Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 106 : A Broken Dream

I sat on a fallen log at the edge of town, waiting for the Norwind survivors.

Soren and his men had gathered some supplies. Mostly water and a little food. I knew Soren wanted to have some food for me and the baby, but once we got moving, they'd be hunting for their meals “Mila, it's time to get going,” Soren said, reaching a hand out to me to help me up.

Sighing, 1 took his hand and he pulled me up.

"What's wrong?" he asked, brushing his thumb over my knuckles.

“I knew not everyone would come but... I didn't think no one would come,” I admitted. I looked down the road toward the village.

Not one Norwind member had shown up. They'd all chosen to remain behind and take their chances with their attackers.

Soren was right, they had their own fates, their own destinies. I couldn't save people that didn't want to be saved. All I could do was remind myself that I'd done everything I could. I'd offered them a way out, it was their prerogative not to take it.

“You did what you could, Mila,” Soren said, squeezing my hand.

"And somehow, it doesn't feel like enough..."

"It'll be okay. We have a way out of here and we need to focus on getting ourselves out of Norwind."

I sighed and nodded. “You're right. We've got our own destinies to think about.”

Soren nodded to his warriors and they started gathering up our supplies. Mostly, it was camping and survival gear. We didn't want to take any food from Nowind, except what I would need to stay strong and healthy, for the baby, until they could start hunting in the mountains.

“Let's move out," Soren said. He pointed down the road toward the southwestern mountains.

I sighed again and stood closer to Soren. We only made it a few steps when my ears perked up and I heard someone running down the road.

“Miss Mila, wait up!" Enzo's voice called.

I turned around and saw him running after us, breathing heavily and waving us down.

"Enzo!"

“I'm... sorry... sorry we're late,” he said. He came to a halt and clutched his side. “We went to get more herbs and healing supplies, in case anyone gets injured along the way."

"We?"

I looked around Enzo and saw more figures approaching.

“Charles... Lilian... Ben...?"

I saw other faces I recognized. It looked like almost all the Norwind survivors.

“Is this... everyone?" I asked.

"Almost. We talked it through. Nearly everyone agreed that you and Mr. Black have done so much for us. We decided to trust your judgment.”

My heart swelled in my chest and I glanced at Soren. He winked at me and I could tell he was proud of me.

“We all understand the risk. If we don't all make it... well, then that is what it is. It's better than being trapped here. You know, waiting for some cruel jackass to spare our lives, or kill us off. We'd rather fight for the chance to survive," Enzo explained.

Charles caught up to us next. He held his hand out and Soren shook it.

"We noticed you left all the food behind. It was a kind gesture, but we can't be that selfish.” “There's no need. We're warriors and we can hunt,” Soren told him.

"We understand. But we realized if people like you can't be trusted, who can be? And so, we've decided to risk it and have no regrets, no matter the outcome.”

I smiled; my throat tight with happiness. “In that case, let's get moving!"

"Alright, I want two groups. One in the front to lead and the other in the back to keep anyone from falling behind," Soren ordered.

His warriors immediately split up and obeyed. We began walking out of the village toward the mountain range.

Enzo and Charles walked with me while Soren made sure everyone was situated and all the supplies were spread around so no one was too weighed down.

"How long is the journey supposed to be?" Charles asked conversationally.

"I think it will take about a week to get to the mountain border. After that, it depends on where we decide to go," I said.

"Along the way, I'd like to gather some herbs if we find them. Some of our stores are still low," Enzo said.

“I'll keep my eyes peeled and let you know if I see anything,” I nodded.

“You know herbs?" Charles asked.

"Some. Not nearly as much as the two of you, but I can pick a few out here and there,” I explained. “Well, I made sure to get all our supplies on these two herbs that are good for restoring energy,” Enzo said.

"Really? What is so special about those herbs?" I asked.

It seemed odd to focus on the herbs that would restore energy. If Enzo and Charles were worried about healing the sick and injured, energy restoration didn't exactly align with those.

“These herbs are particularly good for pregnant women," Charles interjected. “Travel is rough on everyone, but especially for a pregnant woman. We want to help you be as comfortable as possible.”

My heart pattered rapidly and I smiled, looking down at my feet.

“That is very sweet of you."

"Getting those herbs is why we were late. It is really the least we can do to repay you and Soren. You gave me my grandfather back and are helping to save our pack... it is our duty to take care of you and see your child born healthy," Enzo said.

“I appreciate that.”

On the first night we stopped, I noticed that the Norwind survivors stayed a little way away from Soren's warriors. It was like there was still a divide between our groups.

I sat by one of the campfires nibbling on one of the energy bars Soren had brought along with us for me. The warriors were out hunting.

“You should be eating more than that," Lilian said, coming over to me.

“I will, once the warriors get back with some fresh meat.”

“Come on, I made some soup. It isn't much, but at least it is more than an energy bar."

Lilian smiled and motioned for me to follow her. I walked across the camp to where the Norwind survivors had their own campfire built. There was a pot over the fire bubbling with soup.

My mouth watered and I sat down, eagerly waiting for Lilian to serve me.

She hummed to herself as she ladled soup into a bowl for me. Lilian seemed much kinder to me now. Our first few interactions had been rough but that all seemed to be behind us.

She handed me the bowl and a spoon.

“Thank you, Lilian. I really appreciate it."

“There's plenty more where that came from. If you're still hungry when you finish that, help yourself to some more."

I nodded and took a bite. Immediately, I felt my long unsatiated hunger finally satisfied.

"Also, if you find yourself desperate enough for one of those gross energy bars, come find me. I can whip something up out of almost nothing. And it will always be better for the baby." Lilian winked at me.

After a second bowl of soup, I went back to the campfire on Soren's side of the camp. He was overseeing his warriors as they cut up a deer and started frying up some venison steaks.

"Where were you?" Soren asked when I joined him.

“Lilian offered me some warm soup. Why is there such a divide in the camp?"

Soren shrugged and put his arm around me. “We'll all get used to each other. It might take a little time."

“Next time you go for a hunt, will you ask some of the older boys to go with you?" I asked, looking innocently at Soren.

He arched an eyebrow at me.

“Please? It will be a good way for everyone to get used to each other and the boys need practice hunting if they are going to be able to protect their families someday.”

Soren smirked and kissed the top of my head. “You know I can't refuse you."

My suggestion seemed to work. It took a few days, but suddenly, there wasn't a divide in the camp anymore. Soren took some of the older boys hunting and his warriors even began teaching them to fight.

It was like the ice had been broken between everyone.

By the time we made it to the mountains, everyone was completely integrated together. At night when we made camp, there was only one campfire. Soren's warriors and the Norwind survivors didn't separate their tents anymore.

Instead of talking about “us” and “them,” the entire group became “we.”

It was nice to see that everyone was getting along and getting comfortable with each other. That would come in handy if we had to help the survivors get established in their new homes.

The climb to the top of the mountains was slow and daunting with the kids. When they got tired, some of Soren's warriors shifted and carried them on their backs so we didn't have to slow down. “We don't have that much further,” Payne told me. “I recognize this terrain.”

“Good. If we have one more day of this, I'm worried some of the younger kids will give up.”

"We'll get there," Payne assured.

“I can see the top of the mountain!” Enzo shouted from up ahead.

A huge sigh of relief went through everyone. They picked up the pace and hurried to the top of the mountain.

I trailed a little behind, trying not to get jostled by the excited group as they rushed ahead.

When I caught up, I noticed them all standing there, staring and frozen in place.

"What's wrong...?" I asked softly, joining Soren and Payne.

I looked over the other side of the mountain and realized what was going on. There was no “other side" of the mountain, no path down to the packland below.

We were all standing at the edge of a massive abyss that sank deep down into the mountains, a dark, black hole that could swallow us all.

I looked to the left and the right, seeing that the chasm spread on for miles in either direction. It would take days to walk around, if we even could! There was no way to tell how far it stretched. The abyss stretched at least one hundred feet across, or even further.

It was a sheer drop down into the darkness.

On the other side, I could see mountains that sloped down in the opposite direction but there was no way to get there.

That was where we needed to be!

“That mountain over there, it belongs to Pomeni packland,” Payne said, pointing to one of the ridges.

"We're so close! How can we be stuck here, right on the edge?” Lilian wailed.

“There has to be a way to the other side,” Charles said.

“Do you know of a way, Payne?" Soren asked.

I could feel the panic and tensions rising. Sure, they trusted us while the journey was going smoothly, but now it felt like they were second guessing.

“This can't be another broken dream!"

“This is what we get for being hopeful!”

"How could we leave our home?"

I tuned out what everyone was saying and stared over the abyss. We'd come this far and I wasn't going to back down now. We didn't just have the gear we'd brought with us to rely on.

“Stand back, everyone. Let me give it a try," I said, holding my arms out.