Sold To The Alpha
Blood L**t Chapter 22

Halle was leaning over the island staring at the older server enraptured by his story, 'so how did you end up here?' she asked eagerly.

Rubbing his temple with his thumb and forefinger, Carter let out a soft sigh, 'I believed the Rogues were going to kill me, I had murdered two of their own in unclaimed land, they dragged me to their home which was a large cave hidden within the woods. Chaining me up, they left me alone, returning hours later with bread and water before leaving me again. Days passed and I began to wonder what their plan was, Rogue's don't just leave you alive when you've angered them, but here I was, still breathing, still being fed.

A long time had passed when suddenly I was approached and yanked up by my arms, unchained from the wall and dragged back out into the moonlight. In front of me stood his Majesty and a large group of his associates, the Rogue threw me at his feet saying, 'as promised Vampire King, in return you will keep your promise to leave us in peace?'

His Majesty gave a curt nod to the Rogue before signalling to his men who shifted and clambered around me, grabbing my clothes as they lifted me into the air and flew me away, back to the castle we now stand in.

I was kept locked in a room for months, the only interaction I had with people was when one of the few staff we have here would bring me some food, but they were banned from interacting with me in any other way. I had no idea why someone like the Vampire King wanted me, a common werewolf, one that was not even of high ranking parents, and it seemed he had no desire to let me know.

Finally his Majesty came to me and asked me what I was good at, I told him that I could cook and he made me into his chef. I would prepare meals for His Majesty, Her Majesty and His Highness each day, I was taught only to greet them with their titles and considering I was a prisoner, life wasn't too bad. I had a bed to sleep on, food to eat and the other servants to talk too, then the day came that brought the news that her Majesty had been killed by a settlement of humans. There was no meaning to the attack, she was not there to cause any strife, just spending a day with her sister at the market that the humans held each week to sell their wares. The villagers somehow knew who she was and attacked her, she took out many in her own defence but they overpowered her and a group of men severed her head from her body.

When word was received here at the castle, His Majesty took a large force of Vampires and they destroyed the entire village, there only being one survivor left that was brought back here as a servant!

Carter stopped talking suddenly, his eyes misted as he thought back through his life.

Halle stepped over to him, placing her hand on his arm and whispered 'who was the survivor Carter?'

Giving the concerned teenager a short smile, Carter replied, 'Iris'.

Halle took a step back in shock, 'Iris? My Iris?'

'Yes Your Highness, your maid Iris was the lone survivor of the destruction of her village through the wrath of the Vampire King!

'But why?' Halle whispered, 'why did he keep her?'

Carter shook his head sadly, 'that is not my story to tell Your Highness, I am sorry!

Vaya, who had been sat motionless through the older Werewolf's story suddenly cleared her throat, 'uhh Carter? The woman you left? The one you said smelt like Cedar wood, was she human?' she asked in a strained voice. Meeting the young girl's eyes, Carter shook his head, 'no miss, she was not Human, she was a dryad, the tree I collapsed by the side of was her tree, her name was.."

'Vanya' Vaya breathed staring at the server who blinked at her surprised.

'Yes, how did you know that?' he replied a slight tinge of worry to his voice.

Vaya looked toward Daniel in desperation, as he caught the Werewolf in a piercing gaze, 'Vanya is my mate's mother' he said simply.

Carter stood for a moment staring between the two before his legs started to shake and Halle rushed to grab him as they gave way beneath him.

Grasping onto the Island, Carter gulped for air before finally giving Vaya a look filled with pain, 'Vanya? My Vanya? Had a child?' he asked his heart breaking as the words forced themselves from his lips.

Vaya nodded silently, trying to support his own weight, Carter licked his lips nervously before making himself utter words that made his heart feel like it was shattering within him.

'Did he treat her well?' he asked tears fighting his eyes, 'did he love her?'

Vaya's gaze of disbelief turned to one of confusion, 'who? Did who love her?' she asked shakily.

'Your father' Carter whispered, 'did he love Vanya?'

Vaya nodded her head slowly, 'yes, he loved her with everything he had' she replied quietly as Carter's face sagged in pain, 'so much so, he handed himself over to Rogue's to protect her and the baby he didn't know she was carrying' she added.

Carter looked at the young woman, unable to comprehend her words as she stood from the stool and walked round to stand in front of him, 'I am twenty years old, I am a Werewolf / Dryad hybrid, my mother told me that my father left us before she had a chance to tell him about me, that he did it to save her life'

Carter's mouth opened and closed, no sounds coming out as he stared into Vaya's face, his eyes roaming every inch of her features as if he was trying to convince himself that she was real. 'Mine?' he whispered disbelievingly, 'are you mine?'.

Vaya nodded as she hesitantly held her hand out to him, 'I've been looking everywhere for you daddy' she whispered back as the Werewolf gathered her into his arms, hugging her tightly to him, the tears unable to stop falling from his eyes as he murmured, 'my pup, my sweet baby girl' over and over again.

Pulling back, he gazed into her face, 'I can see Vanya in you, my beautiful Vanya and my sister Destiny, you have some of her features too, it's like looking at my two most precious people all wrapped up into one beautiful soul.' he said as he stroked her hair away from her face.

Halle broke the moment with a small squeal, 'I can't believe your dad is Carter!' she said excitedly, pulling Vaya away from him into a hug of her own before releasing her and pulling Carter into another one.

Daniel stood up and walked over to Vaya, putting an arm around her as he held the other one out to Carter, 'I am Daniel, Vaya's mate and future Beta of the silver cross pack' he said with a smile.

Carter shook the Beta's hand vigorously, 'A pleasure to meet you Daniel, I see that you care deeply for Vaya, I am so happy she found you, I just wish I could have been there to see the spark when you met.' he replied. Daniel laughed, 'seriously, you didn't miss much, she called me a stalker and told me to stop being weird.'

'Well you were being weird' Vaya mumbled embarrassed, 'all clingy, like some lost puppy who had decided to follow me home!

'I'd follow you anywhere baby' Daniel replied lovingly, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

Carter chuckled, 'so much like your mother, she didn't like being fawned over either, she would tell you what she thought and you'd like it or leave!'

'Oh that's my baby alright' Daniel agreed laughing as Vaya thumped him, 'OW! What was that for?' he moaned rubbing his arm.

'For being yourself stalker' Vaya replied with a smirk.

Looking at his watch Carter raised his voice slightly, 'It is extremely late, would you all like to retire to rooms for some sleep? The witch will not be with us for many hours yet so it would make sense for all of you to get some rest! The group looked at each other before Vaya nodded, 'yes please, that would be great!

Leading the way out of the kitchen, the server had them follow him upstairs where he and Halle directed the group to empty guest rooms until it was just the two of them left.

'You too Your Highness' Carter insisted giving her a playful push toward her room.

'What about you? I woke you up in the middle of the night' Halle replied giving him a hug.

'I have a kitchen to clean Your Highness, plus I just became a father tonight so I don't think my mind or my wolf is going to allow me to go back to sleep! Carter replied with a grin.

Nodding her understanding, Halle bade the Werewolf goodnight, watching as he made his way back downstairs. Making a quick decision, she sprinted off toward Vallance's room, slowing down as she reached the door and crept inside. Jason and Viktor were both still sat on the bed staring at the motionless prince whilst Leo and Justin had made use of the few chairs that decorated the room.

'Any change?' she whispered as she reached her father.

Justin shook his head, 'how are the Warriors? Vaya? Daniel? He asked, not taking his eyes off his son's broken hearted face.

'They are fine, Carter and I put them in some of the guest rooms so that they could get some sleep' Halle replied, glancing at Viktor to see if he would object, but the Vampire seemed not to care what was going on around him, only having eyes for his dying child. 'You should get some sleep too sweetie' Justin said, giving the teenagers hand a small squeeze.

'I'm going now dad, I just wanted to check on Val and let you all know what was going on' Halle replied sadly.

'Thank you sweetie' Justin said quietly, squeezing her hand again before he released her and she left the room again, heading back toward her own bedroom and hopefully a few hours sleep.