Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 305

Chapter 85: She Can See the Future

Maeve

The village was buzzing with activity as I followed Mom into the center of the rows of cottages and buildings housing the shops and market. Gretchen had bundled her up in a thick, heavy red wool coat and a matching hat, the color a stark

contrast to the snow and white-washed buildings. Mom was barking orders to the warriors who had surrounded a group of a dozen or so weary-looking people, strangers.

“Who are they? How did they get here?” I turned to Gemma, who shrugged, her face lined with suspicion.

She had heard the commotion from her house and came to fetch us, but the warriors had beaten her there, and we were already in the driveway when Gemma arrived. She had given George to Gretchen and then followed us down to the village, where the warrior had gathered the unfamiliar group into the snow-covered market square.

“They shouldn’t be out here; it’s freezing. Take them up to the castle. Offer food and water. Now!” Mom’s voice rang out through the square.

She sounded every ounce the queen, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I watched her commanding the warriors. The group began to move, the warriors herding them away. But an elderly woman had stopped walking, separating from the group.

She was looking past me, her eyes fixated on something behind me. I turned to look over my shoulder in the direction of her gaze and saw a young woman standing at the edge of the market square, her black hair dappled with snowflakes.

“Who is that?” I asked Gemma, who turned to look.

“Oh, that’s Hanna.”

“Hanna of Red Lakes?”

Hanna’s gaze shifted from the elderly woman to me, and I quickly turned back around, a blush rising to my cheeks. I vaguely remember Hanna from when her family visited. She was a year older than me, but aside from a formal introduction when their family arrived, I didn’t think I’d seen her for the rest of their short-lived trip. She had been nowhere to be seen when Aaron fell from the tree.

“Yeah, she’s Rowan’s mate. I’m sure someone told you,” Gemma said.

“I feel like I’ve only been told snippets of what’s been happening here, Gem. Who are these people? They didn’t come by boat. That means they would’ve had to come through-through the forest? How is that possible?” The old roads were so overgrown now; it would take so long for anyone to get through that way.

Gemma glanced at me, somewhat shocked. “Did your dad not tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Maeve? Is that really you?” A familiar male voice cut through

the air, and I found myself paralyzed by surprise. It couldn’t

1. be.

“O-Otto?” I said, my voice wavering as a man walked toward me dressed in warrior garb. He stopped walking a few feet from where Gemma and I were standing, looking.me up and down. I wasn’t sure I recognized him at first, but then his mouth twitched into a wide smile. “Oh, my Goddess. How?”

“Oh, Maeve. It’s so good to see you!” He closed the distance between us, taking my hand in his and squeezing it. “I heard you were home. I’ve been busy, I should have come up to the house right away but it was my son’s birthday,”

“Son?” I was stunned.

Thadn’t seen Otto in fifteen years, not since he went with the expedition party to explore the Eastern Mountains that separated Mirage and Winter Forest. We all thought he was dead, along with Gemma’s mother, Seraphine.

“I have five children. My wife, Shelly, she,” he paused, looking between Gemma and me to where Hanna had been standing.

I turned to look at her again, an unusual feeling creeping over me. Her gaze was still locked on the elderly woman, who was being rounded up with the rest of the group.

“Anyway, I’ll find you soon, okay? I’m happy you’re home.” Otto patted my shoulder, then jogged back to the other warriors, stopping to speak to Mom.

“Hanna?” Gemma asked as she turned, tucking her gloved hands into the pockets of her jacket. “Do you know that woman?”

“I feel like I do. Does that sound crazy?” Hanna replied, walking toward us as if Gemma’s words had been an invitation.

I went still at her words, her voice sounding so familiar.

“Where is she from?” Gemma asked.

Hanna blinked, then looked around. “Where’s Rowan?” she asked, looking toward Mom.

“Uh, I think he went to the castle with Alpha Ethan this morning-”

“We should go to them. Come on Hanna took us by the hands, the feeling of her skin against mine sending a ripple of familiar energy through my body. I almost let go but felt an odd connection to her.

Like we had met before, and not when we were children.

The castle was bustling with life as I stepped inside behind Hanna and Gemma, shielding my eyes from the heavy snow falling from the deep gray sky. It was late afternoon, and the sun had already set behind the clouds. The castle grounds were washed in yellow light from the lanterns dotted around the façade of the castle, and light spilled from the windows onto the glistening snow.

“Maeve!” Troy came to me the second I stepped into the grand foyer, taking my hand and leading me away from Hanna and Gemma. “I’m sorry I left without a word this morning. Rowan and 1-”

“It’s okay; I slept in for a while. And then… do you know who these people are? Has anyone said?”

“Your dad is talking to their leader right now in the library. I think we should go see them.”

“Why?”

He paused, his thumb tracing a circle in the palm of my hand.

“They’re like the people of Dianny. I think… I think these are the people Una talked about, the ones Lycaon left behind when he was fleeing from Morrighan.”

“Oh, great…” I huffed as he guided me toward the library. I wondered cynically if we were ever going to have an ounce of normalcy in our lives ever again.

Dad was situated at the end of the long library table, his hands folded neatly on the surface and his body leaning forward as he conversed with the same elderly woman I had seen in the market square.

She was filthy, dressed in worn rags. Someone had covered her with a thick blanket and given her a steaming cup of what smelled like chicken soup, which immediately made me hungry.

Dad looked up as we came into the room, nodding tightly as Troy stationed us against the wall near the door. Mom was seated next to Dad, still in her red coat, but she was pale, her face flushed with fatigue.

The woman turned to me, looking me up and down with interest before turning back to Dad, settling herself back in

her seat as she closed her hands around the mug of soup.

“So you can guarantee our refuge?” Her voice contradicted her appearance. She was small, old, and frail, but her voice was youthful and steady.

Dad tapped his fingers on the table, looking at Mom, who was still.

“He knows who we are,” the woman said, pointing a shaky finger at Dad. “Lycenna.”

“Who prevailed?” Dad asked.