Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 399

Chapter 57: Curse of the Dark Prince*Theo*All around me, everyone was dying.This couldn't be happening again!Jake, Ciana, Cedrick, and Mother, who was staring at me, with a look on her face that said she hadwarned me about this.As quickly as I could, I rushed from the pavilion and headed back to the castle. I wanted to makesure they were okay, but the longer I stayed there, the less likely it was that they'd wake

1. up.I was hoping that by staying away from them, they'd wake up on their own, or some guards wouldreplace them and move them to their room.Bottomline was, I should not be near them.The moment I entered my room, I bolted both doors-the one to the hallway and the one to myattendant's chamber.Ciana's room...Dropping down on the bed, I took my head in my hands.Fuck, fuck, fuck!How the hell could this have happened again?I cursed the Moon Goddess and punched my fists into the288 Voucherswall. My hands splitted open, blood was streaming down for a few seconds, but then they started toheal at a visible speed.Anger raged through me, and I couldn't control it. The thought that I could’ve managed to kill thevery few people who were important to me was enough to make me lose it.I threw my nightstand and bookcase into the wall, sending the contents tumbling and thunderingonto the floor, spilling a glass of water and countless books in every direction.Still not satisfied with my outlet, I kicked a large volume across the room and then sent the sofaflipping end over end.With nothing much left to break out here, I breathed a bit heavily from exertion as I took a lookaround. I'd certainly made a mess of things, but all it did was make me more upset.Finally, I sat down on my bed and leaned back against the headboard.How the fuck did this all happened again?!I hated everything about myself. Everything.A couple days went by, and the only contact I had with the outside world was when a servant wouldcome and leave food outside of my door, knocking that it had arrived. A few hours later, I'd hearsomeone come by and pick up the untouched tray.Food wasn't what I needed to survive at the moment. Whoever came even close to my room shouldfeel tired and drained. So unless they were forced, no one would want to be near my wing at thismoment.Then, on the third day after I'd harmed my best friend and that girl with the infectious smile, I hearda sharp knock on my door.I said nothing, but it didn't stop. Finally, I shouted, “Get the fuck away from me!”“Alpha, let me come in," Jake spoke via the mindlink.Jake! Was he finally awake?“Stay out of this,’ I ordered.My Beta was persistent though. “Alpha, please. Let me in.’I'm not going to tell you again. Stay the fuck out!“Alpha, you need to know, we're all right. I was a bit further away from you, so I didnt suffer much.And Ciana is okay, too. She's resting, but really... she has recovered. Lady Nita and Cedrick are finetoo. Really Alpha, it wasn't as bad as you thought."I appreciated the update. After a long pause, when I finally felt I was alive again. I sighed, “It's notsafe for you, Jake. Leave. Now."Unable to refuse my order, he walked away, leaving me alone again, but this time, I was able tothink again.They weren't dead-that was good to know. In the back of my mind, I had hoped that I had beenable to flee the scene fast enough to spare them. I had felt their surprise when I'd started to drainthem, but I hadn't felt the terror and anguish IIt was reassuring to know that they were okay. Especially the girl. After all, Mother and Jake fullyunderstood the danger being near me, but Ciana had no idea. She was probably still confusedabout what had occurred.I sat on my bed and started meditation. As my mother suggested, in order to be able to leave myroom again, to be near people, I had to get a grip on my emotions.After Jake's visit, I was able to do that again.The dreamberry should have worked, but why did this occur?Was there something wrong with the berry? Was it because of the crystal?Or was this because I lost control of my emotions like Mother suggested?I quickly ruled out the issues with the berry and the crystal. I'd used the berry many times beforeand this never happened. With Mother controlling the crystal, I doubt it was the cause.So the only reason that I'd lost control was that something or... someone had stirred up enoughemotion in me that even the dreamberry lost its effectiveness.I knew the answer almost immediately. Only one woman could make me feel such over-the-topemotions.My mother.Yes, it was the bitterness and longing that she had stirred in me that had made me feel this way.That was also coupled with the anger I felt at her betrayal and I was still shocked by what I foundout from Cedrick a few days ago.It was the only thing that made sense.Once I came to that conclusion, I was able to focus on calming myself downAfter a few days of solace, I thought I might be safe to go out around others again, but I had no wayof knowing that for sure.A knock on my door drew me out of my thoughts. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair,knowing it was Jake again.He had come to report to me every day, but I hadn't allowed him to come in yet."Alpha, please open the door,” he said. “It's been days. Let me see that you're alright.”“It's still dangerous, Jake,” I told him.“Listen, we both know I wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for you. I trust you, Alpha. I know youwon't hurt me.” He sounded so confident, it was hard not to think he was right.As much as I wanted to live in complete isolation for the rest of my existence, I couldn't. I still hadthings that I needed to accomplish, and therefore, I would have to face someone again sometime.Climbing over the broken furniture and the rest of the mess I’ d made, I headed for the door,pushing the bookcase out of the way so I could open it. I was a little lightheaded from not havingeaten in so long, but I ignored it.When Jake walked in, he took one look around and said, “Well... I guess you got that out of yoursystem,” and then laughed.I responded with an exhausted smile. I could see that he was trying to lighten the mood. “How arethings out there?” I asked him.My Beta shrugged. “About the same as usual. Your mother has gone back to her palace, probablyfeeling smug about the whole thing. The women are wondering where you are and if you are okay.A few of them are grumbling about how it's not fair that they never get to see you but some of theother girls get to spend so much time with you, probably meaning Brook and uh, what's her name.”He winked at me, and my stomach flipped over. He thought he was being cute.But I couldn’t forget her name. “How is she?” I asked him, folding my arms across my chest.“Brook? She's great. When she heard I didn't feel so well, she baked me a pie. Best pie I ever had.Those peaches were so plump and juicy.”I glared at him, and he laughed. I did think it was funny, but I wasn't about to let Jake know that. Itmight encourage him to keep being ridiculous.“Ciana is doing much better,” he said, putting his joking aside. “She's been out and about for a whilenow and seems like her usual self.”I almost smiled. Just thinking about her made a pleasant feeling settle into my chest like nothing I'dever experienced before. I pictured her beautiful face in my mind's eye and wondered what she wasdoing at that very moment. Knowing her, she was probably outside with the animals, fake swordfighting with a bear or teaching my python a new trick.“She wants to see you.”Jake's statement cut through my thoughts, and any trace of a smile I might've formed faded away.It was out of the question.I didn't want to dig deeper for the reason, but I did know it wouldn't be a good idea for her safety.When we were in the illusional realm created by the Moonlit Crystal, I hadn't been worried abouthurting her, because none of us had our physical bodies there, only our consciousness was broughtinto that world. I couldnt drain anyone there.But this wasn't the imaginary world. This was real-and here, I hurt people when I didn't mean to.I'd already hurt her once, and the dreamberry was obviously not strong enough to counteract theemotions my mother had stirred in me.Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and shook my head. “No. There's no need for her to see me.”“Alpha,” Jake pressed, “I'm sure everything will be fine. It might have taken the dreamberry a littlelonger to work this time. What harm could it do? Can't she just see you for a few minutes? She justwants to make sure you're alright.”Jake wasn't there when Cedrick explained the relationship between my emotions and my power. Hisargument seemed sound, and it was tempting for me to throw caution to the wind and give it a try.After all, if she stayed on the other side of the room by the door, I could just order her out of theroom if I started to feel like I might hurt her.But then, an image of her smile flashed before my eyes, and I knew exactly what I needed to do.This wasn't a game. There was no need for me to take any risk. There was no need for her to dealwith my problem.“No,” I told Jake. “Under no circumstances will I see her. In fact, now that I have the dreamberry, hertask is complete, and I will not be needing her services again.”Jake's forehead creased as he studied my face. “What are you saying, Alpha? Are you certain thatyou are able to handle all of this on your own, that you won't need her help to secure moredreamberries, or just... to make you happy?”I knew what he was trying to do, but I couldn't let him sway me. She was just another girl to meafter all, no one important.“I'm saying, tell her to leave. Now.”