Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 148 When The White Queen Met The Rogue King
**Rosalie’s POV**
The pain I’d been feeling right before I passed out was gone; I knew that before I even opened my eyes. But that wasn’t the only thing that was different.
I tried to remember exactly what had been happening, and when visions of those rogue wolves, with their sharp teeth and red eyes, entered my mind, I sat up, my eyes flying open.
I wasn’t where I expected to be.
In fact, I didn’t have any idea where I was at all.
It was dark, and I was lying on a cot.
My eyes flickered around the space. I was in a tent, and the scent of the forest let me know I was somewhere deep in the woods. My boy!
My arms frantically reached out for him, but I didn’t feel my baby anywhere.
My heart was pounding with fear.
What happened to him? Had he been taken by the rogues? Was he… was he still alive?
I pushed the blanket that was covering my legs off of me and swung my feet around to the ground. There was a bit of an ache in my side, but it wasn’t too strong, and my leg didn’t hurt at all.
I must’ve healed myself pretty quickly. Still… the pain in my heart was unbearable.
All I could think about was my child. Where was he?!
As I got to my feet, the tent door opened, and a large form walked in.
It was then another memory came back to me- right before I lost consciousness, I’d seen a rogue with red eyes….
Now, here he was. The large wolf was standing in front of me.
It seemed that I was his prisoner.
I sat back on the cot, not wanting to deal with him. My mind started to calculate the best way to find my baby and to escape.
To my surprise though, the wolf left the room without making any sounds.
A short moment after that, the door opened again, and in came the person that I thought I’d never meet again in my life.
It was him… even in the dark, I could tell by his footsteps and his musky scent.
My heart skipped a beat, and I held my breath. Though I told myself so many times that whatever happened in the past had passed and that I had moved on, the moment I was with him, my heart ached uncontrollably again.
I couldn’t see him right now due to the lack of light, but sooner or later, I knew I would have to face him. He wasn’t going away.
It was quiet in the tent. Finally, Ethan turned on a small lantern which bathed the tent in just enough light for me to see.
I watched him walk towards me and crouched down, so that his eyes were at the same level as mine.
He was as strikingly handsome as before, and his gaze was… soft and gentle.
I almost reached for him as his scent wafted to me in the small space and threatened to intoxicate me. However, I was snapped awake when I met his pair of crimson eyes.
I remembered now… he was banished by King James, and he was a rogue now.
What exactly had he gone through? Why was he here? Did he save me?
I had a lot of questions, but then I pushed all of them away. Why would I care?
“You’re awake.” It wasn’t a question.
I nodded. To try to distract myself from him, I asked “Where is he? Where’s my child?”
“He is safe with Georgia,” he said, staring at me. I got to my feet, but he stopped me.
“Sit, Rosalie,” he said, putting one hand on me and guiding me back down. “You’re still weak. You need rest.”
“I’m fine. I need my baby.” I didn’t want to spend any more time alone with him.
“In a minute,” he said. He pulled his hand back from me, but the way he was looking at me made me think he wanted to touch me more. However, I hardened my heart and told myself I wasn’t falling for that again.
“You’re the White Queen?” he asked, a tone of disbelief in his voice.
I smirked at myself. Of course, he was right down to the business. Why would I think he cared about me?
“That’s right,” I told him. “And you’re the Rogue King? So… is this your kingdom?” I had a feeling we were technically still in my territory, but I didn’t know where. Wouldn’t my people be searching for me?
He smiled bitterly at me. “I have no kingdom now, Rosalie. I have nothing. I brought you here for your recovery.”
I took a moment to comprehend the situation before I replied.
First, I’d show my gratitude. “Ethan,” I said, “I thank you for saving me.”
“I sensed there is a ‘but’?” He raised his eyebrow.
I was a bit annoyed, but then I made my request as he expected, “But I could do that back at my home—in the palace.”
“It’s not safe out there. That’s why you were attacked in the first place,” he said flatly.
“We wouldn’t make the same mistake again now that we know.” I retorted.
“Rosalie, just let me help you,” he frowned.
“I don’t need your help, Ethan!” I raised my voice.
He only looked at me for a long moment before he said, “Yes, you do. I will have Georgia bring the baby for you to nurse him, but then, you will go back to sleep.”
My eyes widened in shock, and I felt fury start to fill me.
Who was he to tell me what to do? This was my land! I was the rightful ruler here, and he thought he could just come in here and boss me around again?
I was about to jump up and tell him what was going to happen when my head started to swim.
Maybe he was right. I was awfully lightheaded. I must’ve lost too much blood.
Without another word, Ethan turned around and walked out of the tent, leaving me alone again with my own thoughts.
It didn’t take too long for him to return with Georgia, who was carrying my child.
With the desperate longing I was feeling for my baby, my arms reached for him.
He saw me and nearly leaped out of Georgia’s grasp to get to me. She handed him to me, and I held him close for a moment, breathing him in and kissing his head. He grabbed hold of my hair and squealed with delight at being back in my arms.
“Thank you, Georgia,” I said, ignoring Ethan, who was still standing next to me watching me and the baby. His eyes didn’t even blink.
The little one puckered his tiny lips, and I knew he was hungry.
I was about to nurse him, but then… I looked up and met Ethan s eyes. I stared at him for a few seconds, hoping he would get the cue to leave the room.
But he didn’t seem to understand my silent request at all.
Any gentleman should’ve left without me asking! I gritted my teeth. “Excuse me, but may I have some privacy, please?”
He stared into my eyes for a couple of seconds and parted his lips. However, his reply was not at all what I expected. “Why?”
“Because…because….” For a moment, I found myself unable to speak.
“Ptssss!” Georgia burst into laughter, and my face was bright red. This was not how it was supposed to be!
Finally, Georgia straightened her body from laughing and pushed Ethan out of the door, “Come on, brother. Do you want your son to starve?” I made sure Ethan was gone before I pulled up my shirt.
The little one had already been a bit fussy due to his hunger, but he quieted down as soon as I started feeding him, which brought a smile to my face. Georgia returned after a few minutes. She closed the door behind her.
“How are you feeling?” she asked me, sitting down on the floor next to the cot.
“Fine,” I told her as I stared down at my sweet boy. “I’m not in any pain anymore, but I’m a little dizzy. How did I get here?”
“The rogues pushed our forces from the field, and Ethan came in and fought them off. While our people were still regrouping, he told Seraphine he was taking you back to his camp to rest. She tried to argue with him, but he wouldn’t hear it. So… he moved you here.”
A sigh of frustration left my lips. “I don’t understand, Georgia. Why is he holding me here?”
“Rosalie, do you really not know? He cares about you, but he doesn’t know how to handle it other than keeping you close and safe. He has gone through a lot lately.”
I was sure she knew all about how Ethan had become a rogue and everything that had transpired with him over the past few months, but I didn’t want to hear it.
The last thing I needed was to find myself beginning to feel sorry for him again. I told myself that whatever had happened between him and James was probably something he deserved.
“I just don’t understand why he can’t leave me alone,” I told her, letting out a sigh. “I understand he might want to see his son…”
“He loves you, Rosalie.” She reached up and patted my leg.
“Well, that’s too bad. Apparently, the situation with Madalynn didn’t work out for him” I rolled my eyes, and Georgia laughed.
“No, things definitely didn’t work out between him and Madalynn, but he never wanted to marry her to begin with.”
“Then, he just needs to go find someone else.” As I said those words, it struck me, “Where’s his mate?” I asked, “Why doesn’t he go spend some time looking for his fated mate so that he can leave me alone?”
Georgia shook her head. “He can’t find his mate, Rosalie, because he wouldn’t be able to feel her.”
I frowned. I didn’t expect that. “Why is that?”
She let out a loud sigh and leaned against the cot. “When everything happened with our mother and my father, Ethan was so disheartened by what our mother had done, he vowed to the Moon Goddess to never have a mate, because he didn’t want to ever be in a situation where he would be blinded by love the way he felt his father had been.”
“Yes, I remember Talon told me that. I thought it was just the way that he chose to live his life…”
“No, not only that. I’m guessing the Moon Goddess must’ve listened, and she took away his mate bond.” Georgia’s expression was serious. “He wouldn’t feel his mate even if she was right in front of him!”
I took a deep breath and held it. I couldn’t believe someone would do that. Slowly, I let it out. “Really?”
She nodded.
I looked down at my son, but my thoughts wandered. I used to wish that I was his fated mate, that we could be with each other forever and raise our son together…. Now, I knew he’d never have that sort of happiness with anyone.
“Rosalie? Are you okay?” Georgia asked, patting my leg again.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I told her with a small smile. I glanced down at the baby and saw that he was asleep. I was afraid to move him, though, because Ethan had implied that he would take him when he was done eating.
Without a mate bond, Ethan probably would never be able to love. So, did he keep me here simply because he wanted his son, and he needed someone to feed the child?
“Everything’s going to be all right, Rosalie.” Georgia said. I nodded and sighed.
A year ago, I would have never understood why Ethan or anyone would make that kind of an awful request.
However, now I did understand. Because the pain caused by someone I loved was so unbearable that I would never ever want to go through that again.
In fact, given the chance, I might make the same choice as him.