Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 55 : Let them Come

*Mila*

After leaving the rogue zone, I felt my strength growing. Perhaps, the antidote Soren gave me was working and

whatever that had been dampening my powers was being treated, or maybe getting closer to Mount Lournet and

the artifact was helping my powers awaken.

*Mila*

After leaving the rogue zone, I felt my strength growing. Perhaps, the antidote Soren gave me was working and

whatever that had been dampening my powers was being treated, or maybe getting closer to Mount Lournet and

the artifact was helping my powers awaken.

Whatever it was, I felt looser and lighter.

My mind opened up to possible spells I could try and I felt the flow in my veins. It felt like I could touch a part of

myself that I never even knew existed.

The closer I got to the mountain, the more I felt like it was pulling me in and drawing me closer.

If this was how I felt around all the artifact pieces, they might be pretty easy to find.

By the time I made it to the base of the mountain, the sun was setting.

There were bounty hunters after me. I'd given them the slip but I needed to find a place where I could hide and lay

low for the night.

But I didn't want to give the bounty hunters the chance to sneak up on me. I had to come up with some kind of trap

to warn me.

I picked around the cave and found some good sized sticks. Smiling to myself, I came up with a plan!

I put my sticks together and quickly glanced around to make sure I was really alone. Giggling, I stripped my clothes

off.

Immediately, I felt a tremor deep inside. My wolf was waking up.

I looked up at the sky and smiled, silently thanking the Moon Goddess that the antidote Soren had given me was

working.

I closed my eyes and let instinct take over. Quickly, instinct took over, and so did my wolf. I dropped down onto four

paws and let out an excited yip.

Like a happy puppy, I hopped around, prancing and nuzzling my nose into the ground, inhaling all the delicious

scents in the mountain forest.

Now that my wolf was awake, all my senses had increased. I felt like I was seeing the forest, hearing sounds, and

smelling scents for the first time.

My ears twitched at the slightest sound and I slunk into some nearby underbrush near the cave.

Maybe the Blackfire antidote was freeing my magical powers and my wolf now that the poison wasn't clogging up

my veins anymore. Next time I saw Soren, I would really have to thank him for getting me the antidote, and the

blood he'd shed for me.

Thinking of Soren made my heart soften.

I didn't want to think about him but I couldn't help it.

Would he be mad that I ran off? What was he doing right now? When would I see him again?

Ugh.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away.

Soren had done too much for me already. I couldn't drag him into my problems anymore. The fact that my wolf

was awake was proof enough that he'd given up too much for me.

The hairs on my neck prickled and I sensed someone approaching the cave.

A low growl rippled through me and I backed deeper into the woods. Let them find the track instead of finding me.

***

*Soren*

The closer I got to Mila, the more I slowed down.

“What's wrong, Boss?" Payne asked.

“I don't know…"

I hurried closer to Mila. Reaching out, I grabbed her shoulder.

“Mila!"

My hand closed around something sharp and prickly. The clothes crumpled in on themselves and “Mila" fell to the

ground in a pile of sticks and logs.

Creasing my brow, I stared at the one stick I still held in my hand.

“What the…?" Ashley asked.

“A dummy," Payne suggested.

“With Mila's clothes… so where is Mila?" I asked.

What could have happened to her where she lost all her clothes and someone dressed up a bunch of sticks to look

like her?

My heart sank and I shook my head. We had to find her!

The bushes rustled and suddenly a sleek, golden-brown wolf launched out of the bushes.

The wolf clipped my arm and I spun around, catching my balance. Payne shifted instantly and leapt at the golden-

brown wolf. He pinned the wolf down, growling, ready to bite her.

“Payne, stop!" I cried, rushing over to them.

Payne's eyes widened. He snarled but he released the golden-brown wolf.

She panted, her chest rising and falling noticeably as she rolled. She remained lying on the ground.

“Mila?" I asked, crouching down in front of her.

Mila's wolf stared back at me. She looked surprised. But the way her eyes stared at me, I knew it was Mila. She

sighed heavily and shook her head, like she wasn't happy to see me.

A shudder ran through her and her head collapsed on the ground. She whined.

I could see her strength had failed. She was still weak from the poison, not yet fully healed.

She whimpered again and sighed heavily, a soft cloud of breath puffing out of her nose.

I motioned for Ashley and Payne to move back, giving her some space.

Payne shifted back and put his clothes on.

I knelt down by Mila's head and lifted it into my lap.

She shuddered and twisted. The air around her trembled and Mila's beautiful wolf melted away and she returned to

her human form. Swiftly, I took my jacket off and I laid it over her. She was still shivering and trembling.

“Come on, I've got you," I said. I scooped her into my arms, keeping the jacket tucked around her, and I carried her

back into the cave.

Payne and Ashley tried to follow.

“Wait here," I said to them.

Mila was naked, I didn't want them all hovering around her.

“Well, I don't want to wait around her. I'm going to go collect firewood," Ashley grunted.

I heard her run off into the woods and I could see Payne standing guard outside.

Firewood would be good. Mila still seemed shocked and warming her up would help.

I slowly laid her down on the cave floor and rubbed my hands on her arms and legs, trying to warm her up.

“What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes never leaving me. “I mean…"

I smirked. She was surprised but she was happy. But then her eyes cooled and she turned away.

“I haven't found the artifact yet, if that's what you're here for," she muttered coldly.

“Mila, I told you that I'd help you get the artifact and I'd help you get your revenge. You don't need to find the

artifact on your own," I reminded her.

“It is my responsibility," she said softly, still not looking at me.

“I know you like to do things on your own, though, so if you'd like us to camp outside, we will," I assured, nodding

gently.

She turned back to me and sat up, holding the jacket around her. She bowed her head a little and took my hand.

“You don't have to… I feel safe when you're around," she said, smiling shyly.

“That's my good girl," I said, squeezing her hand back.

“Soren… you shouldn't have come," she told me, shaking her head.

“Why not?" I asked, creasing my brow. “Mila, what's going on?"

“I had a vision of Helen, and she said… you know, it doesn't matter what she said. This whole venture is dangerous

and troublesome… I've caused enough trouble for you…" she whispered.

“Mila…"

“Soren, no. I… I don't have anything more to offer you. It isn't worth it for you to put yourself in danger again… I'm

not worth it…" she muttered.

I chuckled and shook my head. I would expect Mila to find excuses to push me away. That's what she had always

been consistent with. I held her hand when she tried to pull away and squeezed it tighter.

“You're not the cause of the trouble that finds me. In fact, even if I don't go with you or help you, there will be

plenty of trouble coming my way," I assured her.

Mila glanced at me and arched an eyebrow.

“You don't know that. Everyone has told you to stay away from me because I'm trouble," she said.

It was my turn to be surprised. I didn't know that Mila heard anyone say those things to me. She wasn't wrong, but

it was too late now. I was too involved and had already done my own work to stay involved.

“I don't think you understand just how dangerous this is. And I don't mean finding the artifact. I mean everything

that will come after it once we have all the pieces," she insisted. She chewed her lower lip nervously.

“Mila… you don't have to worry about me. I've been dealing with trouble for a long time. Besides, I'm involved

now," I told her.

“What do you mean?" Mila asked, her brow creasing.

“When you asked me to help find the artifact, I sent Thomas out to plant a few seeds so that the attention of the

other packs would turn to me," I explained.

“Why would you do that?" she asked, getting angry, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Because I'm involved. He has been telling people that I have a very powerful artifact in my possession, one that is

a universal converter, and if I used it, I could assert control over any other artifact without the Alpha blood of the

pack it belongs to," I continued.

Mila shook her head and hugged her knees to her chest.

“And thus, I'd be able to use those artifacts, too, regardless of my bloodline," I finished.

“Soren, that's… you'll be the target of any power hungry alpha, and all kinds of greedy rogues," she pointed out.

“I know. But that will take the focus off you and the real artifact while we search for it and put it all together," I

explained.

“Well, as risky as that is… I suppose it is also genius," Mila said, smiling lightly.

“It was Thomas's genius idea. We know that each pack usually has one artifact and it is passed down through the

Alpha bloodline. To use the artifact, it requires that bloodline," I reminded her.

“I know that," Mila said sharply.

“Well, an artifact that could be used by any shifter and exert control over any other artifact… that would be far too

tempting to rogues and Alphas. It would be the ultimate control," I said.

“And people think it is real? If artifacts belong to one pack bloodline, where did the universal one come from?" she

asked, arching an eyebrow.

I chuckled. “It's a mystery. Isn't that the beauty of it? It makes people a lot more likely to believe."

“Seriously!? Have you lost your freaking mind!? Why would you do this?" she snapped suddenly.

“Uhh… Mila, it isn't that big of a deal. Besides, we need the distraction while we hunt for the real artifact," I said,

shrugging.

She wasn't listening. Standing up, she tucked the jacket around herself and paced back and forth.

“What, is your life just so boring that you have nothing better to do than invite death!?" she ranted.

Sneering, I stood up and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to stand still and look at me.

“Remember this, Mila, I'm not afraid of trouble. Usually, trouble tries to avoid me! Let them come. Let them all

come. I want to see exactly how greedy these people are and what they will do for it," I hissed.