Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 20 : Alpha Aeris

We set out on the last part of our journey before the sun had risen over the horizon. Brandt and Archer were chipper, and it was obvious the blanket of tension brought on by walking through a forest full of people-eating witches and whatever the hell else was lurking in its depths had lifted. Jared and I had stayed out on the cliff for hours, but we'd hardly spoken. I was thankful for the silence, too caught up in my own mind to even think about the Cryptex or the curse Jared had somewhat explained, if not in detail.

I was also reeling from just sitting next to Jared, which was ridiculous. Having a gentle, open conversation with him had been a first. We hadn't argued, not once, during our time on watch. It'd left me feeling even more confused about my feelings than after our fiery spat in his study.

There was something about him that was pulling me in like a magnet despite my frequent attempts to stay out of his way. I hated it-at least, I was trying to hate it. I was trying to hate him.

But I just... didn't.

I kept reminding myself that he did, in fact, hold me hostage. He was a cold, calculated man who killed people for a living. And, he was cursed.

Not only that, but I'd just agreed to help him track down the man who'd cursed him in the first place by interpreting a mystical scroll he was getting in return for killing the brother of an Alpha. Goddess. What was I thinking? The book I was going to write about this, if I survived, was going to be a best seller for sure.

"What exactly are we walking into?" I asked the group as we walked along a long dirt road. Grasses taller than my head grew on either side of the road, making it impossible for me to see where we were going. “Is Aeris a friend to our crew? Or, is he... not so friendly.”

"Oh, he's a real prick," Archer chimed in, walking with his usual swagger a few paces in front of me. He looked over his shoulder at me, a boyish smile dimpling his cheeks

"Everyone is a plaything to him," Brandt added. “He is one of the most influential Alphas in Egoren and believes he can skirt every rule-"

"He throws a damn good party,” Archer interrupted.

Jared, who was walking ahead of us, turned his head and glared at Archer.

"What do you mean he skirts every rule?” I asked, panting a bit as I fought to keep up with the men and their long strides. It was obvious they wanted to get this journey over and done with.

"He is rather vocal about his disdain for the Alpha King," Brandt replied. “Some people have taken offense to a White Queen on the throne as his Luna, among other things."

Lena-my stomach tightened into a painful knot but I kept my face expressionless, I hoped. “What other things?"

"Well, let's just say he's a traditionalist=" Archer began, but Jared abruptly turned on his heel and faced the three of us, his jaw clenched tightly and eyes narrowed into slits.

“This conversation stays between the four of us,” he began, looking at each of us for the space of a breath. His gaze fell on me and I involuntarily went rigid. “Aeris follows old principles and laws that could put you, Eliza, in danger if we're not careful. His pack is not kind to women."

"What do you mean?” I pressed, tired of the men dancing around my questions.

“He'll consider you... entertainment,” Archer said with a shrug. “No matter if you're one of us." "Archer's right,” Jared exhaled, his gaze still firmly fixed on my face. His arms were crossed over his chest, his whole body tight with tension. “Which is why we need to handle this situation delicately. Aeris is backed by several Alphas who aren't thrilled with the current political climate and the changes being made in the capital, but so far those changes haven't reached this far west, so Aeris is still allowed to do as he pleases. You were bought by his brother. By the old laws, that would make you his property.”

I looked from man to man, awaiting their solution to this asinine situation.

"Which is why," Jared continued, “we're not going to say anything about it. You are part of our crew. You are my... researcher.”

“And what am I supposed to say when he asks exactly what I'm researching? Does he know about your curse?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Brandt and Archer looked at Jared, surprised.

“She knows?" Archer asked, but Jared waved him away, his eyes still fixed on mine.

“He thinks I want the scroll for my collection. From this moment forward, you are an expert in antiquities, who was trained under your father and took over his trade when he died because he had no sons. That should be enough for him."

"And if it's not?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from lifting with apprehension.

“It won't matter, because we'll be in and out. This will only take a few hours at the most," Jared tried to assure me, but Archer snorted with laughter.

“This is Aeris we're talking about. He's probably planning a parade in honor of the"

"Shut up," Jared growled, cutting Archer off. “Everyone listen to me. I'm only going to say this once.” He pointed to Archer, then Brandt, his face twisted in a scowl. “No f*****g fighting," he said, then turned to me, pointing an accusatory finger inches away from my nose. “And you're going to be on your best f*****g behavior."

"Me?" I said, batting my eyelashes at him. “I've never misbehaved a day in my life.”

Archer made a noise in his throat, then sputtered with laughter. Even Brandt fought back a smile, the corners of his mouth twitching as he choked back his own laugh. Jared, on the other hand, ran his tongue along the inside of his lower lip, his eyes boring into mine.

I loved that look and the challenge behind it.

He gave us all an exhausted look in surrender before turning his back to us and walking away.

We broke through the tall grasses an hour later and crested a steep hill. I had to bend over and rest my hands on my knees to catch my breath after the climb, but I found myself even more breathless after catching my first glimpse of Aeris's kingdom on the horizon.

A large, circular wall surrounded a sprawling city made of white stone, an enormous castle rising at its center. Cottages and farms dotted the landscape leading into the walled city, and I could see a small, run-down village surrounding Aeris's ivory fortress.

I'd been walking casually behind the men for some time and noticed their behavior shift as we neared the main gate leading beyond the wall. Archer and Brandt cut off the road and dropped the bags of things they'd looted from the witch's house into the tall grass. Jared ran his fingers over his knife belt, counting each blade.

"What's going on?" I hissed as Archer and Brandt returned, but their faces were stone-cold.

I didn't like this. Not at all.

“I thought you said no fighting!"

The men abruptly stopped walking and I nearly ran into Archer's back. I peeked between him and Brandt, noticing Jared standing rigid as a half dozen men dressed in warrior garb approached our group.

"Aye, and who are you?" barked one of the warriors.

Jared extended his hands in a motion of surrender, taking a single step forward. “Alpha Aeris is expecting me—"

"How many people you think've told us that before?" the man sneered, flexing and clenching his fists. “You're trespassing on Alpha Aeris's territory, you filthy forest scum.” Archer grabbed me and pushed me off the road. I stumbled, falling to my knees just as the leader of the warriors reached out to grab Jared's arm.

Jared had the man flat on his back in a matter of seconds, Archer and Brandt springing into action before I had a moment to come to terms with what was happening. These idiots were just told not to fight. Jared, who was currently taking on two of the warriors at once, had been the one to give that command!

I stifled a surprised scream as one of the warriors slammed his knuckles into the side of Jared's face. Jared reared back, headbutting the man and shoving him down. Jared straightened up and wiped the blood from his split lip as he met my eye. He winked at me, then threw himself on his next opponent.

“What do we have here?" came a gravelly voice behind me.

I whirled around to find three more warriors standing there, eyeing me with a disgusting amount of primal interest. I unsheathed Jared's dagger from my belt and held it out before the men, trying not to shake.

"Get away from me!" I snapped.

The men looked at each other, laughing. One of them, a younger man with pock-marked skin and ashen blond hair, stepped forward, looking me up and down. I sliced at him with the dagger but he didn't falter.

“Pretty thing,” he mused, his eyes lingering on my breasts. “Why'd they dress ya in a men's shirt when yer such a pretty little pet?” He lunged at me, knocking the knife right out of my hand.

I clenched my hands into fists and swung at him, but he grabbed my wrists and forced me to my knees. “Me first," he grinned as he pressed me into the ground.

I fought, screaming in frustration as he tried to press my cheek against the road. One of his companions kicked dirt into my eyes and I cried out in pain.

One of the men squeaked in surprise, then the sound of a scuffle erupted behind me. I wasn't sure what was happening in the background. My eyes were watering painfully and I couldn't move. I blinked through tears to find Jared rushing toward me, his face twisted in deathly fury.

"You!" he snarled, teeth bared as he pointed a finger at the man holding me down. “You're dead!" “Stop fightin’ me sweetheart," the man breathed against my neck as I screamed Jared's name.

I could hear a fight taking place behind me as Jared ran toward me from the front, his eyes blazing with rage.

“She's mine," Jared snapped, then ripped the man away from me and tackled him to the ground before I had a chance to take a breath.

I heard Brandt cry out, Archer responding with a muffled curse. Suddenly I was being lifted onto my feet, my body protesting before the familiar smell of leather and parchment hit me.

Jared had his arm around my waist, holding me upright. I reached up to rub the dirt from my eyes, blinking into the blinding sun.

I heard clapping. An applause. Then a man's voice rang out, lifted with... glee?

“I can always count on you to put on a show, Jared," said a tall, handsome older man with striking golden hair.

He was immaculately dressed and had a thick, well-groomed beard glistening over his jawline. I squinted at him, my breath coming in gasps as I fought to catch my breath.

"Aeris," Jared growled, tightening his grip on me.