Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 130 : He’s Back

*Lena*

Two Months Later

Mom turned a letter over in her hands, peering down at the return address with a skeptical eye. I looked up from

the pile of letters scattered in front of me on the long table in the library at the Castle of Drogomor, situated on the

outskirts of Mirage.

“Who is that one from?" I asked, extending a hand.

She wordlessly handed me the letter, but I didn't recognize the name.

“Who is Warren?" I asked before ripping it open. I unfurled the paper and then set it down on the table.

Mom arched her brow at me. “What?"

“This isn't for us," I said, sliding the letter to the side. “It's for Grandpa, I think."

“Well, what does it say?"

“He'll kill us if we read his mail!"

“Your grandfather doesn't live here," she said with a little laugh, snatching up the letter before I could stop her.

We'd been blocking out at least two hours a day reading through the letters that had been arriving at the castle

recently. Most of it was for Dad, but the Alpha King of Valoria had been in Breles for the last two weeks trying to get

the radio towers and landline system working again. We were picking up his slack, as a good Luna and princess

would do, of course.

“Why would anyone send mail meant for Grandpa here?" I prodded, but Mom's brow began to furrow as she quickly

read through the letter's contents, then abruptly rose from her seat. “What?" I said quickly, adrenaline prickling my

fingertips. “What's wrong?"

“Nothing's wrong," she murmured, but she looked entirely confused as her gaze flicked to the top of the letter and

she started reading it over again. “This is from–"

I snatched the letter out of her hands and darted toward the window, where pale morning sunlight was filtering

through the stained glass. Rainbows of light danced across the muted pink cotton dress I was wearing.

“Dear Elder Gray," I began, reading it aloud. “I'm responding to an inquiry regarding an open position on the High

Elder Council in the Realm of Light. My Alpha King has chosen me for the position, and I'm writing with my

intentions to accept the position to serve on your council. I'm under the impression Soren Black was originally the

one called to serve, but he has graciously declined–"

Mom exhaled audibly as she dropped into one of the armchairs by the dormant hearth. It was summer, and there

was no need for a fire. I could already feel the heat that was threatening to embrace Mirage, and it was only

morning. I glanced at her, trying to read her expression before I continued.

“I am the brother and ally of Theo of Egoren and his mate Ciana."

The rest of the letter was just… business. The man asked about lodgings and accommodations for his family, where

he would live. What this role would entail.

“Sincerely," I said, my chest tightening with excitement, “Warren Crimson"

I clutched the letter to my chest and turned to fully face the window. The Castle of Drogomor was miles and miles

away from the Port of Valoria, but I gazed out that window as though I could see the port from where I stood.

“This letter is from Egoren," I breathed, mostly to myself. Mom was squeezing the bridge of her nose. “That

means–"

Xander. He was back, he had to be! Why would mail arrive from Egoren if people from that realm hadn't been the

ones to bring it through the portal in the first place?

“Lena–"

I was already moving toward the door to the library, my bare feet tapping on the stone floor.

“Lena!"

I spun around to face Mom, who let out her breath, nostrils flaring.

“What?"

“We don't know if Xander accompanied this letter to the port. This could have been sent from anywhere, and we

have no way of confirming its authenticity."

I quickly walked over to her and dropped the letter in her lap, waving a hand in annoyance.

“This sounds like Dad's problem!"

“Lena!"

“What!" I was trembling with excitement. Xander could be at the port right now. I had to find him, or at least a way

to contact him if he was in Avondale, or even Breles. He'd be coming this way; I knew that much.

“You are not going to the port today!"

“It's only three hours away by train!" I protested. “I'll be home before dinner!"

“You're pregnant–"

“Oh, am I going to give birth on the train? Mom, I'm only seven months along–"

“Closer to eight based on your last scan," she said, clicking her tongue.

I frowned, tapping my toes on the floor as I chewed my lower lip.

“I won't go into labor on the train–"

“That's up to Alexis, not you, darling," she said with a little grin. She was frustrated with me, but she couldn't hide

the glimmer in her eyes at the mention of Alexis, her soon to be granddaughter. We'd taken to calling her by her

name instead of just “Baby" over the past couple of weeks. I'd been on multiple shopping trips to Mirage to buy

baby clothes and fluffy stuffed animals, most of which seemed excessive, but I couldn't stop myself.

Something had clicked inside of me, and having a baby suddenly felt real. I was going to be a mother, which had

always been my absolute dream, but had never felt like it would ever be my reality.

But Xander hadn't been here for it. He'd missed my anatomy scan, where Mom and I got to see every little finger

and every little toe. Being home was peaceful and easy, but my heart had never been heavier.

Across the sea, Breles was still in shambles. Crimson Creek was the new home of the lower vampires who had

escaped the realm of night before Oliver sealed the portal forever. Warriors from every pack still lingered in the

west, and the High Elder Council was hard at work alongside the Alphas of our realm as they tried to piece together

the fractured communities in the west who were stuck in places like Mirage, Avondale, and Winter Forest, unable to

return home.

Most of my days had been spent in Mirage as of late. There was plenty of space for the refugees of Breles to go in

the sprawling metropolis where more than a dozen territories bled into one massive city. Drogomor, my own pack,

had taken many of the refugees from Breles into what was simply called “Old Town," a medieval-looking area with

stone buildings and cobblestone streets dusted with magnolia petals. As the princess, I'd taken it upon myself to see

that everyone in Old Town was settled and happy.

But the wounds of the war ran deep. Hospitals were still full. So many families had been left without one or both

parents. An orphanage had been set up in Old Town to house the children who had nowhere else to go.

That's where I spent the most time. I was great with children, especially after my brief stint as a teacher in Cedar

Hollow. I found myself leaning into the role again as the weeks passed.

I needed something to do, after all. I needed something to take my mind off my mate and what we'd been through,

and what our future would look like.

“I won't be gone for long," I said softly, giving my mom a look that said I was not taking no for an answer. “I just…

I'll go to the post office and see if they can tell me where this letter came from and when exactly it was delivered."

Mom surrendered with a sigh and a nod of her head, and I was off in a flash through the library doors.

***

The woman tending the counter at the post office looked down at the envelope the letter from Warren had been in,

her brow knitted in a frown.

“I've never heard of… Egoren. Where is that?"

How was I supposed to explain?

“To the south–"

“Well, if it came from the south, I assume it came two days ago, maybe three. The amount of mail coming to

Mirage right now is insane, if I'm being honest. It's taking us a while to sort through it."

“It's alright," I said softly, hiding the hurt threatening to make itself known in my voice. Two or three days? I turned

to go, clutching the empty envelope in my fist as I walked out of the post office and onto the street.

It was bright and stiflingly hot. I shielded my eyes from the sun as heat prickled across my shoulders and arms,

which were bare save for the thick straps that held my dress up. I'd have a sunburn just from the walk back to the

castle at this rate.

Xander wasn't here. If he'd been on the ship the letter came on, he would've arrived at the castle before the letter

had. I bit my lip to stop it from trembling.

I hadn't heard from him since the morning he left for Egoren. He'd sent an embrace down the bond between us in

the later afternoon on the day he left, but it was wordless and distant. He'd likely crossed the portal shortly after

that, and that had been eight weeks ago.

I heaved a breath, my throat tightening around a sob. I was being ridiculous, but I was incredibly disappointed. I

shouldn't have let myself get excited.

A woman across the cobblestone street was calling out to the people passing by. Her lemonade stand was glistening

in the sun, the glass container holding the pale yellow lemonade was frosted and sweating from the ice slowly

melting inside.

My mouth was dry, and I was hot as hell.

I glanced at the trail leading back to the castle and then turned to the lemonade stand. I had plenty of time for a

lemonade; maybe I'd even bring one back for Mom.

I dug around for the loose change I'd been carrying around in my purse and handed them to the woman, who

handed me two frosted glasses of lemonade in return.

I walked over to a shaded bench and sat down with a sigh, then sipped the lemonade, holding it in my cheeks for a

moment before swallowing. It was perfectly tart, and I smiled at the flavor. I loved lemonade. I could drink

lemonade all day. Alexis kicked me hard, and I smiled a little wider.

“You like it too, huh?" I said to her.

“When she's old enough, I'll build her her own lemonade stand."

I froze, the glass resting on my bottom lip. For a moment I was sure that familiar voice had only been in my head,

but as I turned and squinted into the sun....

Xander caught the glass before I dropped it, his eyes shimmering with pleasure.

“Hey," he smiled.

I threw my arms around him and squeezed.

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