Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1414 - 13 : Investigation and Discovery

*Rhys*

I winced at the pain as nails dug into my arm.

“Oh, shi... I mean, crap. I’m sorry,” Saoirse said from the seat beside me as she loosened her grip and moved her clenched hand back into her lap.

I should have been glad that she was no longer attempting to tear through my skin, but I found myself missing the warmth and tingles her touch generated. Before I could think about it or even attempt to stop myself, I reached over and placed my hand on top of the two still clenched together.

Saoirse seemed to relax a little under my touch, straightening in her seat, but she kept her eyes tightly closed. Her breathing seemed to pick up at an even quicker pace.

“It’s alright,” I said softly, trying to bring comfort. “We are almost there.”

The turbulence jerked the plane again, causing her to suck in a breath. This time, her hands remained clenched under mine. My arm still stung where she had clung to me. I rubbed it absentmindedly to try and get rid of the sensation.

“Sorry,” she mumbled again through clenched teeth as if sensing my thoughts and reasons for my actions.

I took the opportunity of her eyes being closed to stare openly at her gorgeous face. Even with her striking eyes hidden behind her lids, her face held a certain strength to it despite her soft, feminine features. Although, maybe that was just due to the way her jaw was clenched.

I saw that same muscle in her jaw twitch as the plane began to turn slightly.

“You are doing well for your first time flying,” I commended her.

I was rewarded for my words with a flash of her eyes and a humorless chuckle that managed to make me catch my breath.

“In what world is this doing well?” she asked, keeping her eyes focused on me.

I cleared my throat and composed myself from her unwavering stare. “Well, you aren’t crying or going all hysterical. I’ve seen both before.”

“It’s not over yet,” Saoirse mumbled, more to herself than to me.

I bit the inside of my cheek, attempting to hide the smile. I felt guilty that she was so uncomfortable and obviously afraid, but it was funny to see how tough she was trying to act.

The plane turned in the other direction and then jerked. For a split second, there was a feeling of weightlessness, and I felt my stomach flip at the sensation. Saoirse groaned in response.

“It’s worse because we are on a smaller plane,” I said, still finding myself trying to comfort her. “The larger planes don’t have as much turbulence typically.”

“Why couldn’t we take a larger plane then?” she asked, her eyes closed again.

The ease at which she talked to me still surprised me. I liked the warm familiar feel of it.

“There was no need for a larger plane,” I said in my logical voice. It was hard to stay focused around her. “The private royal plane was much faster than finding the right commercial flights. Besides, my father only approved ten royal guards to accompany us, not counting my Beta and myself, so a larger plane would have simply been wasteful.”

Saoirse managed a slight nod in response.

“I also wanted to get there as soon as possible, and this was the quickest way. I don’t like the idea of this beast roaming free in our kingdom.” I paused and continued, “And I am hoping if we discover it and learn more, we can put a stop to this before... before anything bad can happen.”

Her stunning eyes reopened and focused on me again. “You mean before it burns me alive like your visions showed you.”

I stared at her for a moment. The twisting in my stomach was not a result of the flight this time. I nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’m here to make sure that won’t happen,” I said as she continued to stare at me. “I made you a promise.”

Saoirse let out a sigh and closed her eyes, but her body didn’t relax in the slightest. “We have to save my village. That’s what matters.”

***

“Nice touch,” Daxton mind-linked me as I held the door open for Saoirse.

“Shut up,” I sent back, but I knew he could hear the humor in my thoughts.

Saoirse looked surprised at my gesture, just as she had before, but she hesitantly took my offered hand and stepped out of the rented SUV. As soon as her feet were secure, she pulled her hand from mine. I fought the instinct to reach back out and grab it.

Something about her touch was just very soothing and addictive.

She turned and began walking toward the large pack house. Instead of focusing on the house, which was much smaller than any other Alpha house I had seen, or even the other royal guard members pulling up in the other two rentals, my eyes focused on her, following her.

“Geez, you could make it a little more subtle,” Daxton continued over the mind-link.

“What?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“What is it with this girl?” Daxton continued, “I have never seen you so crazy over a girl before.”

“I don’t know, Dax,” I answered honestly, sighing to myself as I was still unable to take my eyes off her retreating figure. And the further she got from me, the more my anxiety climbed.

“Damn, dude,” Daxton’s voice was in awe as he sensed my emotions through the open link. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, my anxiety spiking even further. “It’s like it physically pains me to be away from her, and she is all I can focus on. Even when I close my eyes, she dominates my mind and visions. And the more time I spend with her, the harder it is to distance myself.”

“So don’t distance yourself,” Daxton replied as if it was obvious.

I just stared at him in response.

“She’s the daughter of an Alpha, and she already has a fiery spirit. You saw how she handled herself in court. Just imagine how she will be once she gets her wolf,” Daxton continued. “And she is stunning, of course.”

I closed the mind link between us as I thought about her pending marriage contract. She hadn’t mentioned it yet, and I didn’t think it was my place to bring it up. Still, the thought of her marrying another man...

Another growl broke from my chest before I could stop it, even grabbing Saoirse’s attention. She looked over her shoulder at me in concern and confusion, causing me to shut my mouth and pull myself together.

Daxton’s laughter rang through my head. I growled, only through the mind link this time.

“All I’m saying is she could be a good match,” Daxton said with another laugh.

I didn’t answer him, watching as Saoirse turned back around and started to walk again.

“If you don’t want her, I’ll take her,” Daxton rang out in a sing-song voice.

That got me.

I barely managed to control another growl as Saoirse approached the pack house.

The door opened, and two men stepped out. I felt my muscles grow taunt as I read the anger and irritation on their faces. My pace quickened, wanting to place myself between Saoirse and these two men.

“You have a lot to answer for, Saoirse,” the older man growled. His anger was just as apparent in his voice as it was on his face. His voice held something else too, a sort of power, and I knew that this was her father, the Alpha.

“I will not stand for this,” the younger man said just as low as the older. “Do you understand the jeopardy you put on our alliance?”

He walked closer to Saoirse and grabbed her arm. My head snapped, and I saw red.

Saoirse ripped her arm away from his grip before I could give in to the impulse to rip his arm off.

“I did what was best for our pack since no one would listen.”

I relaxed slightly, cheering her strength and bravery as she stood up to the two men. I still stepped closer to show my support for her and noticed the two men flick their attention to me.

“We will talk about this later, Saoirse. Get inside and see your mother. She has been worried sick,” her father finished, not taking his eyes off me.

It was obvious that they were trying to keep their conversation private. It was too bad that the royal family’s abilities were more advanced. I had heard them clearly. I stood up more straight.

“Welcome, Your Highness,” Alpha Strider said in a perfectly professional and controlled voice. “Your father called ahead and let us know when to expect you. Thank you for escorting her home. I’m sorry that my daughter got you mixed in this mess.”

His words came across as welcoming, but I had never felt less welcome anywhere. The two men looked over my shoulder at my guard behind me. Despite their blank expressions, I could see the irritation in the way they held their shoulders and their hands flexed.

It wasn’t unusual for some of the more remote packs to dislike royal interference, which seemed to be the case here, but they would never do anything to openly disrespect me.

Saoirse flinched at his words and opened her mouth. I was sure she was going to argue. Before she could speak one word, her father turned and sent a glare in her direction. Her spirit wasn’t broken, but she seemed to surrender as she began to move around her father, making her way to the house.

“Thank you for the welcome, Alpha Strider,” I said quickly, keeping my back stick straight. “It looks like a lovely pack. I was hoping that Lady Saoirse could perhaps show me around. It would make our mission here easier.”

Saoirse stopped moving but didn’t turn back around to face us.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I would be happy to show you around,” Alpha Strider continued. “Saoirse’s mother missed her and wants to see her, I’m sure.”

“Very well,” I said with a nod, watching Saoirse out of my peripheral vision. She only glanced back once before the door shut behind her. “Lead the way.”

Alpha Strider nodded and turned to walk along the side of the pack house. I could sense eyes on us and looked around to see more and more members of the pack beginning to appear around us. They all had the same look of confusion on their faces, and they all seemed to be very critical of me and my company.

They were definitely not supportive of royal interference, but I questioned why there was confusion.

It was clear that Alpha Strider had told the pack nothing of what his daughter had seen. That shouldn’t have surprised me, considering he didn’t seem to believe her.

“Your Highness, you and your men are more than welcome to stay at the pack house while you are here. I am afraid that I don’t have enough rooms for all of your men, but I have some extra rooms on my side for you and your Beta if you prefer.”

I tried to ignore the leap in my chest at the idea of staying so close to Saoirse. Part of me had feared that we would have to stay in the larger town miles away, and the thought of being that far away had been half the reason for my unease.

“That sounds perfect,” I said. “My men and I appreciate you opening your home to us.”

“I apologize that it is necessary, Your Highness. I’m afraid my daughter has wasted your time,” Alpha Strider said, barely able to keep his voice even now. He turned to the young man who had been following behind us. “Conall, maybe it would be best if you go check on your fiancé.”

My feet seemed to freeze to the earth, and my gaze snapped up on the young man I had all but ignored. There was no way. It couldn’t be.

But sure enough, I watched as the man, Conall, turned and walked in the same direction that Saoirse had disappeared. He walked confidently, making my blood run cold as the truth rang in my ears. The marriage contract...

He was her fiance.