Sold to the Alpha With Silver Eyes - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

*Eden*
Leoni shakes, tears tracking down her tan cheeks in the early sunrise, unwilling to move from Hastings’ side. Topher changes the herbs placed on the deep gash just off center of his shoulder blades. The rest of him is near shredded as if they held him down and took turns in wolf form, clawing his flesh from his bones.
My lips quiver, imagining the pain he suffers, the strength he had to have to endure the awful things they did, and for how long? When did they find him and why wasn’t he able to reach out to the rest of the group, he has used the mind link before, so why did he never call for help or raise the alarm?
“Eden, come with me,” Dev says as he limps by, pulling me from the downward spiral of questions I will probably never have answers for. “Now.”
Dev’s tone is lifeless, as if he is struggling to keep his emotions contained. I give Leoni one last look, but she doesn’t notice as I slip away after him, keeping a distance between us as he winds around the camp and moves toward a dip in the trail. He pushes a large bush to the side, motioning for me to go forward.
I hesitate for a moment, sparing him a glance as he looks in the opposite direction. The sun burns my eyes as I shield them from the reflection on the clear lake before me.
Orange and pink dance across the water as a gentle breeze tickles the surface, sending ripples to my feet where I look down and see my reflection. Blood dots my face, my arms covered in what I thought was mud as I slipped during the attack. And my hands, sticky and stiff from the life I took.
Bile rises in my throat, my stomach revolting against me as it squeezes uncomfortably. The acid burns as I try to keep it from coming out, but it is no use as I turn to the side and empty the depth of my stomach. I pinch my sides, wincing at the soreness I know I will feel for a while from the strenuous activities of last night and the violent vomiting I just did.
“You can clean yourself up and change into these clothes here.” Dev says, setting a duffle bag off to the side. “Everyone has cleaned themselves up already, so no one will bother you. Come and find me when you are done.”
He feels different now, no longer chatty or trying to get me to open up like before. A wall has gone up, and it makes me uncomfortable. I swallow roughly, looking out at the water and back at him as he starts to walk off, leaving me alone. My fingers twitch and I suck my bottom lip in, nibbling it. The soft chirping of the birds feels like a death call as a coldness seeps into my bones.
“Are you leaving?” I ask, my voice hardly above a whisper as the words rush out.
“I assumed you would rather not have a spectator.” He says, looking over his shoulder. He isn’t wrong. The last thing I want is for him to watch me bathe, but his presence is the only thing that seems to keep the panic at bay.
“C-could you stay? I mean, look the other way…” I ask, my nerves frayed as I hug my body and look at the ground.
“Are you sure you are comfortable with that?” he asks, turning to look at me, his eyes studying me closely. I nod weakly and his face drops, pity replacing the stony look and he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I will sit on the other side of this tree,”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he moves around the tree to the right, inching himself down, his back facing me. I take two steps into the lake, the cool water shocking me for a moment before I wade further in, clothes on until I am just over breast deep. I quickly shuck the dirty clothes, soaking my body for a bit before I scrub my skin.
The blood disappears, but the heaviness of it, the stickiness remains. I killed someone. For the first time in my life, my anger overcame me and I killed, I lost control and I…I enjoyed destroying the fucker who wanted to do awful things. It’s something my wolf can reason with, but my human mind is so lost, so…mutilated and beat down I don’t know how I am supposed to feel.
I drop under the water, allowing it to cool my mind, washing my face as I swim closer to where I entered. I reach down, grabbing the sand as I scrub it over my hands and arms, needing to remove more of the blood I can feel, even if my naked eye can not see it anymore.
It’s fine. He deserved it and no one will miss him. Right?
“We need to be moving, Eden. Topher has Hastings stable enough to get to our convoy back.”
“Okay.” I whisper, rushing out of the water and grabbing at the bag. I’m relieved when I find a pair of athletic shorts and an oversized t-shirt. I slip my shorts on with ease, reaching for my shirt and struggling for a second as it snags in my hair. As I spin around, my eyes widen in shock, looking at Dev, who frowns as I quickly tug the top over my midsection.
“I’m ready.” I whisper, reaching into the bag and grabbing a pair of slides before taking the bag and walking past him.
“Your hands,” he says, coming up next to me, pointing at my scrubbed raw hands.
“They were dirty.” I mutter, shoving them behind my back as if I were a child sneaking a sugary treat. “Uh, did Topher say how Hastings is doing?”
A frown settles on Dev’s lips, but he lets it go, choosing to honor my obvious attempt to change the subject.
“He is in rough enough shape that we asked for a convoy. That is not usually a good sign, if I am being honest.” He exhales, shaking his head.
“Poor Leoni,” I mutter and he nods in agreement.
“None of this is fair and unfortunately, this is a reality of this lifestyle. Until these auctions cease to exist, this is our life.” He says as if it’s easy to accept.
“Are you guys attacked a lot?” I ask, pulling my brows together.
“This is the eleventh time this stretch, but a team of alphas is more rare. Many are stuck in the old ways, unable to grow with the times and realize that a woman is not meant to be their entertainment but their salvation.” His words are surprisingly clear and concise, filled with sincerity.
It makes me blink, a hint of shock hitting me in the chest. It shouldn’t surprise me, yet to hear it from someone fighting for the kingdom surprises me. Not everyone’s life under King Cedric’s reign has been fair or good.
“Does the king feel the same?” I ask, gauging his reaction as he signs heavily.
“I do believe he does. King Cedric cares about the people, he wants peace and freedom for everyone.” He pauses. “The kingdom still practices the use of breeders, but it is a mutual agreement only made with those who can not conceive and those who have lost their mate. It is much more complicated.”
I frown, looking away. The fact that breeders exist, mutual agreement or not, makes my stomach churn.
In the short swim and walk back, the entire camp was packed up and everyone ready to move, Leoni carrying the front of Hastings’ stretcher. I look around, the dead bodies piled and left to the side, waiting for time to do its work and let nature reclaim them.
“We collect the names of the ones we knew, the rest can rot and we will see who reports back that they are missing their alphas.” One of the other warriors reports.
“Good, have we heard from Dale about the vehicles we asked for?” Dev asks and walks away, leaving me behind.
“You feeling okay?” Topher asks, making me jump as I look up at him. His dark brown eyes are soft and full of concern.
“I am fine,” I lie, pushing aside the constant ache in my chest that seems to grow with every step Dev takes away from me.
“Your scratched up hands and knuckles say otherwise, Eden.” He says softly, handing me a small circular tin. “Put this on. It will sting, but it will clean the wounds and your hands of any blood while healing them.”
My mouth falls open as I watch him chuckle under his breath.
“Don’t look so surprised. We may fight like barbarians, but as Dev has promised, we are the good guys.” He walks along beside me and I get the feeling he is psychoanalyzing me, somehow looking into my soul and reading the very feelings I have been trying to shove down.
“I think I believe you.” I mutter, chewing the inside of my cheek.
“It’s not about if you believe me, it’s about letting you know you are safe. Healing comes naturally to us, but I have noticed yours is slower than normal. You are used to injuries, so much so you have used it as a mechanism to keep yourself safe. Am I wrong?” He asks.
Tears dot my eyes, and I clear my throat, tipping my chin up as I look forward.
“Everyone has lived with pain.” I mutter, proud of how convincing I sound.
“And yet Dev seems to be drawn to you, studying your every move. He is worried about you, and I get the feeling he should be,” he tells me, giving me a sympathetic frown. “Either way, I suggest you stay close to him for the time being. You seem to be more at ease with him.”
“It’s the hero complex,” I lie. “He and Leoni saved me when I was ready to give up. I don’t understand how, but it created something between the three of us.”
“Mmm,” he hums, as if he isn’t sure he is buying it. “Well, I hope you use that bond to help you heal, and not just help you cope.”
Then he jogs off, catching up to Leoni and checking in on Hastings one more time.