Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 13 : Tell Me Who You Are

*Soren*

Mila was knocked to the ground as I leaped over her and swatted at her attacker.

Payne was right behind me and took the first chance he got to flank the man that attacked Mila.

He stood between us, snarling and growling as he glanced back and forth.

I pulled my lips back, baring my teeth, growling and pawing at the ground.

He seemed to understand that he couldn't win a fight against both of us and he wasn't going to make it out alive if

he waited around too long.

Hissing, he lunged into the nearest bushes and disappeared.

I growled and tossed my head in the direction he went. Payne nodded and took off after the guy. If he caught him,

he'd interrogate the bastard. I had full faith in Payne's abilities.

For the time being, I wanted to stay with Mila. Quickly, I shifted and threw on a pair of pants. Payne and I had

brought a backpack with spare clothes, anticipating we'd have to shift on the fly.

I turned around and Mila was still sitting on the ground. Her eyes were distant as she looked in the opposite

direction of where her attacker had run.

“Did you see those people back there?" she asked, pointing a shaking hand. “I wonder what was wrong with them.

I knelt down beside her. She didn't seem to realize I was there and she was very dazed.

“I don't know what is going on with the people here. Everyone is behaving oddly. Mila, you don't look too good…

We've got to get out of the open. We're too vulnerable. Maybe there is a place in town where you can rest," I

suggested.

Sniffing, she snapped out of her daze and pulled back from me. “I'm fine."

I didn't believe her.

“But those poor people. I want to see what happened to them," she insisted.

She tried to stand up but she winced and her legs wobbled. Staggering to the side, Mila caught herself, barely, and

her legs trembled.

I reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her until she found her footing. When she tried to walk again, I

stopped her.

“I need to see what happened to those people," she said, pulling against me.

“Or, I have a better idea. You need to rest and regain your strength," I stated firmly. “If you're attacked, you won't

be able to defend yourself and you'll be no help to those people. You can't go after them in this condition, not

without help."

“Then help me," she said with a scoff.

“Bad idea. There are still people out here that are after you." I told her, trying to appeal to her rationality. “It is too

dangerous for you to investigate further."

“Fine, fine," Mila groaned.

She stopped pulling against me and I turned us in the direction of the Miltern pack.

“There's probably an inn back in town where I can stay," she said. She glanced sideways at me as I walked with her.

“I'll walk you back to town," I said when I saw the look.

She shook her head but didn't outwardly protest. Her eyes scanned me quickly and I could see the gears turning in

her mind.

Desperately, I wanted to know what she was thinking. It was a completely illogical desire but I couldn't deny it.

***

*Mila*

Soren had come to my rescue and now he was watching out for me. It was so obvious that he wanted something

from me. Otherwise, why had he followed me here?

Had he only been pretending to be generous and grant me my freedom? I thought that was most likely, seeing as

he was here now. He was just like the others and he was just after me for something.

However, something inside of me told me to trust him and listen to him. Even though I thought he was after me and

he was following me, he had also saved me from the attacker. What was it about him?

I glanced sideways at him again and looked him over.

He was handsome. I definitely couldn't deny that. He was tall and strong with a muscular body. His hair was dark

and his eyes restless and stormy. I recognized that look in his eyes, the same desire for freedom that I had.

Not to mention, his wolf was beautiful! Large, black, and sleek. His wolf had been strong and protective.

Ugh, what was I thinking?

Just because he was the most good-looking man I'd ever seen didn't mean I needed to trust him and take him at his

word. How stupid was that?

He'd followed me all the way to Miltern. Was there anywhere in the world I could hide from him?

I didn't see any scenario in which he didn't know where I was staying tonight.

Sighing, I tilted my head back. The sky was dark and I could see it now through the tree branches. The moon was

out and shining brightly.

Before, the sun had been hidden in the trees but I could see the night sky clearly. That was strange.

During the day, the forest had felt suffocating. It had been like a maze and I had no idea how to navigate it. Now,

for some reason, at night, I thought the forest was peaceful and charming… almost like I belonged there.

When I'd been alone in the forest before things had felt… uneasy. I'd even been a little afraid.

Now…

I glanced at Soren again. This feeling of ease and security, was it because he was here with me now?

“Why are you here?" I asked him when the silence between us became too much.

I wasn't expecting him to give me an honest answer. There was a large part of me that still wanted to turn and run

from him but with my aching muscles, he'd be breathing down my neck in a heartbeat.

“Do you have enemies? Do you even know why people are after you?" he asked.

“That's none of your business," I stated, turning away from him.

Of course, he wouldn't answer my question, but he'd ask me questions and expect real answers. That wasn't going

to work for me.

It just reaffirmed the fact that he was here because he was after something from me. He was working for those

bastards now.

Ever since Norwind pack came out with a giant reward for my capture, everyone turned against me. And who

wouldn't? Norwind pack was rich and well supplied. Even other legitimate packs wanted their reward.

There was no doubt in my mind that a rogue like Soren would want that reward, too.

Honestly, I didn't know why they were after me. Norwind hadn't released that information to anyone. Not that it

mattered, the reward was enough.

I wanted to know more than anyone why they were after me. But I had no answer for Soren. Even if I did know, I

wasn't sure I should tell him.

The only lead I had right now was Helen and my dreams.

Soren eyed me and chuckled.

My stomach fluttered when his smile widened and his eyes settled on mine. I couldn't stop staring at his smile, my

mind feeling fuzzy and dreamy, and my reservations melted quickly.

“To answer your question, I came here because some of the people after you burst into my inn asking me to hand

you over."

I scoffed. “They promised you something, didn't they?"

“Smart girl," Soren said with a nod. “They promised to share the future profit with me and leave my inn alone."

“So, you are here to take me to them then?" My heart sank and I looked at my feet. I f*****g knew it!

Quickly, I glanced around for the fastest way out. Where could I run to that would give me the best chance of

escape?

There were some thorny bushes to my left. It would hurt like hell, but it would slow Soren down and I was smaller

than him. I could slip through the thorns easier.

I might be able to get away from him by climbing a tree, but that would take a lot of physical effort and Soren was

definitely stronger than me.

Soren chuckled again and sighed. “Well, that's not possible now."

I arched an eyebrow at him, forgetting about my escape plan. What did he mean by that?

“I've taken care of them and you don't need to worry about them coming after you anymore," he assured kindly.

Taken aback, my steps faltered.

He turned to me quickly, ready to offer help, but I caught myself and kept walking.

Soren didn't have to say it in words, but I got the impression that he killed the men that came looking for me. Killed,

or injured to the point where they'd have to take a long time to recover before coming after me.

Did he know how much trouble he'd get himself into when the packs after me found out about that kind of violence

against them? They wouldn't stand for an outlander raising a hand to them, even if they made the first move.

“You killed them?" I clarified.

“Did I say that?" he asked coyly, smirking.

I suppressed an eye roll. He must have thought I was dumb, and I wasn't!

For a moment, my chest unclenched and I felt relieved.

What if he was only telling me that because he thought it would get me to drop my guard?

“You're lying! If you took them out, then who were the others that attacked me in the woods just now?"

“You really don't know how many people are after you?" Soren asked.

I shook my head. How was I supposed to know something like that? Norwind pack could have sent the reward for

my capture out to hundreds of smaller packs, mercenaries, and bounty hunters.

Soren frowned.

“Am I supposed to believe you're not one of them?" I asked skeptically.

Soren sighed. “That would be nice."

He didn't seem to be lying. Already, he'd had plenty of opportunities to capture me and turn me over. He hadn't

taken any of them.

Instead, he kept showing up to save me in the nick of time. My presence in his life had clearly caused some

problems for him, yet he was here, saving me for a second time.

Guilt twinged in my gut. I was safe now, thanks to him.

Slowly, I let myself relax with him. Underneath my defenses, I felt a strange pull toward him.

Was it possible that he was different from all the others I'd been on the run from?