Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 53 : When Danger Comes

*Mila*

When I left Soren, I went to my room in the inn. The spellbook from the box was open on my dresser. Ever since I

got back from the dream that April had sent me into, I felt like I could understand more of the text.

I'd spent hours staring at it but I hadn't been able to make any words out. It just felt familiar when I looked at it.

Sighing, I picked up the book and flipped through it. I couldn't help but wonder if it was my mother's handwriting in

that book. Somehow, the spells in it felt even older.

I plopped down on the bed and flipped to the beginning of the book, studying the simple text. Maybe a name or an

introduction.

Scanning over the unusual language, I brushed my thumb over the inked characters wishing that they would tell me

what they said.

Was it possible to do a spell to translate the book?

I'd been successful at casting spells before. My memory proved that and I had broken a curse on a whole village.

Whenever I felt very strongly about something, I could focus on my desires and pray to the Moon Goddess.

It always felt like the Moon Goddess was with me, filling me with a strong power that consumed me. It always felt

like the Moon Goddess was speaking directly to me and telling me what to do and say.

Like she was guiding me.

Could I create that connection whenever I wanted or only when I was focused on casting a really important spell?

Would I be able to make spells up or could I only use spells my mother had taught me when I was a child?

I knew I had to strongly desire what I wanted to make the magic happen.

As curious as I was to read the spells in the book, I didn't desire it strongly. I didn't feel about it the same way I felt

about healing that child or breaking the curse. It was something I wanted, not something I needed.

But there had to be other ways to get information or tap into my own powers…

Closing the book, I set it on my lap. I crossed my legs and rested my hands on my knees. Maybe, I could put myself

into my own dream-like trance, like April had done, and I could see some more memories.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused my mind on my past memories. I thought of the way I felt as

April had put me into that trance.

Drowsy, detached from my body, light, and floating.

My head dipped and I swayed slightly.

I breathed in through the nose and out through the mouth, deepening my breath and keeping my eyes closed.

I thought of my childhood with my parents, the mansion, the woods. I focused on the feeling of happiness from my

childhood, from before the fire and the destruction of my pack.

My mind unfolded and I felt like I was wandering into a dream. I was still aware enough of my body to know that I

was sitting on the bed but I wasn't seeing the room or feeling the room anymore.

I was feeling my past and my memories.

The image in my mind became that of the forest where I'd met Helen when I was dreaming, many times. The

woods weren't the same as my dreams. It was older and damaged, like I was seeing the woods years after the fire.

I heard a grunt and I whipped around.

Helen was lying on the forest floor. She clutched her stomach, her dress and clothes stained with blood. She was

breathing hard.

As soon as she saw me, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“Mila!?" she gasped.

Helen winced and groaned, turning onto her side slightly.

I went to her and knelt down beside her.

“Helen, what happened to you? Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked, looking her over. I touched her and she

was solid.

Was she here? Was this a dream or a memory?

“Mila, what are you doing here?" she asked, her breathing labored. Sweat dripped down her forehead.

“I was meditating and… that's not important. What happened to you?" I asked.

She reached for me with a blood-stained hand.

I grabbed her hand, squeezing her warm, slippery fingers in my own. Tears pricked my eyes even though I couldn't

tell if this was real or not.

“It doesn't matter… you don't need to worry about me…" Helen winced again and her hand slipped from mine.

“Let me help you…"

“Mila, I don't have much time left," she said more urgently. “Since you're here… that means your witch power has

started to awaken…" she gasped and her eyes rolled back.

“No! Stay with me, Aunt Helen," I said. I put my arm around her shoulders and lifted her slightly, hugging her

against my chest.

“You found the box in Miltern, didn't you?" she asked, looking up at me with a pained, affectionate smile.

“Yes! I was there. I found the box and… I was able to break the curse," I told her, smiling.

Helen's eyes lit up and tears brimmed. She blinked them back and sighed.

If she was asking me about the curse, this had to be real, right? It had to be some kind of vision of Helen in the

present moment.

“You lifted the curse? Oh, my sweet girl. Thank you… thank you so much. Your… parents would be so proud," she

gasped out. Wincing again, Helen reached for my face and then her hand dropped.

“You're welcome. I was just doing what I had to. But Aunt Helen, I have questions for you." I told her, tightening my

arm around her a little more.

Helen sniffled and blinked, fresh tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

“Mila, please don't call me 'aunt.' My dear… I don't deserve that…" she said, shaking her head and sobbing.

“What? What are you talking about? You're my mother's sister, that makes you my aunt," I reminded her.

“Your mother was the powerful one. She was the witch. But I… I could always see the future. One of my visions has

caused all this chaos and destruction…" she told me.

“I don't believe that. You're not responsible for what happened, even if you saw it. Just because you say it doesn't

mean you could control it," I said, defending her to herself.

“But I tried to. I tried to change things and that's when everything went horribly wrong," she said. She closed her

eyes and shook her head back and forth.

“What happened?" I asked, needing answers.

Helen was right. She didn't have a lot of time left. I could tell and I wanted to know what she knew!

“I was young and ignorant, thinking that I could change the future. But it is my fault," she insisted.

“What is your fault? How did my parents die?" I pressed urgently.

“Your parents died… because of me," she admitted with a long, heavy sigh.

“No!" I shook my head. “I don't believe that, Aunt Helen. My parents died because of greed and conspiracy."

“Oh, Mila, you are truly a wonderful young woman. I wish… I wish Jessica was here to see you now. She'd be so

proud…" Helen whispered.

“I don't blame you. Whatever you saw, whatever you tried to do, at least you tried. You're not responsible for the

outcome," I insisted.

She smiled weakly, her tears glistening in her eyes. “My dear, sweet girl, the past is in the past. It cannot be

changed, so please don't let it haunt you."

“It doesn't," I assured. It was a lie, but I wanted her to feel better in her painful, last moments.

“The future… it can't be changed either. No matter what you know or what you see, it can't be changed," she told

me.

“That… can't be true…"

“It is. We can't change the future so all we can do is cherish our present," Helen said. She sighed and closed her

eyes.

“Helen! Helen!" I said, shaking her slightly.

She coughed and her lips turned up slightly. “I'm still here. Be gentle with me."

“I'm sorry."

“Listen, Mila, someday, you will meet your mate. When that day comes, live a happy life and cherish him and the

time you have. That's what I ask of you, what your parents would want for you…"

Helen sighed again and her body sagged in my arms. She muttered something else, her voice trailing off. The vision

began to fade.

I tried to hold onto her but she slipped from my fingers. All my focus and willpower was on maintaining that image

of her.

She was almost invisible when she opened her eyes again and looked at me.

“I wish I could spend more time with you and get to know you… please, my dear niece, find the artifact. It belongs

to you. Find the Blade of Souls. When your beloved is in danger… you will need it…

“Aunt Helen! Wait!" I cried, grabbing for her.

The image faded, Helen faded, and I was drowning in darkness again.

Slowly, I blinked my eyes open and looked around, my vision was blurred with warm tears and I sniffled, wiping my

nose.

Where was I? I could tell where I was. My mind was still fuzzy and disconnected. My body felt numb and heavy.

I blinked my tears away and the room at the inn came into focus. What had I seen? Was it real? Was Helen really

injured and dying somewhere alone in the woods?

My heart sank and I hugged myself, rocking back and forth slightly.

That was my aunt. She cared about me, I could tell. More than anything, I wanted to meet her and get to know her

too.

I hoped we hadn't missed our chance.

My mind raced with everything Helen had said to me. I could easily shove away her concerns about thinking the

death of my parents was her fault. I didn't believe it and I didn't blame her.

It was what she said at the end of the vision that I paid attention to.

She mentioned finding my mate.

Who was my mate? I hadn't found them yet, right?

Immediately, my thoughts shifted to Soren. He could be my mate… or… I sighed and shook my head.

If Soren was my mate, I would feel it, wouldn't I? I couldn't feel that with him. But I didn't feel it.

My heart sank slightly at the thought that Soren might not be the one for me. I was falling for him hard and I didn't

want to think that someone else could come along and ruin that.

From what Helen said, she made it sound like she had a vision of my future. My future and my mate's future. I'd

have to use the artifact to save my loved one, was that what she had told me?

Helen had called the knife the Blade of Souls. That was ominous.

I lay on my pillows and sighed. Rubbing my eyes, I kept sifting through the chaos of my chat with Helen. She told me

a lot without actually telling me a lot.

Even before she urged me to find the artifact, I'd planned to get it. It was something that belonged to me, that my

parents had left for me. Even if I never used it, I wanted it. I wanted to keep it safe from others that wanted to use

it for evil.

Besides, I needed to know if it was the artifact that was the true cause of my parents' losing their lives.

If not… then I had good reason to use it, whatever it did!

Suddenly, Helen's words popped into my head.

'When your loved one is in danger.'

Did that mean that if Soren was my mate, he'd be in danger? Would he die?

My heart ached and I threw my arm over my eyes. No. Soren couldn't die. He couldn't be dragged into more

danger because of me.

Hadn't I already put him through enough?

It was better that I didn't feel a mate bond for him. That meant he probably wasn't my mate and probably wouldn't

be in danger in the future.

At least, not the kind of danger that Helen had warned me about.

The rest of the day, I stayed in my room. I tried looking at the book and deciphering more of it.

When that didn't work, I got myself some lunch and then took a nap. The next time I woke up, it was dark again.

The inn was quiet. I wasn't sure how late it was but a lot of the lights were out in the inn. Most of Soren's men were

probably asleep now.

I grabbed my pack and snuck barefoot down the stairs. Keeping away from the guards, I slipped out the back door.

This time, no alarms went off.