Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 253

Chapter 33: Loss of Privileges

Maeve

It was full dark when I woke up, the room still and empty. Moonlight was drifting in through threecircular windows on the wall above my head, long beams of pale light casting shadows across theroom.

I rose and stretched; the superficial wounds on my skin were gone, and any soreness from the fallhad been mended.

What now?

I didn't know my way to the infirmary, but I wasn't technically a prisoner. I decided to wander for abit and try to replace Cleo, maybe even something to eat

The ship was massive and easy to get lost in. The hallways were narrow, no wider than the averageman’s shoulders in some spots. It was dimly lit too, but I noticed electric lights along the ceiling thatwere not in use. I wondered why they were using sails to move the ship instead of engines. The boatwas silent, ghostlike, as it moved in the waves.

After an hour of exploration, I finally found the infirmary. It was situated toward the bottom of theship, not quite the lowest level but close enough to feel chilly and claustrophobic. There were nowindows down here, not a single one. I placed my hand on the wall as I made my way toward theentrance of the infirmary, knowing that on the other side of the wall was the sea.

The infirmary was just a room, a small one, lit by a single lantern. There was a small nook in onecorner, separated by a curtain. I could hear the doctor snoring as I came into the light, smiling andnodding at Cleo, who had looked up from the book resting on her lap.

"How is she?” I asked, sitting down in a narrow, uncomfortable chair next to her.

“Fine, 1 think. The doctor thinks it was a concussion, a bad one, probably. But he stitched her up, andshe seems to be comfortable, at least. We won't really know until she wakes up. My midwifery skillsonly go so far.”

“I'm sorry, Cleo. I tried—"

Cleo took my hands in hers, brushing her knuckles against my fingers. “Don’t fret, Maeve. Thiswasn't your fault.”

“But it was my fault, wasn't it? If what Troy said about Alpha Damian is true?”

“No, darling. Please don't think that way. All of this was out of your control.”

I sighed, leaning back against the chair and resting my head against the wall. We sat in silence for along while, Cleo eventually falling asleep sitting upright in her chair. I watched Myla breathe, herchest rising and falling in a smooth rhythm.

I thought about opening up my skin again and giving her my blood, but stopped myself. Whatgood had it done before? Troy was an absolute mess before Cleo had been able to align his brokenbones and pop his shoulder back in place. I had just been able to ease his pain temporarily, I thinkI stood, closing the door of the infirmary behind me as I walked into the narrow, chilly hallway,feeling along the walls until I reached the stairwell. I walked up, and up, and up until I reached thefloor where my room was, Troy's room, but I stopped before turning the corner to go back. Up thestairs was the entrance to the main deck, and I felt the urge to push open the doors and breathe inthe air.

But I didn’t want to run into Troy, especially if he was alone. I didn't trust myself around him. Iwanted him as much as I had before I found out who he really was. But I also loathed him, fiercely,and I knew if given the opportunity I would toss him over the railing of the ship into the waterbelow and like it.

But I didn't have the strength to do that right now. I hadn't eaten in over a day. I had slept for a fewhours at the most. I was sick to my stomach with grief, with fear.

I wanted my parents. I wanted to go home.

“You thought you had it rough before, huh?” I whispered, thinking back on my time in the castle.Suddenly, a thought struck me, piercing through me so intensely that I nearly toppled over. I heldonto the wall, bending over by the waist with one hand pressed against my stomach

Oh, Goddess. I could very likely be pregnant!

That was the entire reason I was in Valoria. I was supposed to give the Drogomor pack an heir. I wassupposed to be Luna, at least until that child was grown and ready to rule.

And now, what would I have? Not the heir to Drogomor, but Troy's child. How could he do this tome?

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Chapter 33: Loss of Privileges

And what about Ernest and Gemma? How long had they known about Troy's real identity? I feltangry, my hands clenching as I leaned against the wall for support.

But then I envisioned Ernest with Gemma clutched to his chest, walking out into the field of grass.His dream of losing his mate had come to fruition. My anger at them didn't matter. Gemma wasdead. Ernest was likely dead as well. They were gone.

"Are you alright, miss?”

I turned my head to the voice, seeing a young man standing in the hallway near the stairwell, alantern in one hand and bundle of something in the other.

“Yes, 1-"

A little seasick?

I nodded, although it was a lie.

“You'll get your sea legs soon enough. Happens to the best of us!” He tilted his head toward thestairwell. “The galley’s just downstairs. I — can show you, get you some crackers or something,”"Yes, please,” I said hurriedly, my stomach tightening at the mention of food.

“Great, come with me,” he said as I followed him down the stairs. He turned his face to me, smiling.“I'm Pete, by the way. Young Pete.”

"Why Young Pete and not just Pete?”

“Because there's an Old Pete on the ship already, but he doesn't like being called that. He goes byPeter, actually. But it doesn't matter. You can call me whatever you want.”

"Okay. Pete,” I said with a little laugh. He smiled up at me as I descended the stairs, then motionedfor me to follow him through a darkened archway that opened up to a large room with woodentables and chairs in neat rows, illuminated by the light of his lamp.

“I'm not supposed to be in here, honestly,” he breathed as we crossed the room and entered thekitchen. “I lost my privileges, you could say.”

“Privileges?”

“I got hungry one night,” he began, opening a tall cabinet and pulling a box of crackers from thetop shelf. “Came down and made myself a little treat. I found some salt pork in the pantry and ate it,and it was delicious. In my defense I didn't know it was the last of it, and we had nearly three weeksuntil we made port again. Oh, man. Troy looked like he wanted to toss me from the ship when hefound out.”

"Hmm..." i tapped my finger on the counter as he rummaged, wondering if I should start asking himthe burning questions I had about Troy.

"Do you want some beer?”

“No, I can't-" I said quickly, but stopped myself before I said anything I didn’t mean to say aloud.He shrugged. “Better drink some water, at least. Here,” He handed me a large glass jug, the amberglass reflecting in the lamplight. “Take it up to your room with you. We all have one.”

"What is it?" I asked, holding the heavy jug up to the light.

*A growler, they're called. It's just water, unless you want something stronger. We don't have muchtime in the galley during the day. You'll replace these all over the decks, though. Justuh, tie a ribbon onthe handle or something, that way you know which one is yours.”

"Okay." I said quietly, setting the growler on the counter as he continued to rifle through the pantry.He handed me a basket of snacks: dried fruit, crackers, and a few pieces of jerky.

"You shouldn't eat too much right away, it'll make the sea sickness worse. Just a few bites at a time,Okay?”

I nodded, resisting the urge to smile at him. I could eat an entire roast with all the fixings right now,by myself. A few crackers and a dried apricot weren't nearly enough. But Pete seemed like a kindman. I was thankful for not only the food but the company.

“Do you know where we're headed?” I asked as he closed the cabinets.

He shrugged. “Open water, that's all I know. Have to wait for this all to blow over-"

“We don't have a destination?” Panic rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down, trying to maintainmy composure.

Pete eyed me curiously, then shrugged again, leaning against the counter. “Do you have somewhereyou need to be in a hurry, miss?”

"Home, ideally.”

“Where is home for you?”

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Chapter 33: Loss of Privileges

*Winter- “I paused, pursing my lips. Maybe I shouldn't say anything...

"Winter Forest? No way!” Pete looked about five years younger as he said it, his eyes lighting up.“Northern lady then, huh? I heard the women outnumber the men up north. Is that true?”

“1-1 don't actually know

“I've always wanted to go. Always. Ma said, well, she said I need to replace a mate down south, close tohome. But there's a lot of competition

“I don't think that's how mates work-"

“And I said, Ma, the isles are small and”

“You're from the Isles?Another lump formed in my throat, fear tightening my chest.

“Yeah, I am,” he said, biting into a piece of dried fruit. “From a little island near Papeno. It's calledDrifter's Rock.”

*Are you part of Poldesse?”

He nearly choked on his fruit, shaking his head. “Oh, no!"

“Then what pack do you belong to?” My voice was harsher than I meant it to be, and the youngman looked slightly taken aback.

“No pack, miss.”

“No pack? You're a rogue, then?”

“No, not exactly.”

“I don't understand?”

“If that's you in my kitchen Petey, I'll tan your hide and throw you to the sharks!” came a boomingvoice from behind a door on the other side of the kitchen.

Pete's face flushed, then he motioned toward the door back to the dining room, taking two longstrides and holding it open for me.

I told you I lost my privileges,” he whispered and winked, walking briskly ahead of me while weheaded back to the stairwell, our stolen goodies clutched in our hands.

“I left my growler-"

“No bother, you can get it at breakfast. Olly is a mean old man between the hours of eight in theevening and six in the morning. I wouldn't go back, if I were you.”

“Olly?”

“The cook. The king of the kitchen. King of the ship, in my opinion. Captain Keaton doesn't messwith him, either.”

"Oh, noted,” I said shortly as I reached the stairs. Pete stood at the railing, shifting his weightnervously. “Are you coming up?”

“No, I bunk with the rest of the crew down here. You go to bed, miss. I'm sure you'll feel better inthe morning.”

He walked down the hallway, his lantern disappearing from view and leaving me shrouded in totaldarkness as I made my way back to my room.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?