Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 130: Through My Fingers
**Ethan’s POV**
Finding Rosalie was like chasing a moving target. Every time I felt I was close to her and the baby, she would change locations, and then it felt like she had slipped through my fingers again, and I would have to trail her and move again.
However, this time, I felt like I was finally getting close enough to her that I was going to catch up to her.
She couldn’t feel me the way I could feel her, the way I could feel my baby, anyway.
We arrived in the village of Rustic early one morning after a long night of traveling. I felt that the baby was nearby. His presence was so strong, I could physically feel the tug of my child on me, and I was eager to have a look around to see if I could put all of this behind us once and for all.
Visions of a happy reunion danced before my eyes, even though I realized Rosalie might not be pleased to see me initially. I would find a way to make her understand that I was there to take her and the baby under my umbrella of safety and make sure that nothing could happen to them.
Not only did I love them and want to be with them, but I also needed to ensure that nothing could ever happen to them.
Rustic was a small village. I let Richard and the rest of the men get settled before I went about going to search for
Rosalie. I knew she wasn’t right here in this small town, but I could still feel that the baby was pulling me to an area nearby, and my reconnaissance had told me that there were several cottages in the woods not too far away.
Perhaps she was staying in one of those hidden homes?
“Alpha, there’s an inn in town. Most travelers would stay there,” Richard reported.
My stomach was twisted up so tight, I thought I might be sick. I had done a good job of hiding it all day, but I knew what I needed to do to relieve the pain and discomfort.
I needed to find them.
“Richard,” I said, just as the sun was beginning to dip beneath the horizon, “I’m going to check the perimeter. Will you keep an eye on the situation here in the village and let me know via the mind-link if anything changes?”
“Of course, sir, but….” Richard stopped speaking, but his eyebrows were nearly touching, he was so concerned. “What is it?” I asked him, not sure I wanted to hear anything he had to say.
“It’s only… you clearly don’t feel well. Why don’t you stay here and rest? You’ve had a couple of very stressful days.” He gestured toward the home we’d commandeered as our headquarters. This would be the first time in weeks we’d actually sleep in a house instead of a vehicle or a tent.
I shook my head. He had no way of knowing that the only way I could ever get any rest was to finally find Rosalie and my child. “I’ll be back soon enough, Richard. Just take care of the situation here, understand?”
He nodded. “Yes, sir. I understand.”
That was all I needed to say, and then I headed out, following the pull within me as it tugged me along as if a cord within me was being yanked by invisible hands, and I had no choice but to march along in a specific direction, my feet moving of their own accord.
I’d seen enough in the war and in the rest of my life not to fear a single beast or man. However, running through the trees in the dark, I was afraid.
I was terrified that she might be gone before I got there, or she might find a way to dissuade me from taking her back with me.
Though… I couldn’t picture myself leaving this place without that baby in my arms and Rosalie at my side.
A small cabin came into view in front of me, and I got the distinct feeling that my child was in there. The tension inside of me was so riveting, I felt like my entire body was being wrenched from inside of me. I paused outside to catch my breath and try to figure out what to say to her.
How was I going to make sure she didn’t just slam the door in my face and run away?
It had been over a month since I had to leave Rosalie. Every day and night, I forced myself to focus on what I could do and to bring an end to this war. Everything I’d done was for this moment, so that I could unite with my family again.
Yet here I was, less than a hundred yards from her. I could almost smell her sweet scent. I slowed down and quieted my footfalls.
As I was moving closer, step by step, staring at the cabin I was certain contained the very individuals I’d been searching for, a frantic mindlink message from Richard entered my mind. ‘Alpha! We’ve just received an urgent message from King James and Beta Talon!’
‘Richard, hold on, I only need fifteen minutes. I’ll be right back.’ I tried not to let my irritation come through. My family was right in front of me; nothing could stop me. Everything else could wait.
I was just about to disconnect from the mindlink before I heard his voice raise and his tone filled with panic, ‘Alpha, the capital is under attack. King James, the queen, everyone is in danger!’
‘What?’ For a second, I found myself not able to comprehend the news.
‘The capital is under attack by Kai, Alpha! We don’t know how, but the capital is in danger.’
I hadn’t heard Richard sound this panicked before.
My mouth fell open as I finally grasped what Richard was saying.
How was that possible?! We’d pushed the enemy so far, and we were almost winning the war. How the h*ll did they get to the capital?!
F*ck!
Rosalie was so close, right there in front of me. I just needed a little more time…. ‘Alpha? Where are you?’
F*ck, f*ck,f’ck!
I’d come this far, and I was so close to my family, I couldn’t possibly turn around right now! ‘I’m in the woods,’ I told Richard. ‘Get everyone ready.’
My voice might sound calm, but my thoughts would not be more chaotic. I wanted to rush over and grab the two people who were most important to me and never let them go again.
However, how could I possibly take them with me to the capital, knowing how dangerous that could be? With a war unfolding in the capital, and everything in chaos, taking Rosalie and the baby there wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be right.
If King Kai were to get his hands on my child, he might do the unthinkable just to get back to me.
And Rosalie was clearly in danger with some of the people who were at the capital before the invasion, so taking her there now would put her in an more unsafe position.
I couldn’t let my own selfish needs, the desire to be with them again right that moment, put them in more danger than was necessary.
At that moment, I felt a shift again.
Whether she was fleeing again or had just gone out the back of the cabin to go fora walk, I could tell that Rosalie and the baby were getting further away from me.
Things were changing again, and not for the better.
I wasn’t going to be able to stand here much longer and contemplate the situation. I needed to make a decision. I needed to act.
“D’mn it,” I muttered under my breath. What choice did I have other than dropping everything and going back to the capital right away?
My love and my heart was here, but I also had a full city of people who were waiting for my rescue. I couldn’t leave them there to die- kind as Rosalie was, she would never allow me to be that irresponsible.
‘Alpha, we’re all back in the truck waiting for you. As soon as you are back, we can leave.’
‘Good. I’ll be back in the village in a few minutes.’
With a heavy heart, I reluctantly turned and headed back toward Rustic, wishing I would’ve had more time.
I was so close! Rosalie and the baby were within my grasp, but once again, I just missed them.
If only I would’ve had a few more minutes, I would’ve been able to at least talk to her and let her know that everything Soren had told her about me was a lie.
However, I knew I couldn’t do that.
I couldn’t bring myself to face her and give her hope, and then turn around immediately and leave her behind again. If I did that, and I were her, I would never believe a single word from me again.
Rosalie had managed to escape me again, but I knew in my heart I would find her and my baby once more. I had to trust in the Moon Goddess and fate that we would be together again someday.
I just needed a better opportunity to reunite with her. She deserved my full attention for the rest of my life. If I couldn’t give that to her right now, I had no choice but to wait.
Just like I had no choice but to hurry back to the capital to protect the king and all of the other innocent lives that were at stake.
I picked up speed as I hurried back to where Richard was waiting for me.
“Any details?” I needed to know what the direct threat was and what I could do to stop it. As hard as it would be, I had to get my mind off of Rosalie and the baby and focus on the emergency at the capital.
Richard shook his head, “Not much.”
I was surprised that we only had such little detail about the situation. We had no idea what we would return to.
Watching the trees fly past us outside of the car window, I concentrated for a moment and sorted through the threads.
‘Alpha…” Richard was as shocked as me, “do you think the battles we’ve been winning at the frontline were just an act?”
“No, I was there. Those were not fake. Richard, contact Samuel and have him and his men meet us at the north gate of the capital.”
“Yes, Alpha! What about the frontline?”
“Adler can handle that. I doubt that they were able to move all their troops from the west coast frontline to the capital without us noticing it.”
“You mean you think the besiege at the capital is only a bluff?” Richard followed my analysis.
“Richard, they came across the ocean to our land. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for them, especially now that we cut off their supplies.”
“Then I don’t understand….”
I sneered, “They are more eager to end this war than we are!”
Richard’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Alpha, do you think this is their last attempt? Once we secure the capital, we will win the war?”
I didn’t answer him.
I hoped so, however, I had a feeling that things were not going to go as well as I expected.