Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1398 - 153 : Double Time

*Lorelei*

When I left Drogomor, I didn’t expect to feel changed. The affection I was shown by Noah’s aunts and Zara allowed me to find some peace, but I felt far from the woman I once was. I was grateful for the encouragement that the women gave me, and I truly thought I would be able to go back to the way things were before Gray.

I now knew that had been wildly presumptuous of me. It was clear that I wasn’t over him. It would take much more than the distance and time between us to remedy that.

Zara and Noah’s aunts were right. I needed to take the time to search within myself and give myself that time to truly understand what it was I wanted.

In this case, it was more about who I wanted.

I waved to some parents who were coming to pick up their kids, hoping my smile would come out genuine and not like the grimace my entire being wanted to give.

“Do you have any idea what Alpha Gage and Luna Eloise want to talk to you about?” asked one of my co-workers as we walked out of the daycare together.

I shook my head, my anxiety spiking. “All I was told was that they required an audience with me,” I said, feeling my face twist up as I pondered the possibilities.

Alpha Gage and Luna Eloise were well aware of the dangers that befell Drogomor a couple of years earlier. Rumors of the battle with Malphas, which occurred not long after Daven’s attack, seemed to fly through realms. What had happened during the fight against both tyrants was still up for debate among Midnight Sun since the stories were so wildly different depending on who told them.

I wondered if Alpha Gage and Luna Eloise caught wind of the confusion spreading through their land and wanted to speak to me directly since I had been with the future Luna at the time. Maybe they just wanted her to clarify some things.

The Midnight Sun leaders were kind enough to have a car sent to pick me up from the daycare. I glanced around as a few of the parents and my co-workers gaped at the sleek black vehicle, which had obviously been sent by a hire-up. I blushed scarlet before hurrying to duck into the back of the car, praying that the driver would just take off and sighing with relief when he did.

I tried to calm my heart rate when the grand Midnight Sun estate came into view. By the time the kind old driver helped me out of the car and up the front steps, I had gotten it down to just above an average rate.

The driver led me to the sitting room where Alpha Gage and Luna Eloise were already waiting for me.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with us,” Luna Eloise said, rising from her chair to give me a friendly hug.

I wanted to point out that I couldn’t really reject the summons from my pack leaders but held my tongue and just smiled, trying not to let on how nervous I was about this meeting.

I glanced at Alpha Gage, trying to get a hint as to how he was feeling, hoping to grasp just an inkling as to what this all was about. I blinked once, deciphering the expressions on their faces as a concern.

That couldn’t be right.

“I hope that everything is alright,” I finally found the courage to say. “I was concerned by the urgent tone of the message I received.”

“Nothing is wrong,” Luna Eloise said quickly, giving me the feeling that she was the one who arranged for this meeting to occur. She glanced at her mate. “We are concerned as well, but for you, Lorelei.”

I was so shocked that I reeled back. “For me?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

It was Alpha Gage who answered. “It has come to our attention that you have been struggling internally.”

“Internally?” I felt like a parrot. I shook my head in dismay. “Not at all, Alpha Gage. I have been just fine and am extremely grateful that I was given a place in this community.”

“We have not doubted that you have gratitude,” Luna Eloise assured me. “We just have reason to believe that you could use some time to focus on yourself, perhaps engage in some self-care.”

I hated that all I had been doing since this visit started was repeating myself, but I could not think of anything else to say. “Self-care?”

This had to be about something else. There was no way they sent a driver to bring me in just to order me to take a vacation.

“Perhaps you believe it’s strange for us to care. Since you are caring for our children and haven’t taken a single break over the past couple of years, it causes us to have even more concern,” Alpha Gage added. “We are officially putting you on leave, effective immediately.”

I felt my shoulders sag but didn’t argue. I could tell by the looks on their faces that they were genuinely concerned for me and the children under my care, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit inadequate.

On my first day off, I spent most of my day poking around in the small garden I’d planted when I first arrived in Midnight Sun.

When my garden was pristine and there was nothing else I could do for it, I wandered back inside, feeling lost. I started reading some old poetry books I brought from my previous pack. I was shocked as I started to genuinely enjoy myself. I used to spend hours as a teenager writing poetry.

As I wrote my fifth poem of the night, I started to realize that there were a lot of creative hobbies that I had neglected long ago. I tried to remember when I stopped. My heart nearly ripped itself in two when I realized that the answer was right after I met Gray.

Once I realized that, I started to get angry with myself for allowing that man to affect me so deeply that I stopped pursuing the passions that made me who I was.

I buried myself in my forgotten hobbies, singing folk songs late into the night, finding a deep catharsis in crafting remedies and composing music. For the first time in what felt like decades, I felt alive.

I didn’t expect my newfound passions to lead to anything. It started with my kind elderly neighbor knocking on my door and telling me I had a beautiful voice and unfathomable talent. She had a group of friends over. One of them just happened to be the creative director at a nearby concert hall.

When she told me I should perform there, I simply blinked at her in shock, unable to respond.

One thing led to another. Before I knew it, I was singing at various events around Midnight Sun.

“I didn’t know that you could sing,” one of my co-workers commented when I came in to turn in my resignation. I loved caring for children, but music was taking up all of my time.

I grinned sheepishly. “Neither did I,” I said, “at least at a professional level.”

When I stepped out on stage later that night, I marveled at how quickly my life had changed. I found my passion and in that journey, I found the girl who had been dormant since Gray broke my heart.

I wasn’t that girl anymore, the one who hadn’t completely understood her self-worth. As I allowed music to fall from my lips and rise in the concert hall, I felt a surge of empowerment rush through me as if singing was fueling my soul.

The whole hall erupted in applause as soon as I completed the last note and stepped up to the front of the stage to bow.

The director came and found me after the show, pulling me aside. “I received a message a couple of days earlier but decided to wait until after your show. You have been invited to perform in Celestial City.”

The Celestial City? I couldn’t stifle my gasp as I realized the gravity of this great honor.

Of course, I had to accept.

I had a couple more performances in the Dark Realm. I had been traveling all over during the past several months. It was a joy to be able to see different cities. The world was so large. I was shaking with excitement to see the beautiful Celestial City.

I asked my driver to make a stop at Drogomor so I could visit Alpha Noah and Luna Zara. Zara mentioned in a recent letter that her son had been born. It felt like the perfect opportunity to visit since I was on my way to Celestial City.

“It’s so good to see you, Lorelei,” Zara squealed, hugging me tightly as soon as I stepped foot in her home. She put me at arm’s length so she could look at me. “I’m so happy for you. You’ve found your passion and are doing so well for yourself.” She hugged me again.

I squeezed her back. I was glad I decided to make this stop to see my friend. I largely had her to thank for my success. She encouraged me and believed in me long before I believed in myself.

“Thank you,” I murmured, tears threatening to fall. I pulled away. “And you’re officially Luna now. I’m so happy for you. I know you’ll be an amazing and benevolent leader.”

Zara smiled, her eyes practically melting as we gazed at each other. Her concern showed through for a moment as she read something in my expression. “Gray is also doing well. He’s actually out leading a training exercise at the moment.”

My shoulders drooped. Of course, the former matchmaker was able to see through my aloof facade concerning Gray. I had been hoping I could see him, even just catch sight of him. If he was out leading an exercise, it was unlikely. I wouldn’t be able to stay very long.

Zara brought me up to see the children. Briella was a sweetheart. She had her father’s dark hair and her mother’s expressive eyes. She chattered excitedly to me as if we were old friends.

“My brother is tiny,” she said proudly, gesturing into the cradle at the newborn.

Baby Kellan was adorable. His round face and a tuft of light brown hair were absolutely darling. I cooed softly to him as Zara settled him into my arms.

“Your children are both adorable, Zara,” I said, rocking the little boy.

Zara sighed, and the sound was content. “I have been very blessed,” she agreed.

I needed to get going, but Zara insisted I stay for lunch. I couldn’t deny her after not seeing her for over a year.

“Things have been busy, to say the least,” Noah said after I asked how he’d been as we ate our lunch. “We are working to strengthen the Light Realm coalition. Rumors of various factions wanting to reclaim the palace from the True Sons has been spreading rapidly.”

I looked down at my food, worried about the state of our realm settling in. “I’ve been traveling a lot lately,” I informed my friends. “Many packs have become independent since the royals were forced out. Some leaders want the palaces, but many packs are awaiting the return of the Alpha King.”

Noah and Zara shared a look of concern. It was clear they caught wind of that a while ago just from the position they were in, but it did seem to disturb them to have it confirmed by another outside source.

“Forgive me for intruding,” said a deep, familiar voice.

I stood from my seat abruptly, my eyes widening as they settled on Gray.

Zara stood as well. “Gray. Thank you for coming on such short notice,” she said, winking at me as I continued to gape. She grabbed Noah’s arm and pulled him up, tugging him toward the door. “Noah, let’s allow these two to catch up.”

I was still recovering from my shock when Gray and I were left alone. “Lorelei,” he breathed, clearly just as stunned as I was. “It’s so good to see you.”

I sucked in a breath as he strode across the room until he was standing right in front of me.

“It’s good to see you too,” I murmured, my cheeks heating up. He was wearing a crisp dark uniform that fit his body well, too well. I swallowed hard. “So are you a general now?”

He looked a little embarrassed but nodded. “Yes, I am. I had to work hard to earn the title, but I’ve been enjoying it.”

I looked up at him. He looked mature and distinguished. I looked into his dark eyes and felt like I could see how the past couple of years had molded him into a man. Not that he wasn’t a man before, but there was a seriousness he had now that seemed to light my whole body aflame.

“I’m going to Celestial City,” I told him before I could stop myself.

Gray’s eyebrows went up. “Yes, I heard you’ll be performing there as a singer. Congratulations.” His dark eyes were warm as he smiled at me.

My heart skipped a beat.

“It’s a long way to Celestial City,” he said, straightening. “I would be thrilled if you allowed me the honor of escorting you there to ensure you arrive safely.”

I gasped softly but felt my lips curve into a wide grin. “I would like that,” I told him.

His answering smile had my heart doing double time.