Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 195 Ethan And Rosalie Finally Met Again
“Alpha! They are back!” Vicky ran into my room to inform me as I was catching up with Paul and Richard.
I nodded to acknowledge the news. “Okay.” Then I turned to Paul and Richard. “You said Kai was forcing the citizens to fight for him?”
Vicky stood there, dumbfounded. Then she winked at Paul. Paul then excused himself while Richard said that he wanted to take a break.
I pushed myself up from the desk and thought it would be helpful for me to take a walk to clear my mind.
However, before I knew it, I was in front of Rosalie’s room. I could smell her flowery sweet scent, and I couldn’t be more familiar with the pull that made me long for her. She was inside, behind a thin door, and yet, it felt like my arm weighed a thousand pounds and I couldn’t lift it up to knock.
As I was battling internally, the door opened. And she was standing in front of me, holding our wonderful son.
It was as unreal and beautiful as a dream. My heart hammered in my chest, and I debated what to do.
Her long white hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she looked like a sharp and experienced warrior, yet I could tell she was still a kind and gentle person inside. It might not have been many days since I’d seen her last, but I felt I hadn’t seen her in centuries.
After all, each of us had died once. I knew she would have a lot to catch up on, but I selfishly wanted some time alone with her.
I wanted to tell her so much how much she meant to me. How I’d felt when I thought I wouldn’t be able to see her ever again. How I hoped that we could be together forever to raise our child.
But then., a lot of other memories flooded my mind.
When I was a rogue, I’d held her against her will. Before that, I’d lied to her from her son. And I’d even planned to kill her and take her away.
She was kind enough to keep me alive and bring me back to life, but how could I burden her more with my feelings after I’d treated her so poorly in the past? No, now was not a time to confess my feelings and try to plan a peaceful future with my mate.
In fact, now wasn’t even a good time for me to remind her that I’d marked her and that we were mates.
I needed to be patient. Maybe step one was to make her feel comfortable around me.
“Hi, Rosalie,” I managed to say.
“Ah, hi, Ethan.” She seemed a bit nervous as well. “I’m glad that you are up and about.”
“Um… thank you for saving my life.”
Rosalie shook her head. “No, thank you for making that sacrifice for me first,” she said. As if it wasn’t a big deal, she added, “I guess we’re even now.”
I replied softly, “You really didn’t need to. It was too dangerous…”
She grimaced, as if a sharp pain hit her right in the heart at my words, “…but I am grateful that you brought me back. Thank you again,” I continued.
I was grateful that I got to see her again, be able to hear her voice, and have a conversation like this. Her beautiful eyes were locked on me, and I wanted so badly for her to know that I loved her enough to die for her. But I wasn’t sure how she could take it at the moment. I had to remind myself to take it slow.
“You’re welcome, Ethan.” Rosalie nodded her head and smiled, but her smile seemed bitter.
She lifted her head, and when her gaze met mine, a question slipped from my lips. “Why did you do that?”
Was it because she might have a spot for me in her heart?
She froze, and took a moment to respond flatly, “Because the boy needs his father back… Here, you want to hold him?”
Her words stung. But what else did I expect? After so many things happening in our lives, how could I still expect that she had feelings for me and wanted me in her life?
When I took my son in my arms and held him tightly though, all I had left in my heart was gratitude. What more could I ask for?
I was here, alive, talking to the love of my life and kissing our baby, who laughed with glee before he reached up and patted my face.
Anything else in life was just icing on the cake. I should not have been greedy and should have just been content with what I already had.
Rowan was still wearing the special bracelet I had given him. I pinched his chubby cheek, holding him tightly. I glanced over and saw that Rosalie’s eyes seemed to be moist.
Then we seemed to have exhausted our topics.
I cleared my throat, trying to find something else to say. “Paul and Richard caught me up on the spy issue.”
“Yes, a man named Marcus. He was with a group of citizens who had met you before. A seer named Gayla and people from her village,” she said to give me more details.
I let out a breath inwardly. The conversation was much easier when it was about work.
Then she continued, “So of course, my trip to pick the Moonlight Lily wasn’t a secret, especially when Madalynn found out that she could use it to help Behar.”
“Moonlight Lily?” I repeated.
“Yes?” She was a bit puzzled at why I said that and then she chuckled, “If you heard from Soren, that flower may have a few other nicknames.”
Idiot Soren, I cursed, but I focused back on the priorities.
“Gayla and the villagers are here?” I pondered. “Did James lose that territory to Kai?”
Rosalie nodded. “Yes, unfortunately.”
Again, I nodded. Now, I could see she wasn’t about to start our love affair over. She was all business.
“Your Majesty, welcome back.” Cerina’s voice echoed from down the hallway, causing both Rosalie and me to turn to her.
“You had asked us to hold the spy until you return. What would you like us to do with him?” Cerina said with a bow.
“Bring him over to the hall,” Rosalie instructed and turned to me, and Alpha Ethan, would you like to join us too?”
“My pleasure,” I replied. My eyes were narrowed. I had plenty to say to this Marcus.
“You can give the baby to…” Rosalie said.
I blew out a breath slowly and looked her in the eye. “No, I think it’s fine for he to join his parents.”
Rosalie seemed to be surprised by what I said, and she looked away. However, I swore I saw a hint of pink in her face.
We met the rest of the group in the meeting hall. Marcus’s wrists and ankles were shackled. He had a defiant look on his face as he scowled at Rosalie, who was sitting in her throne; she looked divine and graceful.
I decided to remain silent and let Rosalie handle the situation.
“Your name is Marcus?” Rosalie asked. Her voice was calm.
The man sneered, but he didn’t answer her question. Instead, he stated, “You’re going to waste your time on me. Why don’t you just kill me?”
“Because I have some questions for you,” Rosalie did not seem to be offended by Marcus’s attitude and she maintained her tone.
“Ha, go f*ck yourself! I’m not going to tell you a thing!”
“How dare you!” Jace was about to beat up Marcus when Rosalie ordered, “Jace, stop.”
“But, he’s so disrespectful, Your Majesty!”
“Jace, it’s an order.” Rosalie nodded to Jace as he stepped back in line.
However, Marcus didn’t show gratitude for Rosalie’s kind act. He took the opportunity to turn to me and raise his voice, making sure that he could be heard. “I am loyal to my country and my king, unlike some f*cking banished traitors!”
I swallowed the bitterness and didn’t know what to think. The country I fought for and the people I tried to guard thought I was the one who had betrayed them. How ironic was that?
This time, Rosalie narrowed her eyes and she responded immediately, “Marcus, you’re wrong!”
Her clear voice echoed in the hall. It was not often that I saw Rosalie upset at others. She said, “Alpha Ethan’s loyalty lies with his country, not with one person. He was banished not because he did something wrong. Instead, it was because he protected your country so well!”
My eyes widened. A stream of warmth flowed through my heart.
Rosalie… she was defending me.
Then I felt something soft grabbing my finger. It was my little boy. He wrapped his hand around my finger, as if he was saying that he trusted me too.
I couldn’t help but smile. What a lucky man I was!
“Why waste time trying to explain it to him?” Soren stepped forward and cracked his knuckles. “If he seeks death, then let him have it!”
Marcus was a little surprised at Rosalie’s words, but after hearing what Soren said, he held his chin high and he exclaimed, “Go ahead! I’ll die as a hero!”
Soren burst out laughing. “Oh, man, you’re not only stubborn, but also stupid!” Then he stopped laughing and stared at Marcus. “You *sshole! A lot of people could’ve died because of you! Many have died because of your king, and you call yourself a hero?!”
Marcus shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Rosalie got up from her throne, walked over and stood in front of Marcus. She said, “If my life alone could be exchanged for peace for all the people, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.”
I frowned and was really not fond of what she said. However, I knew that as kind as she was, she would do just that, just like she had done for her people earlier. “However,” she paused and asked Marcus, “my question to you is, if King James were to get what he wants, to have my blood and Ethan dead, do you really think the war would end?”
“King James said he would end the war if Ethan was dead and you were captured!” Marcus said; it was as if he was convincing himself.
Rosalie shook her head. “Alpha Ethan had the war nearly won for King James before the king decided it was no longer about defeating the invader, but about making sure no one would ever be a risk for his heir’s throne.”
Marcus’ eyes widened. “That’s not true…”
Rosalie didn’t comment on his disagreement and continued, “Even if James got what he wanted, he’d just go right back to fighting against Kai, and you know that. It was proven that without Ethan, he is a weakling. He cannot win. But he would continue to try because he wants to secure his reign. How many more families would be destroyed? How many more innocent children would be orphaned, or worse, killed? And that’s all because of your king’s selfish pursuit of his unborn child!”
“I don’t…” Marcus began, looking at the ground as he slowly shook his head. “I never thought about it that way… Your Majesty.”
Rosalie nodded. “Marcus, you look like an intelligent man. Is that who you want to serve?”
Marcus stood there silently this time. I could see the conflict in his expression.
“Now, you will still be taken down to the dungeon to serve a sentence for your crimes,” Rosalie said.
Marcus didn’t fight back and accepted his punishment, but asked, “Your Majesty… you said you wanted to ask me something. What was it?”
Rosalie smiled, and she walked back and sat on her throne. Everyone admired her. She was dignified and graceful. “My question for you is, if you are given the chance, will you fight for me?”
Marcus looked at the floor. Finally, he said, “…I don’t know.”
Rosalie didn’t pressure him more and gestured for him to be taken away before she looked at the rest of us.
We were all speechless. All I could do was stare at her in awe, wonder, and pride. Like a butterfly that had broken free from her cocoon, this once timid girl had metamorphosed into a merciful and wise leader, a true queen.