Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 17 : Everyone Deserves Happiness

*Soren*

Growling, I rolled my eyes. My chest felt bruised where she'd hit me. It was a strong punch.

I still couldn't figure out if she'd burst into tears because she was upset, because I'd hurt her, or because she was

trying to distract me. Whatever the reason, she'd wasted no time in using my hesitation against me.

Perhaps she was more dangerous than I'd considered before. All this time, I thought it was her secrets and her past

that would cause trouble and bring danger. She had some of her own power too.

“Calm down, Mila," I hissed. “I'm not here about the damn box."

“Y-you're not?" she asked, creasing her brow.

I sighed and shook my head. When I looked her over, pity swelled in my chest. This poor girl had never known

friendship, love, or trust. She was so closed off and defensive, so mistrustful that she was suspicious of everyone

and everything, even when they were trying to be nice to her.

I felt sorry for her, always living with the mindset that she had to be on her own and had to survive at all costs. Until

that moment, I hadn't really considered the drawbacks of her life or how they had damaged her in ways I couldn't

even imagine.

“I came here to make sure you were safe," I said in a gentler tone.

Mila scoffed and shook her head. She clutched the box to her chest like she thought I'd leap over the gravestone

and wrestle it away from her if she relaxed her grip for a second.

Her mistrust filled the space between us. I didn't really need her to trust me but I would have liked her not to be so

suspicious and paranoid. She probably couldn't help it at this point. Her expectation that everyone just wanted to

use her or get something from her or make money off of her was a part of her DNA by now.

“I'll stay out of your way, Mila. I don't even need to know what is in the box, but you should come back to the hotel

with me," I said, holding an arm out to the path through the temple.

“Why?" she snarled. Her knuckles were white as she clung to the box.

“You have no idea what is out here or how many people are after you. That box could put another target on your

head," I pointed out.

Mila glared at me but I could see the wheels turning in her mind.

“I can take care of myself. I've done it all my life," she insisted with a firm nod.

“Like you did when you were poisoned? Or when you were attacked in the woods?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

Mila scoffed and shook her head. “Those were extreme circumstances. I'm feeling a lot better now, stronger. I

won't let myself get caught again. That's how I avoid trouble."

“I know you are a very capable woman, but stealth and secrecy can only get you so far. Alpha Chandler has some

of the worst, most dangerous, most successful bounty hunters after you. They will anticipate all your moves," I

warned.

“You can't threaten me to stay with you!?" Mila snapped.

I sighed heavily, my shoulders rising and falling. There was no way to break through her mistrust, was there? I

wondered how she'd react if I told her about the night we spent together.

From what I gathered, she was still fuzzy on the details. It might shock her into compliance…

No, it wasn't the time to reveal that, not when she was so up in arms. She probably wouldn't believe me, anyway.

“I'm not threatening you. I'm merely suggesting that having some muscle looking out for you might not be such a

bad idea," I explained.

“You know, I believe that you really believe what you're telling me," Mila said, her voice softer. “But I think it is all an

act. You've convinced yourself that you want to protect me for my own good but that isn't the truth. It never is."

“I'll say this, you know as much about me as I know about you. Keep your inaccurate assumptions to yourself," I

snarled.

Mila's eyes flared with anger. “You're just a faker! Pretending to be nice to me, pretending you want to protect me.

At the end of the day, all you want is to use me, just like everyone else."

She glared daggers at me and snarled.

Taken aback, I didn't know what to say to her angry outburst.

“I'll give you props. No one has attempted to befriend me in order to use me before. You can't trick me into trusting

you or letting my guard down!" she snapped. “You're just like the others, only worse because you're trying to play

on my emotions."

“Like the others? I saved you twice," I reminded her again. “Have you already forgotten?"

“And how do I know that wasn't just some part of your elaborate game? No one offers their help like that without

expecting something in return," she insisted, stamping her foot.

I snorted a humorless laugh and ran a hand through my hair. She was impossible to reason with.

“So, I'll pay you back for your assistance but I'm not giving you anything more than fair compensation and you're

not going to be able to hold it over my head in order to use me," she explained with a firm head nod.

“I never asked for payment. Nor do I expect anything in return. Not now, and I won't come calling to collect in the

future," I assured.

“Then you'll stop following me and leave me alone?" she asked. “Because you're never going to get what you really

want from me!"

I smirked and chuckled. She was quick and clever. I found myself enjoying the challenging conversation.

“What do I want from you?" I asked.

Mila paused for a moment. That seemed to confuse her.

“Why ask me? Shouldn't you be asking yourself that question?" she retorted.

“Hmm."

I couldn't deny that I was curious about the box. Whatever was in it, Mila could have and use however she wanted.

But it was strange to me that she'd been able to find the box when all the card in the flowers offered was a time

and place to meet.

Something else had guided her to the graveyard and the headstone where the box she hadn't as buried. That was

worth being curious over. I didn't think Mila was a seer or psychic. She hadn't given any indication that she had

power like that.

I'd met a few psychics before and talking to them was head spinning. It was like they lived with one foot in another

dimension and they were seeing and experiencing two lives or timelines at the same time.

But Mila was steady and grounded. She was focused and intense. That didn't go hand in hand with psychic powers.

So, how had she learned about the box? She'd only dug up one place in the graveyard.

Sighing, I shook my head. All I ever wanted from her was honest answers. She seemed incapable of giving me that.

“Soren?" Payne's voice drifted through the darkness.

“Over here," I called out automatically, keeping my eyes on Mila.

Payne showed up and stopped dead. He glanced at Mila, tilting his head slightly.

She was still standing behind the headstone, box clutched to her chest. It was easy to see that she was standing on

a springboard, ready to launch herself and run off at any moment. She was still glaring straight at me.

“What did you find out?" I asked, calling him back to the issue at hand.

“Uhh…" Payne looked at me and sighed. “A woman."

“A woman delivered the flowers," I said, nodding absently.

“She was wearing a cloak and I didn't see her face or her features. By the time I caught sight of her, the fog hid

everything, including the color of her cloak. She was fast and I lost her the moment the fog wrapped around her,"

Payne reported.

“No scent?" I asked.

“If there was, I think the fog absorbed it. That stuff is harsh… it really messes with my senses. I feel like I can barely

hear, see, or smell when it is thickest," he said, a visible shudder running over him.

I'd felt the same. Fortunately, I knew where I was going and who I was following which made it easier to track Mila.

“There was something else," Payne said.

I flicked my eyes away from Mila for a moment to see the concerned expression on Payne's face. Then I looked

back at her, holding her in place with my gaze.

“What was it?" I pressed.

“Even though it is night time, I saw several new faces entering Miltern. They are obvious because they aren't

walking around all dazed and miserable. Although, based on how they look and the weaponry they are toting, I

think we know why they are here." Payne nodded toward Mila.

Mila stiffened and I wondered if the news would be enough to convince her to remain with me for protection. She

probably thought Payne was lying since he was loyal to me…

“They were knocking on doors and shaking people down for information on Mila. I don't think they'll stop there.

They look like the type to kill anyone that gets in their way," he added.

I turned my attention to Payne and stroked my chin. These bounty hunters were determined and focused. They

wouldn't easily fall for a false lead but I knew Payne and I could think of a way to send them in the wrong direction.

Movement caught the corner of my eye and I glanced at Mila.

She was running away from the graveyard. Every so often she glanced back, as if she expected to see us chasing

after her.

Did she really think she could get away from me? I'd tracked her down in that thick, sense muddying fog!

Should I go after her? That was the bigger question.

She'd made it clear she didn't want me following her. Perhaps not following her was the only way to gain an ounce

of her trust.

Then again, not following her meant not protecting her.

I'd tried to avoid getting entangled in her problems but the more I tried to stay out of it the more I was dragged in.

I'd already dealt with two threats against her but they kept popping up out of the woodwork.

At this point, I couldn't pretend nothing had happened. I couldn't pretend there wasn't something between us.

Maybe it was simple curiosity about her past or why Alpha Chandler wanted her. Not because I wanted to use her to

my advantage but knowing an alpha's weakness, especially one like Alpha Chandler, could be most beneficial.

If Mila wasn't so self-involved, she'd realize there were bigger things going on than just her. And that included my

relationships with alphas.

I wasn't in the business of trading one life for my peace and freedom. However, knowledge of Alpha Chandler's

desires and plans could be most advantageous.

There was still the unresolved matter of our one-night stand. As much as I wanted to brush it off as just that, a one-

night stand, the fact that she didn't know about it didn't sit well with me.

I'd never taken advantage of a woman before in my life. Whatever was in her system that night had made her need

and want that connection but I couldn't let her live her life without knowing it had happened.

There hadn't been a good time to address it since she was always trying to run.

I didn't know what was between us now. It could have been something entirely different, but we were connected.

Whether she wanted to admit it or not.

It wasn't like I was doing joyful backflips over the idea.

I continued to watch her as she faded into the distance.

Trouble, that's all Mila was and all she'd brought so far. At this point, I'd invested far more in her than I had in

anyone else in a long time. It would be a shame to let that all go to waste if she were to be killed.

I decided right then and there that the only repayment I needed for the help I'd offered was that she live a long and

healthy life. Long enough, hopefully, to make friends, learn to trust, and be happy.

Everyone deserved that…

Now, I just had to see it through. Anyone that wanted to come after her would have to come through me first. I'd

destroy whoever tried to take that chance from her. It was me, my healer, my protection that gave her a new

chance at life and I wasn't about to see it ripped away.