Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 629

Chapter 129 : Going Home

*Lena*®

He was right about not saying goodbye.

I hadn't even felt him go, and I woke around noon to the sound of rain pattering against the top ofthe tent. Beads of water ran across the ceiling, funneling in the center and rolling down one of thecenter posts holding the ceiling up, the water pooling on the ground

The cot felt too large for one person all of the sudden, the edges cold to the touch.

He'd be somewhere near the Isles by now.

I forced myself to stand up and dress, to splash cold water on my face and braid back my hair. Iwanted to do nothing more than curl back up on the cot and cry, but my tears were useless. Hewould keep his word; he always did.

My jaw was sore from the bite I'd planted on his chest. It could've just been a trick of my mind, but Icould've sworn I could still taste his blood on my tongue.

My mate would come back. He'd come back, and we'd have our child. Then, I would follow himhome to Egoren and be his Luna.

Winter Forest and the White Queen title be damned.

I walked out of the tent without a backward glance. I knew I wouldn't return, I had no reason to.Uncle Troy was likely wondering where the hell I was, and I was sure I would be on the next ship toAvondale, or even the port of Valoria. He'd likely already sent word to my parents that I was alive.They were expecting me, and no matter how badly my heart ached, I had to set my feelings asideand be the ruler, the princess my people expected me to be.

At least for a little while.

I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt Xander had left behind, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows andtucked in the pants I'd been wearing since the day Oliver and I suited up to storm the vampirerealm. That felt like ages ago, but the memories of it were still fresh in my mind as I wanderedthrough the maze-like war camp, which was still teeming with warriors from practically everyterritory in our realm.

A few warriors stopped to gawk at me as I passed, my white hair already spilling from the rushedbraid hanging over my shoulder. I didn't stop, didn't make eye contact with anyone.

Xander had told me precisely where Troy's tent would be. I went straight there even though mystomach had begun to ache with hunger, especially after passing the dining tent where the smell ofcornbread and roast chicken hung heavy in the air.

I could eat later. I could eat my fill once I knew what the plan would be. I'd get a good night's reston whatever boat or plane I would be boarding.

But not now.

I flung back the tent flap to Troy's tent and stepped inside with an invitation, and laid eyes on..."Robbie?" I croaked, surprised to see the giant of a man propped on a stool with his ankle balancedon his knee.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his auburn hair trembling as his brows raised and a deepchuckle emanated from his chest.

"Your mom and dad,” he said with a breathy sigh, “are about ready to cause another war over youright now, Ms. Lena."

I rolled my eyes, wiping away the raindrops clinging to my shirt as I stepped fully into the tent."Where's Troy?"

“You just missed “im, but he'll be back in a moment. Looking for coffee, I suspect.”

I sat on the edge of the cot facing Robbie, looking him up and down. He looked like hell, bruisedwith bloodied knuckles and sporting a black eye.

I motioned to my own face, and he chuckled, shaking his head as he relaxed his long legs andstretched them out in front of them.

“Not from the war. Just a bit of spat with one of the other Alphas is all.”

"You got into a fist fight with an Alpha?" I choked, taken aback.

Robbie shrugged, flexing his bloodied hand. Robbie was the Alpha of New Dianny, his mate, Alison,a survivor from the old pack who was able to flee the territory before Tasia brought the valley theancient settlement of Dianny had been nestled between down over the top of the city. Their eldestdaughter Joy was only a few months older than myself, and had married George the same day sheturned twenty one.

Robbie had grown up just like Troy had, an orphan and a pirate by the time he could walk.

"Who?" I pried, but Troy walked into the tent just as the word left my mouth, and Robbie and I bothfell into silence.

Troy sighed heavily, looking me up and down.

"You ready?" he asked, tilting his head towards the tent flap

“For what?"

“To go home, Lena," Troy said, exhaustion flashing behind his eyes. He motioned toward a radiositting on an unassuming table in the corner of the tent. “Your parents kept me up all night radioingevery twenty minutes asking if you were on a ship yet."

“I'm not a child-"

"I told them that," he breathed, glancing at Robbie, who went pink in the cheeks and blew out hisbreath. “Your dad wasn't too happy about it, either.”

I huffed out a breath, shrugging in surrender. “I had to... I needed a moment alone with my mate,” Isaid forcefully, meeting Troy's eye.

He nodded in understanding, a ghost of a smile touching the corner of his mouth. “I understand.And that's why I told them to get off your back. You're alive and well; that's all that matters. But,come on, there's a supply ship heading back to the isles that's leaving in half an hour. You can takea flight to Mirage from Avondale tonight.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I bobbed my head at Robbie in farewell and followed UncleTroy through the tent and back out into the camp. He was walking briskly, his deep brown curlstrembling as he nodded his head in greeting to everyone we passed, regardless of rank.

Troy was a fantastic Alpha. I noticed how the warriors looked at him, damn near marveling at him. Ialso knew that Troy had been battling on the front lines beside those same warriors for weeks now."Why did Robbie get in a fight with another Alpha?" I asked as we continued our journey throughthe sprawling camp.

"Because some of the Alphas are already vying for this territory, and saying whatever they neededto say to stake their claim," he replied, grabbing two bottles of water out of a crate as we passedand tossed one back to me.

I wasn't ready for it and had to stop walking to bend down and grab it. I caught up to him, mybreath catching in my throat as rain pelted my cheeks and the top of my head

"But the Alphas of Breles and Morhan—"

“Both dead," he said, matter-of-factly. “The Alpha of Morhan has two sons, neither of which is olderthan thirteen. The Luna of Morhan will rule until her oldest son comes of age to take over the title.The Alpha of Breles left behind no heirs, just like his predecessor. The High Elder Council helpedappoint the most recent Alpha of Breles to the position, but there are some packs who want thisdone the... old fashion way.”

“And what is that?"

“By force," he said casually as we rounded a corner and headed down another endless line of tents. Icould see the port in the distance, several large naval ships docked and glistening with rain. Ithought of Charlie all of the sudden and almost stopped in my tracks.

“Charlie-"

"He's fine, a little banged up, but I don't think anyone made it out of this completely unscathed,”Troy interrupted, turning his head to give me a smile. “He found his mate, last I heard. He's beenhelping clear the rubble"

“Charlie found his mate?" I exclaimed, and this time I did stop walking.

Troy turned on his heel to face me, a wide smile spreading across his face. “He did. I couldn't behappier for him. Her name is Jasmine, and she fought alongside your aunt Maeve during one of thelast battles. That's how they met, actually. Maeve was leading her forces back to the camp andCharlie came up to her to assist with the wounded. Maeve said the bond clicked into place themoment they laid eyes on each other.”

The crushing weight against my heart lifted a bit, and I found it easier to breathe as Troy waited forme to start walking again. Charlie found his mate, and she was a warrior? I guess there was a silverlining to this war, at least for him.

"She's from Mirage, actually, part of one of the newer, smaller packs in the eastern edge of Valoria.”“That's just... that's wonderful," I said softly, still in disbelief. “How does it feel having two sons whohave found their mates?"

“Ask me when Oliver replaces his mate,” Troy said soberly, a shadow crossing behind his eyes. Iwondered if he knew what Oliver had sacrificed to save our kind and our realm. I found it unlikely hedid, and that Oliver would ever tell anyone about it. The only reason I knew was because the NightGod had shown me.

Oliver had lost his mate. And I'd lost a friend, if his mate was truly Elaine.

"Did everyone from Morhan evacuate to Mirage?" I asked as we neared the port. We'd been walkingfor a few minutes in heavy silence.

Troy nodded, motioning for me to take a left toward the port. “Those who didn't fight,” he replied.“Are you looking for someone?"

“Two people,” I said, although that number was much larger than two. I thought of all the friends I'dmade on campus over the years and all the professors I'd admired. I wondered how many stayed todefend their city, and how many had perished doing so. “My roommates.”

"Ah, those two women you invited to the wedding?” he said, glancing over at me. “I know for a factthat Viviene fought with the forces from Breles.” He paused, furrowing his brow. “But she wasinjured and sent north for treatment. Heather, right-that was your other friend's name?"

“You have a good memory,” I murmured, my heart squeezing around the thought of Viviene beinginjured.

“I have an excellent memory,” Troy corrected, giving me a teasing smile. “Heather didn't fight on thefront lines, but she did work as a healer for several weeks. Last I heard she was relocated to one ofthe camps that sit along the northern border. That area saw a lot of violence, Lena. I'll reached outto Kacidra to check-"

“I'm sure Heather is fine, but yeah. I'd love to at least know where she is and how to get in contactwith her. With both of them," I said, and meant it. Heather wasn't one to go down without a fight. Ihad no doubt in my mind that she was still alive.

We stopped walking as we reached the port. Warriors hustled about carrying crates of fresh suppliesinto the camp. One of the ships was flying the flag of Poldesse.

“You made it," Troy said as he exhaled.

“I made it," I breathed. I looked over my shoulder at the camp. Over the tops of the tents, I couldsee what remained of Breles against the horizon.

It was just... gone. But we'd won.

Now the real work began.

#