Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 318

Advisor to the Alpha

I had lost Maeve in the swell of the crowd an hour ago. Around me was a sea of finery, moving inthe rhythm of a string quartet. I had never witnessed such luxury, and a large part of me hoped Iwouldn't be expected to hold parties of such a size when Maeve and I inevitably moved to Avondaleand lived in the decrepit and long-neglected castle along the shore

We'd have quite a bit of work to do before we would ever be able to be the kind of hosts that Ethanand Rosalie were right at this moment.

But this wasn't my party.

It was, in all aspects, for Rowan.

I could just see the top of his head as I leaned against one of the columns on a far wall, a tall glassof scotch in my hand as I watched the crowd. He was talking to a group of men and theircompanions, likely Lunas or Betas’ wives. He seemed at ease as he spoke, his hair trembling as helaughed, leaning into the conversation.

He didn't give himself credit for how good he could play the part. I wondered, as I lifted my glass tomy lips, if I had the wherewithal to play Alpha as well

“Are you hiding?” Hanna said as she approached, looking flushed and slightly uncomfortable. Shehad a glass of cham

pagne clutched in her hand so tightly that her knuckles were white.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“I am too,” she sighed, sipping from the champagne. “My dad is here. Did you know that?”

"Oh, yes. I met him..." I gave her a look, and to my surprise, she laughed, which I don’t think she didvery often

“Poor Aaron. I can't think how he must feel right now. I think the fact that you and Rowan, especiallyyou, are becom ing Alphas is overshadowing the idea of him becoming Alpha King of the Westsomeday. That is..." She looked a little weary suddenly, peering up at me through her dark lashes.“I have no interest in being Alpha King of Findali, Hanna.”

“But it is your birthright through your grandfather, from what I've heard.”

“And who did you hear that from?”

“This may be a party for Rowan, but all anyone can talk about is you.” She sipped from herchampagne, scanning the crowd. A few heads were turned in our direction.

I let myself blush, somewhat thankful to hear someone close to me say it out loud. I realized I hadn'tever had so much as a polite conversation with Hanna before this mo ment, but I found her nice,easy of temper, and just as unso ciable as myself. You had to be those things to be successful in arelationship with people like Maeve and Rowan, who tended to steal the show wherever they went.I looked around, hoping to set my gaze on my wife. She was hard to miss in that fluffy blue gownand her towering height. I thought I could see her copper-blonde curls, but I could have beenwrong. Anyway, she was likely enjoying her self, and for that I was thankful.

Ernest stumbled up to us, clutching Gemma by the arm as they laughed. They were both drunk; thatwas obvious.

"Oh, Hanna! I was looking for you!” Gemma slurred, her mouth stretched into a beaming smile.Gemma was really beautiful all done up, and Ernest seemed to notice. He was currently whisperingin her ear, and based on the color of her cheeks, I would be willing to bet they would disappearfrom the gala altogether and go back to their room to enjoy them selves while George was stayingthe night in the nursery with the rest of the boys. George would have to take a bottle tonightwhether he liked it or not.

That is, if the two of them could manage to get up the stairs with nothing but champagne coursingthrough their veins.

I smiled as I brought my scotch to my lips, sipping the drink slowly and enjoying the burn of it whileI watched Gem ma fire off words in rapid succession to Hanna, who was try ing her damnedest tomake sense of whatever she was saying.

I turned from my friends to look out at the crowd once more, catching the eye of Lynus, the elderwho represented Avondale. He was staring right at me, and lifted his flute of champagne in mydirection as he nodded his head. I lifted my scotch in a similar salute.

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To my surprise, he motioned me over.

“Great,” I mumbled, glancing at Hanna before walking out of our quiet sanctuary.

“You all will have seen Troy at the conference yesterday,” Lynus said as I walked up to the group ofmen standing in a tight semi-circle around him.

Their eyes took me in skeptically, but no one said a harsh word. They just stared, which made memore uncomfortable than an insult would have.

"We've heard a lot about you, Troy Black. What an inter esting story you have,” said a man ofroughly fifty. He was tall and lean with graying brown hair and kind, dark eyes.

I nodded, wishing I had pockets to tuck my hands into to stop myself from fidgeting. “Only badthings, I hope,” I said without thinking.

The man, who was introduced as Silas Evermore, a promi nent businessman with ties to the Alpha ofBreles, laughed heartily. “To be sure, to be sure.” Silas took a swig of his scotch, then motionedtoward my glass, which I was gripping for dear life. “Not a champagne man, I take it?"

“I prefer beer, but this is too fancy an event for that, I'm afraid.”

“Ah, that is true. Alpha King Ethan has really outdone him self with this shindig, hasn't he? Do youknow his son well? Rowan?"

I searched Silas's eyes for a moment, replaceing them friend ly enough.

“I do. He's my wife's brother and a good friend now.”

“Now?” Silas arched his brow, leaning forward into the semi-circle of curious companions. “Andwere you not friends before?”

"Of course not.” I laughed, bringing my drink to my lips before adding, “He beat me up the first timewe met. I de served it, of course. I did kidnap his sister and aid in Damian's invasion, after all.”

A shocked silence fell over the group, and everyone was staring at me. Silas's mouth was forming aperfect O as he continued to stare, surprised by my words. What was I sup posed to say, if not thetruth?

But then he laughed, the sound booming over nearby conversations, which caused other groups ofparty-goers to stop and stare. I sipped my drink, shrugging my shoulders at Lynus, who wasdumbfounded.

“You were right about him, Lynus. What a gem.”

I wasn't sure how to respond, but the conversation carried on without me. Lynus eventually movedto my side, close enough to reach out and tap me lightly on the elbow.

“I'd like to talk to you, in private.”

“Alright,” I answered, then the two of us dipped our heads in farewell to the group of men and Ifollowed Lynus out of the ballroom to an outside terrace, which overlooked the gar den.

Lynus walked to the edge of the terrace, out of earshot from other small groups and couples whowere mingling in the coolness of the night. He glanced around to make sure we were truly alone,which sent a shiver of unease up my spine.

For the first time that evening, I felt as though my suit was a bit too tight.

“Troy, you are not at all what I was expecting when Alpha Ethan summoned the Elders to hold aconference,” he said, his voice edged with seriousness.

“I didn’t mean to disappoint-"

“I knew your parents. Behar, specifically.”

I exhaled deeply, nostrils flaring. “I assure you I am not at all-"

“I'm not worried about that, Troy. I think you'll make a fine Alpha for Poldesse. I know what it's likethere, on the Isles. I lived there during the start of Damian's reign. You would've been in yourinfancy, then. I remember... listen. I-" he paused, looking down into his empty flute of champagnebefore turn ing to me, his eyes glistening with sadness.

“I wasn't sure what to expect from you. I know Ethan to be a level-headed and thoughtful man. Thenews that you, the child of Maddalyn and Behar, had not only been found but had married Ethan'sdaughter, shocked everyone. I can't even begin to explain what was said. But you must know this,and know it well. Poldesse needs... it needs more than you realize. Damian's court was, and still is,rife with corruption. You're stepping into a political warzone the second the High Priest ess placesthat silly little crown on your head tonight.”

Lynus straightened his back, clearing his throat. “And, the Isles are islands of rogues now, Troy. Inreality, those who still pledge loyalty to the pack number in the double-digits. It's not good, notgood at all.”

"What are you suggesting I do?” I asked, genuinely curi ous. I had no idea what the f*ck I was doing,which he was making very clear.

“Clean house. Set firm, immovable boundaries. Win back the Isles with force, if necessary-"

“Not with force. That is not the Alpha I mean to be.”

“Then with diplomacy, whatever you want. But it needs to be done, and done immediately.”

"And what is your role in all of this, exactly? You made it sound like you no longer live in the Isles-"“I do not. I haven't for a long time. I worked under your grandfather, Romero, long ago now, beforeEthan and the like were ever born... Times were different then, very harsh. Every pack was constantlyat war. The Isles was the only place where only one Alpha ruled, you know, and it was at the cen terof what felt like everything at the time. So much power he had, your grandfather. He ruined himselffor wanting more.”

"And you think that's what I'm going to be?”

“No, I don't, otherwise I wouldn't have thrown my support behind you when the Elders weredeliberating our stance on the subject. I shouldn't even be telling you this, you have to understand.As an Elder of the High Council I'm supposed to remain unbiased, to see the politics of the packlands as whole, for greater good, and all of that.”

"Why would you trust me, given my background?” It was the question I had been asking myself formonths, ever since the moment Maeve had forgiven me for tricking her, for lying. Ethan and hisfamily had supported me with very few ques

tions on the matter, and now the entirety of our kind seemed to be willing to give me a shot.“Because, Troy, like I said, you were not who we thought you would be. You are not out forvengeance. You are not out to control and destroy. You look at your wife, a future White Queen, forGoddess's sake, with all of the love and devotion that is possible. We are shocked, Troy Black,because you were supposed to be someone very, very different.”

“Like my parents?”

Lynus took a long, meditative pause. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes glossing over withmemories likely long for gotten. “I may be one of the only ones to say that Behar and Maddalynweren't inherently bad people. Not at first. Who knows what they could have been, what they couldhave done, if they had found each other sooner, in a different situ ation. I knew Maddalyn as a girl,you see. She was lively, spirit ed, and kind. It was Romero who poisoned her, molded her into whatshe became. And Behar? He was a right pain in the ass from the beginning. I don't know if he wouldhave changed much-"

“l knew him as kind-"

“That was not the man who raised you as an infant, Troy.”

My chest tightened so rapidly that I found it hard to take a breath. I opened my mouth to argue, butthe words didn’t come. Fleeting memories of my life passed before my eyes, two or three snippetsof a time before I was four years old.

“Then who was?”

“Someone close to both Behar and Maddalyn, that's all I

know. I'm sure Ethan explained how it wasn't supposed to be that way. You were, essentially, one ofthe first orders of busi ness the High Council was to see to, and our first failure. You fell through ourfingers, and for that I am deeply sorry.”

I shook my head, unsure of what to say in reply. I drained my scotch, wanting more.

“It doesn’t matter now, that was... a lifetime ago,” I said, running my tongue along my lower lip. Ilooked up at Lynus, taking in his profile through my lashes. “What do you want from me, exactly?”“To not be groomed to make the same mistakes as your parents did by people in power. People thathave too much... too much power, and who did not use it wisely”

“Like Ethan?”

Lynus pursed his lips, shrugging. “Do you not replace it sur prising that he backed Eugene of Red Lakesas Alpha King of the West over you, when the title is your birthright?”

“No. I have no experience that would allow me to hold such a title, or responsibility.” I was feeling alittle hot, a little too uncomfortable with the conversation. To my surprise, Lynus smiled, chuckling tohimself.

“I do not believe Ethan is a threat to the pack lands. That is not what this conversation is about. Justso we are clear.”

“Then what are you alluding to, exactly? Or are you just testing me?”

“Testing isn't a good word for it, Troy. You and I will likely be working closely together over the nextseveral months. I've

worked alongside many an Alpha. It's quite easy to tell if they’ re hiding their true motives. You haveto remember that I came from a time when these titles weren't merely passed down generation togeneration or elected through the coun cil. They were often conquered, or taken by force.”

“Then you are worried about my placement-"

“No, quite the opposite,” he said sharply, pausing to ex hale. “But I am a small minority in thatregard. Backing you will likely cost me my position on the High Council.”

“I don't know anything about the council or the politics in volved-" I caught a glimpse of Maeve inmy peripheral vision. She was making her way out of the ballroom. I felt my body start toward herinvoluntarily. Lynus noticed, and chuckled.

"Ah, so she is your mate. Some of us wondered, you know, if the marriage was out of love or torepair the fracture be tween your packs.”

“She is my mate. But there's more-" I looked back at Lynus, unable to finish my sentence withoutlooking him in the eye. Something within me wanted to tell him everything, about the stones, aboutTasia, despite Ethan being so firm on keeping that dilemma on the down-low. Every fiber of my being told me I could trust Lynus, and I barely knew the guy. “Quit the council.”

"What?" he asked, utterly confused.

“Quit the council, and be my advisor.”