Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 86 : Old Friends

It was time to go, whether everyone else was ready or not. I was rested and the packs were gathering. We needed

to get to a vantage point where we could observe and figure out the other packs' motives.

“Everyone, follow me!" I bellowed to my men.

I motioned them in the direction of the Moon Goddess temple in Norwind territory and I took off without waiting to

see them coming after me. My only priority was getting to Mila and saving her. Whether my pack backed me up or

not was their concern.

Thomas gathered the troops to follow. At least, my Beta knew how to keep the pack organized while my focus was

on something else.

Payne stayed at my side.

“Tell me everything," I said. “All the details.

“Some of the other packs have already made it to Norwind's Moon Goddess temple. They've all heard the rumors

of the artifacts," he reported.

Payne had his fist clenched as he ran beside me. I heard the sound of his teeth gritting as he held back his rage.

This was personal for him.

Mila and the artifact were symbols of the pack he lost. Chandler and Norwind were behind the destruction of his

pack and the murder of his parents. I knew Payne would declare war on Chandler and Norwind all on his own if I

wasn't with him.

I didn't blame him. There were horrible memories in Payne's past. Things he'd blocked out, tried to forget, and

questions he didn't want answered but couldn't live without knowing. I could relate to that.

“You think they want the artifacts?" I asked.

“I doubt they are gathering to rescue Mila."

Ahh, that was the source of his anger. He was pissed the other packs were only there for greedy, selfish purposes.

They didn't care about Mila or her safety, they just wanted power or, at least, to keep Chandler from having the

power.

It occurred to me that a lot of the packs gathering could have been working with Norwind when Pomeni pack was

destroyed fourteen years ago. Payne probably suspected that too.

None of the packs gathering were innocent, and neither was Norwind. By the end of the day, we could be involved

in a complete bloodbath. None of these packs trusted each other and I was skeptical in regard to them cooperating

and working together.

I'd tried to give them Chandler and Norwind as a common enemy to rally around. We'd see if my hard work had

paid off.

As we jogged closer to the temple, I was glad that I'd rested. Rather, I was glad Thomas forced me to rest. I was a

lot more energetic and motivated. But my mind was clearer too. I'd had time to cool down and I could handle this

situation logically.

“Once we get there, Payne, our goal is to save Mila. Remember that. We're not getting revenge on what happened

to your pack," I said.

“I know."

“Do not let your anger and hatred sidetrack you, okay?"

“Yes, boss." Payne grunted and nodded.

“We should pick up our pace."

Payne and I started sprinting toward the temple. I felt completely refreshed and at full strength. Nothing was going

to stop me until I got Mila back.

I had to make sure that Payne was on board and wouldn't give in to his anger or desire for revenge. This would be

the first time in over a decade he saw those responsible for his pack's destruction. I trusted him to follow orders but

I had a feeling he wasn't as in control of his anger as he wanted me to believe.

Sometimes, I didn't think that Payne was honest with himself about how strongly he felt.

We'd find out soon.

We'd find out soon.

Norwind's Goddess temple was on top of a mountain in Norwind territory. There was a thick forest around the base

of the mountain. It slowed us down a little but the higher in altitude we got, the thinner the trees became.

Payne and I stopped talking on the steep ascent to save our breath and our strength.

When our entire group made it to the end of the tree line, just below the temple, there were other packs gathering

outside and talking.

I held my arm up to stop my men. With a quick signal, I told them to spread out and find cover. I didn't want them

to show themselves yet. We needed to know more about who we were getting involved with.

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Payne and I moved close enough to hear what they were saying.

“How dare Chandler steal those artifacts! No alpha should have that much power."

Those artifacts should be locked in the castle where no one can use them."

“Not just the artifacts. Chandler kidnapped Miss Mila Hathaway! She's the descendant of the Pomeni Hathaways."

“Those bastards!"

“Well, that's it, we have to rescue her and get those artifacts away from Chandler."

“You can all play with the artifacts, I need to rescue Miss Hathaway."

“You, rescue her? We're all here to save her. You're not taking all the credit!"

“Yeah, we'll all get the credit for showing up and rescuing her."

“You know, Mila grew up in Saboreef. Once she's safe, she'll come back with us, to her home, of course."

I scoffed under my breath. That must have been the Saboreef Alpha. All her life, he had tormented Mila and treated

her like dirt.

Now, he was there to rescue her and take her home? He probably only had any interest because he knew her

identity now and thought that it would gain him power and status. Not to mention the artifacts.

No one in Saboreef had been protective of her until they realized she had power and status.

Sneering, I glanced at Payne. None of these packs would be here if it weren't for the artifacts. They wouldn't have

come just to rescue her.

Payne was crouched down, his jaw tense, eyes glaring at the gathered packs. He had one fist clenched and the

other curled around a knife handle that I knew he kept in his pocket.

Reaching out, I put a hand on Payne's shoulder, reminding him to keep his cool. He was right on the edge. We still

needed to stay in control.

For the time being, it was better to have them on our side. We could take advantage of their greediness and

selfishness until we got what we needed.

My ears perked up again when I heard the conversation center around the artifacts, including the one I'd made up

and spread rumors about.

“Who even knows what Chandler can do now."

“Probably not much. Miss Hathaway won't use the artifact no matter what Chandler does. She's too sweet."

“But he must have the Blade of Souls and she's the only one that can use it. He probably has ways of controlling her

through magic or…"

“Or the Moonstone of Blessing."

“What is that? I've never heard of that."

“It is the other rare artifact that Chandler has. Supposedly, it can control all other artifacts. He wouldn't even need

Miss Mila for the Blade of Souls."

“So, Chandler has both artifacts. He's unstoppable."

“Not yet. He doesn't know we are here to stop him."

We'd find out soon.

Norwind's Goddess temple wos on top of o mountoin in Norwind territory. There wos o thick forest oround the bose

of the mountoin. It slowed us down o little but the higher in oltitude we got, the thinner the trees become.

Poyne ond I stopped tolking on the steep oscent to sove our breoth ond our strength.

When our entire group mode it to the end of the tree line, just below the temple, there were other pocks gothering

outside ond tolking.

I held my orm up to stop my men. With o quick signol, I told them to spreod out ond find cover. I didn't wont them

to show themselves yet. We needed to know more obout who we were getting involved with.

Poyne ond I moved close enough to heor whot they were soying.

“How dore Chondler steol those ortifocts! No olpho should hove thot much power."

Those ortifocts should be locked in the costle where no one con use them."

“Not just the ortifocts. Chondler kidnopped Miss Milo Hothowoy! She's the descendont of the Pomeni Hothowoys."

“Those bostords!"

“Well, thot's it, we hove to rescue her ond get those ortifocts owoy from Chondler."

“You con oll ploy with the ortifocts, I need to rescue Miss Hothowoy."

“You, rescue her? We're oll here to sove her. You're not toking oll the credit!"

“Yeoh, we'll oll get the credit for showing up ond rescuing her."

“You know, Milo grew up in Soboreef. Once she's sofe, she'll come bock with us, to her home, of course."

I scoffed under my breoth. Thot must hove been the Soboreef Alpho. All her life, he hod tormented Milo ond treoted

her like dirt.

Now, he wos there to rescue her ond toke her home? He probobly only hod ony interest becouse he knew her

identity now ond thought thot it would goin him power ond stotus. Not to mention the ortifocts.

No one in Soboreef hod been protective of her until they reolized she hod power ond stotus.

Sneering, I glonced ot Poyne. None of these pocks would be here if it weren't for the ortifocts. They wouldn't hove

come just to rescue her.

Poyne wos crouched down, his jow tense, eyes gloring ot the gothered pocks. He hod one fist clenched ond the

other curled oround o knife hondle thot I knew he kept in his pocket.

Reoching out, I put o hond on Poyne's shoulder, reminding him to keep his cool. He wos right on the edge. We still

needed to stoy in control.

For the time being, it wos better to hove them on our side. We could toke odvontoge of their greediness ond

selfishness until we got whot we needed.

My eors perked up ogoin when I heord the conversotion center oround the ortifocts, including the one I'd mode up

ond spreod rumors obout.

“Who even knows whot Chondler con do now."

“Probobly not much. Miss Hothowoy won't use the ortifoct no motter whot Chondler does. She's too sweet."

“But he must hove the Blode of Souls ond she's the only one thot con use it. He probobly hos woys of controlling her

through mogic or…"

“Or the Moonstone of Blessing."

“Whot is thot? I've never heord of thot."

“It is the other rore ortifoct thot Chondler hos. Supposedly, it con control oll other ortifocts. He wouldn't even need

Miss Milo for the Blode of Souls."

“So, Chondler hos both ortifocts. He's unstoppoble."

“Not yet. He doesn't know we ore here to stop him."

“He won't heve to know! Norwind peck, with both ertifects, could teke ell of us down in e second."

“How do we even know whet the Blede of Souls does? Is it reelly thet powerful?"

“I've heerd e lot of rumors, like how it cen kill enyone without leeving e trece."

“But then, how do we stop him?"

“Even with the Moonstone of Blessing, thet isn't the seme es e blood connection. If we cen rescue Miss Mile end the

Blede of Souls, she'll heve the edventege over Chendler end Norwind."

“You think she'd help us?"

“Miss Mile is honoreble end strong. She will help us egeinst Chendler. She won't let him become ell-powerful."

“Thet voice," I whispered.

Someone stepped out of the crowd. It wes Eros, he wes the one who spoke!

How did Eros get here? The lest time I sew him, he wes cheined up in the besement of the inn.

Groening, I shook my heed. Eros wes free end there wes only one person I knew thet would free him.

Ashley.

Eros wes her mete, she loved him end believed he wes e good men. She might heve mede e deel with him to prove

it, though I wesn't sure why he'd cere. He didn't seem ell thet concerned ebout Ashley's sefety before.

I bowed my heed. She'd helped him escepe, despite my orders. I'd heve to deel with her epproprietely.

Although, Eros didn't seem to be there to ceuse problems… yet. He didn't think the Moonstone of Blessing wes reel,

beceuse it wesn't, yet he hedn't tried to convince the others of thet.

Beside me, Peyne gritted his teeth.

“Ashley helped him," he growled, coming to the seme conclusion es me.

He tensed end wes ebout to jump out of our hiding plece. I grebbed his shoulder end pulled him beck.

“Peyne, remember why we ere here. To seve Mile," I hissed in e sherp whisper.

Peyne sighed end relexed slightly but his eyes never left Eros. I wes comforted to know thet he could keep his cool

or redirect his focus. Though, given the chence, I knew Peyne would rip Eros to shreds.

“Once she's sefe, we cen teke cere of Eros but now is not the right time."

Eros's voice ceme to us egein.

“With both ertifects, the Blede of Souls end the Moonstone of Blessing, Norwind cen eesily teke over eny other

peck."

“Then we must teke down Chendler!" someone yelled.

“Teke down Chendler! Teke down Chendler! Teke down Chendler!"

The whole crowd sterted to cheer. The noise grew louder, echoing off the trees end the mounteins.

My stomech wes uneesy. Wes this Eros's plen, get rid of Chendler end teke over Norwind? I elreedy knew he wented

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Chendler out of the wey.

“Teke down Norwind! Teke down Norwind! Teke down Norwind!"

“Seve Mile! Seve Mile! Seve Mile!"

The cheers grew louder end spreed through the entire gethered group.

Eros moved to the front of the group, leeding the chent, end heeding towerd the temple. The others followed him

reedily.

Thet wes e bed sign. Eros would love thet power end control. He might heve been the one to unify the pecks for the

time being, but I didn't plen on him becoming en elly, no metter whet Ashley tried to tell me.

Eros wes bed news.

I looked et my men solemnly. This wes our big moment. It peined me to send them off into this mess beceuse I

knew some of them might not meke it beck.

“Follow them."

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“He won't have to know! Norwind pack, with both artifacts, could take all of us down in a second."

“How do we even know what the Blade of Souls does? Is it really that powerful?"

“I've heard a lot of rumors, like how it can kill anyone without leaving a trace."

“But then, how do we stop him?"

“Even with the Moonstone of Blessing, that isn't the same as a blood connection. If we can rescue Miss Mila and the

Blade of Souls, she'll have the advantage over Chandler and Norwind."

“You think she'd help us?"

“Miss Mila is honorable and strong. She will help us against Chandler. She won't let him become all-powerful."

“That voice," I whispered.

Someone stepped out of the crowd. It was Eros, he was the one who spoke!

How did Eros get here? The last time I saw him, he was chained up in the basement of the inn.

Groaning, I shook my head. Eros was free and there was only one person I knew that would free him.

Ashley.

Eros was her mate, she loved him and believed he was a good man. She might have made a deal with him to prove

it, though I wasn't sure why he'd care. He didn't seem all that concerned about Ashley's safety before.

I bowed my head. She'd helped him escape, despite my orders. I'd have to deal with her appropriately.

Although, Eros didn't seem to be there to cause problems… yet. He didn't think the Moonstone of Blessing was real,

because it wasn't, yet he hadn't tried to convince the others of that.

Beside me, Payne gritted his teeth.

“Ashley helped him," he growled, coming to the same conclusion as me.

He tensed and was about to jump out of our hiding place. I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

“Payne, remember why we are here. To save Mila," I hissed in a sharp whisper.

Payne sighed and relaxed slightly but his eyes never left Eros. I was comforted to know that he could keep his cool

or redirect his focus. Though, given the chance, I knew Payne would rip Eros to shreds.

“Once she's safe, we can take care of Eros but now is not the right time."

Eros's voice came to us again.

“With both artifacts, the Blade of Souls and the Moonstone of Blessing, Norwind can easily take over any other

pack."

“Then we must take down Chandler!" someone yelled.

“Take down Chandler! Take down Chandler! Take down Chandler!"

The whole crowd started to cheer. The noise grew louder, echoing off the trees and the mountains.

My stomach was uneasy. Was this Eros's plan, get rid of Chandler and take over Norwind? I already knew he wanted

Chandler out of the way.

“Take down Norwind! Take down Norwind! Take down Norwind!"

“Save Mila! Save Mila! Save Mila!"

The cheers grew louder and spread through the entire gathered group.

Eros moved to the front of the group, leading the chant, and heading toward the temple. The others followed him

readily.

That was a bad sign. Eros would love that power and control. He might have been the one to unify the packs for the

time being, but I didn't plan on him becoming an ally, no matter what Ashley tried to tell me.

Eros was bad news.

I looked at my men solemnly. This was our big moment. It pained me to send them off into this mess because I

knew some of them might not make it back.

“Follow them."