Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 1415 - 14 : The Questioning

*Rhys*

My mind was so lost in unwanted thoughts about Saoirse and Conall that I missed what the villager had said to me. There was a throat clearing, and my eyes suddenly focused in on the older woman and Alpha Strider looking at me expectantly.

“The woman just stated that she hasn’t seen anything unusual lately and asked if you truly believe that there is some unknown danger roaming about,” Daxton mind-linked me quickly, bringing me up to speed.

The word had gotten around fast. We had only spoken to a few villagers so far, but the reason we were there had already gotten out.

“My father, the King, and I take no risks when it comes to the safety of our people, so I am here to see if there is any validity in the worries of Lady Strider,” I said diplomatically.

It was harder to say her name than I had expected, but I continued, “I cannot say for sure if there is any danger, but I promise that I won’t leave until I am convinced that this pack is safe.”

I expected her to look happy at my words. Instead, she looked disappointed.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said slowly. “I am sure if there was such danger, more people would have seen it.”

Her dismissal made my teeth clench ever so slightly. It was not because her anti-authority mindset didn’t like interference but because her words insinuated that Saoirse was either lying or seeing things.

“From what I have heard, Lady Saoirse is the only one from the pack that explores deeply into the woods,” I said, looking over the older woman, sizing her up. “Do you hike the woods?”

“Well, no,” the woman said, flushing slightly in annoyance or embarrassment.

“Then thank you for your input, but I think someone with more experience might be of more help to my investigation.” I nodded my head at her in dismissal. “Thank you for your time.”

With a small huff, the woman turned and walked back toward one of the small houses in the distance.

“Careful, Rhys,” Daxton cautioned in my mind. “We still need these people to cooperate. Not to mention we’ll be staying here for a while. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want spit in my food.”

I grumbled back through the mind link, but I knew he was right. Usually, I was better at controlling my emotions.

The Alpha continued to show us through town. I tried to keep my mind focused on the task at hand. I tried to keep my tongue between my teeth, making sure I didn’t say anything that I would regret or that I didn’t ask the questions that I actually wanted answers to.

Every member of the pack seemed to stop to tell me how baseless Saoirse’s accusation was and how my presence was unnecessary. After the third occurrence, even with my distracted mind, I realized that this had to have all been prearranged.

It was going to be harder than I thought to get these villagers to help with finding evidence when they were convinced there was nothing to look for. There was no doubt it would be up to me and my team to find the dragon. And we would find it.

Unlike everyone here, I believed in Saoirse.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, as if brought into existence by my thoughts, I saw some fiery red hair disappearing behind some trees on the edge of the village. There was no doubt with that hair who it was.

And there was no hesitation in my response, even if there should not have been.

“I’m sorry, Alpha Strider,” I said, interrupting some spiel about the reason why technology was unreliable, “but could you please show my Beta and my men back to their rooms so they can get everything unloaded and set up? It’s been a long day of travel.”

“Oh, yes, of course, Your Highness,” Alpha Strider said, hiding his annoyance at my interruption well. “What about you? Are you not tired?”

“I would like to take a run and stretch out my legs,” I said, not taking my eyes from the spot in the trees I was intending to follow.

“I’ll come with you,” Alpha Strider suggested.

“Prince Rhys likes to run alone,” Daxton cut in, sensing my desire to be on my own. “Plus, I need your help getting back. I’m sure His Highness will join us soon.”

I knew for a fact that Daxton didn’t need help getting back. I nodded to Daxton in my appreciation, knowing, as always, that he understood me better than almost anyone. It was just as a Beta should.

“Perhaps we could run together tomorrow, Alpha,” I tried to appease.

He took the bait. “I would enjoy that.”

“Let’s get back then. I am starving,” Daxton said with a laugh as he began to walk away.

Alpha Strider hesitated for one more second before he turned and continued with Daxton and the rest of the guards. One hesitated, but I waved him on. I wasn’t going far.

I then followed the internal pull leading me to the trees.

***

*Saoirse*

I went inside to look for my mother only to be told she wasn’t home. I started to go find her but then heard Conall enter and made a beeline for my room to avoid him. After what he put me through with that bounty reward, there was very little I could say to him that would be cordial.

When the door closed behind me, I took in shallow breaths, hoping Conall would not come knocking. But then there was a firm knock on the door. I clenched my fist, readying myself for the pending fight as the doorknob turned.

However, before the door could fully open, a voice interrupted.

“Hello, Conall, was that my daughter I heard?” My mother’s soft voice floated through the thin walls.

“Yes, Luna, Alpha Strider sent her to her room,” Conall answered. “He just sent me to check on her.”

“Do you really think that is a good idea right now?” my mother asked as the knob jiggled again. “She is home safe. You both could do with a little cooling off time.”

Before he could decide against my mother’s advice, I made my way over to the window and quickly opened it as far as it would go.

I didn’t want anything to do with Conall at the moment. It was bad enough that my father was belittling me. I wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue when Conall did too.

Rhys never talked to me like that.

In fact, he didn’t treat me like any other man I had known. He was always patient, kind, and understanding. He never seemed to expect something from me. It was a jarring comparison to the man-boy standing outside my door.

I shook the thoughts from my head and focused back on my task at hand. I could still hear my mother’s voice as I steadied myself for my escape.

“She’s had a long journey. Just allow her to rest and calm down for a bit,” she said. “I could speak to her first if you wish.”

“No, it’s alright. I know how to deal with her,” Conall replied, instantly making my blood boil.

The doorknob twisted again, and I froze. I was only half out of the window. He would catch me if he came in now.

“Wait.” My mother’s voice sounded a little breathless now.

But I didn’t wait to hear his response. I took my opportunity and flung my other leg out the window, taking off in a run as soon as my feet hit the earth.

I wondered if my mother had been stalling him for me. Did she know what I was doing? This was the second time in a week that my mother’s actions had left me completely baffled.

As soon as I made it to the edge of the pack house, I had to slow up and be a little more careful. My father had made it clear that I wasn’t supposed to be out, so I didn’t want anyone to spot me and report me to my father.

Or even worse, I didn’t want anyone to be able to lead Conall to me.

I needed to get to the cover of the trees. Even if anybody followed me in there, I knew the woods better than all of them.

My body was used to sneaking out, so I let it take control, guiding me on the path I so often took. I was amazed at how well I managed to avoid sound, and therefore avoid detection.

The further I got from them, the more relaxed I began to feel. Of course, the suppressed rage was still there, waiting for its moment to explode, but, as always, the woods had a way of calming me.

The capital had been pretty in its own way. The modern buildings, shiny glass, and bright lights had been stunning to behold, not to mention the availability of things we rarely got, which made me wistful for the ease of life it promised.

But the woods were home.

I stopped as I realized where my body had subconsciously been taking me. Without a thought, I turned and headed in the direction of where I had spotted the beast the first time.

Through the thin line of trees just in front of me, I would see the scorched earth. It was the perfect circle of desolation and the proof of something dangerous and unnatural.

Suddenly, something grabbed my arm.

“Fu–” I jumped back gracelessly, tripping over a root in my process, and teetered too far off balance to right myself again.

I flinched in expectation and braced myself. However, something grabbed my outstretched arm again and tugged. Instead of falling to the earth, I was pulled forward into the comfort of strong and secure arms.

My face was cradled in the warmth of an embrace that squeezed and steadied me.

It seemed as if my body and my brain were not in sync. The best I could do was stand there and breathe in the familiar pine and warm rain scent that engulfed Rhys.

“Saoirse, are you okay?” Rhys’ voice rumbled against my body. “I apologize. Did I startle you?”

I tipped my head back and stared at him, dumbfounded. My brain still hadn’t caught up with my body. Then his words finally clicked.

I felt my cheeks start to burn in further embarrassment. I wondered how he was ever going to take me seriously when I was always making a fool of myself.

“Saoirse?” He spoke my name again in the same concerned tone, his arms still firm on me.

I tried to ignore the warmth and the tingles that spread along my skin everywhere he touched.

“Yes, you startled me, sorry. I was lost in thought,” I admitted, trying to pull myself away.

I tried to not let my cheeks blush even more as he tightened his grip.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked. I knew the question encompassed everything about the reception I received upon returning home.

I lifted my eyes up to his handsome face and tried to keep my breathing even as I took in the dark hair that hung softly to his shoulders and the sharp lines of his jaw. When my eyes met his, I saw a bright flash of crimson, which caught my breath.

“I’m alright,” I finally answered him in an airy voice.

I was suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that he was still holding me. I was sure he hadn’t noticed yet, since it was no big deal, but I couldn’t find myself able to pull away.

Just as I thought that, Rhys seemed to notice our embrace and slowly let go, making sure I was balanced.

“I apologize,” Rhys said, glancing back up at me. The crimson in his intelligent amber eyes flashed even brighter than before.

“No, please don’t apologize.”

“I am sure your fiancé would not approve,” he commented. I felt my eyes grow wide as my heart sank.