Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 807

Chapter 18 : Don’t Eat the Food

*Eliza*

I ran. I didn't know what else to do. The forest passed in a blur as I worked my way through the dense underbrush, trying to put as much distance as I could from the battle taking place in the clearing that had once been our camp.

I couldn't hear anything taking place at our camp from my hiding spot beneath the trees, but then a scream had ripped through the forest… then another, then another. After the third scream, I jumped to my feet and ran like my life depended on it.

If Jared was still alive, which seemed unlikely, he'd find me.

Right?

Jared's wolf had been a shock, almost as shocking as the situation I found myself in now… Black as night with crimson eyes, large and agile.

But that shadow he cast as he sprinted away from me was what had stunned me. It was a part of him, something tethered to his soul that he couldn't shake. It was… power, a dark power… something he couldn't control.

I braced myself on a tree, panting as I struggled to catch my breath. I couldn't hear the chaos taking place anymore. I'd run far enough now, I believed. Jared had told me to run if it came down to it, but where? I looked up into the trees, then back down along the forest floor. There were no fallen logs or large rocks to hide behind. The forest was nothing but an endless, moss-covered maze.

I walked in no particular direction, trying to catch my breath. I felt it was better to keep moving than cower in the open. The men would find me soon enough, I was sure. But in the event they didn't come for me… if they were dead, and I was out here alone....

“Keep moving," I said to myself, and I did.

I was chilled and aching when light started to trickle in through the canopy above me, the trees growing more sparse and allowing sunlight to flood into the forest. I looked up, noticing the forest seemed to fall away in the distance, a large grassy area dusted with golden morning light spreading out in front of me.

I'd reached the edge of the Dark Forest, and beyond lay a wide river valley.

I allowed myself to stop and rest, falling to my knees in the grass just outside of the forest.

“I'm not sorry," Jared had said to me before he shifted.

“Neither am I," I'd replied.

What if he was dead?

I blinked into the sunrise, letting the sun warm my skin. I shivered against the sudden warmth, having spent what felt like hours running through the forest in nothing but the thermals I'd worn beneath my coat.

I'd left everything in the clearing. I had no food, no water.

I looked down at the dagger in my hand. In the light I could see markings etched into the handle, long, swirling divots that wrapped completely around it. The handle was made of ivory and was worn and discolored from use. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the markings were the same as the tattoos that ran up the length of Jared's arms, tattoos I'd yet to have the opportunity to really examine.

I lay down in the grass, tucking my knees into my belly with a firm grip on the dagger. I was exhausted and hungry. My eyes were heavy with fatigue, and after a few minutes of laying in the sun, I fell into a shallow sleep.

“Eliza," came a lilted, feminine voice.

I opened my eyes, noticing the morning had shifted into midday. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and blinking into an incredibly warm sun. “Eliza," the voice said again, followed by the soft echo of windchimes as I turned to look into the forest at my back.

There was a woman standing at the edge of the forest, dressed in a pale gray dress and billowed out from her lean waist. Golden hair reached her knees and hung loose around a remarkably exquisite face.

“They're gone, girl," the woman said, extending a hand to me. “You're safe."

I was a good distance from where she stood. Her body was cast in the shadow of the forest, as if she wasn't able to cross the threshold into the light outside of the forest's grasp.

“Come, child."

“No," I said, a chill running up my spine as she took another step toward me, but she hesitated as the sunlight brushed against the hem of her dress.

“You've come so far from home," she said, her voice a lullaby to my ears.

I felt a little weak all of the sudden, my body relaxing involuntarily.

She tilted her head to the side, smiling brilliantly. “You must be hungry. Come."

I opened my mouth to speak but found it impossible to make a sound. My body was up and moving against my will and soon she had her hand wrapping lightly around mine, pulling me back into the forest. I willed my body to take my hand from her gentle grasp, but it refused.

“What's happening? Where are the men?" I tried to say, but I no longer had a voice.

I tasted something metallic. A tingling sensation snaked up my arm as she led me through the forest, the light of day disappearing behind us.

***

The witch's house was very grand and seemed out of place within the forest. It was three stories tall and made of stone the color of gold. Fruit trees grew out front, thick with fat, ripe apples and pomegranates.

But it was spring… I glanced up at the fruit as she led me through the front garden, which was in full bloom. None of it made sense. I hadn't even seen the house until we were upon it.

She brought me inside, and I was instantly overwhelmed by the smell of food.

Before us was a long table filled to the brim with every food I could imagine… platters of roast beef, broiled chicken, a whole hog… fruits and pastries, and bowls of potatoes and green beans. I hadn't realized she'd led me to a chair until she took a seat at the other end of the table.

The spell that had bound me to her lifted, leaving me breathless and dazed.

“Don't eat the food," Jared had said.

My stomach pitched and growled in protest.

“Please, help yourself," she said cheerfully, serving herself.

I found it hard to swallow as I looked over the spread. Everything looked… incredible. It smelled incredible. It was a feast even my royal aunts and uncles couldn't have served.

“Don't eat the food." The memory of Jared's words filled my mind again. He hadn't said why, but it was enough to fill me with apprehension as I looked down at my empty plate.

I was fighting my hunger, my body continuing to revolt against my mind. My fingers twitched towards the fork next to the plate.

“No," I breathed, closing my eyes for a moment.

“I won't be able to finish all of this myself," the witch said sweetly.

I opened my eyes, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were pure silver, fanned by golden lashes the same color as her hair.

But then I saw a cake at the very center of the table, sitting on a tall cake stand that towered over the rest of the food. I hadn't seen it there before. I knew it was covered in butter frosting. I knew the inside had layers of chocolate sponge separated by chocolate icing, and on top… fresh raspberries.

I'd picked those raspberries on the bush that grew alongside our house near the inlet in Winter Forest. My mom had chided me from the kitchen window for eating more than I was picking. My fingers had been stained red for days.

It was my birthday cake.

My eyes flicked to the witch, a feeling of dread washing over me. None of this was real.

“Eat," she said sharply, noticing my sudden change in demeanor.

“I'm not hungry," I said levelly, curling my hands into fists under the table. I froze, noticing the cool weight in my right hand. I was still holding Jared's dagger. I'd forgotten.

“Eat," she repeated, rising from her seat. Her teeth were bared, and I noticed how sharp they were as she hissed at me… like fish teeth, I realized with a start.

“No," I growled.

She pounded a fist on the table and the room shattered around me, replaced by ruin. I looked down at the table that had once been filled with a feast. Now it was nothing but decay–mold and bones and putrid meat buzzing with flies. I fell backward out of my seat in my haste to get away, my ankle twisting around the chair leg. I was going to throw up; I couldn't help it. The smell was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

I was dizzy. It was hard to breathe.

I saw a flash of pale gray and looked up through tears as the witch stopped before me. She was no longer beautiful. Her golden hair was gone, replaced by thin strands of gray and bald spots. Her face was hollow, and sunken. Her thin lips were stretched into a cruel, almost delirious smile.

She still had all her fish teeth though, which only added to my terror.

“Stupid girl," she purred, the sound like boots walking over loose gravel. She reached down, tangling her long, gnarled fingers in my hair and pulled so I was forced to look up at her.

There was a crash on the other side of the room. Glass shards shot across the room as something large and black lauched itself through the window. The witch screamed, letting go of me just in time to be tackled to the ground by a large wolf the color of a starless night.

Two more wolves followed.

They ripped the witch to shreds only feet from where I lay.

I slowly sat up and crawled back to the chair I'd fallen out of. I climbed into the chair and sat down, my back to the c*****e. I looked over the table, at the bones sticking up from the mold and rotting meat. I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat as I saw what was left of a hand sticking up from the decay, maggots crawling between the fingers. I almost fainted, my head bobbing as I tried not to vomit.

“Eliza," said Jared from behind me. His hand wrapped around my shoulder and I flinched, then swayed out of his grip as I fell to my hands and knees on the floor. I crawled to the corner of the room and sat against the wall, panting.

But then I turned my head and saw what was left of the witch.

This time I really did throw up.

“f*****g witches," Archer said, tying what looked like a silk robe around his body. I blinked up at him as he looked around the room. The robe obviously belonged to the witch, and it barely covered his thighs. “You okay?" he asked, meeting my eyes. I didn't know what to say.

“She's fine, just stunned," Jared answered.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him and Brandt on the other side of the room, their nakedness obstructed by an overturned armoire. I heard the sound of clothing hitting the floor, and the two men talked amongst themselves as they got dressed.

Archer was the closest to me at the moment. He drove his fist through the glass face of a cabinet, pulling out several bottles of what looked like wine.

I was slowly coming back to my senses. My heart began to beat at a normal rhythm as Jared tossed a shirt and pants at Archer, saying something about covering himself. Archer teased him, saying something in return about Jared being jealous of his new robe. He even did a little dance, swaying his hips.

Their voices were still somewhat distorted by the blood thrumming in my ears.

Archer turned to me, two bottles of wine in his hands.

“You look ridiculous," I panted, my mouth curving into a smile.

“Well, you look like s**t, so…" he retorted, flashing me a charming smile.

“Are you okay?" Jared asked from across the room. He was dressed now, but in clothes that weren't his own… men's clothes, and it seemed like there were plenty to choose from.

“She had my birthday cake on the table," I said, leaning my head against the wall. I choked on the words, tears welling in my eyes. “My mom makes it for me every year."

Jared stared at me, then glanced at Archer, who was watching me just as closely.

“I didn't eat it," I whispered. “I didn't eat anything."

“Good, because she would've eaten you," Archer said.

“Archer, shut up," Jared commanded, walking toward me.

He crouched in front of me, looking into my eyes. His hand resting on my ankle, turning it slowly from side to side. It hurt a bit, but I could still walk on it, I was sure.

“Thank you for listening to me, for once."