Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 23 : Whatever You Want, I’ll Help You

Soren broke out in laughter, throwing his head back. He clutched his chest and shook his head.

I stared at him. What was he trying to pull? I had no idea how to respond to his sudden outburst of laughter.

Slowly, he stopped laughing and sighed. When he looked at me again, his features were composed and

professional.

“I'll help you," he stated simply. He did not ask for additional favors and he didn't make more s****l jokes. He didn't

question me further, he just agreed to my terms.

In fact, he didn't even ask who Helen was.

A pit formed in my stomach. What if he already knew Helen? What if he was using me to get to her?

I didn't know who she was but I didn't want to lead a potential threat to her.

Soren's willingness to help without actually demanding further payment concerned me. Was I giving him everything

he wanted?

What if getting his help meant that I was putting Helen and myself in a worse situation?

It was too late to second guess. I'd set myself on this path and whatever Soren's intentions were, I needed to bide

my time. This was a long, complicated game of wits and strategy between the two of us. I needed to evaluate each

move and figure out what was the most beneficial thing for me to do.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice Soren move until his arms were around me.

I gasped as my breasts pressed against his chest and our legs brushed together. His bare chest was firm and warm.

I could practically feel the hot blood running through his veins as his skin pressed against my arms.

“Wha…"

I tried to wriggle free but he was too strong.

Soren grabbed my chin between his fingers and lifted my face. He stared into my eyes and smiled lightly.

“I told you, Mila, whatever you want, I'll help you get it," he purred.

It sounded familiar. Last night, when my mind and body had been exhausted and sated, he'd spoken those words to

me. I almost thought I dreamed them.

Staring into Soren's eyes and thinking about last night, my stomach fluttered and my heart hammered heavily in

my chest, like a hammer on an anvil. I worried he'd feel my heart and I tried to step away again.

Soren shook his head and tightened his arm around my waist. “Do you remember?" he asked huskily.

I nodded slowly. “I-I remember."

My breath rushed out of my lungs and my cheeks warmed. A blush covered my face, neck and bosom and I noticed

Soren's eyes roam over me quickly. He bounced his eyebrows as he traced my flushed skin with his eyes.

He released my chin and brushed his fingers along my neck and collarbone.

I sucked in a sharp breath. The feeling of his fingers on my heated skin reminded me of last night.

It had been my first time and he'd guided me through how to touch him and make him feel good. And he hadn't

held back when it came to making me feel good too.

My thighs clenched with renewed desire.

What was wrong with me? I wasn't some lustful woman with loose morals and a need for carnal satisfaction.

Last night might have felt amazing, but I still considered it sinful because it had been based on gaining the

advantage, not true feelings.

Shame and irritation flourished in my abdomen and I glared at Soren.

I pushed my palms against his firm chest and pulled away from him. Turning on my heel, I headed straight for the

door and across the hall. I shut and locked the door so Soren wouldn't try to follow me.

I fanned myself with my hand and then hopped in the shower. I kept the water cool to calm me and relax me. When

my shower was over, I changed into something comfortable and kept most of my skin covered.

Although Soren couldn't see me now, I just wanted to feel comfortable in my own body for a while.

I shifted the rug and opened the floorboard where I'd stashed my things. The box was still in there, undisturbed.

Retrieving the box, I set it on the bed and stared at it for a while.

It was made from dark reddish wood with brass hinges and a matching brass lock. The wood was glossy and the

metal fastenings were polished. The box had been well cared for, even though it had been buried.

I hadn't done anything to clean it off but it was impossible to tell it had been covered in dirt the night before.

I ran my fingers over the top of the box. It was completely smooth.

There were no markings, no writing, or anything to tell me where the box was made, what pack it belonged to, or

anything.

Even though there was a lock on the box, I couldn't feel or see the seam where the box would open.

It was a long shot, but I tried to lift the lock and see if the box was open.

Nothing happened.

Sighing, I tapped the lid. I could hear that the box was hollow inside, which meant it was intended to be opened.

I got my pack from under the floorboards and pulled out a small leather pouch with tiny metal tools in it.

Just because I didn't have a key didn't mean I couldn't get into that lock.

I sat on the bed, cradling the box between my knees, and I used my lock-picking tools. Two little metal rods in the

lock, one bent, and I rolled them around each other, listening for the sound of the lock opening.

Click.

“Aha!"

I tried again to open the box but it wouldn't budge.

“Dammit…"

So apparently, I would need a key. Just picking the lock wasn't enough. It was like it had a spell or some kind of

magic protecting it.

I'd heard of keys that unlocked physical locks and mystical locks. Unfortunately, my lock-picking kit only worked on

physical locks. It wasn't like I had any magical powers…

Sighing, I pushed the box aside.

I had no idea what was in there. Everything I said to Soren was completely made up. I couldn't even guess what

might be hidden inside.

But Helen probably knew.

I knew as much about Helen as I did about the box I was wrestling with. She was just a figment from my dreams.

Sure, she felt real, and everything she'd told me in my dreams had been real. I'd followed her instructions to

Miltern, and seen the woods where I'd been in my dreams, but there was still no sign of her and no hint as to what

the box was for.

Every time I thought I was making progress, I was just left with more questions.

Growling, I kicked the box further across the bed.

Why couldn't I make anything work? Why couldn't I get my questions answered? I wanted to stop living this life of

running and hiding and just be myself!

Clenching my fists, I slammed them down on my pillow. It puffed up and sighed as air rushed out of the center.

Sighing, I curled up in a ball, leaning against the headboard. I hugged my legs and buried my face in my knees.

Disappointment crept in like a dark shadow covering my heart and mind.

Why did my life have to be like this? Why couldn't I have been adopted by a good, loving family? Why was my fate

always leading me in horrible directions?

Nothing I ever tried worked out as I expected or wanted. Was this the fate I was born into the world for?

Silently, I asked the Moon Goddess why she was punishing me. This wasn't my life! I didn't even know who I was or

what I was capable of. I'd never been given the chance to find out.

And still, no matter how hard I fought or how hard I tried, I hit wall after wall. I never made any progress.

All I had to go on was Helen, a dream woman, and I didn't even know if she was real or not.

I started to wonder if maybe she wasn't real at all. Maybe I'd made her up to comfort me and to give me hope. She

was a symbol of the family I'd never have, the answers I'd never find, and that's why I desperately wanted to find

her.

Was it possible she didn't exist at all and there were no answers to find?

Sighing, I blinked back tears and looked up.

Across the room, the bouquet of flowers from the night before sat in a vase. They were starting to wilt slightly

without the fresh air, earth, and sun they were used to. But they still had vibrant coloring.

“Why can't anyone tell me what they want from me!?" I snapped, glaring at the flowers.

Whoever had left them only brought me more riddles and secrets, which only led me to more questions.

“Why can't anyone be straightforward and honest with me!?" I cried. “Why couldn't you give me answers!"

Groaning, I rolled my eyes at myself. I had to be crazy, sitting here yelling at a bouquet of flowers. What kind of

sane person did that?

I wiped the stray tears from my face and shook my head. This wouldn't do. I couldn't sit here feeling sorry for

myself. I needed to act.

“Moon Goddess, guide me," I whispered.

Suddenly, a strange voice rose up in my mind and in my heart. I opened my mouth and spoke words I'd never

heard before.

“Agsha salmen gosha inhunen tala vitry donnamy."

I uncurled my legs and rubbed my throat.

Had that really been my voice? What were those words? I'd never heard them before. They weren't in a language I

knew. They… sounded almost like a spell or incantation.

But I didn't know magic! Did I? The words were familiar somehow, like I'd heard them in a dream. Was I just

repeating something I'd dreamt once or were those words real?

All bets were off at this point.

“What was that?" I asked aloud.

The strange words rang in my mind and I felt the air in the room change. It got heavier, stiffer, and like it was

turning into jello around me. My body felt stuck, like in glue. All my movements slowed down.

Gasping, each breath felt like someone was standing on my chest. It ached and I panicked, trying to breathe in

more air.

Just as quickly as it had come, the sensation vanished and I could breathe again.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled and I stiffened for a different reason.

Slowly, rigidly, I turned to the other side of the room.

My eyes widened and I gasped.

“How is that possible…?"