Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 29 : This is Paradise

*Lena*

“I didn't mean to." I whispered. Dad had his back turned to me as he gazed out the window. His hand

was on the windowsill, his eyes on the garden below. "What did I do to her?"

"Try to get some rest-"

"Is she okay?" I asked in a choked whisper.

He turned liis head, but looked past me at the door to my bedroom, his eyes vacant of emotion.

I followed his gaze, noticing the ivy snaking up the walls of my bedroom. I watched it grow, the thick

vines tearing into the wallpaper and cracking the drywall beneath.

"I don't know how to stop." I cried, turning to look at Dad again. But he was gone.

"Dad?" I said into tire empty space before me. I looked up at the ceiling where the ivy was crawling and

spir aling, mapping itself around the chandelier. "Mama!"

I wiped tears from my eyes and got out of bed. I fought against the vines blocking my bedroom door,

pulling the ivy as I sobbed and screamed for my parents. I pushed through the door as har d as I could

and fell onto my knees in the hallway.

But it was cold, and the floor was made of stone, cool to the touch. I str aightened out my Angers,

pressing my palms to the floor as I looked up. I was staring down tire aisle of what looked like a church,

a temple, my eyes focusing on the only color other than the gray of the granite walls, and pews made

of wood so old they had faded to a soft, dusty silver.

White roses covered an altar at the end of the aisle. They were wilted, their petals falling to the ground

as I rose to my knees. A woman was sitting in the first row of pews, her back to me. Her hair was as

black as ink, and straight, spilling over her shoulders as she watched the rose petals wither away into

dust.

I rose to my feet but stumbled on my first step forward. My misstep echoed through the temple, but the

women didn't turn to look at me.

"Hello?" I said.

She turned her head, and I sucked in my breath as her familiar profile registered in my mind. She was

incredibly young, my age. in fact.

"I didn't think I'd see you again." she said softly. “I come here often."

"Where are we?"

She wasn't looking at me. but I saw the faintest smile touch her cheek. Her pale brown eyes were

misting with tears as she chuckled, the sound practically inaudible.

"You told me you wouldn't remember." she whispered.

"What do you mean?" I took a single step forward. But I blinked, and in a split second, she was gone.

I frantically looked around, finding the temple in shambles. The moon hung overhead where the ceiling

once was. and a breeze filtered through the spires of granite blocks that were still standing. I opened

and closed my mouth, my stomach tying in a knot as shock and adrenaline began to course through

my veins.

"What's happening?" I cried, turning in a circle. "Where am I?"

I was facing what was left of the entrance to the temple. I walked toward it. wiping my nose on my

sleeve and sniffling as I gingerly crossed the threshold. Lightning lit up the sky overhead, but it was

soundless. There wasn't a single cloud.

Another-jolt of lightning lit up the sky. striking a nearby tr ee. It burst into flames, and I screamed, but no

sound came from my mouth.

Fear pulsated through me. crippling me. I backed up. turning to go back into the shelter of the temple,

but it was gone, replaced by trees that had been str ipped bare of all their leaves, their branches

twisted and gnarled. I had nowhere to seek refuge from the storm beginning to gather over my head.

Ram began, falling from thin, cloudless air. I shielded my head with my arms as I ran toward the trees,

trying to find anything to hide beneath.

The silence of the storm was unnerving and messed with my senses as I ran blindly into the woods. I

tripped, falling hand onto my knees and ripping my pants. I could feel my broken skin as I lifted my

head to look in front of me.

A figure was standing in tire distance, its figure cast in shadow. Every hair on my body stood on end as

another flash of lightning lit the area, and the figure was bathed in a second of blue light.

"Xander?" I breathed, relief flooding me as he began to walk toward me.

He placed his hand on the side of my face, and I leaned into his touch, letting my tears soak into his

skin. "I'm going to fix this," he said, his voice a distant echo. “I'm sorry. Lena. This wasn't supposed to

be this way."

“Where are we? How did we get here?" I asked, but his touch was gone. I reached out to him. but he

was far away, his shadowed figure turned away from me. I could hear his voice, but it was a low

murmur. "Xander!"

"I've been waiting for you." someone said behind me.

I turned my head and saw another man.

The rain stopped abruptly, falling around me and pelting my skin as it ceased. The moon was moving

rapidly around the man's head, shadows dancing over his face.

I'd never seen him before. He was a stranger. His face was beautiful. I realized, too perfect to be real.

He tilted his head to the side as he looked me over, his wide, frill mouth flexing into a sly smile.

"My queen." he said as he took a step forward, bowing his head to me. "My wife. Mother of my

children-"

"What?" I whispered, my mouth going dry.

He lifted liis head. liis dark hair falling from behind his ears and over his shoulders as he straightened to

liis frill height.

"I've tried with so many. But it can only be you. I'm waiting."

"For what-"

"It can only be you." he repeated, liis eyes flashing a crimson red.

I took a step away from him. my hands trembling as I held them out to steady myself as I walked

backward over the twisted tree roots along the forest floor. "I will find you."

He smiled, and I screamed.

His canine teeth were long and sharpened to a fine point. His lip curled over his teeth as he laughed.

Dozens upon dozens of bats sprung fr om the trees, circling him.

I turned, running as fast as my feet could cany me. I was screaming Xander's name. I felt pressure on

my shoulders, like I was being held down. Voices erupted around me. mixing together in a way that

was impossible for me to understand what I was hearing. I screamed for help over and over again. I

could still hear the man behind me. laughing. Itis voice taunting me as I tried to put distance between

us.

But then I broke from the forest and W'as momentarily blinded by the sun. I fell to my knees, blinking fr

antically to try to clear my vision.

"Help me. HELP ME!" I screamed, nibbing my eyes and then clawing at the ground, trying to crawl

blindly forward on my hands and knees.

"Don't touch her," said a female voice somewhere in front of me. “Let her find her way."

I could feel glass beneath me. It was soft, and fragrant. I squeezed it between my fingers as my breath

began to regulate. Soft, feminine chatter filled my ears, several voices questioning me and my

behavior.

"Leave her be." the first female voice said sternly, chuckling a little. "She'll get her bearings soon

enough. But she shouldn't be here, not yet."

"Where am I?"

"Safe." she said.

I continued to blink, my vision beginning to clear. I looked up to the voice, seeing a tall, elegant woman

with the richest, thickest wine-red hair I'd ever seen. She was dressed in a strange way, wearing a long,

flowing dress made of what looked like a mix of silk and fresh flowers. I tilted my head as I took her in.

unable to believe someone this beautiful could possibly exist.

"You've never seen another goddess before, have you. my love?" She gave me a warm smile,

extending her hand to help me to my feet.

"That man-"

“Pay him no mind." she smirked, waving her hand in dismissal.

She moved her hand in a small circle toward a group of women dressed in white silk dresses and

robes. We were in an incredibly picturesque forest, with willow trees that towered over us. their

branches sweeping the ground as I began to follow her toward a slow moving river so clear I could see

every rock along its bed.

The calm water sparkled in the sunlight peeking through the canopy of willows as she led me over a

length of flat stones, a bridge of some kind, which led to an island covered in flowers, and vibrantly

colored mushrooms, and other foliage I couldn't even

name.

"I'm dead." I breathed, looking around.

"You're not dead." she laughed, looking at me over her shoulder. "Your time has just begun. Do you

remember this place?"

"I've never been here-"

"Oil. my love, do you not remember?"

She stopped walking and turned to face me. her blue eyes glimmering as she looked me up and down.

"Remember what? Where am I?"

"You're home," she grinned, then sighed. "And it's been a very long time since we saw' you last. Say.

how was it? Was their realm everything you hoped it would be?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, the knot in my stomach tightening as I looked around. "I have no

idea.... I don't know' where I am."

"See?" she said to her companions, shrugging one shoulder. "I told you it wasn't yet her time."

“I'm dreaming." I whispered, then felt somewhat delirious. I reached down and pinched the skin of my

forearm, and squeezed my eyes shut. But soft laughter erupted around me. and I opened my eyes

again. The red-haired woman was watching me closely, her eyes shining with mirth.

"She will have to decide, ladies-her home or her love."

"All. what do your people call it again? Mates-" said one of the white-robed women. I looked around,

feeling increasingly apprehensive.

"This is paradise." the red-haired woman coaxed as she plucked a flower and handed it to me. closing

the distance between us.

She leaned down, her breath tickling my ear. "You no longer belong here, my child. Not yet. You will

have to decide soon, but not now. It's time for you to go back-"

"Go back?"

"You have unfinished business with the Alpha, my love-my sister. We will meet again soon."

"Alpha?" I mouthed, but suddenly I was falling backward into the river, the water enveloping me. I

choked, my amis moving frantically as I tiled to swim to the surface. I was drowning. I could feel my

body beginning to submit as I sank fiuther and fiuther into the depths of the river. I opened my mouth,

trying to cry out in one last desperate attempt of survival.

"Lena? Lena, please. Don't give up. I need you. I love-"

I opened my eyes, and locked gazes with Xander.