Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 839

Chapter 50: Eliza and Scarlett on the Loose

*Jared*

We'd come back to the village three days earlier than expected.

It should have been a happy homecoming. We'd successfully tracked down the three wolves who'd left Archer at the edge of our territory. They hadn't been the ones who attacked him, that was clear. But they'd been nearby and had run into the rogue who jumped Archer before he was able to cross over into our boundary.

I paid them handsomely not only for their information, but also for dragging Archer several miles to our village so that we could save his life.

I'd left some of our men behind to deal with the rogue. I wasn't in shape for it, not now. I'd been on the edge of oblivion the entire journey to track down Archer's saviors. The only thing keeping me upright was the idea that I was going to have an opportunity to rip someone to shreds... to let loose that shadow.

I wanted to just let it consume me, to just put myself out of my own misery. I hesitated at the edge of the village while my men walked forward, all of them excited to be home.

There was nothing I wanted to do less than be back here. Eliza's memory would be forever imprinted on my house, on my bed... in my heart.

She'd called me a coward and she'd been right. I didn't even say goodbye to her. I couldn't because I knew I'd falter. She would have fought me and won.

I hoped that my cowardice had saved her life, at least. She couldn't be here for this. I wasn't going to put her in danger any longer, and I sure as f**k wasn't to let my own mate watch me die.

She'd be in the capital by now, if not very close. Brandt was keeping her safe. I owed Brandt my life for putting up with her.

I crossed over the boundary of our village and crossed into the village proper, my heart shattering with each stop.

This was a good thing, I told myself. She'd be safe with her family. She'd be loved, and find love... even if the thought of anyone else having her made me want to kill someone.

"JARED!"

I froze, my heart rate quickening as I slowly looked up at the owner of the voice.

"What in the f**k," I snarled, stalking forward with my hands clenched into fists, "are you still doing here?"

Brandt started jogging over to me, his face twisted into a scowl. He was red in the face, absolutely furious

He stopped a few feet away from me. I noticed the yellow, slow-healing bruising under his eyes and over his nose, which had recently been broken.

"Where is she?" I said hastily. "What happened? What-"

"Eliza happened," he growled, shaking his head. He ran his finger through his hair and over the back of his head, wincing like he was hurt. "She's gone, her and Scarlett."

"What?" I snapped. "Where?"

"I'm guessing to get Scarlett's son. We sent scouts

I opened my mouth but was at a loss for words. Part of me was furious, especially at Brandt and Archer for being so f*****g careless and letting this happen. But the other part of me was... thankful. I felt like I could breathe for the first time in days. She was still here, in this realm. She was just going in the wrong f*****g direction.

"They went through the Dark Forest, then?" I said, running my hands over my face. "How did this happen?"

"They drugged Archer, put him into a stupor. I caught them in the act. They got me too. I would have been impressed if I wasn't so furious."

Brandt explained what had happened, how he went to check on Archer after everyone else had gone to bed. He noticed the door to the storage closet where we kept all of our supplies for journeys was open. Then he saw the door to the infirmary was open as well, and he heard voices inside.

He saw the women dressed for the road, sporting leathers and blades along their belts. Their packs were resting against the wall, full to the brim with supplies. Eliza was gently lowering Archer onto his pillow, whispering to him while Scarlett tucked him in.

Brandt had thought he'd snuck on them, but Eliza had been expecting him. She offered him some tea, giving him her best, most manipulative smile. Brandt, sucker that he was, accepted graciously as Scarlett stirred milk and a copious amount of sugar into his tea.

"I took a drink before I even asked why they were dressed for a journey. The last thing I remembered was Eliza kissing me on the forehead and telling me she was sorry. I came to hours later by falling out of bed and hitting my face against the floorboards. I didn't even catch myself. It took hours for the feeling to come back into my arms and legs."

Brandt had scoured the house and the village once he came to. Scouts were sent out into the forest, but they lost their scent and trail several miles deep.

"We sent out fresh scouts this morning to try to catch up to them, but it's been three full days, Jared. Archer is livid. He ripped his sutures open shifting and had to be tied to the bed-"

"f**k," I murmured, resting my hands on my knees as I fought against the urge to either scream, or laugh. I wasn't sure. I felt an unusual sense of pride toward both women, which was totally inappropriate given the circumstances.

"Archer should be back on his feet now, I hope. He can walk, at least. We were planning on going to Abel's ourselves, but now that you're here-"

"We'll all go, all three of us. Does Eliza know who Abel is?"

"No, not that I know of. Neither of the women has any idea what they're getting into."

"We can take the southern trail and cut northward when we reach the river, that'll save us two days of travel. They're likely on foot, right?" Scarlett was old enough to shift but had never done it as far as I knew.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"They are; both of them had packs for supplies."

"Good, they'll be moving slowly. We can cut them off before they reach the edge of the forest and walk blindly into Abel's territory." I started walking forward, mulling over the situation in my mind. We needed to move, now.

Abel used to be a friend of ours. We'd lived together, trained together. I'd considered him as close as a brother at one point, but then I became leader of our village and our crew. I'd been chosen over him.

Some of the scars I wore on my body were from the fight we'd had before he left the crew. He'd been terrorizing the packlands with his own crew ever since.

But he kept his distance. He would have no idea the little boy he was holding for ransom belonged to Scarlett. He'd never met her. Archer would rip him to shreds if he had the chance.

This was bold of Eliza. She had no idea what she was starting.

"Jared, there's more."

I stopped, turning around to face him. He tucked his hands into his pockets, his eyes downcast.

"What?"

"She took the Cryptex with her, all of the pieces. She got into your safe; I don't know how. The Cryptex is gone, as well as the map she stole from Aeris's vault. Archer said he heard... he swore he heard the song from the locket when he started to fall asleep after they drugged him."

"She took the Cryptex?"

"Yes," Brandt confirmed, his expression grave.

I arched my brows as I tried to stifle the absolute rage threatening to explode. What the hell was she thinking? "She's in the Dark Forest with the Cryptex?" I said, mostly to myself.

Brandt winced, nodding. "Where was Miriam in all of this?"

"She's rather casual about it," Brandt said, running his tongue along his lower teeth with a shrug." Had a huge meal waiting for us when we finally came to. She seemed particularly pleased with and uninterested in our suffering."

"So she helped them?"

"She won't admit it, but it's obvious."

"Great," I said through gritted teeth.

I turned and stalked toward the house. I wanted a bath and a hot meal, so I wasn't going to punish Miriam for aiding the two women, not yet.

She took the Cryptex... and the map. Somehow she'd found the locket as well, if Archer's recollection could be believed.

Miriam didn't even look in my direction when

Brandt and I barreled into the house. We went straight to the infirmary, where Archer was waiting for us, fully dressed.

"I saw Tommy come into the village," he said, securing a belt around his waist. "We're going, now."

"Archer," I began, but he raised his hand, shaking his head.

"This is my mate, Jared. I'm going, I don't give a f**k what you say or think about it."

"You're injured-"

"And Scarlett and Eliza could be out there getting chased by witches, Jared. You literally just told me Hestia is after her-"

"I don't know if that's actually the case," I said briskly, holding my hands out in surrender. "Hestia hasn't been seen in years and is dead, for all I know. She wouldn't have been in the Dark Forest, either. Carmen was bluffing. I wholeheartedly believe the women are fine. Our scouts would have found them by now if not."

"I can shift. I can feel it. Miriam took the sutures out this morning," he said, ignoring me. "This is my mate-"

"I know, and Eliza is mine." I bit down the words

the second they left my mouth.

Archer raised his brows, glancing at Brandt with a smug smile.

"So you finally admit it," he practically purred, resting his hands on his hips.

"You'll never hear me say it again," I breathed, rolling my eyes at the look Archer was giving Brandt.

"We're happy for you, man. I thought we were going to have an intervention between you two." "You know nothing good will come from this. Brandt was supposed to be in the capital with her right now, sending her home to her family."

"Maybe it's a good thing she bested him and stole off with my mate, then?" Archer chuckled. The tension in the room lifted as Archer cuffed his sleeves. "What are we waiting for?"

"Miriam's making roast beef," Brandt shrugged." We should eat something before we go."

"We'll have her pack something for the road," I said, shaking my head. "I need to pack."

"How many men are we taking with us?" Archer asked.

"None. It'll be just the three of us. Abel won't take kindly to us striding onto his property twenty-men strong."

Brandt nodded, glancing at Archer before both men turned their attention to me again.

"We find them, and then get Scarlett's son. That's it."