Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 696

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 696

Chapter 43 : I Would Have my Revenge

Sticking to the shadows, I made my way back. I hid behind a tent and saw that Payne, Ashley, and the others had been ambushed. They were both in restraints and most of Soren’s other men were being restrained and held back.

“We don’t know who the hell you’re talking about!” Payne shouted. “It is just us. We don’t know any witches and we haven’t seen one!”

“Me?” I gasped, covering my mouth.

These men were after me!

Payne must have been trying to convince them I wasn’t around because they hadn’t seen me. I guess my walk in the desert had been a good thing… unless Soren’s friends got hurt because of it.

Normally, they’d have no problem fighting off attackers but this group was highly trained. The kind of organized military force that only a strong alpha could afford and maintain.

If I backed away and snuck off into the shadows, they could search the camp all they wanted and they’d never find me. Hopefully, they’d leave Payne, Ashley, and the others in peace if they realized I wasn’t there.

“Is that so?” the leader asked, pointing a spear at Payne’s chin.

He snapped his fingers and two of his strongest guards pounced on Ashley. She spit and hissed as they pulled her back and restrained her.

“Well, this b***h will do just fine for now. When you find that little witch, you can exchange her for your sister,” the leader said, pressing the tip of his spear harder into Payne’s neck.

My heart hammered in my chest. I couldn’t let Ashley get hurt, not on my account.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ashley snarled, struggling against her captors. “We don’t know who you’re talking about and we definitely don’t know any witches. They’re a myth!”

“Shut up!” one of the men snapped. He threw Ashley on the ground.

The guards that had taken her hostage began kicking and beating her.

Payne winced but he didn’t move toward her. The spear tip still at his throat. The others couldn’t move either. They were powerless to help Ashley.

“Where is she!?” the leader demanded.

“W-we don’t know any-anything,” Ashley sputtered from the ground. She coughed up blood. Her skin and clothes were covered in sand and bloody smears.

After all that, she still didn’t give up my location. I knew she didn’t like me but she was showing true loyalty and she was trying to protect me.

The others might be powerless to save Ashley, but I wasn’t!

I pulled my knife from my pack and tucked it into my pocket.

“Everyone lower your weapons,” I said. I held my arms up and walked out from behind the tent.

The leader whipped around, pointing his spear at me.

“Oh, what do we have here? A redheaded woman?” he asked. He glared at Payne.

“Release Ashley and take me instead. I know I’m the one you’re after,” I said.

Ashley glared at me. “What the hell are you doing? Get out of here! No one asked you to come help me!”

I ignored her and looked at the leader. “Let her go or I will disappear into the darkness and you’ll never find me.”

The leader snapped his fingers and his soldiers let Ashley go. She scrambled back toward Payne.

“Come on, we’ve got to go,” the leader said.

“Wait!”

I pulled the knife from my pocket and held it to my throat.

The leader froze and held his hands up to the other men.

“Release them, all of them, and let them leave in the Jeeps. I’m not going to let you kill them the moment I turn my back,” I insisted.

The leader glared at me.

“I know you want me alive!”

“Fine. Go, all of you. Get the hell out of here!” the leader snarled, waving to Payne and Ashley.

His soldiers released all of Soren’s men and they raced to the Jeeps. They all drove away quickly but Payne hesitated before pulling away. I could tell he didn’t want to leave me and he was badly injured.

We made eye contact and I nodded. He nodded back and drove away.

Something thunked on the back of my head and everything went black.

***

*Soren*

Thomas and I traversed the dangerous landscapes to the north of Miltern. The closest place where Helingred flowers grew was north in the high-peaked, impassable mountains. This time of year, they were prone to random flurries and high gusts of wind.

We clamored over the rocks, using our hands and feet to make our way through the difficult mountains.

“I think you’re losing your mind,” Thomas teased me. “I mean, can’t this wait a couple of more months?”

I rolled my eyes and pulled myself over another rock. I had to climb up a high rock wall and I turned around, offering my hand to Thomas.

He glared at my hand but he took it and I hauled him up the wall.

“Why wait? Howlingred will need blood regardless,” I said.

“Of course it does… but at least, closer to the winter solstice, it won’t need as much blood. During its regular budding season, it won’t require you to drain yourself dry,” he reminded me.

“I’m not good at waiting,” I grumbled.

“Don’t I know it,” Thomas scoffed, rolling his eyes.

We picked our way through the winding pathway. It was an animal trail which meant it was very narrow and in some places, a sheer drop on the other side. And it was a long, long way down!

“Be honest, Soren, this is about Mila again, isn’t it?” Thomas asked.

I glanced back at him. We had to walk single file.

“Are you trying to gossip with me? When did you become a schoolgirl?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Look, you might not care, but I really don’t want to be the one to tell your brother that you committed suicide in order to save a random girl,” Thomas told me, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. “Thomas, you don’t have to worry about my brother.”

“No. It is the White Queen’s tears I don’t want to deal with. And you know there will be a lot of them,” he said.

I chuckled, burying the sore spot that was pricked at the mention of the White Queen.

“Shut the f**k up already. Why do you think I asked you to come with me?” I snarled.

Thomas groaned and I imagined him rolling his eyes.

I was on such a narrow strip of land I didn’t want to risk looking back. I might lose my footing and go over.

“Because you need an audience to watch the show: Howlingred’s Blood Bath by Soren Black,” he said dramatically.

“And here I thought, after so many years, you might have grown up a little,” I teased.

“Pfft. We wouldn’t be friends if I grew up. This friendship only has room for one super-serious, brooding guy,” Thomas chuckled.

“I’m not that serious,” I defended. “Is that what people think of me?”

“Heh,” Thomas chuckled. “You really haven’t changed either… People here must be blind if they think you are composed and serious.”

I shrugged and shook my head. “I never asked them to think of me that way.”

“No, but you didn’t have to. I’m guessing all that brooding is borrowed from our White Queen,” he said.

“Once upon a time,” I muttered. I wasn’t sure if the longing I had for Rosalie was really about her anymore or just a longing not to be lonely anymore.

We reached the peak of the mountain where the Holwingred herb grew. Normally, when they were closer to blooming, there were several bloodthirsty predators guarding them.