Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 98: The Ultimatum

Aurora sighed, “1 felt really sorry for him.”

“Me too. But I can’t lie to him. That would only hurt him more in the future.”

Aurora smiled wryly, “Maybe you’re right. Miss, it was nice talking to you. Here’s your dinner. If you

need anything else, please do not hesitate to tell me.’

I watched her leave the room, and I didn’t bother to try to escape. There were guards outside, guards

from Vaner.

Demarco probably would be more than happy to share his resources to help Warren get to Theo.

Since that night, Warren had come to check on me every day. I tried to carry calm conversations with

him during his visits, but with each passing day, I saw him consumed more by darkness and I started to

lose sight of the Warren I was familiar with.

Gone was that warmth in his eyes. Now all I could see was vengeance.

I stared up at the moon and looked to the sky.

“Maggie,” I whispered, “he is in so much pain and I don’t know how to help him. What should I do?

What would you

I let out a heavy breath and wondered whether I should tw to sleep, which had been a distant dream for

me as of late.

Warren and Theo took their turns to show up in my dreams, keeping me tossing and turning all night.

As days went by, I thought of Theo more and more. I wondered what he was doing and how he was

keeping.

A knock at my door drew my attention. Then it was opened from the outside.

As Warren walked in, I let out a sigh.

He was here to ask me the same question, and I would give him the same answer.

Tonight, his hair looked like he had run his hand through it multiple times and his face had begun to

stubble. I could see the•bags under his eyes and the crazed look in his eyes.

“What do you say, Ciana?’ “You know my answer.”

“Why? Why won’t you help me?”

“You need help, but not from me. A healer would be more valuable for you than your prisoner.’

‘I’m fine!” he snapped back. “I’m sober and I’ve never been so clear on what I want to do!”

Do you really think that will make you feel better Warren? Put aside the fact that he’s your brother and

has no motivation to harm Maggie, just think for yourself! Killing the crowned prince, and having the

entire wolf population after you. Is that what Maggie wants for the rest of your life?”

“Not the entire wolf population. Demarco wants him dead

98 The too. I’m sure there are more people like us out there.”

“Demarco worked with Luther, and somehow they don’t take any blame for this?”

“Don’t you worry! Once I take care of Theo, Luther will be next! He’s a vile psychopath that wants to

destroy the crown. That traitor will answer for his crimes. I will feel his blood run through my fingers and

pool at my feet if it’s the last thing I do. But that’s all after Theo’s demise. At this point, I’m not picky

about my allies, even Luther.”

He had lost it.

“Warren, have you heard what you just said? You’re blind by your rage, and you know what, I’m tired

and want to go to bed. You should too. When was the last time you slept more than two hours in a row?

We can talk when you can carry a real conversation.’

“You will not leave this place until you join me, Ciana.”

“Then I guess I will just die here.”

I decided there was no point in arguing any further. So I walked to the bathroom, closed the door, and

started washing my face, hoping he would just leave me alone.

Regardless of how unreasonable Warren had been lately, one thing he wouldn’t do was violate my

privacy by barging into my bathroom, that I was sure of.

“You can’t just walk away like that!” he shouted loudly, clearly frustrated by my cold shoulder.

Of course I could. I just did.

LhimMum

I decided to ignore him, but then I heard him pounding on the bathroom door. He didn’t just break in —

there wasn’t a lock, but I knew he wouldn’t. Thank the Goddess.

“Ciana, you love him, don’t you?”

What?

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t you help me? Why would you be able to forgive his crime?”

That was it! I flung the door open.

“Warren, listen. Just because I didn’t agree to hunt down your brother, doesn’t mean that I must have

romantic feelings for him. You’re not being rational right now and you’re not seeing things with a clear

mind!”

“Between you and me, who is the one lying? Ciana, can’t you see, only when I mention him, do you get

this upset? In the past, you’ve done so much for him, and what has he done in return for you? Nothing!

And yet, you are always seeking him out! Why?”

I couldn’t explain to Warren in a few sentences what happened between Theo and I. It was too

complicated. I wouldn’t even know where to start.

“See, you can’t even answer me!”

I sighed, “Warren, it’s not like that.”

“Then tell me, what is it?”

What was it? I didn’t even know.

30 9″. At our first encounter, he could not have left a worse first

impression. The ruthless, callous prince who would take out lives without a blink of an eye. Later,

somehow, we just kept running into each other, and while he was mean and aloof, I realized that he

wasn’t really bloodthirsty as rumor had it.

Then, ever since the night at the pavilion, since that very first kiss we had, things were different. It was

like fate was messing with us; one thing after another, we’d been through many journeys together, he’d

saved me many times, and I’d also seen his struggle.

To me, he wasn’t just a distant, symbolic, royal prince, but someone that I cared about as a friend, and

without me even knowing, becoming more and more important in my heart.

When I looked back, I actually didn’t know how to describe what was between us.

We were definitely not enemies, but were we friends? Perhaps, it depended on the day.

We were definitely not lovers, but did we like each other that way? I thought of Theo’s attitude toward

me, and realized that I had no clue.

The more I thought about it, the more I was confused.

“What is it then?” Warren kept pressing.

I… I don’t know.” That was the most honest reply I could come up with.

Warren stared at me, his handsome face was pale and his look was stony.

“You don’t know? Ciana, you—”

78 t_numatum Bang!

Loud noises of heavy things hitting the walls and floor echoed through the hallway, and footsteps

mingled with different people shouting could be heard.

‘Stop him!”

“No, not that way! Ahhh!”

Bang—

My door was broken from outside and a large black wolf let out a low growl at us.

“Theo!” My eyes widened and my heart jumped into my throat.

His teeth were out and his eyes ablaze. Time seemed to stand still as his eyes scanned the room until

they landed on me. They gave me a once over and quickly averted to Warren.

I followed his gaze as he came to place himself between me and his brother.

“Apologies mean nothing, Theo!” Warren scoffed as he kept his distance and walked a semi-circle

around the Dark Prince’s defensive stance in wolf form. “He thinks he’s protecting you, Ciana. What a

joke!”

“He wants you to let me go, Warren.” I voiced for him. I re alized then that they were talking through the

mindlink, however, even without hearing their conversation, I just knew the reason that Theo was here

tonight.

He came for me.

I was not certain of Warren’s clarity of mind as he laughed derisively, but there was no tremor in his

voice or wavering in his step as he came closer and stared eye to eye with his brother’s wolf. I looked

from one to the other and knew that Warren would be no match for Theo, despite the fact that Warren

was a top warrior himself. The immediate tension shifted as a clamor of Warren’s guards, some as their

wolves, flanked into the room, standing at his back as they all faced Theo who began to growl

menacingly.

Taking them all in, I could see they were already badly injured in one way or another. They were the

guards Theo faced to get inside. He must have held back in order not to kill them.

Leave us,” Warren told them, “This is between my brother and me.”

“Are you sure?” a guard asked, looking relieved and worried at the same time.

“Yes, go… Now.”

“But, sir—

Leave!” Warren shook as he raised his voice.

I felt myself shudder at the heartbreaking pitch in his voice and watched as tears filled his eyes.

Something clutched in my chest as well. Pity.

The guards obeyed and filed out of the room. Theo shifted back to his human form, grabbed a towel to

wrap around

his waist, and stared at his brother as if on guard, but he remained silent.

Warren sniffed back his tears as he looked from Theo to me. The defeat in his eyes was plain to see.

Even in his human form, there was no way that Warren could challenge Theo. I was ready for him to

give up and let me go.

“Ciana,” he began quietly. I held my breath and braced myself to hear what he had to say for himself.

“You have to choose. Right here, right now. Me or him?” I felt my brow furrowed in confusion.

“Warren, I just want to leave and go home.”

“Choose!” he shouted again, shaking more violently this time. “Me or him, Ciana. You can no longer

have it both ways. This time your choice is final. You stay with me and you cut Theo out of your life

completely and forever. Or if you go with him, then I never want to see you again, not even as a friend

“Warren…” I felt breathless and heartbroken that he could even pose such words to me. “After

everything we’ve been through.

“Exactly! After everything, Ciana. After all I’ ve done to help you and be there for you. How quickly you

turn your back on me in my time of need to be with my sister’s murderer! You’re either with me or

you’re against me, Ciana. Make your choice!”

I maintained eye contact with Warren as Theo turned to face me. I didn’t need to look at him to feel the

warmth and strength in his gaze.

The Lhmatum

I knew in my heart that it wasn’t commanding or possessive. It was kind and protective. He was here

for me, to see me to safety and freedom. I trusted him.

“Warren, I care about you, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to make such an awful demand.

Theo is my friend and one day you will get past this pain and recognize he is also your brother.”

“You’ll end up just like her,” he said desperately. Warren’s voice was shaky now but I knew he was

talking from a place of agony. I side stepped Warren as Theo led the way from the room, but Warren

blocked me before I could reach the door.

“Whether I will or not, it’s not going to change my decision. Have it your way and cut me out of your life

if you must. But, I am leaving here today.”

“You’re cruel if you go with him, Ciana.”

Coming from anyone else I wouldn’t have cared, but from Warren, the words stung.

“Warren, who I decide to be friends with or where I decide to go is my choice,” I told him firmly. Feeling

more angry than I wanted to. “Please move aside.”

Suddenly, Warren took out a knife and pointed it to his neck.

“l can’t just sit here and wait for the day that it’ s your grave I’m standing over when he loses control yet

again. Please Ciana, can’t you see how much I need you? If you choose him, I promise you will never

see me again!”

His words were desperate and stone cold.

I gasped and took several shaky steps away from him. Theo repositioned himself between us

protecting me from whatever unhinged move Warren made next.

Heartbreak and anguish clashed inside of me as I realized how far gone Warren was. Maggie’s death

had taken so much away from the kind and gentle soul I’d come to know. That Warren was all but gone

now.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe as I looked at him silently. There was nothing I could say.

“You know, I don’t have anything left. I have no mother, and my father is almost non-existent. My sister

was killed by my brother and the one special person who brought happiness to. my life has also

decided to leave me forever. Tell me, Ciana, what is the point of my life?”