Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

I swallowed back my confusion and got up to go over to him. I had to know what he was doing at the

train station.

Sitting down next to him, I asked, "Why are you here?" trying to sound interested but not accusatory.

Warren looked over at me with a guilty grin on his face. "I'm sorry, but had to see you off."

"But why are you at the train station?" I asked again. "You could have just said goodbye back in the

palace..."

He let out a sigh. "Well, I've decided to go visit my sister," he explained.

Confused, I stared at him for a moment and then asked, "But what about your father's task?"

"That's exactly why I'm here. I decided I don't want to do that. I'm tired of him ordering me around all of

the time, so I've decided I will just do as I please."

I almost laughed. My understanding was that he often did as he pleased. This was nothing unusual.

"Where does your sister live? What train are you on?" I asked, not able to see the details on the ticket

in his hand. I was surprised that he didn't use a royal limo. But then, if he was sneaking out, the fewer

people that knew where he was, the better.

"I actually have to go right to the station near your pack and then switch trains," he explained. “So... I'm

afraid I'm on the same train as you." He held up his ticket for me to see. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to

think I was stalking you or anything.

Shaking my head, I said, “No, I don't think that."

"Well, we can sit on the train together," he suggested. "We can keep each other company."

"Um, sure."

He smiled brightly. "That's great, thanks."

At least I wouldn't be lonely on my way home after all.

We sat and chatted about nothing in particular until the train arrived, and then we got on and shared a

seat. Warren was kind enough to let me sit by the window.

He knew how I liked to stare out at nature. I would've rather been out there, but I had my

responsibilities to take care of.

The train ride was fairly uneventful. I almost fell asleep a few times. Warren suggested we chat about

our families, which was a good idea to me. I told him all about my mother's family first, and then about

my father's.

Some of the tales about my father's brother seemed unbelievable to Warren, and I had to wonder if it

was possible that my dad had just made them up to amuse me.

"No way! He chose to be a rogue?" Warren's jaw almost fell.

"Yep, and then became the rogue king."

"That was unbelievable... but wouldn't he lose his soul?"

"Apparently no."

"And he basically single-handedly destroyed half of his enemy' s army..."

"Well, according to Dad, he and his brother each take half of the credit."

"How have I never heard about this?"

"See, that's why I always question whether any of those stories are real," I laughed, "What about you?"

I asked him after I was done with all of my family anecdotes. "I know nothing about your sister."

His face brightened. "Oh, Maggie is great. It's too bad you didn't get a chance to meet her. I think you'd

really love her. Honestly, Brook reminds me a lot of her. They're both very sweet, graceful, and kind."

I smiled, wishing I'd had a chance to meet her. “She sounds lovely."

"She really is. And so are you."

I felt my cheeks heat and immediately turned my eyes away. However, Warren didn't seem to notice

that, and continued innocently, "Ever since Mother died, Maggie had been playing the role of a parent

to me...." His voice trailed off.

Out the window, I saw familiar surroundings.

"We're almost there," I stood up, trying to get ready. However, I knew that home would not be like how

it should be.

I needed to be mentally prepared for the danger out there. Because of Susan's death, I wouldn't

approach any of my close friends anymore in case Raymond lashed out on them.

I needed to handle this alone, which made me a bit nervous.

We were almost to the train station when I heard someone a few seats back talking loudly. I heard my

name and turned around.

I didn't know the person, but when they saw me, the woman's eyes widened. "My Goddess, she looks

just like Miss Ciana!"

My eyebrows narrowed as the man sitting next to her said, "Yes, she does, but we know that she can't

be the Alpha's daughter. After all, she has to be getting ready for the alliance ceremony."

Warren was listening, too. He turned all the way around and put his knees in the seat so he could

speak to them. "What alliance ceremony?" he asked them.

"Oh, haven't you heard?" the woman asked. "The daughter of our pack Alpha is entering an alliance

soon with a very powerful leader from another pack."

Warren and I exchanged worried glances. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I knew it

couldn't be good.

The last time I was here, I'd met that girl who looked exactly like me, the one that Raymond had tried to

tell everyone was me, so I had to assume that's who they were talking about* now, that it was the fake

version of me who was making an alliance.

But with whom?

I tried to think of all of our neighboring packs. None of them seemed powerful enough to me to make

the pack members this excited.

I said to Warren, who had turned back around and sat down, "I wish I knew who they were talking

about." I shook my head, thinking at least I would be a bit more prepared to show up and find out the

situation if I knew who it was.

Clearing his throat, Warren leaned up a bit and looked around.

He noticed a couple across the aisle from us. "Excuse me," he said, tapping the man on the shoulder.

The gentleman turned around with a questioning look on his face. "Yes? What is it?"

"I was just wondering, can you tell me who it is that Ciana Black is joining into the alliance with? Do you

happen to know the man's name?”

"Yes, of course," he said. "I thought everyone around here knew his name."

"I'm sorry," Warren said with a shrug. "I'm not from around here."

"Oh, well, then, I don't mind telling you. His name is Luther."

"Luther?" I repeated the name with my eyes bulging.

No! Anyone but Luther!