Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 914

Chapter 120: The Rebellion Has Begun

*Eliza*

I was going absolutely crazy. Mila kept me on bed rest while she treated my ribs.

I'd been stuck in the same room since we got back to the village. Mila wouldn't let me do anything for myself.

“Eliza, you need to lie still. If you keep twisting around, you're going to break your ribs again," Mila warned, grabbing my arm so I couldn't reach across the bed.

“I can reach for my own glass of water!"

Mila grinned and shook her head. “You remind me a lot of Ciana and how feisty and independent she was growing up."

“I've been on bed rest for days. Shouldn't my ribs be healed by now?"

Mila frowned slightly. “Under normal circumstances, yes, but it wasn't the rock that caused your ribs to break. It was the spell that Hestia cast. Magical breaks take longer to heal."

I sighed and nodded.

“Knock, knock. Can we come in for a visit?"

Giselle knocked on the door frame and came in, holding a fresh bouquet of flowers. Scarlett was right behind her with a box of chocolates.

Mila bowed her head and backed off slightly, allowing my friends to see me.

They each came up on either side of my bed and sat down. Giselle set the flowers on my nightstand and Scarlett handed me the chocolates.

“How are you feeling?" she asked, pulling the lid of the box off.

I smiled and popped a chocolate in my mouth. The smooth, delicious candy melted in my mouth so satisfyingly.

“I'm bored out of my mind! Please, spring me for a few hours," I groaned, glancing at Mila.

“Don't encourage her, girls. She needs her rest," Mila ordered.

“Sorry, Eliza. A powerful Luna Witch is more intimidating than you." Giselle smiled sheepishly.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, whatever...."

“You, have we met before?" Mila stepped forward.

I noticed how she studied Scarlett like she'd seen her somewhere before.

Scarlett pointed to herself. “Are you talking to me?"

“Yes."

“I don't think we've met before. But I know of you by reputation, Mila. I've heard nothing but good things."

Mila nodded absently, accepting the compliment. “What's your name, dear?"

“Scarlett."

Mila blinked. I saw the surprise in her eyes as she nodded again.

“I'll give the three of you some space. But do not allow Eliza to get up and move around. She needs to recover," Mila insisted.

“Was that weird?" Scarlett asked, turning to me the moment Mila was gone.

I shrugged. “I don't know. She's traveled a lot. She probably met your great-grandmother or something."

Giselle and Scarlett chuckled.

“Well, we've got you for a few hours. How can we entertain you?"

***

A few days later, Mila finally gave me a clean bill of health. She checked my vitals and poked around at my ribs.

I winced.

“That's still tender?" Mila asked.

“Yeah…" I hissed.

“The bones are healed but the area is still sore. That's to be expected. Eliza, I know this is difficult, but you need to take it easy for the rest of your pregnancy."

“Why, is something wrong?" Panic flooded through me and my pulse quickened.

“Nothing is wrong right now. However, that was a serious injury. Your bones are healed but the magic did some internal damage. Don't push yourself or you could end up worse off than these past few days."

“Okay. I'll try...."

“Please do."

She relayed her instructions to Jared before leaving so that he would know to keep me from over doing it.

As soon as Mila was gone, I got up and got dressed.

“What do you think you're doing?" Jared watched me from the doorway, a playful smirk on his lips.

“I'm not restricted to bedrest anymore. I want to get up and move around."

“Eliza, I'd prefer it if you did follow Mila's advice and take it easy." Jared sighed.

“I am taking it easy. But I'm also a Luna, and there are things I need to do."

Jared pursed his lips and nodded.

I walked over to him and I took his hands. “Before I got hurt, I was in the middle of doing all kinds of village renovation plans. I can do that without over-exerting myself."

“Are you sure?"

I bit my lower lip. “Well, if you want to keep an eye on me, you can always tag along."

Jared pulled away from me. “Eliza...."

I creased my brow. My stomach twisted uncomfortably. Was I that bad at reading the mood between us without the mate bond?

Apparently, Jared wasn't interested in being flirty with me.

I clasped my hands behind my back and stepped away from him. Clearing my throat, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other.

“I'll be fine, Jared. It isn't that hard to oversee construction."

“Eliza… we have something else to talk about." His tone became serious.

Sighing, I sat on the foot of the bed and rubbed my thighs.

“What's up?"

“We haven't had a chance to talk about everything I said at Aries's mansion...."

“Yes, we did. I told you I understood why you said those things. You already rejected me for real and that was...."

I trailed off and bit the inside of my cheek. The look on Jared's face told me that I shouldn't bring the rejection up.

“I'm sorry...."

“No, Eliza, I'm sorry." Jared took several steps into the room. He held a hand out to me and sighed, dropping his arm.

“It's okay. I just want to move on from all of this and start focusing on our future and our baby." I smiled, putting my hands on my stomach.

“I'd like that as well, which is why I want to go after the flower and restore the mate bond between us."

“Jared… you know I don't think that's necessary." I twisted my hands in my lap and looked down.

“I know. But Aries and Hestia are both in far-off, distant places right now. I can go to the valley and get the Lunalily. We'd be able to feel each other again in no time."

“I'm worried about you going off alone after a rare flower. I'd rather have you safe, here with me, until we know Hestia and Aries are no longer threats anymore."

“It would only take a few days, Eliza. I'm doing this for you, me, and the baby."

Jared's eyes were hopeful as he looked at me. I knew how much restoring the mate bond meant to him. Yes, I absolutely wanted to have the mate bond restored, but I was so worried about his safety after everything that had happened.

His eyes told me that he wouldn't be happy until he'd restored the bond.

“Okay." I nodded. “Just… take extra security and be careful."

“I'll be careful." Jared lifted my hands and kissed my palms. “I promise."

He massaged the place of my missing engagement ring.

I squeezed his hands. “I meant to tell you. I sent it to the palace."

He scrunched his face. “Why?"

“To keep it away from Hestia and as proof of my identity in case my parents were still there."

“I don't understand," he said.

“I needed to get a warning to my cousin about Hestia's plans."

“Do you really think I might have gone through with it?"

“No, of course not. But she had already dispatched Aries to take over an army of rogue wolves. I thought they should at least get a heads-up."

“Good thinking." He tugged playfully on a wayward curl. “Has the messenger returned?"

“No, not yet."

He nodded slowly but seemed worried. I watched his face as he seemed to consider his next words.

“Alright, we will follow up on that once I get back."

I smiled my understanding then asked, “I suppose I can't go with you, can I?"

Jared smirked and shook his head. “Mila said you need to take it easy for the rest of your pregnancy. No travel."

“Alright, I will stay here and finish the renovations. The whole village will be transformed by the time you get home."

“I'm looking forward to it." Jared kissed my forehead and left.

I met up with Giselle and Scarlett. They wanted to show me all the progress they'd made on the village since I'd been kidnapped and while I was recovering. I was grateful that the two of them had taken over my plans.

“We got all the streets cleaned up and started putting in trees and plants along the sidewalks, especially outside," Giselle said, pointing to a group of landscapers.

They were hard at work putting in new flower beds outside a grocery store.

“I feel like there's so much new life in the village now," I said.

“Who knew that some fresh paint and some new flowers could brighten up the place so much?" Gisella asked, giggling.

“Well, it definitely helps. How about plans for the school?" I glanced at Scarlett.

“We've been working on it. I've talked to a few architectures and they have some ideas. I'll get you the basic plans this afternoon and you can check it out."

“That would be great!"

I really wanted to see the village move forward, not just with the facelift it was getting but also with the plans to add more access to electricity, indoor plumbing, and a better education system.

Giselle and Scarlett kept walking with me, showing me various improvements here and there. I noticed some houses that had been recently repainted with moving vans out front and families moving in furniture and boxes.

“Are there new shifters moving in?" I asked, nodding to the houses.

“Yeah, we've had several new families coming in."

I frowned and crossed the street. What was bringing so many new shifters to our small village? I doubted it was the new flowers and the fresh paint.

Not that Jared and I had anything against new shifters, but no one had moved in since I arrived and now a bunch of them were moving in all at once.

There was another shifter I recognized talking to the new families.

“Oh, and this is Luna Eliza. She's been monumental in fixing up our little village," the shifter I recognized said the moment she saw me.

The newly arrived shifters smiled brightly and waved at me.

I waved back a little awkwardly. I hadn't expected to be thrown into the middle of it.

Quickly, I regained my composure.

“Welcome to our little village. If you're looking to take a step back and settle down in a quiet place, this is the place for you."

“Thank you, Luna, you are too kind," one of the new females said, bowing her head to me.

“We're so glad that you're kind and welcoming. It is refreshing to meet such humble people with a simple lifestyle."

“My husband, Jared, he's the Alpha here, is away for a few days," I explained. “However, we are both always pleased to welcome new families. What brings you out here?"

“Oh, we heard that some other families settled down here and really liked it."

I creased my brow. “Is there a reason so many shifters are moving around?"

The female's face darkened and she lowered her eyes slightly. “Well, honestly, we were fleeing the capital."

“Escape?" I gasped.

“There are constant rebellious attacks on the capital and for growing families… it just isn't safe anymore."

“Rebellion?" I looked at Giselle and Scarlett.

They both shrugged.

I remembered Hestia telling Aries that she'd gathered an army of rogues for him. Had he made his attack on the capital already?

“That's awful. What about the king and queen?"

“Before I left, I heard that the king and queen are well protected in their palace. They've sent a lot of aid and resources to the citizens, so we know they are still looking after us. But it is too dangerous for them to come out. Rogues are launching daily attacks. It seemed endless, so some of us decided to leave...."

I nodded absently. This wasn't good. I was certain we needed to prepare for a larger influx of shifters leaving the capital and I was extremely worried about the palace. How were Lena and Xander holding up?

I rested my hand on my belly. And what about the kids?