Sold to the Alpha With Silver Eyes - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

*Eden*
It’s strange how you can be so upset, so done with someone and yet hope to catch a glimpse of them every time you step out of your house. I don’t expect Dev to interact with me or send me puppy dog eyes filled with misery. But maybe seeing him will make me remember why I am so mad.
There are extenuating circumstances, of that I am sure. And yet…my heart can’t bear to hear them and my soul can’t stand not knowing them. It’s a constant game of tug a war with in me. I know Leoni is talking with him again, the two of them working on something I can’t bring myself to ask about.
Instead, I float around like a ghost, barely existing as I try to pull my shit together. I need to leave. The distance will do me good, perhaps provide clarity for my already cloudy mind.
But my wolf mopes constantly, not understanding why I am so unwilling to offer forgiveness. That is the difference between the human mind and the wolves. Her loyalty is more animalistic, instinct driven and mine is emotional and strategic.
“Hey!” Leoni says, smiling brightly at me as I trudge into the living room in my sherpa robe and plop down on to the couch.
“Morning,” I yawn out, stretching my arms over the back of the cushion as I settle in, thinking about a nice nap after today’s run.
“Your run was longer than usual.” She sips at her bottled drink, her eyes filled with suspicion.
“I’m running further now,” I hum, closing my eyes and hoping she can’t read the lie.
The truth is, my trust in Leoni has dwindled. Not that she has given me any real reason for it, but with all the time she is spending with Dev…he has to be asking about me, right? I mean, surely he misses me, unless he really doesn’t and then I’m stuck mourning this one sided heart break.
“Oh, are you now?” She mumbles. I can feel her eyes watching, assessing and judging me.
“Well, since you aren’t able to train with me anymore and I have a damn audience every time I leave this house, I might as well run further.” I say, peeking through one heavy eyelid.
I suppose it’s not a total lie. I am running further than normal. But I will not tell her that I am running to the place where I saw the wolf across the pack grounds, looking for anything to indicate they might still be there.
Leoni exhales and places her drink on the coffee table, crossing her arms over her chest.
“That audience is there for your protection.” She reminds me and I close my eyes again to hide the heavy eye roll I provide.
“Yep. Protect the weak, innocent little ex-sex slave.” I mutter, wanting to slap my own face for the shitty attitude I am giving, but damn it, it feels like my world is off its axis, spinning in such disarray I can’t even find up from down anymore.
“I see a nap didn’t fix your grumpiness.” She grunts and I chuckle.
“Sorry,” I offer, only half meaning it. I am sorry she is stuck in the middle of all of this, but I’m not sorry for the way I feel. These emotions are mine and I am entitled to feel them how I please, even if it might offend her.
Leoni exhales deeply and I open my eyes, meeting hers that are filled with guilt and disappointment.
“Eden, I am sorry I haven’t been around as much. And I know it must be weird that I am keeping secrets for both you and Dev, but I need you to know I do care about you.” She sounds sincere enough. But then again, so did Dev every time he swore he wanted me and he would choose me.
“I know you do. And it’s fine. He was here first, and he is your alpha.” I say, hating how torn she looks. “You want to do something today?”
I shrug like it’s not a big deal, hoping she says no. Not because I don’t want to spend time with her, but because I need her gone. While Leoni has been off plotting and planning with Dev about heavens knows what, I have been doing my own reconnaissance, figuring out who is tailing me and where they are.
Her face falls as she sighs. “I’d love to, but…”
“But you have plans already, with them.” I nod in understanding silently, rejoicing in her answer.
“I swear it’s not like a friendly hang out thing.” She assures me, rushing forward with her hands up.
“It’s fine Leoni, really.” I smile at her before I stand and give her a big hug.
“Are you sure?” She asks, her eyebrows pulled together like she is trying to read my mind.
“Yes. I will just hang out, eat something, and maybe binge watch a television series.”
“Sounds better than what I am doing,” she mutters, her nose scrunching, then she looks at her watch. “Shit, speaking of which I have to go. Rain check on hanging out, okay?”
She points at me with a stern face before breaking into a grin and breaking out the front door. I wait a few minutes, watching her leave through the window before I rush over and close all the curtains and fly up to my room. I shuck my robe and grab the binoculars from the bedside and I creep to the window, watching the trees.
I have spent three days tracking movements, trying to figure out where they hide when they are waiting for me to leave. It is easy when they reveal themselves on our runs, not afraid to let me know they are there.
But figuring out when they start to tail me has been the issue. Do they just hang out in the yard or trees? Or is there a way where they know I am on the move and come to where I am?
They have to get hungry or use the bathroom or at least swap off, right? So my plan is to out wait them. It doesn’t matter if it will take me hours. I will figure it out tonight because I really need to get out of this damn place. Leoni has already told me it is unsafe for me to leave. The asshole king even sent a letter demanding all those wishing to leave request approval to exit and travel in groups.
Well, I know no one other than the freaking next king to be and his two friends. Even if they are also my friends, they would never go against their alpha to help me leave when they also agree I would be in danger. Which means I am back to relying only on myself. It is both thrilling and frightening.
Until the hours burn by and there is nothing and no one around. Birds chirp and fly about as I grow more bored and disappointed with every passing minute. Patience was never something I handled well. Add to it the excitement about finally being out of here and doing what I want for myself and, well, damn it. It’s fucking frustrating.
Maybe if I scream, they will come running in the house and I can see where they come from, then watch where they go? I tilt my head, thinking about it before I step away from the window and look at the corner of the bed, then down at my bare toes.
I wince, thinking about the pain I know I will feel for a few minutes before the wound will heal. Then I inhale and exhale, jumping from foot to foot as I try to hype myself up. My hands pump at my sides, making tight fists before loosening up.
“I got this.” I mutter to myself before I run to the bedpost and wind my leg back. My eyes slip closed, my teeth gritting together as I stop and then peek, one eye open, looking down at my uninjured foot. “Shit, do I really want to do this?”
I groan, resetting as I take a few steps, really trying to get my head in the right place. This is the key to freedom, Eden. One little kick and a flash of pain stands between you and planning your getaway.
“One little kick,” I remind myself. “We got this,”
I fight the squeal as I run forward once more, opening my eyes this time and falling backward on my ass when I see someone sitting in the middle of my bed, smirking at me. Panic fills my throat and I can’t get a scream out as I scramble backwards on my ass until I hit the wall, refusing to look away from the man at the center of my bed.
“You could have just screamed and pretended there was a big spider.” He offers, tilting his head to the side. “Seems like a better plan than trying to break a toe.”
I glare at him.
“I wasn’t trying to break my toe.” I shoot back at him and he lifts one brow in amusement. “It was just…you know what, no. You are sitting on my bed, you don’t get to question me. Who the hell are you?”
“Honestly, I am surprised you could smell that I was here. I’ve been in your room for the better part of two hours.”
“I can’t smell, asshole.” I sneer at him. “Childhood injury. Thanks for bringing that up.”
He just watches me, amused, before he crawls off the bed, his hands up to show he means no harm.
“Who are you?” I demand, standing and taking a step toward him.
“I’m Zachariah.” He says, giving me a fake bow that makes me roll my eyes. “Your friendly neighborhood non-rogue, rogue.”
My eyes grow wide as I look at him closer. His blond hair is pulled back with a leather strap in a small bun, his face dirty but his eyes bright with mirth and a certain ‘I don’t give a shit’ aura about him. He looks like trouble, but in a fun way. The kind that starts off innocently, but then you are running from the warriors, hoping not to get caught.
“And why are you here, Zachariah?” I ask him, placing my hand on my hips, eyes in annoyed slits.
“Well, aside from saving you a time or two, I noticed you coming back to where we met. You seem like you have questions for me, other than about who I am, and clearly you always have company, so I thought I would come to you.” He shrugs, looking around my room.
“I was just looking at the spot, that’s all.” I lie.
“It’s not as fancy as I thought it would be in here.” He frowns, spinning around. “Better than where I stay, but still…”
“Listen, you can’t be here.” I hiss at him, grabbing him before he gets too close to the window.
“Oh please, those guys? They won’t wake up for a little bit.” He grins. “I came to take you with me.”
“I’m sorry, you what?” I ask, shocked. “There is no way in hell I am going anywhere with you. We just met!” His hand reaches out and covers my face. He spins me around, a cloth over my mouth and nose as I inhale sharply, hoping to let out a scream before darkness clouds my mind and I feel myself falling to my knees.
“Sorry, Eden. But I made a promise to your family and in order to keep it, it is time you come home with me.” He says, his voice echoing before I lose complete consciousness.