Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 42: I Killed Him

*Lena*

I spent the remainder of the day walking around campus and the outlying town of Morhan with little to

do and too many thoughts running through my mind.

I was graduating, that was clear, and in less than a week I'd be on a flight to Avondale to reunite with

my family. My phone call with Oliver had been brief. My aunt and uncle wanted nothing more than to

talk to me, and we didn't have much privacy. But it was obvious he was starting to crumble under the

weight of his situation.

We both knew fleeing the scene entirely wasn't the answer. We'd have to grit our teeth and get through

Winter Solstice and the events surrounding the wedding of who he still believed was the love of his life

and his brother.

And then there was that strange woman standing in as the dean and her questions about Xander. I

couldn't have answered even if I tried. I barely knew him. I realized that more and more with each

passing day.

I had no idea when he was coming to fetch me from my apartment and what we'd be doing or even

talking about.

Reeling, that's what I was. I was reeling, and nothing was helping.

I stopped in front of a shop sometime in the late afternoon. The sun was starting to set, golden light

flooding between the buildings and casting long shadows over the snow piles lining the sidewalks. I

looked at the dress that was on display; long and modern, with an empire west and deep burgundy

organza fabric trailing to the floor. It had a full shirt, an off-the-shoulder neckline, and long, loose

sleeves that tapered at the wrists.

I could think of nothing else but the dress for a moment and sighed with relief as I pressed my hand to

the frosted window. There was even a tiara to match, but the gems were likely fake. Thick, oval-shaped

rubies were set in gold, and I imagined the tiara on my head, my hair woven through the star-shaped

notches on the base of the crown.

I walked inside the shop, looking at nothing but the dress as a woman walked to my side.

"Try it on," she said. "I know that color will look perfect on you."

"I don't need to try it on." I replied, starry eyed as I ran my fingers over the fine fabric. Red. Blood red.

Blood red at my cousin's wedding. Why the hell not?

The shop girl was surprised but didn't question me as I reached for my wallet and pulled out a handful

of paper bills. Her eyes were wide as I paid in full, probably wondering how a college student dressed

in a three-season old parka and faded flannel could afford such an expensive dress. A few minutes

later the dress was packed into a box, and she slid it across the counter, arching her brow.

"Would you like this shipped anywhere? Or are you taking it home-"

"Shipped, please, if it can reach its destination in a week's time."

"That won't be a problem," she replied, but her pen paused as she took down the address I provided,

then my name. She looked up at me, sudden understanding flickering across her delicate features. She

curtsied low, bobbing her head.

"I didn't realize-"

"It's alright," I said lightly, giving her a soft, genuine smile as she straightened to her full height. She

was a little pale. She nodded, looking as though she was about to burst into tears.

It wasn't often that people ran into the Princess of Valoria.

She hadn't been seen in public in years.

***

I went to the corner store and bought the groceries I needed to make a simple pasta dinner and a bottle

of wine. I was making my way back to my apartment when I noticed the shadowy figure standing

beneath the streetlight on the corner of our block.

At first, I thought it was Xander. I was expecting him, after all.

But it wasn't Xander.

Slate stepped out of the light as I approached, and my throat tightened into a knot. Adrenaline rushed

through me, and I attempted to sidestep around him but he stepped in my way.

"How was your little shopping spree?" he hissed, closing the distance between us.

I could crack the bottle of wine over his head, I thought. I could push him into the street. I could run.

"You were following me?"

"Always, Lena. Darling. Come, I have a whole night planned-" He attempted to grab my arm but I

shoved past him. He grabbed the hood of my parka, yanking me backward, the top of the zipper cutting

into my throat as I yelped in surprise.

"Get off of me!" I screeched, but it was too late.

His hand came over my mouth as he dragged me into an alleyway, into the dark, where we couldn't be

seen from the street. "We have somewhere to be. Stop fighting!"

I bit his hand, grinding his skin between my teeth, and he stifled a scream. I bucked against him until he

loosened his hold on me, but I was still in his clutches, and he was still dragging me backward through

the nearly knee-deep snow.

I dropped the groceries I'd been carrying, the wine bottle splintering into nothing but shards of glass

and spilling wine onto the snow, illuminated by the street light. I looked at the wine stain as Slate

dragged me further into the alleyway, panic tightening my chest and making it almost impossible to

breathe.

I screamed and screamed into the palm of his hand. He tripped on something buried in the snow and I

fell on top of him, his hand temporarily leaving my mouth.

"XANDER!" I cried in the event he was nearby, hopefully closing in on my apartment. But there was no

one around. It was just

me.

What had Xander told me? That he couldn't always be around to finish my fights?

A heat began to ripple over me as Slate pulled me to my feet, cursing under his breath as I let my body

go limp and refused to stand.

"You b***h! I'll drag you. I don't care-"

I felt electric, little bursts of energy rolling over my skin and settling in my fingertips. I knew what was

happening and tried to fight it like usual, but only for a second. What if I just... gave in to it, this power,

this energy I didn't know how to control?

Slate lifted me into his arms, cradling me like a child, his fingers digging into my parka so sharply they

ripped open the fabric.

Goosedown fluttered to the ground. I watched it, my head lolling on his arms.

Then, a light, warm and unforgiving. From far away I heard Slate scream, his voice mingled with a

buzzing sound that filled my ears and deafened me. I opened my mouth, unable to breathe.

I didn't know how long I'd been lying in the alley, alone. Fresh snow blanketed my body, and my cheeks

were wet from where it had melted against my skin.

I sat up, snow falling from my chest and shoulders. It was full dark, and the groceries I had dropped

where thickly covered with snow. I rose to my knees, flexing my hands and running a hand over the rip

in my parka.

Where was Slate, I thought, a feeling of dread washing over me. What had I done to him?

Not that he didn't deserve it, but still. I might have blown him to bits without realizing it.

But the alleyway was empty, no sign of violence or struggle. He was just... gone.

I got up and walked through the alley toward the sidewalk. I was dizzy, and placed my hand against

one wall of the alleyway for support as I trudged through the snow. So much snow. It stuck to my

eyelashes in heavy clumps as I walked, my legs not wanting

to move.

I got to the sidewalk and collapsed onto my knees, panting with effort. There wasn't a sound around

me; even the buzzing neon lights were shushed into silence as I looked around then crawled forward

and brushed the snow from my fallen groceries.

I looked down the street at the corner store where I'd purchased the groceries. The lights were off, its

"Closed" sign illuminated. The store closed at midnight, and snow had already piled up in front of the

entrance. I'd been out here for hours, just laying in the alleyway, and no one had noticed me.

Xander hadn't come. He would have had to pass the alley on his way to my apartment. He surely

would've noticed the groceries, the spilled wine, and investigated.

Disappointment clouded my vision. I felt tears rolling down my chilled and reddened cheeks as I

gathered my groceries in my arms and struggled to my feet, walking the rest of the way home in agony.

***

Vivian and Heather were beside themselves over my state. I was sitting on the couch wrapped in

Heather's heated blanket, a cup of tea with sugar and milk in my shaking heads. The door that led into

our apartment was open, and I could hear Viv talking to the warrior whose form was taking up the

entire doorway. I didn't look in their direction. My eyes were fixed on the window to my right, watching

the snowfall in thick sheets of pure white.

A blizzard. That's what it was. Bleak, endless, and cold.

"What does he look like?" I heard the warrior say, and Viv described Slate to a T, leaving no detail

unsaid.

They wouldn't find him. I knew that much. I hadn't even said he was the one who'd dragged me into the

alleyway but it was obvious to Heather and Viv who had dared to manhandle me in such an unforgiving

way.

I felt like I would've remembered killing him, but when I thought back on it, all I could remember was

light. Blinding, all- encompassing light.

"Drink your tea, Lena, please," Heather urged, sitting down next to me on the couch and wrapping her

hands around mine as she guided the tea to my lips.

I drank, untasting, my motions robotic in nature.

The front door closed and Viv walked into the living room, hugging herself with her arms before

reaching for her jacket that was hanging on the coat rack.

"Where are you going?" Heather said hurriedly.

Viv gave her a careful eye, then pulled on a hat and stopped to put on her boots. Viv left the apartment

without a word, and I didn't question what she was up to. I didn't really care. I didn't have the energy to

care, let alone form a rational thought.

"What happened out there, Lena? What did he do to you?"

"I need to tell you something, Heather. I've been lying to you for a long time."

Heather leaned away from me, looking me up and down before resting the back of her fingers against

my forehead.

"You're running a fever—"

"I killed him. I killed Slate. I'm sure I did-"

"I'm running you a bath," she whispered, but I focused my eyes on hers as I grabbed her forearm to

prevent her from moving. I'd let go of the tea, and it spilled, soaking into the blanket.

"I need to tell you the truth-"

"I'm running you a bath and then calling for a doctor," she said sternly, shaking my grip from her arm

and standing, turning her back to me.

I watched her walk away, then closed my eyes, searching in the darkness for my garden, for some

answers.