Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 366

Chapter 24: Should I Date Him?

*Warren*

Sitting on the bench in the gardens, sipping wine, and listening to Ciana's story, wave after wave ofconfusion washed over me.

She was speaking about an incident eight years ago, and yet... I didn't remember it at all.

Lost in the woods? Wounded? Collecting a flower blossom for her from the top of a mountain onthe cliff? I was fairly certain that if I had been there, I would remember at least a bit of this.

When she concluded her story with, “When I saw your bracelet, I knew for sure... you were the one.You were the young man I found in the woods all of those years ago. All this time, I have beendreaming of meeting you again.” Her cheeks blush a dark crimson, and I understood that she wassaying these things as more than just a girl who has found a long lost friend.

She had feelings for this young man-for me?

"Wow..." I said, not sure how else to respond. “All of this time..."

“Right?” She beamed and then looked away from me, sipping her wine. “I can't tell you how happy Iwas to replace out it was you.” She wouldn't look at me now, and I felt my own heat speeding up.Ciana was a beautiful young lady. Her long blonde hair and light colored eyes that glimmer in themoonlight make her stand out, even above all of the other girls that had been brought to the castleby my father to court my brother.

Any man would be happy to be paired with such a lovely woman. Any, except for my brother. Justthinking about Theo set my mood off, so I decided not to think about him at all.

But the story Ciana had told me didn't line up at all with how I' d gotten this bracelet. She seemedcertain that this was the same bracelet, too, the one she'd given to the young man.

So... how had my sister come across it?

I remember distinctly the day my older sister, Maggie, gave it to me, slipping it onto my wrist as shetold me it would be a good luck charm for me, that she'd found it in a special place, and it wouldbring me blessings if I wore it every day.

Well, if it brought me to Ciana, then... my sister was right. It was definitely good luck.

Nevertheless, something wasn't adding up here. Perhaps I was so injured in the woods that I simplycouldn't remember the events?

No, I was positive I had never been in that sort of situation. Whoever she'd met in the woods, itwasn't me.

When she turned to look at me again, her cheeks were still pink, and she was smiling so happily atme, I couldn't bring myself to be the one to make that smile fade. Rather than telling her the truth, Isaid, “I've always wondered what happened to that girl in the woods.” Her smile widened evenmore. “It's amazing that fate has brought us together again.”

"Yes, isn't it?” she agreed, laughing softly before she diverted her gaze again. She raised the redliquid to her perfect pink lips again and took a sip.

I was lost in her smile for a moment.

I thought about the research I'd done after she had so easily awoken from the curse only a fewweeks ago. I could tell Dottie hadn't told me everything, and that made me curious. I' d wanted toknow how it was possible that Ciana could wake up on her own from the evil words that had beenhurled at her.

In the library, I'd found a few helpful books. I'd spent quite a bit of time reading them because,honestly, my schedule was fairly empty most of the time. No one had noticed I'd been in the libraryfor days, just like no one had probably noticed that I'd left the castle yet either.

One of the books talked about how some of the most dangerous, deadliest curses could not becompletely cast on those who had been blessed by the Moon Goddess.

Was it possible that Ciana was one of those special people?

Not a lot of people in my kingdom believed in the power of the Moon Goddess anymore orworshiped her much at all, but I got the impression Ciana might.

It would also explain how my brother had become slightly interested in her. Perhaps he could senseshe was special and might be able to help him with his... affliction.

A shudder went down my spine, just thinking about it. All of a sudden, I'd made up my mind.

“Are you all right?” Ciana asked me.

I forced a smile, despite my thoughts lingering on Theo. “I'm fine. I was just... remembering myinjuries. I'm so glad that you were there to help me.”

She blushed again, but it seemed like something was bothering her. I couldn't help but reach overand brush her hair back over her shoulder, my fingertips grazing her skin.

Touching her skin sent a bolt of heat and excitement up my arm, leaving me slightly breathless.Beautiful, intelligent, kind, and... brave. She seemed to always know exactly what she wanted andtook actions to make them happen. Like this time, she escaped my brother's dungeon to make herway home when it was so far away, over such rough terrain. I couldn't imagine any other girls in hergroup would’ ve even thought about trying such a thing.

Not like me... born as a prince, but had lived a life that was filled with boredom and emptiness.

Ever since she came to the palace, she was like sunshine, brightening the days for those who werearound her, making the usually dull and gloomy palace life full of pleasant surprises.

She was truly special.

Now, she was running away from my brother, and my heart longed to help her....

“I'll make sure you don't have to worry about Theo anymore,” I told her, continuing to run myfingers through her hair. She was smiling at me, but there was a slight shift in her eyes. I thoughtperhaps I should pull my hand away from her, but I didn't...

“Ciana,” I said, my voice so quiet, it was almost a whisper. “What would you think about the two ofus... spending some quality time together?”

Her eyes widened. “Haven't we been doing that?” she practically whispered back to me.

I couldn't help but grin and chuckle at her. “Well, yeah, I guess so. But I meant... like a date.”

"A date?” She looked surprised but not horrified.

It was my turn to turn bright red. “I mean, if you want to. You don’t have to or anything.”

“I think that would be nice,” she said, still smiling, but I thought I saw something behind her eyes,something that told me there was more to what she was thinking than what she was saying to me. Ididn't question her though.

I was just glad she'd said yes.

Her face was bright red, and she was absolutely adorable. “But...” she continued.

I sighed inwardly. There was a “but,” of course. Why was she shying away from me?

“My pack is in crisis right now. If anything that I've been told is happening there is true, I need toreplace out about that first, and

then, if you still want to...”

“I'll wait for you.” I placed my index finger against her lips and assured her again, “I'll gladly wait foryou."

“Thank you for understanding.” The red on her face deepened, and I felt my insides melting.

I poured myself some more wine and took a long drink. The day had been full of revelations. Justwhen I thought I was starting to understand this girl, it turned out... maybe I was

not.

“You're most welcome, my sweet Ciana.”

*Ciana*

I may have just ruined everything!

Finally, I'd had the conversation with Warren I'd been thinking of starting since I'd first seen thebracelet on his arm, since I'd first seen his eyes the day I arrived at the castle.

And now, here I was, refusing to go out on a date with him!

It wasn't as if my reasoning wasn't solid. How could I possibly consider going on a date with ahandsome prince when my pack lands might be in jeopardy? I'd have to be very selfish to evenentertain such a thought.

But I knew in my heart that it wasn't just concern for my pack that had me turn him down.

My mind flickered back to the time that Prince Theo had

kissed me in the pavilion. I knew, logically, that he'd only been doing such a thing because hewanted my blood and

whatever essence he thought may have remained in my mouth from that berry.

still, kissing him had been exhilarating to me in a way I couldn’ t quite put my finger on, and thefeeling lingered on my lips even now, after all of this time had passed.

Prince Theo had treated me horribly. He'd made me feed his animals, not realizing I would enjoy it,asked me to clean his filthy part of the palace, accused me of trying to kill him, and threw me in thedungeon without food and water for a long time.

So... I should hate him.

However, while I did hate some of the things he did to me, for some reason, I couldn't bring myselfto hate him as a person.

It was so confusing! What was wrong with me?

All of these years, I'd thought that I was in love with the young man from the woods. I'd never letmy mind drift to another man, thinking that once I found him, I'd confess my feelings for him, andhe'd take me in his arms, kissing me deeply and telling me that he loved me, too.

Now, I was sitting on a bench in a beautiful garden, sipping delicious wine, enjoying the company ofthat amazing person who'd been in my mind for years, but something felt off, something felt...wrong.

Why hadn't I tossed my arms around Warren's neck, hugged him tightly, and told him I loved him?Could it be that my feelings for him were not as strong as I had always thought that they were forall of these years?

I couldn't even think of the possibility. He was a good man, so much better than his brother in everyway possible, and yet... I was letting thoughts of Theo interfere with my feelings.

It didn't make any sense. I was self-sabotaging!

“Ciana? Are you all right?” Warren's rich tenor sang out to me. I turned to look at him, seeingconcern in his dark and gentle eyes.

I managed a smile. “Yes, I'm fine, thank you. Only thinking.”

He reached over and placed his hand on top of mine. I should’ ve pulled it away, but I didn't. Asmuch as I didn't want him to think that I was giving in to his romantic advances, I also couldn't bearto hurt him, not when I was just confused.

I was certain that was all it was-confusion. I had loved him since long ago, and I was attracted tohim when I was in the palace. That must mean I loved Warren, right?

I turned to look at him again, but in my heart, the only thing I was certain of was that I wasn'tcertain

We fell into silence for a short moment, until some commotion from the main building caught ourattention.