Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 67 : The Missing Piece

“Is that how you two ended up being slaves?" I asked, creasing my brow.

“No. Actually, it might not look like it, but we're the lucky ones," Frederic said scoffing.

I handed him some tissues and he dabbed at the worst cuts on Murray's face. Murray was still a little groggy. He

must have taken a hit to the head.

Soren helped him sit down and he motioned to Payne.

“Can you find us some medical supplies? Just the basics so we can patch them up?" he asked.

“Yes, Boss," Payne agreed with a nod. He grabbed Ashley and the two headed off.

“Can you tell us what happened?" I asked Frederic.

He growled and made a fist, punching the air. “The whole thing could have been avoided!"

“Calm down," Soren snapped, moving in front of me to protect me in case Frederic lost control.

I didn't think he would but I knew how protective Soren could get.

“Long story short, Murray and I were on a border patrol and we spotted a group of suspicious shifters crossing our

border through one of the more remote forests in our pack territory," Frederic explained, his voice riddled with

growls as he told us the story.

“We had to investigate. It was our duty," Murray muttered, scoffing.

“We tracked them down and were about to give our warning when we saw someone we recognized. Murray and I

hid to confirm we were looking at… our beta," Frederic said.

“Don't call him that!" Murray snarled.

Frederic shook his head. “We weren't sure what we should do. At first, we thought our beta was there to send them

away but… after we watched them for a while, we could tell he was working with them and they were looking for

something."

Looking for something? I swallowed and glanced at Soren. There was only one thing of value I could think of in

Lethe.

“We followed them to a spot where they started digging. We heard our beta demanding payment first, then he'd let

them dig," Frederic added.

“Stop calling him that, Frederic! He's a traitorous bastard," Murray insisted.

Frederic rolled his eyes. “The others in the party argued about paying him. They told him he was too greedy and

taunted him, asking 'What would your Alpha say if he heard about this?'"

“So, your Alpha didn't know about it?" I asked, feeling a moment of relief.

From the sounds of it, the Lethe beta was acting alone, just for a payday. Their Alpha might not have even known

what he had on his land.

“We realized pretty quickly that our beta was doing something shady. He was not acting with our Alpha's blessing.

Murray and I tried to retreat so we could report to our Alpha, but we were caught…" Frederic said. He shook his

head and scoffed at his own blunder.

“We didn't make it easy for them," Murray interjected.

Frederic chuckled. “No, we didn't. We fought but we were outnumbered. We did try calling for reinforcements

through the mindlink but Beta Arnold blocked the mindlink. Some of our pack members heard our call before he

shut it down. They came to our rescue before Beta Arnold could kill us."

“Small favors," Murray muttered sarcastically.

Payne returned with the medical supplies. He and Ashley started treating the worst of their wounds. Murray seemed

to be recovering some.

“For all the good it did. He told the pack that we were the ones to lead the strangers in and there was no proof to

convince them otherwise. He sentenced us to be exiled from the pack for betrayal and we were instantly knocked

out. When we woke up again, we were here, being sold as slaves!"

Frederic and Murray both snarled at the end of the story.

I glanced at Soren and he nodded slowly. There was worry in his eyes and I knew mine mirrored it.

“Soren…"

“We don't know what they were looking for," Soren said flatly.

If what they said was true, then there could be a whole group of people in Lethe territory already, looking for the

last piece of the Blade of Souls. We might lose our chance to get the artifact.

Frederic leaned down and helped Murray up once they were patched up. They gave each other a quick hug. I

realized just how close they were.

“Thank you. Without the two of you, we'd be slaves right now, sold like common cattle," Frederic grumbled.

“We need to get back to our pack," Murray insisted. “We need to help them if there are any left to help."

Murray tried to walk off but he stumbled and Frederic caught him.

“You aren't in any condition to travel," I said. I went up to Murray and helped steady him.

“Neither of you is in good enough shape," Soren insisted. “You need rest, and you need backup."

“We don't have time to rest," Murray insisted.

Soren sighed. “Very well. I know what urgency you feel. However, we are heading toward Lethe as well. Will you at

least let us escort you and mend you along the way?"

Frederic and Murray exchanged a quick look.

“We would be honored for your accompaniment," Murray said, nodding.

Ashley and Payne packed everything we had up. Murray and Frederic didn't have anything but the clothes on their

back so it didn't take long until we were ready to go.

Lethe pack's territory started at the end of the main street through Marno pack. It wasn't a long walk but with

Frederic and Murray, it was much slower.

We had to stop and give them water several times and let them rest.

I was quick to come to their aid, always with a fresh bottle of water. I even got them some snacks to help build up

their strength again. They were very grateful for our assistance.

We made it to the end of the road before sundown.

“Lethe is just across the intersection here," Murray pointed to the crossroads. “We can't promise anything but…

here we are."

“Thank you for coming to make sure we got home safely," Frederic said, saluting us.

“Wait, are you guys leaving?" I asked.

“We need to get back and see what we can do for our pack. You've given us our strength back," Murray said,

grinning.

“Should we come with you?" I asked, biting my lower lip.

“No. This is pack business. We don't want to get our saviors involved if it is dangerous to them. Besides, the two of

you have your own business here," Murray pointed out.

“Alright. Keep us posted on what happens with your pack," Soren said. He shook both their hands and waved as

Murray and Frederic took off into the pack territory.

“I'm not sure we should let them go off on their own. If there's trouble in the pack, they aren't strong enough to

fight," I said, pointing after them.

“Mila, we have our own mission to worry about. Besides, it could be seen as an insult if we barge in and help a pack

without being invited," Soren told me.

“Oh, right… I forget that you know more about pack life than you let on," I teased him, sticking my tongue out.

Soren smirked. “Any ideas on where to find the last piece of the Blade of Souls?" he asked, changing the subject.

It was a legitimate question but I knew it was also his way of deflecting so he didn't have to address what I said. I

didn't point it out at the moment.

“Well, the Moonlit Crystal helped before," I said. I took the crystal out of the necklace and held it in my hand like I

did before.

Just like before, the crystal warmed up when I pointed in certain directions.

“This way." I pointed, motioning to Soren, Payne, and Ashley.

“Soren, are you sure we should be going into another pack's territory?" Payne asked. “Especially if the pack is in

turmoil?"

“We've made it through all the other territories easily enough," Soren said, shrugging.

“Besides, if there is a conflict elsewhere, no one will notice us," I suggested.

Soren chuckled. “Very true. But, if it makes you feel better, Payne and Ashley, you keep a lookout while we go after

the artifact."

“Yes, Boss," Payne and Ashley said in unison.

They fell back and formed a perimeter around us as Soren and I looked for the artifact.

“Based on what Frederic said, we will be sticking to the forest anyway. The sun is setting and I think we can hide in

the shadows," I assured as we angled toward a denser part of the forest.

“Your mother did like games. Hiding the artifact pieces so close to pack land borders. If any of them were found,

there would be a huge fight over who it really belonged to. It would lessen the chance that they'd discover their

importance," Soren told me.

“You say she liked games. I just think she was smart," I said, shrugging.

Soren smiled and nodded. “Something the two of you have in common."

“Oh no," I sighed when the crystal got warmer in my hand.

“What is it?" Soren asked.

“Up ahead… the ground has all been dug up," I said, despairing. I clasped the crystal to my chest and bowed my

head.

“That doesn't mean it is gone, Mila. They might not have found it. We've got the crystal, remember?" Soren said,

putting a hand on my back.

I nodded and we got closer to where the ground was dug up.

“Hang on," Soren said. He stripped down.

My cheeks burned and I averted my eyes. I didn't know why he kept doing that!

Soren shifted and he started sniffing around the area. I held the stone out, hoping to find a more direct position of

the artifact piece. The stone was completely cold.

Sighing, I shook my head.

“It's no use, Soren. The artifact is gone. The Moonlit Crystal told me," I said.

Soren huffed. He shifted back and pulled his clothes on quickly.

“You're sure?" he asked.

“Yeah. The crystal is completely cold. It led us here because it knew this was where it was hidden but it's like the

crystal can't sense it anymore," I said, shrugging. I tucked the crystal back into the necklace for safekeeping.

“Mila, who else knew about the artifact pieces and where they were hidden?" Soren asked.

“Uh… the men that dug this place up," I said, motioning to the giant hole in the ground.

“I don't think so. They must have been sent here by someone. You knew about it and I knew about it… anyone

else?" he pressed.

I racked my brain. “Well, we made sure to burn the map so no one would be able to steal it or catch a peek at it."

“So, other than us and other than your mother, no one knew where it was," he said. “That's… someone else had to

know."

“Did you show anyone the letter? I didn't" I said, shaking my head. I chewed the inside of my cheek nervously.

Who else would know? Jessica had died years ago and she took the secret to her grave. She'd left the box for me…

“Oh. My Aunt Helen knew about the map!" I cried.