Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 32 – Marrying The King’s Cousin
Waking the next morning, I found that Ethan had not returned to the room the entire night.
Of course not. He was getting engaged to Madalynn, so what was the point of being with me anymore? The idea turned my stomach.
I didn’t think it was possible to get sick as much as I was, but then again, the stress of everything was weighing down on me, and I didn’t have any choice but to accept it.
Dragging myself from the bed, I made my way to the sink to brush my teeth. Vicky had told me while getting ready yesterday that she wanted to try breakfast down in the garden area this morning. I was not in the mood for eating, even though it sounded lovely- but I’d always love to see Vicky.
“Rosalie,” Ethan’s voice called from the bedroom.
I managed to put on the white, summery dress with yellow flowers on it before he entered. When his eyes met mine, he seemed to almost sigh.
“Yes— Alpha?’’ I stuttered. Given what the King had offered the previous night, I wasn’t sure how he would treat me now.
“I thought…” He stopped, shaking his head, and gently pinched his brow before giving me a look-over. “Never mind. I am heading back down soon- did you want me to escort you?”
He acted like nothing had happened. So, did I.
“Yes, please. I was going to meet Vicky for breakfast in the garden room.”
Ethan quirked his brow before smiling and nodding his head. “Are you sure you want to be down there? There were a few people there already. You can stay up here, and then you don’t have to socialize with them.”
His sudden mood change made me feel as if he was seeing me in a different light, and not the way he had before. The small conversation meant more to me than he realized.
“I would really like to- if that’s okay with you?” I replied softly.
At the quiet sound of my voice, he nodded his head and smiled. “Very well.”
As quickly as the warmth had come, it was replaced by coldness again.
I wasn’t sure why he was so temperamental around me, but I hoped he would decide what mood he would stick with so that I didn’t have to be on my toes.
A little while later, I found out the reason why Ethan had said I didn’t have to go- and to be honest a part of me wished that I had not. The room was full of people, mainly women, who were gossiping and moving about in their small groups, looking for something to entertain themselves with.
“Rosalie!” a giddy voice exclaimed, and I watched as Vicky came walking over quickly with an excited expression on her face. “I would have come to get you had I known you still wanted to come after last night.”
“I know. I wasn’t going to, but I decided to take advantage of the chance to see something other than those four walls. Plus, I didn’t feel quite right this morning… a bit hungry, I guess. Probably because I didn’t eat much last night.”
“Well, come on, then. Let’s get you something to eat,” Vicky replied, smiling as she looped her arm through mine and led me over to a table.
There I saw Georgia, Ethan’s sister, sitting and drinking coffee. Realizing Vicky had been eating with her, I lamented even more why I even came down.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to intrude on your breakfast.”
“Oh, don’t be silly!” Vicky exclaimed, calling a waiter over and showing me into my seat.
Georgia looked up from her coffee and smiled. “She’s right. I think we got off on the wrong foot, and I apologize. I thought you were some woman looking to steal my brother’s money and take your place as his Luna for power.”
“Oh-” I stuttered, shocked at her honesty. “No, I would never-” Georgia laughed, and Vicky smiled at my response.
“Calm down. Vicky explained the situation to me. There’s no need to worry. I am sorry to hear some of what you’ve been going through.”
Georgia’s response was not what I had expected. Yes, I had been through a lot, but I didn’t realize that anyone would actually care about that.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m used to it.”
“Yes, but that’s just it. You shouldn’t have to be used to it.”
Her words were kind, and I could see in her eyes that she was sincere.
“Don’t worry, though. You have another person in your corner now- and my brother knows better than to upset me.”
Vicky choked on her water and began laughing, which caused Georgia to smirk.
I was at a loss for words over what was going on. I could see that there was a connection between the two women that far surpassed the one I had with Vicky, and I loved how they seemed to have a bond.
More than anything, I wished I had a bond like that with someone.
“Georgia is a bit of a rebel, Rosalie. Careful- she will have you doing things you never have before.” Georgia swatted at Vicky, and both women began to laugh again.
“Don’t listen to her or Talon. I am not that bad- I just don’t take my brother’s shit.” A smirk spread across her face as she sipped her coffee once more.
The morning fell into step with us having pleasant conversations and carrying on, and eventually, I heard the voice of one person I was hoping I could have gone an entire day without hearing.
Madalynn’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard, and the woman was way more trouble than she was worth.
“Can you believe it- I’m going to be marrying the king’s cousin!”
Cousin? I looked at Vicky, confused. Her eyes drifted to where Madalynn was sitting a few tables away.
“Don’t listen to her, Rosalie,” Vicky whispered before Georgia quickly caught on. “Vicky, what’s she talking about?”
Georgia’s voice took on a striking sternness, and suddenly I understood what Vicky had said about her. Sighing, Vicky shook her head. “This isn’t the place for this, Georgia.”
“Tell me.” Georgia insisted.
“Last night at dinner, the king demanded Ethan get married,” Vicky finally said in a hushed whisper, “in order to strengthen the alliance with Alpha Romero.”
Georgia looked at me for a moment. “There is no way he would agree to that. He hates the idea of mates and marriage.”
Hearing Georgia clarify what I had already partially known and suspected broke a small part of me inside. The nausea that I had felt this morning quickly came back, and the need to lay down became all that more real.
“He will do what he must for the pack, Georgia. Regardless of what he wants to do. He wasn’t given much choice. You can’t get in the middle of it. It doesn’t have anything to do with us. He is our Alpha, and we must obey and accept his choices.”
“Even if it’s bullshit, Vicky? Come on, now. I know you can’t stand her, either. Are you telling me that you will be okay with her coming into our home and trying to tell us what to do!?” Georgia’s words getting a little louder started to draw the attention of a few people nearby, and as I looked around, I saw Madalynn staring straight at me.
“Vicky, could you tell me where the bathroom is? I am really not feeling too well…” I asked Vicky.
Her expression turned from irritated at Georgia to concerned for me. “Oh, no- do I need to take you to Estrella?”
“No, no. I’ll be fine. Just a lot of excitement, is all,” I rea*s*sured her.
“I’ll show you.” Vicky made her way to stand before I quickly placed my hand on her arm.
“Honestly, it’s okay. Just point it out, and I’ll be right back.”
As much as I liked Vicky, I needed a moment to myself. A moment to get my head wrapped around everything that was going on so that I could catch my bearings.
I could see the hesitation in Vicky’s eyes, but she nodded and pointed the way.
“Come right back, Rosalie. I shouldn’t be allowing you to go alone.”
I chuckled before looking at Georgia. “Tell her to stop worrying so much.”
Vicky gasped as I walked away, and I heard Georgia laughing.
It was refreshing to hang out with people who didn’t look at you and see your social standing, but just treated you like another person. I hadn’t ever had that, at least not since I was a young girl.