with disapproval.

I let out a bitter laugh. “I wish."

“Hmm. This sounds like a long story best told over a couple of martinis. Let's go." Donovan slid his arm around my shoulders and steered me away from campus and down the short few blocks to Nostalgia.

Once we were seated and I had an apple martini between my hands, I glanced at Donovan, who was sipping a beer, and finally gave in. “You're going to think I'm crazy."

“Too late. Already do," Donovan teased.

I shook my head. “No, really."

“Oh. Okay, you're serious. Well, lay it on me. I can't think you're crazy until you start raving like a lunatic at me," Donovan said.

Despite myself, I gave a little laugh.

“There she is. Now, go ahead," Donovan encouraged.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and stared into my martini. “Well… so… there's this temple that was discovered under the northern library site...."

Donovan nodded along as I continued, telling him everything that had happened. At the end of it all, his voice turned gruff. “And he didn't believe you?"

“Nobody but Jay and Doc believe me," I replied glumly, still watching the thin apple slices float across the top of my drink.

Gentle fingers touched my chin and Donovan tipped my head up to meet his eyes. “I believe you," he said.

like balm to my soul. I felt

“You're not some nut job, Sasha. Jay and the doctor are right. Something must be going on. Though, whatever it is, you should probably stay away from that library. Try your best to forget about it." He gave me a smile. “I'd be more than happy to distract you until this

would it be so wrong to date Donovan? Lucas was… well, quickly falling completely off the radar, and Donovan was sweet, and funny. If Lucas was right about him and he really did want to

“You're a really

me. “Not just a great 'friend'?"

bold. “Not just a nice friend.

I could barely feel them in his exuberant presence. “I'd like that a lot, Sasha. If

a moment's thought, then

“And Lucas Black?"

“I… need to resolve something with him,

a nod, no anger or

was a truly great guy. And now

a little twinge of disappointment in my gut that it wasn't Lucas I

Nostalgia opened, and I was surprised to see Brady and a bouncy brunette walk

“Brady?" I asked, blinking.

face away from the brunette. Was her name Phoebe? I'd had a

went

at the Capitol Hospital. Engaged to the lovely Phoebe here...." Brady

Phoebe blushed happily.

when she held

It's so beautiful,"

living with Lucas

frown. “Oh. Is

“Yeah.

in. “He talks about

gaze to Donovan, who'd come sauntering over from the

grin. His eyes were hard, however, and

wondering what in the world was passing between them. “Brady, Phoebe, this is Donovan. Donovan, this is Brady. We grew up together. And this is his fiancée,

drawled, still giving Phoebe that same strange

pale,

Brady asked politely, his arm going

giving me

let out a

gave Donovan a cool smile—then punched him in the

back, and his nose made an ominous cracking

gaped, turning to Donovan as

around Phoebe as he escorted her and dragged

looking back at Donovan, who was holding his nose. Strangely, he was also

of it, then gently put Phoebe in the middle so he could sit on

where…?"

And we're going home," Brady

I frowned. “Lucas's home?"

Brady grunted, rubbing Phoebe's back. “Ian,

she was upset, but as the sedan started moving, I knew I had a

“I want nothing to do

too bad because, in about fifteen minutes, he's going to