Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 110 : Rejected

I kept to the shadows and ran after Ashley. It was easy enough to track them. They left a wide trail. When I caught up to them, they were in a clearing in the forest, the two wolves facing off.

I took cover in some underbrush and stayed out of sight. It was weird to see the two of them just staring at each other. If Ashley really thought the other wolf was a threat, she would have destroyed him.

It took a moment, but the moonlight was bright enough that I could recognize the other wolf.

Eros.

Ashley growled and launched herself across the clearing, straight at Eros. Her teeth bared; claws outstretched.

Eros didn't defend himself. Instead, he shifted back to human form, far more vulnerable and defenseless.

Ashley stopped dead. She licked her lips and growled, flicking her tail back and forth. Her ears were plastered back on her head. She was pissed!

Eros stood still, a calm look on his face.

"Ashley, are you really going to kill me?"

Ashley's wolf opened her mouth and hissed, showing off her sharp teeth. Part of me hoped Eros would provoke her because she was seconds away from shredding him to ribbons.

“If that is what you really want, Ashley, then do it. I won't even defend myself."

I covered my mouth and gasped. Eros was beyond manipulative!

If he begged Ashley or made up excuses, Ashley would get angry enough to attack him. Instead, Eros just stood there and accepted her anger and whatever she wanted to do to him.

I knew Ashley well enough to know that it would probably cause her to stop raging and let Eros go. He knew her well enough to know that, too.

Ashley's wolf let out a frustrated snarl and shook her head.

"Believe me, Ashley, I'm not here to hurt you... I-"

Ashley shifted back and threw her arms up in the air. “Shut up! Stop lying! Since the very beginning, all you've done is lie. All you wanted was those artifacts! I was stupid enough to believe you then and I won't make that mistake again.”

Her nostrils flared as she ranted.

I nodded to her, silently praising her for standing up for herself and putting Eros in his place. It was time someone called him out.

“I... I'm sorry, Ashley." Eros's voice was soft and gentle now.

Ashley paused her tirade.

I winced, hoping his apology and the change in his demeanor weren't enough to dissuade her anger.

"Sorry?" she scoffed in a hard tone. “If you're sorry then you'll never stand before me again! How dare you even come here? What are you plotting this time? You want to lead your f*****g master here and wipe out Il these people? Just like you did in Norwind!?"

I smiled to myself, glad that Ashley was standing her ground. She was smart and I could see that enough was enough. She wasn't going to be jerked around by Eros anymore.

My chest swelled with pride. This was the best way for Ashley to move on, face him with the truth. “Listen to me," Eros said in that same gentle tone. “Whatever I did... I never wanted to hurt you! You're my mate and I would never-"

"Stop calling me that!" Ashley screamed. Her voice echoed through the trees.

I cringed and sank deeper into my hiding place.

“I'm not your mate! You listen to me, now. I, Ashley Chambers, reject you, Eros Lee, as my mate. I will never see you again and you better not come near me ever f*****g again!"

I gasped again, still keeping my hands over my mouth.

A shiver went through Ashley and she sagged a little, like the entire weight of the world was on her shoulders. Rejecting a mate was painful.

I saw a tremor go through her but she held her ground.

Eros on the other hand... his face was completely pale. He looked like he'd just been b***h slapped or stabbed in the back. He stood there completely frozen and dazed, like he could collapse into a broken, shattered heap of a million pieces if the wind blew too hard.

Ashley might feel some pain as the rejector but Eros was the one being rejected, it would be a lot worse for him.

Privately, I felt like he deserved it.

Ashely put her hands on her hips. I couldn't see her face but if I had to guess, I bet she was glaring at Eros.

“Now, get the hell out of here! I don't ever want to see you again. And if you dare mention a word about this place to anyone... I swear I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth! There will be nowhere to hide, no escape. I will destroy you!"

Ashley threw her arm out to the side. She was so strong and firm right now and I couldn't help but be impressed.

Eros stood perfectly still. I wasn't sure how much of Ashely's words he'd hear after the rejection. He didn't refuse to accept her rejection, though.

I wondered if part of him wanted it so he could run off and do his own thing without feeling the pull of the matebond. If that was the case, why didn't he just do it himself?

He kept staring at Ashley, looking completely broken and lost. It was like he didn't understand what had happened or he was hoping he'd heard Ashley wrong.

Eros didn't beg or plead. He didn't verbally accept the rejection, but he slowly turned away from Ashley. He dragged himself out of the clearing like his feet were bricked in cement. He looked like he was limping as he shuffled along.

I was about to go to Ashley but she collapsed on the ground, sobbing and beating the ground with her fists.

I stayed where I was. My heart broke for her but I knew it would be better if she could get all her anger and sadness out. She needed to vent.

She kept sobbing, hugging herself and rocking back and forth. I wasn't sure if she was crying because of the pain of losing the matebond or because she was heartbroken at Eros turning away. Slowly, Ashley's sobs turned to sniffles. She wiped her face and stood up, brushing her clothes off. Sniffling one last time, Ashley straightened her hair and headed back to town.

Even after everything he'd done, she couldn't bring herself to kill him. She hadn't warned Payne, Soren, or Thomas that Eros was here, she'd chased him on her own. Ashley had every chance to end Eros, and she didn't.

I sighed and bowed my head. She must have really loved him. Otherwise, the betrayal wouldn't have hurt so much.

Once Ashley was gone, I stood up. Something crinkled in my pocket.

The letter!

I ripped the envelope open and took the letter out. In the bright moonlight, I could read it perfectly. “I know you're alive. Right now, I have your Aunt Helen.

If you ever want to see Helen alive again, come to the royal palace by yourself. Do NOT let others know where you're going and do not let them follow you!

Otherwise, I can't guarantee Helen's safety.

I'm looking forward to seeing you,

Kind regards,

Alpha King Sebastian Crimson.”

My jaw dropped and my heart galloped like a herd of horses.

The last time I'd seen her in a dream, she'd told me she was dying! I hadn't heard or felt anything from her since.

Sometimes I wondered whether she had died, but I always ended up denying that thought and telling myself that she must still be somewhere.

I needed to believe that she was still alive... had to.

I ran my thumb over the name at the bottom of the very short letter. It was direct and to the point. The perfect blend of threat and cordiality. Was this a trick and a trap?

Was this a letter from the Sebastian I'd met? The one trapped in Dylan's body?

Or was this a letter from the Sebastian that sat on the throne? The one who wore Sebastian's face but was really his cousin Dylan? It was impossible to tell in a letter. Why would the real Sebastian contact me this way?

When we'd been trapped in Nowind and when he'd held me captive, he made no mention of Helen. He'd taunted me about being pregnant. If he'd had Helen, he easily could have used her as a bargaining chip.

Not to mention the letter was inviting me to the palace. I doubted that the exiled Dylan had the authority to invite me there. Most likely, this was a letter from the Sebastian that sat on the throne. What did he want with me?

Sighing, I rubbed my stomach. Helen and I were the last threats to him. We were the only ones that could reverse the soul swap and send him into exile.

I chewed my lower lip, all my peace and contentment vanishing. For weeks helping Norwind and seeing them get settled had allowed me to forget about the threats beyond our borders. But they were out there and now, they were right on our doorstep!

I always knew I'd have to face reality again. I had hoped it would be later rather than sooner.

“If you ever want to see Helen alive again, come to the royal palace by yourself. Do NOT let others know where you're going and do not let them follow you!"

I thought of the words in the letter. There was no room for dispute.

What was I supposed to do?

Protecting my child was my number one priority. But Helen was my only living family. She could still be helpful with all the soul swapping and getting all the pieces of the artifact. She could probably tell me more about my powers...

Saving her was important. But what proof did I have that Sebastian even had her? Helen seemed convinced she was dying the last time we spoke.

Could I really run off and leave Soren again? We were expecting a baby and I knew how happy that made him. If I left now without any word, it could destroy him.

Besides, it was a dangerous situation. It wasn't like I was heading off for a spa treatment. I was going to the Alpha King. Helen had warned me about him and he knew I was a threat to him.

Somehow, I knew that being pregnant wouldn't win me any sympathy or leniency from him. After all, my baby could be a threat to him too

Helen was the one that warned me about the Alpha King. Did she mean the real Sebastian or the one using his name? Could I risk finding out the hard way?

I clenched my fists around the letter, crumpling up the edges. This was an impossible decision to make.

After standing there for what seemed like forever, I tucked the letter away and put my hands on my belly protectively.

I knew what I had to do.