Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 729

Chapter 74 : Mates

My heart sank like a stone.

Soren and I had both suspected that Eros had ulterior motives and that he might have been tryingto trap us. As much as I suspected it, I had hoped against hope that it wasn't true.

I had suspected that he was after me or the artifact, possibly both. I figured he'd try to steal theartifact pieces but I hadn't pegged him for being dangerous. But Eros had done something toAshley and Payne first. He had gone after my friends!

No, not just my friends. He'd done something to my pack!

“What did you do to them?" I demanded, glaring.

My hands trembled. Soren and I had left Payne and Ashley alone with him. We'd overestimated theirability to protect themselves against him and underestimated what Eros was capable of.

Guilt curled in my stomach like a poisonous snake. Soren and I had been enjoying each other andthe romantic meteor shower while Ashley and Payne were in trouble!

Eros smirked. His eyes lit up devilishly and for the first time, I saw just how dangerous andmischievous he could be. That easy going, sweet healer in training was just an act! Underneath thefacade, he was a demon.

"Don't worry, they are only taking a rest. Though, whether or not they wake up any time soondepends entirely on the two of you," he said, grinning cruelly.

He must have poisoned them or made some kind of tonic to knock them out! I was starting to thinkthat Eros wasn't a healer in training but a fully capable doctor. He had dangerous medical tricks uphis sleeve.

I glanced at Soren. He was still composed and serious, staring intently at Eros.

“I have the artifact. But if you want it, you need to tell your master to come and get it. I don't gothrough pawns,” Soren insisted with his own cruel smirk.

Usually, when Soren said those things, the people he spoke to showed surprise or appearedinfuriated and intimidated. It was a tactic I'd seen him use to provoke others into making mistakesand revealing more about themselves.

Eros shrugged. “I'm sorry to disappoint you, Soren, but I don't have a master. You're dealing withjust me."

Soren scoffed and shook his head. “Unlikely. You're a pawn, whether you know it or not.”

“I'm not here to banter with you. Give me the artifact!" Eros demanded. He crossed his arms.

“Well, well, I suppose I should be giving you a thumbs up then, Eros. Kudos to you for your braveryto come face me by yourself," Soren said, smirking again.

"Save that crap," Eros warned. He turned to me. “Now, if you want to see your friends again and ifyou want me to return them to you in the same condition as you left them, give me the artifact!"

I sucked in a sharp breath and glanced at Soren.

“Don't look at her!" Soren growled.

Eros chuckled and shook his head. "You're all bluster and no bite. I want what I came for.

“I have a few artifacts,” Soren said, shrugging. “The question is, which artifact do you want?"

Eros sneered and shook his head. He held his hand out to Soren, as if he expected Soren to justhand over the artifact.

"Don't treat me like those brainless idiots out there! Your rumor of a universal artifact might fool themore gullible but it won't trick me. I'm only interested in the Blade of Souls," he insisted.

I gasped and instinctively glanced at my bag again.

Soren didn't seem concerned. “Very well, come and get it!"

Jumping to his feet, Soren launched himself at Eros. They rolled in the dirt together.

I grabbed my backpack and put it on for safe keeping. Standing up, I watched Eros and Sorenfighting.

They rolled on the ground, puffs of dirt flying into the air. Above them, the meteor shower was infull swing, making the mountain range light up like daytime.

Snarling, Soren grabbed the sides of Eros's head and slammed it into the ground. Eros struck Sorenin the back with his knee.

Soren grunted and pitched forward. Eros rolled out from under him. They both sprung to their feetand started throwing punches and kicks at each other.

Eros blocked most of Soren's punches and delivered several right back. Soren kept blocking but Icould tell that he couldn't get enough of an opening to deliver an incapacitating blow.

They were equally matched.

I'd never thought Eros would fight so well. He looked so wiry and slender but underneath it all hewas strong and powerful. Eros had played us all! He was much more dangerous than we'd thoughtand he played the weakling so well.

Soren threw a punch at Eros's face. Eros threw his arms up to block and Soren thrust his knee intoEros's stomach. Grunting, Eros doubled over.

I cheered silently as Soren finally got the upper hand in the fight. From this point on, I knew hecould handle it. Adjusting the bag on my shoulder, I left the concealment of the grass so I could replacePayne and Ashley. If there was a chance I could wake them up without Eros, then he had nothing tothreaten us with!

Just as I got out of the grass, I saw that Soren had Eros pinned.

Eros didn't look concerned or like he was losing the fight. Instead, he smirked at Soren.

“You didn't really think I came alone, did you?"

"Grrr."

I froze and squinted into the shadows. Bright, glittering eyes of wolves appeared on the edge of theshadows. I'd thought they were fireflies, but now I realized that the crickets had stopped

Without even realizing it, Eros's shifters had closed in around us.

They all had their eyes fixed on me.

Eros slipped out of Soren's grasp and kept him busy, fighting one on one.

“Mila, run!" Soren shouted at me as the wolves closed in from all sides.

Soren wouldn't be able to get to me in time. There was no way I could fight all these wolves alone!I gripped my backpack straps and whipped around, ready to run. The wolf on my left jumped at me.I dodged his lunge but it brought me too close to a second wolf. I couldn't get away fast enoughand it swiped its paw at me. I staggered back and the wolf advanced, ready to jump at me.

I held my arms up, waiting for the attack.

It never hit me.

More snarls broke out and I heard the sounds of scuffling and squabbling. Lowering my arms, I sawa new group of wolves swarming into the campsite. They were quickly overtaking Eros’s wolves.

I heard Soren chuckle. “I didn't think you came alone, which is why I didn't come alone either.”Soren’s wolves subdued Eros's wolves in moments.

Eros still didn't seem worried. He smirked and he lunged at Soren again. They both shifted, jaws andteeth snapping at each other. Their fight got even more intense.

For the moment, I was safe and so was the artifact.

Suddenly, Ashley appeared, her eyes wide, totally appalled.

"Eros stop! What are you doing!?" she cried. She tried to get between Eros and Soren but Paynegrabbed her arm.

Doctor Lee appeared behind them and I realized he was the one that brought Soren's backup. Hehad probably also revived Ashley and Payne from whatever Eros had given them.

Ashley broke free from Payne and ran in between Eros and Soren.

Eros's eyes darted around wildly. I could tell that he realized he was losing the fight. His backup wasout of commission and Soren was clearly now the stronger warrior.

Growling, Eros launched himself at Ashley. He shifted back to human, pinning her arms behind herback and wrapping an arm around her neck, tightening dangerously.

“Let me go or I'll kill her!" Eros shouted.

Soren snarled, holding back the shifters that threatened to jump at Eros.

Payne clenched his fists, shaking in anger, but he wouldn't risk attacking and getting Ashley hurt, Iknew that.

"Eros..." Ashley cried, tears dripping from her eyes. “What are you doing? Tell me this isn't true...”she sniffled. Her voice was filled with anguish and betrayal.

My heart broke for Ashley. This was what I had been afraid of. I didn't want to see her miserable andin pain

Eros didn't respond but I saw something glimmer in his eyes. Did he really have feelings for Ashley?Thwap! Zing!

I heard arrows whizzing through the air.

"Watch out!” I cried as I saw the arrows flying right at Soren and Ashley.

Soren easily dodged the arrows in wolf form but one headed right for Ashley.

Time seemed to come to a standstill. I was watching the arrow move in slow motion, aimed right atAshley's chest. Soren and Payne were too far away to intervene. And if no one stepped in, her heartwould be pierced by the arrow.

Growling, Eros tightened his grip on Ashley. He spun around, shielding her, and the arrowembedded itself in his back.

Eros groaned and trembled, blood spurting out from his back. The arrow stuck out.

I cringed. That had to be painful. But Ashley was safe. My moment of relief was short lived as Irealized that Eros had just saved Ashley... his hostage!

Why would Eros do that? My mind reeled. He'd just taken Ashley hostage and threatened to kill her.Had that been a bluff? Why would he save her when he was ready to kill her?

Immediately, Payne shifted into a wolf and tackled Eros, pushing him away from Ashley. Eros shiftedagain, knocking the arrow out of his back. He was badly wounded, though.

Eros wiggled away from Payne. He rolled onto his feet and lowered his head, growling and lickinghis lips.

Payne curled around him, his tail straight back and his ears perked up. Growling, Payne lunged atEros and tackled him again. He thrust his front paws into Eros's stomach, pinning him harshly to theground.

He opened his mouth, ready to clamp down a killing blow on Eros's neck.

“Payne, stop!" Ashley cried

She ran over and knelt down over Eros, holding her hands up like a shield against Payne.

Payne growled in protest and paced back and forth. He licked his lips, his bright eyes narrowed onEros. The second Ashley moved out of the way, Payne would pounce and end Eros once and for all.Even though he saved Ashley's life, I didn't blame Payne for wanting to kill him. Eros had falselyhealed Soren, followed us, set a trap for us, drugged him and Ashley, and taken his sister hostage.That couldn't just be overlooked.

“Please... don't hurt him," Ashley begged. “... he's... he's my mate!"