Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 189 Ethan’s Acquaintance
“The battle is nearly over now,” Georgia said behind me, her voice jarring me out of a stupor. I hadn’t heard her come back.
Since it didn’t take long at all, I assumed, “It went well?”
She grinned. “It was likely more of a scouting party than an actual battleline this time. There weren’t many of them, and once we counterattacked, they dropped back.”
“Casualties?”
“Minimum,” she said firmly.
I relaxed a bit. “I’m glad it ended, and that you are all unharmed,” I noted, and I tried to smile at her.
“Yeah, thanks to Ethan’s crazy *ss plan, Behar and Madalynn lost a sh*tload of their warriors.” Georgia had a crooked smile on her face, despite the fact that I could see worry in her eyes about her brother.
“What exactly did Ethan do?” I heard bits and pieces of the overall war status, but I would need details. I glanced over to look at Ethan, but I knew I also needed to catch up with everything that occurred since I fell into a coma.
Georgia shook her head and said, “Basically, he used himself as bait. But if you want more details, you’ I have to ask Soren.”
Ever since I woke up, I had seen quite a few people, but not Soren.
“Where is Soren? Is he okay?” I remembered then that earlier Georgia had said he was back.
Georgia replied, “He’s here, back in the palace, but he is wounded.” Seeing my concerned face, she added quickly. “But he is okay, still alive. They bandaged him up and gave him some medicines. He will just, need to rest for the time being.”
I let out my breath in relief. “I’ll go check on him then.”
But Georgia stopped me. “Wait a moment, Rosalie.”
I looked at her, puzzled. “The reason I came to get you is because there are people outside who want to speak to Ethan.”
I was shocked to see how many people were gathered in the courtyard. Most of them were women and children, and all of them were skinny and dirty.
Georgia explained to me, “They escaped from Behar’s compound, and they are the ones who brought Soren back.”
My eyes widened. If they were on the enemy’s side, why would they save Soren? Talon, Vicky, and Paul were already there, along with Seraphine and Cerina.
“It’s the White Queen!” A murmur went over the crowd, and everyone lowered their heads to show their respect. I lifted my hand and waved at them.
“Your Majesty.” Cerina and Seraphine greeted me as Cerina gestured toward a young man and an older woman. The woman seemed to be sightless based on the way she was looking into the distance.
I stopped in front of them. The young man was nervous, so I smiled at him, hoping to make him relax a little bit.
“Thank you for saving Soren.” I started the conversation with a friendly tone.
“Your…Your Majesty!” The young man lowered his head.
“No need to stand on ceremony.” I led the two of them a little away from the crowd so that it would be easier for me to hear what they had to say. “How may I address you?”
The young man answered nervously, “My name is Otto, and this is Gayla, our pack Seer. We are from a village south of Mirage. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.” He dipped his head again, and the worn an smiled.
Talon’s brow knitted, and he asked, “South of Mirage? I remember we took back that area from Kai before the siege of the capital…”
Otto said, ‘That’s correct! In fact, by the time Alpha Ethan’s troops left our village, everything was back in order, and we were able to live our normal lives again.” I exchanged a look with Talon, then asked Otto, “Then why did you… end up fighting for Behar and Madalynn’s forces, and now you’ve come to my pack?” Otto sighed. “Because of Alpha Ethan!”
The mention of Ethan’s name made my heart speed up.
“Please elaborate,” I said. Everything about Ethan immediately had my full attention.
“A few months back, Alpha Ethan pushed King Kai’s forces back and regained our territory. Gayla helped him and told him of a prophecy. I also had the honor to meet him in person. Everyone was grateful for what he had done for our country.” Ethan was intimidating on battlefields, but for citizens, he was the most powerful protector.
Otto also mentioned that the Seer helped Ethan. I wondered what she did, but I didn’t want to interrupt, so I nodded and encouraged him to continue. “However, later on, without Alpha Ethan, King James lost the war against the West King, and King Kai took control of our village again.”
“So you decided to fight for Kai?” Georgia asked. She was obviously displeased.
“We had no choice. They forced us to!” Otto explained hurriedly, as if he was worried that we wouldn’t listen. “Our Seer, Gayla, told us to come to the north to seek shelter, but we were captured by Behar’s men on the way here. They took our women and children hostage and forced our men to fight for the West King or else their family wouldn’t get any food or water….”
“It was a terrible travesty,” Vicky commented, her voice grave.
Otto nodded and took the opportunity to continue. “When we saw Alpha Ethan was locked up on display, we were all very worried. Luckily, he was able to get away. Later, when Behar was wounded, and most of his men were killed, we saw our opportunity to escape. We rescued the captives and headed here.”
“Including Soren?” Georgia asked.
“You mean the person we picked up from the battlefield? That’s right. We saw him helping Alpha Ethan, So we figured he must be a friend,” Otto answered. “We thought, if we follow Alpha Ethan, he may be willing to help us.”
Otto looked around but didn’t see the person they wanted to see. “Your Majesty, could we talk to Alpha Ethan, please?”
My throat tightened, and I wanted to tell him that I wanted to talk to Ethan as much as he did, but I pulled up a smile and assured him, “Alpha Ethan is busy right now… however,” I told him as I looked around the crowd and announced loudly, “Everyone, you have my word. You are safe here!”
The crowd was quiet at first, and then I heard a mix of cheers and weeping.
I sighed. It must have been such a heartbreaking journey for them to get here. Not wanting to disturb me more, Otto bowed again and was about to walk away with Gayla, but I stopped them.
I still had questions for the Seer. I wanted to learn more about Ethan. I didn’t want to miss any news or stories about him.
“One moment, please.” I walked close to Gayla and asked, “Madam, could you tell me how you got to know Ethan… and you gave him a prophecy?”.
Cerina and Seraphine led the citizens to the shelter. A few men stayed around, seemingly offering help.
I led Otto and Gayla to a bench to sit down as she said, “I met him when he was in our village, in pain. However, that pain didn’t originate from things that occurred to him in battle.” As if she could see my puzzled face, she lifted her empty gaze to me. “The pain came from you!”
My eyes widened as I contemplated everything she was saying. “Me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” She explained, “He felt your suffering when your child was born, therefore, I created a bridge for you to see each other.”
My mouth was hanging open. I had just assumed it had all been an illusion, the effects of so much blood loss, and that Ethan wasn’t really there at all when Rowan was born.
But it wasn’t my imagination…. Ethan, Ethan was there for me!! Bittersweet emotions washed over me. “How did you-”
She shook her head. “I cannot speak to the how, dear. Only the Moon Goddess knows that. But I did warn Alpha Ethan not to go north. He did so anyway.”
“Thank you, for everything,” I told her, taking her hand and holding it between both of mine. “I am thankful for that as well.”
Tears fell down my cheeks. Ethan… how I wished I could tell him how much he meant to me.
Gayla frowned as she sensed my emotional shift. “Your Majesty, what’s the matter?”
“Wise one… Madam, could you please help us again?” I croaked. “Please follow me.”
Otto helped Gayla up, and the two of them, along with my most trusted group, followed us back to my room where Ethan lay. Otto stuttered in disbelief, “Al-Alpha Ethan!”
As I gently caressed Ethan’s face, I said to Gayla, “My blood kept him from dying, but… could you see if there’s a way to wake him?”
I could hear the pleading in my own voice as I felt Georgia’s hand come down on my shoulder to com fort me.
“That is a grim prognosis, I’ll try.” The Seer did not provide me with the hope I was looking for. She proceeded to place her hand on top of mine and paused for a moment.
Then, as if she was shocked, she retreated to kneel before me. Her forehead touched the ground.
“Gayla, what happened? Please get up!” I rushed over and pulled her up from the ground.
She took a deep breath. “Your Majesty, you are the descendant of the Moon Goddess, and I am a mere mortal,” she said. “How could I foresee the fate of the child of the Moon Goddess? I’m sorry, my Queen, but the fate of you and your mate is beyond me to foretell.”
I felt my heart drop in my chest.
“There is nothing you can do?” I asked, although I didn’t expect much would change based on her statement.
“Yet, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost,” she continued, all of sudden gripping my hand tightly.
I stopped breathing for a second, feeling a flutter of faith inside of me. “Please, tell me!”
“While it is beyond me to help you with what you seek, I might be able to connect you to one who can provide the answer.”
I squeezed her hand and pleaded, “Please! Tell me who can help. I’ll go anywhere” She smiled and told me, “Your Majesty, please be patient and wait for the one to come to you.”