Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 660

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 660

Chapter 7 : What Choice Do I Have?

“I really appreciate all the help, I do, but…”

I couldn’t pull away from Soren’s intense look. His eyes swam with concern. My throat tightened and I tried to swallow, but it hurt.

All I wanted to do was get out of there! I wanted to get out of bed, be able to stand on my own two feet, put on some new clothes, and leave. There was too much on the line if I stayed put.

Besides, whenever I smelled Soren, felt his warm body, or looked into his eyes, I was like a giddy, lovesick puppy. That just wouldn’t do. Not to mention that lady friend of his. Ashley… She really didn’t want me around.

“Your friend is right… it is time for me to leave,” I insisted.

I tried to pull away from Soren and stand on my own. My legs shook and I plopped down on the bed. Tremors ran through my body and I felt weak and faint.

How could I get anywhere like this?

I had to try again. Gritting my teeth, I tried to stand. I strained every muscle in my body but I could only rise a few inches before I fell back on the bed.

A heavy, calming hand rested on my shoulder, keeping me still.

I sighed and looked up at Soren. His hand was more comforting than it should have been. It was like that one touch told me I could trust him and that everything would be okay.

“You know, you can take it easy when you need to. No one will think less of you for taking time to recover after what you’ve been through,” he said kindly.

I scoffed and shook my head. “I really need to move on.”

“If you’re concerned about your safety, no one here will hurt you. I will make sure of it. Stay and rest until you are strong enough to make it on your own. I’m not sending you out there to die before you get to the edge of the village.”

His sentiment was almost nice but there was a passive-aggressive undertone. After all the trouble he’d gone through to help patch me up, he wasn’t going to see me throw it all away.

If only he knew the danger he was inviting by allowing me to stay. If he did, he might not have helped me at all.

What choice did I have?

I could stay here among strangers and trust Soren’s words. A stranger, an ambitious male that could easily use me for his own gain.

Or, I could take my chances and run away. Too weak to walk on my own, I’d never get far. Soren was right about that. I’d be far too vulnerable out in the open, stumbling around. It would also draw too much attention.

“Thank you,” I said. At least, so far, Soren hadn’t acted like a villain…yet. I really didn’t have many choices. It was the better of two bad options.

After that, my strength completely sapped, I laid back on the bed and got comfortable on the pillows.

“You’re welcome,” he replied and left the room, locking it for me before sleep took me quickly.

***

Several days passed on my road to recovery. Every day I could feel my strength returning and my pain lessening. Soren even came by to check on me every day or two.

Our conversations were pleasant and he never made me feel like he was trying to interrogate me or rush the healing process.

If anything, he seemed to want me to slow down. But I wasn’t going to milk this or drag it out. I had to be on the move, and soon.

Ashley was still my main caregiver. She came by regularly with food, clothes, and medicine.

Every day she asked, “Did you sleep well? Are you feeling better? When will you be leaving?”

She hardly seemed interested in the answers to the first two questions. Only the third one.

After a few days, the questions became more routine than insistent.

Maybe she was getting used to me being there, or she was just tired of asking and getting the same vague answer.

“When will you be leaving?” Ashley asked again as I finished my breakfast.

“Soon, I hope,” I said. I tried to convey that I didn’t want to be there any more than she wanted me there.

I sat on the edge of the bed in a clean outfit she’d brought for me. After several more days, I was strong enough that I didn’t need the painkillers anymore.

It was my hands and feet that still needed to heal. The blisters from the desert heat had really done a number on them. For a while, I couldn’t change the bandages because my fingers were too swollen, until now.

“Well, that’s a first,” Ashley said when she saw me wrapping fresh bandages on my own. The cooling, healing gel was always such a relief on my raw skin.

“See, I’ll be out of here soon,” I tried to make it easy for both of us.

“Sure, whatever,” Ashley muttered. She collected my empty plate and left the room without wanting to converse more. I didn’t mind at all, for I had my own plans.

My feet were still sore but I could finally stand without shaking or excruciating pain.

Hobbling, I left my room for the first time since I got there, balancing myself on the wall along the way.

The stairs were tricky but I made it downstairs. No one stopped me as I limped through the front door and out onto the porch, where I was pleasantly greeted by clean, fresh air for the first time in days.

I sighed happily and leaned against the porch railing. As I looked around the village, I realized that it really was in the middle of the desert. No matter what direction I looked in, whether close by or at the horizon, everything was covered or surrounded by the golden, scorching sand.

All the buildings were shabby and looked like they were in need of maintenance. Even the inn I was staying at could use a layer of new paint and even a new roof.

How did it survive the sandstorm?

I went back inside when the sun started to feel hot—I didn’t want to aggravate my blisters anymore—however, I realized something usual.