Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 814

Chapter 25 : Bravo, Eliza

*Jared*

I woke with a start, blinking into the early morning sunlight that was drifting through the ceiling-height windows on the far side of the room. I was incredibly warm and pleasantly satiated. It was nowonder, based on the woman currently curled up next to me with her head resting on my arm.

She was fast asleep, a rogue curl lifting and falling against her cheek every time she released abreath. I tucked the curl behind her ear, my fingertips lingering on her cheekbone for a moment.Her naked body was bathed in sunlight, glistening like gold. I fought the urge to cup her breast, myhands aching to feel the weight of them again.

Speaking of aching... I closed my eyes and hissed out a breath, trying to stop my mind from goingover every second from the night before. I was ready to take her again, right now.

"f**k," 1 groaned, running my hand over my face. What the f**k had I been thinking?

I slowly removed my arm from beneath Eliza, clenching and unclenching a fist as my entire armtingled. She didn't even stir. I watched her as I gathered my clothes, my heart squeezing in my chestas her eyelashes fluttered and a soft, sleepy smile drifted across her lips

This wasn't fair to either of us.

I'd f****d up royally, and I didn’t know what to do now.

I picked up what was left of my shirt and shrugged it on. All of the buttons were gone, and wouldno doubt be found by the maids who were likely to gossip about it to the other servants.

It didn't matter. We'd be out of this place by midday. I'd make sure of that.

I cursed under my breath as I searched for my pants. I found my boxers at last and pulled them on,turning around the room for the rest of the remains of my outfit from the ball. Eliza stirred,mumbling something in her sleep. I froze, holding my breath as she turned over and hugged one ofthe pillows to her chest.

I could see my pants peeking out from underneath her. I chewed my lower lip and sighed, seeing nosolution other than to risk the three-second walk across the hall to my own bedroom, hopefullywithout being seen.

I couldn't wake her. I wasn't ready to have the conversation I needed to have with her. It was goingto hurt. My heart was already shattering just thinking about it.

Part of me prayed that I was the only one feeling the way I did. Maybe she was just looking for a bitof fun and a warm body to explore. But dancing with her at the ball last night had ignitedsomething inside me that I didn't think I'd ever feel.

It was a cruel twist of fate, truly. Rage rippled over my skin just thinking about it. Borrowed time... Ionly had five months.

Five months had felt like an eternity only yesterday, but now I felt like I was watching my lifeslipping through my fingers, a life that was lying right in front of me, still tangled in the bedsheets."Don't be foolish,” I whispered to myself. There was a reason I didn't get close to women, notanymore. I'd avoided them at all costs lately in the event I ever felt a flicker of a mate bond so Iwouldn't hurt anyone, especially myself. It was selfish, sure, but the idea of replaceing my mate andthen watching her witness my untimely death was a crushing, suffocating weight.

And if death didn't come on the eve of my twenty-fifth birthday?

Those dark powers would consume what was left of me. I'd be powerless against them, my wolf theonly thing keeping them in check.

I unlocked the door, wincing as the lock clicked and the door groaned as I opened it, then crept intothe hallway.

"Well, well, well," Archer mused, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall on theopposite side of the corridor. I cursed beneath my breath and shut the door to Eliza's room behindme, glaring at Archer. “You look well rested.”

“Shut up, please,” I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Did she do that to your shirt?"

“Leave me alone, Archer-"

“Maybe now you'll be in a good mood for once in your life," Archer pressed, arching his brow.

“I'm not talking about this—"

I was interrupted by Brandt's door opening and a young, timid-looking woman walking into thecorridor in nothing but a shift covered by what looked like the shirt Brandt was wearing last night.She saw me and Archer and froze, her eyes going around with shock and embarrassment.

“Good morning," Archer grinned.

I nudged him in the ribs and he grunted as the woman squeaked an inaudible response and darteddown the hallway, a tarnished ball gown clutched against her chest. Brandt peeked his head aroundthe doorframe, his cheeks burning with a ferocious blush but a smile on his face nonetheless. Archerpursed his lips, chuckling to himself. Brandt looked me up and down and c****d his brow.

"Eliza?" he asked.

I exhaled deeply, glaring at both men as I walked between them and into my room, shutting thedoor firmly behind me.

Great.

Eliza wouldn't meet my eyes over the informal breakfast table laid out in the dining hall. She pickedat her plate, her cheeks burning red as Archer and Brandt sat on either side of her. The men keptlooking at her, then at each other.

I ground my teeth as I toyed with my food. I was defensive of Eliza already, but now that I'd had herin bed?

“You're a prick!" Eliza hissed.

Archer sucked in his breath and squirmed, reaching under the table to rub his shin as he glared atEliza. I looked Archer up and down, wondering what he'd said to her.

I felt awful. It was my fault that Archer and Brandt knew... even though I hadn't verbally confirmed it.While I considered their merciless teasing all in jest, it still ground my gears that Eliza wasuncomfortable.

I felt even worse that I'd snuck out of her room without having the decency of waking her up andtelling her I was leaving.

I just couldn't take that look in her eyes-that crushing disappointment that lingered there, thatsame confusion that I felt.

That same deeply rooted longing.

“f**k me," I said beneath my breath.

"What's wrong?" Eliza quipped, which startled me enough to spill my coffee.

I glanced up at her, holding her gaze for a few seconds longer than I meant to. She gave me a weaksmile that broke my heart.

She didn't know about the curse, not entirely. I needed to tell her, and then I needed to take herhome.

“Nothing,” I said, trying to smile in return, but only the corners of my mouth lifted.

“There you are!" Aeris's voice boomed through the dining room, bouncing off the golden wallpaperand nearly bursting my eardrums.

Archer sighed audibly, setting his fork down on his plate. Aeris walked around the table, resting hishand on my shoulder. I fought the urge to stand and shove him away.

He made my skin crawl. He always had. And watching him gaze down at Eliza with a look of fiercedesire made me want to reach up and snap his scrawny neck.

How bad would it be if I did?

"What a show you put on last night, Jared. And you too, Eliza.”

Aeris lingered a little too long on her name. I clenched my hands into fists under the table."Thanks," Eliza said brightly. I looked at her, wondering what exactly she was playing at. “Jared is afantastic dance partner.”

“He's always been especially talented in the art of dance. He trained for years in my court as a child.”Eliza shot me a look. I could see the curiosity bubbling behind her eyes. Stop. Stop—

"Really?"

"Oh yes," Aeris drawled as he sat down beside me, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Jared'sgrandmother was once part of this court, before my time, but she used to bring him here in thewinter. How he ended up a bounty hunter is... a mystery indeed.”

Eliza was looking right at me, her sea-green gaze cutting me to the core.

"What?" I mouthed at her, but she only smiled, her eyes flashing with some hidden scheme.

Great. That was the last thing I needed. Aeris was already onto her about being the breeder hisbrother purchased from the auction. She knew I was leaving without the scroll. We would've beenhalfway home by now had I not rushed after her after we danced last night.

"He never mentioned that to me, and I've known him for a long time," Eliza lied, and she lied well.

I arched my brow at her, still vexed that she was playing this game but also curious about where shewas planning to take this next.

"And how long have you known my beloved Jared?"

“A few years now. My father was curious about Jared's collection, and that's how we wereintroduced.” She exhaled, her eyes shifting to a look of pure, pained grief.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest as she wiped an actual tear from hereyes.

"When my father died... I'm sorry,” she choked, sniffling pathetically.

Aeris clicked his tongue, making comforting noises as he handed her a napkin to wipe her eyes with."When my father died, I took over cataloging Jared's collection. I've been living at his house for thepast year because of it. It's a rather extensive collection.”

“The past year, you say?" Aeris said.

I fought back a smile as a flash of disappointment blurred Aeris's face.

“Mhmm," Eliza said, sipping from her coffee. “It was just my father and me, you see. He had no sons,so the property went to my uncle, you know, under the old laws and such. Jared offered me myfather's old job and a place to stay.”

"Jared," Aeris smiled wickedly, glancing at me before turning back to his conversation with Eliza."He's such a gracious guardian to the females, is he not?"

Eliza smiled sweetly, nodding, but I could see the fire behind that smile.

“He is. I rather enjoy his company,” she said in a purr that set my blood boiling, and not in anger.Aeris caught this and pursed his lips, looking me up and down. I ran my tongue along the side ofmy lip, c*****g my brow at Eliza.

She ignored me, setting her coffee cup on the table with a clang.

"So, Jared said you were giving him a scroll as part of the bounty payment. I'd like to see it, ofcourse. Please don't take offense,” she said hurriedly, waving her hand, “but I want to make sure it'slegitimate, you know. Because he murdered someone in exchange for it."

I placed my booted foot over her slippered toes, pressing down in warning. Aeris's eyes shot up,taken by surprise.

“Oh, my darling. Do you really think I'd cheat a man such as Jared in that way?"

“I don't know," she said playfully, batting her eyelashes at him. “Would you?"

Aeris was blushing at her attention now. She was going too far. I stepped down on her toes, but shewas a step ahead of me, kicking me firmly in the shin.

I coughed to cover the grunt of pain I couldn't stifle. Aeris reached out and absently patted me onthe shoulder.

“I assure you, my own collection is absolutely legitimate. In fact, I will show you. I have somebusiness to attend to today but-"

“Tomorrow then! Oh, this is wonderful!" Eliza clapped her hands together, beaming at the Alpha.

I clenched my jaw and glanced at Archer and Brandt, who were staring up at Eliza in awe.

“It would be my pleasure, darling," Aeris drawled, rising from his seat as Eliza extended her hand forhim to... kiss.

He beamed right back at her as he brushed a kiss across her knuckles. My fingers curled under thetable. I was going to rip him to shreds. But before I could, Aeris turned to me and reached into hisjacket, pulling out the scroll and setting it in front of me.

Aeris, now in an even more chipper mood than usual, practically floated out of the room.

“Bravo, Eliza," Archer whispered, raising his coffee mug in a toast.

"What the hell are you thinking?" I hissed, fixing her with a glare.

She narrowed her eyes at me as she picked up her coffee mug, rolling her eyes before she took asip.

“I'm just stroking his ego. That's all he wants. You should try it, Jared. He'd probably offer you morethan the scroll.” She took a long, annoying sip from her coffee and set it back down, rising from herchair and snatching the scroll off the table. “Although, that won't matter now that I get access to hisENTIRE collection!" She turned on her heel, flicking Archer soundly on the temple as she walked outof the room and out of sight.

I rose from my seat and took off after her.