Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 12 : Little Pink Flowers

*Jared*

Early morning sunlight drifted through the curtains in my bedroom as I slowly laid out the final piece of clothing Eliza had mended on my bed, staring down at what she'd done.

I was at a loss for words. I'd noticed the bandages covering her fingers, and her fatigue had been obvious. I'd even felt guilty about what I'd hardly considered a punishment being so physically grueling.

But then I found out why it had taken her the entire day and well into the night to complete the job. I picked up a shirt she'd tactfully mended and turned it into the sun. Little needlepoint flowers stitched in pale pink thread adorned the sleeves and surrounded the patches she'd sown across the chest.

I looked down at the bed where the rest of the clothing had been laid out, all of it mended, all of it clean, all of it decorated with flowers.

She'd bested me.

"Damn," I breathed, more impressed with her tenacity than annoyed that she'd ruined nearly all of the clothes I wore to the ring and on hunts.

Even the socks I'd thrown into the basket were decorated with flowers. I pulled the socks onto my feet, wiggling my toes.

I knew Archer and Brandt would tear me to shreds if I wore any of it to the ring. I'd never hear the end of it. But, that was the point. I'd punished her for sneaking around and stepping over my boundaries, and now she was punishing me... for punishing her.

I gathered up the clothes and dumped them back in the basket before pulling a fresh shirt and pants from my dresser. I'd get her back for this-how, I didn't know. But I would, that was a promise. Archer would be waiting for me in the ring by now. I'd been sleeping in much later than usual. I didn't know if it was the thought of Eliza and her schemes keeping me up at night, or if my body was starting to succumb to the ticking clock within my soul that was inching closer to midnight with each passing day. But I was tired.

I left the room, passing a few maids on my way to the kitchen for a quick bite to take with me to the ring. I stopped in the hallway outside of the laundry and listened to a soft conversation between what sounded like Giselle and Eliza.

“I'm afraid she'll hurt herself in her sleep," Eliza whispered

Giselle sighed, and I heard a stool creak as one of the women sat down, shifting their weight.

“I don't know what happened to her, but it was bad. I think... there was a rumor there was a baby" I backed away from the doorway, my chest tightening with unease. I knew what had happened to Scarlett. So did Archer. So did Brandt. And now, so would Eliza.

I ran my fingers through my hair, ruffling it with frustration as I turned back the way I'd come and chose to forgo eating breakfast and go immediately to the ring.

Archer was already training a few young members of our crew when I walked up to the ring, shielding the bright glare of the sun from my eyes.

“Mornin’ darlin'," Archer teased, then he grunted with effort as he threw a practice jab toward one of the youths, who flinched and covered his face with his arms. “Ah, see? Now your belly is exposed. Dead!" Archer knocked the teen in the stomach with his fist, not enough to hurt the kid, but enough to show him that had Archer had a knife, his life would have been over.

“Good morning," I gruffed, leaning on the railing and looking over the group who had assembled for the morning session.

Brandt was on the far end of the ring, talking to a group of men. I watched Brandt for a moment until he caught my eye and I was able to motion him over. Archer clapped his trainees on the shoulders and muttered something about them calling it a day, and to rest up for tonight's debauchery.

"You just gave them an invitation to get piss drunk without repercussions,” I said coolly as Archer approached.

He shrugged, giving the teens a final glance over his shoulder before settling against the railing next to me. “Eh, they'll drink more than they should and spend tomorrow paying for it. Everyone has to learn that lesson the hard way. They need to learn their limits before we can take them out on the road."

“You're not wrong about that.”

I exhaled, turning my head to look out over the village. Everyone was slowly getting ready for the celebration tonight. Tommy, once a scrawny, fresh-faced teenager when he started training under Archer, was turning twenty-one. He'd come into his wolf at midnight.

Everyone, including the employees of my house, would be roaming around the village enjoying the merriment.

I also planned to enact my revenge on Eliza tonight.

“Tomorrow, then?" Brandt asked.

"We'll leave at dawn, as the sun comes up.” I turned to Archer, who gave me a grim nod.

“The southern trail is washed out for sure, the scout came back with the news this morning. The river is too high to cross safely," Archer confirmed, which wasn't the news I was hoping for, but it was the news I was expecting.

I ran my hand over my face. “Northern trail it is. We'll reach the trail from Elmorn to Saboreef in three days.” We'd spend three days in the Dark Forest, which meant two nights in the Dark Forest. "And we're bringing Eliza for sure?”

“Eliza, but not our crew.”

"What?" Brandt said, his eyes flashing with concern.

“I'm not risking any men to the forest. We'll travel quicker, and quieter, just the four of us.” It was the truth, but traveling in the Dark Forest also meant traveling exclusively on foot in our usual forms-no shifting unless totally necessary. The nightmares that called the forest home were more powerful than even the stealthiest, most highly trained wolf.

This was an incredible risk, but I didn't have much of a choice if I was going to pay my men for their help fetching the bounty and retrieving the scroll Aeris had promised me for killing his brother. "And you're sure Aeris will keep Eliza?" Archer asked, and for a reason I wasn't yet willing to admit, the question made my blood boil.

“He's not keeping her because we're not going to offer her to him," I said flatly, turning to look at both men.

“Then why are we taking her with us?" Brandt asked, his concerned expression melting into confusion.

“I think she could be of some use to us there. I'd like to see what she's capable of.”

"But she's feral-" Archer started, but I waved my hand in dismissal.

“She'll behave. She won't have a choice." The forest was capable of humbling anyone, including the most hot-headed and overconfident woman I'd ever come across in my life.

"And if she takes the opportunity to run?" Brandt inquired testilly.

I gave him a look, then shrugged as I left his gaze and blinked into the sun.

"She won't," I said, because it was true. I'd seen a glimmer of marked curiosity in her eyes two nights ago in my study when she'd scanned the sketch of the artifact. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, she'd seen something like it before. That was the only explanation.

She could help me.

"What exactly is the reason for taking her—to Aeris's territory, no less?"

"One of you mentioned she was a spy. I don't think she is, but she sure as hell could be with enough incentive. I plan to let her loose in his castle.”

“This is Aeris we're talking about,” Brandt said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “He'll take one look at her and want her-"

“She belongs to him based on the old laws. His pack still follows them, the Alpha King be damned,” Archer added.

I nodded, taking this into consideration. “As long as Aeris is unaware his brother bought Eliza at the auction, it won't matter. If he has heard, then we will deal with it then. As of right now, Eliza is part of our crew."

Archer raised his brows, a devilish smile spreading across his face. I gave him a look, narrowing my eyes on him.

"And no hazing-" I said, but Brandt shifted his weight and exhaled deeply, catching my attention. "Are you sure she can handle this?" Brandt asked.

I mulled his question over for a moment as the three of us watched the preparations for the party taking place in the village.

"Yes," I said, and I meant it. “She can.”

“Then I'll guard her with my life-" Brandt replied, which was interrupted by a grunt from Archer, who was giving Brandt a look dripping with mirth.

“I bet you will, you lovesick puppy.”

“That's enough,” I interjected, looking from one man to the other. “Eliza is off limits.”

Archer pursed his lips, obviously uninterested in Eliza in that way. Brandt, on the other hand, looked somewhat disappointed. Speaking of “eating alive," that was exactly what she'd do to Brandt. He looked tough, but deep down he was a romantic at heart, and Eliza would ruin him. He'd never be the same.

A contemplative silence passed between the three of us for a long moment.

“Has there been any word about Scarlett's boy?" I asked, doing my best to keep my voice level. Archer went rigid beside me, not looking at me. Brandt let out his breath, shaking his head. “We'll ask Aeris to keep a lookout-"

"He'd be in the capital,” Archer said, his tone riding the edge of fury and grief.

Archer had spent nearly a year looking for that kid, who couldn't have been more than three years old now. We still sent regular scouts through the pack lands in search of any clues to his location. Archer was often gone for weeks at a time following any lead that came our way. "Why?" he bit out after a moment.

“Scarlett is having nightmares again,” I breathed. “I overheard Eliza talking to Giselle about it this morning."

Archer pushed off from the railing and stalked away, his shoulders rigid with tension. I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my hands flexing into fists at my sides.

“So, Eliza knows?" Brandt asked.

I nodded, then shrugged. “Giselle likely told her.”

“Maybe she can help."

“His father has him hidden well," I said firmly.

There was nothing left to say. None of us liked talking about it. I'd known Archer for years, seen him in situations that would break even the toughest of men, but he didn't bat an eyelash at any of it. Finding out his childhood sweetheart had been sold as a breeder at nineteen, and then had her baby ripped from her arms before she was dragged into woods during a frigid, unforgiving winter and left to die, had nearly killed Archer. Scarlett had been rescued and brought to us, but she'd never fully recovered.

Archer vowed to her that he'd find her son. That was three years ago, and we were still looking.

I shook the vow from my mind, tucking it away for later, when I had a clearer head to mull it over. "What time does the celebration for Tommy start?" I asked with a sigh.

Brandt shrugged as we watched two men rolling a barrel of what looked to be whisky across the village square.

"Whenever people start drinking," he mused.

I nodded, then clapped him on the shoulder and left the ring, walking toward the house. I could see Eliza in the kitchen garden, her hair tied in a bun on the top of her head, which made her look several inches taller than she actually was. She had an effect on me I couldn't really explain. Fighting with her was like battling a brick wall. I'd never met a woman so sure of herself.

But when I got a rare smile out of her?

It had me questioning everything.

She straightened up, shielding her eyes from the sun as I approached. I was thrilled to see her expression twist with concern as I neared the gate. She may have bested me this time, but I had another punishment in mind, one that might benefit both of us.

“You think you're so clever,” I laughed as I walked into the garden.

She squared her shoulders, preparing for a fight.

“You owe me new sparring clothes.”

"Why? I mended everything for you yesterday,” she replied in clipped sarcasm.

I walked past her, giving her a sharp look over my shoulder as I reached the door leading into the kitchen.

“I'll see you tonight. I have something for you."

"Another punishment?" she quipped. “Or have you learned your lesson?”

“Never,” I said, then I went into the house.