Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 139: My Most Important Woman

*Ciana*

I wandered through the palace trying to see if anything felt familiar. According to Brook and Warren, I'd

been there almost a year. I couldn’t remember anything about it. None of the rooms or decorations

looked familiar.

I felt like I was seeing it all for the first time.

Yet, my feet knew where to take me. I didn't recognize anything I was seeing, but I wandered

purposefully to the library. I suspected I could find a map there to reacquaint myself with the palace and

the surrounding territory.

"Good morning, My Lady," someone said, nodding their head as I walked by.

“It is good to see you up and about, Miss Black," a servant said, bowing.

I waved awkwardly at everyone I passed. They all seemed to hold a high amount of respect and

reverence for me. That wouldn't have happened if they didn't know me already.

Still, it wasn't the usual kind of respect I should have been shown. In the palace, I was just an Alpha’s

daughter. At the palace, I wasn't anything special.

I spent some time studying the maps and the surrounding territory in the library. Growing up, my father

had me get into the habit of reading maps and learning about my surrounding areas when I got to a

new place.

When I looked at the map of the palace grounds, it didn't look familiar, yet I used the most efficient way

to get to the library purely based on my instinct. My feet seemed to know the right place to go.

My body's autopilot taking me where I needed to go probably meant that what everyone was telling me

was true-l did spend time here.

I passed a picture of King Theo on the wall. A portrait that must have been painted when he was in his

late teens. I paused at the painting, still trying to wrap my mind around how we had become friends.

Somehow I felt it looked different. For no reason whatsoever, I thought it was a nicer and more

welcoming fit than a painting of a pitch black wolf with mesmerizing eyes for this spot.

I focused my gaze on the king's face. Did I really want to be "friends” with a guy that jumped me and

kissed me the moment I woke up after being unconscious? From the way the others reacted, it

appeared that it was normal for me to be kissed by the king.

I shook my head and kept walking. It was hard to believe. All I remembered of him was how arrogant

and ruthless he was, like his late father. And that kiss attack wasn't helping me see him differently.

My stomach squirmed and I looped an arm around myself. At the same time, when I thought of him, he

had that stomach fluttering effect on me.

The jackass kissing creep! It was all his fault!

I got to the garden and immediately spotted Prince Warren. Unlike his brother, Warren was a

gentleman, polite and considerate. With his warm smile, he was so easy going and it was nice to be

around him.

"Hello there, Your Highness," I greeted, bowing my head to him.

"Ciana, you don't need to address me so formally. Call me Warren. We're definitely close enough

forthat," he smiled.

’’Really?’’ He seemed really familiar. And not just because I had missing memories of him.

"Really. We are... very good friends," he nodded politely.

I tilted my head and looked at him for a little longer. He was a little uncomfortable due to my gaze. After

clearing his throat, he said, "I apologize if I had food crumbs on my face."

I let out some laughter. I knew he was a prince and I should behave elegantly around him, however, I

found Warren's embarrassed face quite entertaining,just like how friends teased each other.

"Prince Warren, you're so graceful, elegant, and kind-hearted. King Theo, on the other hand, he’s so...

rough," I giggled, "If it was up to me, I would support you as the king over Theo.'

Warren chuckled and shook his head. "I appreciate your compliments. However, Theo is a great man

and leader. You'll remember that someday."

"I hope so," I muttered. I didn't say it aloud, but if I didn't remember it, I wasn't sure I’d ever be able to

believe it.

That night, after attacking my lips, he didn't even have the courtesy to apologize to me! Then he just

stormed out of the room like I did something wrong to him! Whatever, I bit my tongue. He was the king,

so for this time, I would just have to be a grown-up and deal with it.

Warren sighed and I looked him over. His eyelids were a little droopy and puffy. There were some lines

around his mouth, like he'd been frowning a lot.

"Ciana, did you find something new on my face?"

"Oh, sorry," I said, deciding to be honest, “I just... you look tired. Are you sleeping okay?"

"The king has assigned me a lot of work. It has kept me busy and... off my normal sleep schedule," he

explained, fighting back a yawn.

"Why does he make you work so hard? He can't do that, can he? Or if he has to, he should be leading

by example."

"Oh, believe me, I'd never seen anyone more workaholic than Theo-"

"Save it. I know he’s your brother and you're defending him. But the facts speak for themselves. For

example, I'd been wandering around leisurely, and somehow I could barely go 10 minutes without

running into him. Either my walking route just overlaps with the king's workplace, or he is just as free as

me."

He acted like those were all casual encounters. Did I really look that naive? After the "Kissing Creep",

he had earned himself a new "Stalker" tag.

Warren tried to suppress a smile from his face, but he failed. He forced himself to look serious. "He’s

the king Ciana, leaders lead, they don't have time to do. That's why they have people like us.'

I rolled my eyes. "That is such a cop-out. He's a hypocrite!"

Warren pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to the side. He closed his eyes like he was trying to

think of something to say.

I looked around the garden a little and saw a flower that I recognized. While Warren stood there

uncomfortably, I went over to the flower and picked it. Lifting it to my nose, I inhaled deeply, breathing

in the floral scent.

"Here you go," I said, tapping Warren on the shoulder and handing him the flower.

Warren raised an eyebrow at me. He hesitated and then took the flower.

"It is Lavendlilly. I heard they are good for helping people sleep," I added.

Warren creased his brow and studied the flower for a moment. His eyes were distant, lost in an old

memory. Then he stared at me for a long moment.

So long, I started to feel funny and shifted my weight back and forth on my feet.

"Where did you learn about this flower?" he asked, finally.

"Uhh..."

I had no idea where I'd learned about the Lavendlilly. It wasn't a flower that grew in my pack's territory. I

couldn't even remember seeing it before today. But someone had told me about Lavendlilly. Of that, I

was sure.

"Well, I don’t really remember,' I admitted, shrugging. "It was someone very special to me, I think. At

least, that's what I feel." The feeling touched my heart.

"You're something... Ciana," Warren managed to utter. He seemed to be a little emotional.

"Something’s wrong?"

He shook his head and asked hoarsely, “Can I have a hug?"

"Oh..."

It was an innocent enough request and I felt like I had a deeper connection to Warren than all the other

people I supposedly knew.

"Warren!"

Both Warren and I started at the intruding, booming voice. In unison, our heads snapped to the edge of

the garden where Theo was approaching.

I rolled my eyes. It had been nearly twenty minutes since the last "casual encounter." I should have

known he’d be showing up any second.

"Alistair has been waiting for you," Theo told Warren when he was closer to us. He had a stern look on

his face as he stared at his brother.

"Oh, my meeting with him is in half an hour and he usually is right on time or runs one or two minutes

late," he thought for a moment, and he met Theo's darkened face and quickly added, "but this must be

something really urgent. I better go."

"Well, then, off you go. Miss Black doesn't need any more confusing thoughts right now," Theo ordered,

motioning for Warren to leave. "Also, if you can review the stack of the national security improvement

proposal on my desk. I'd appreciate it."

Warren glanced back at me quickly and waved me goodbye. As he left, I could’ve sworn I heard him

whisper, "Goddess, sometimes I think you keep me around as free labor instead of your brother..."

I bit my lip to hold back my giggle as Warren disappeared. When I glanced at Theo, I saw the scowl on

his face. Clearly, he’d heard what Warren said but he hadn't reacted or called him out on it. The two of

them were kinda funny, the way I imagined brothers were together.

Still, it didn't seem like Theo was being that fair to Warren.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the fact that I was having trouble tearing my eyes away from Theo's

handsome face. My heart fluttered uncontrollably as he slowly turned to face me.

"Your Majesty, Prince Warren works very hard. I don't think he got much sleep last night in an attempt

to meet your demands. You might want to try being a little nicer to him." Even though it wasn't my place

to say so, I felt the need to stand up for my friend.

Did Theo hear me? I wasn't sure, because his eyes narrowed in on my lips. They glazed over with a

lustful look.

My stomach dropped into my feet and I giggled nervously.

"Is that so?" he asked gruffly, still staring at my mouth.

Unconsciously, I licked my lips, and the look in his eyes smoldered even deeper.

"Well, a good leader leads by example, don't they? If you want him to work harder, wouldn't it make

sense to show that you're dedicated to your own work, setting the right example?' I asked, raising a

challenging eyebrow.

Theo scoffed. He crossed his arms and tossed his head back. "I have something more important to do

than set an example for my brother."

"Like what?" I asked, glaring at him. "As a king, what could be more important than ruling your

country?"

"Right now? Making sure that the most important woman in my life is safe at all times," he explained

casually.

It took me a few seconds to process what he said. I couldn’t remember seeing Theo with any women

other than Brook. Jake was her mate, though, so I seriously doubted that Theo meant her.

King Theo's mother was in the palace. She’d taken it upon herself to get to know me a little better.

"You mean Nita?" I asked. "I just had afternoon tea with her a few hours ago. She’s completely safe

and sound... actually, she hardly ever leaves her wing of the palace. Doesn't get much safer than that.'

Theo fixed his eyes directly on my face and stared into me like he could see right into my soul. My

breath caught in my throat and my skin burned hot as a blush spread over me like wildfire.

“I don't mean my mother. I mean you," he said firmly. I was again stunned by the perfect proportion of

his facial features. It was as if the Goddess poured all her love when placing them on the man standing

in front of me.

In my chest, my heart palpitated and I stared right back into his eyes. I felt feverish suddenly. Those

bottomless deep, dark orbs could have swallowed me whole.

I cleared my throat and looked away from him. Just because he looked good didn't mean that he was

good. Appearances weren't everything.

"Your Majesty, I really don't know what you're talking about and I definitely don't know you! You're

intimidating."

I bit back the words "arrogant" and "overbearing" so that I didn't sound too rough on the king. "See, I

can't even go to the library without you skulking around."

Did honest, normal men follow ’the most important woman in their life' around like she couldn't be

trusted?

I added, "You also seem like the type to have a bad temper, and I hear whispers about it in the palace

halls. I apologize for my honesty, but I don't see myself falling in love with someone like you."