The Alpha King's Breeder

*Isla*

Rain pounded my back as I followed Alpha Ernest up the broad marble steps to a home I never expected to see in real life. I looked around quickly, but he was walking fast, and I didn't have much time to see the mansion outside. I only know it resembles a castle. The dreary sky seems fitting, considering my bleak outlook.

Likewise, this castle is fitting for an Alpha King.

Under the wide porch is a bit of shelter from the wind. I pull my thin cloak around my shoulders. When Alpha Ernest's fist pounds on the door, I jump. Everything about this day is unexpected and has me on edge.

The door opens a bit, and a man with a thin, long nose gazes at us. He is wearing a butler's suit, and I relax only slightly.

Not that I expected the cruel king to open his door, but I am thankful not to face him immediately.

"Greetings! Greetings!" Alpha Ernest says in his jovial, exceedingly loud voice. He laughs in the back of his throat, his gruff tone as raspy as the thunder in the distance. "It is I, Alpha Ernest of Willow pack! His Majesty is expecting me."

The butler looks him over, and then his eyes fall on me for a moment as if he isn't sure whether or not the rotund, sweaty man in the white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows could be an actual Alpha. The detail of the Omegas hanging out in the car that brought us the two hours makes it more convincing.

"Come in," the butler says, pulling the heavy wooden door open.

"Thank you, thank you," my Alpha says, and I follow him inside, absently wondering why he must say everything twice.

My happiness at being let in from the rain only lasts a moment as I follow behind the two men walking quickly down a long corridor. The inside of the house doesn't resemble the castle because the floors are not made of stone—they are wood—and the walls are covered in drywall. But it is a vast building, and it is lavishly decorated with fine furnishings, all kinds of pieces of art from paintings to sculptures to ancient vases. I try to keep up with our guide while my eyes roam over objects worth a hundred times more than what my parents make in a year—a thousand times more.

The sale of just one of these objects would have been plenty to pay off my parents' debts. I wouldn't be here now if I'd had just one painting to sell.

I can't think of that now as I sealed my fate. I grasp my small bag in my hands and struggle to keep up. It doesn't help that I haven't eaten much of anything in the past week. I feel lightheaded.

We turn down a few corridors, and it's clear to me that we are now in the part of the building that is for work instead of show. Artwork still hangs on the walls, but it's not as elaborate. The doors we are passing are offices, not libraries or parlors.

"Wait here," the butler says, pausing outside a closed door. He knocks, and I hear a low, gravelly voice call him in.

I feel my heart begin to thump in my chest. I'm still unclear what Alpha Ernest has in mind for me. When I came to him for help earlier in the day, he asked me a few personal questions; a smile split his face, and then he told me to go home and pack all my most prized possessions. He said to tell my family goodbye if I was serious about paying off my family's debts and to be back in his office in one hour.

Then, we'd gotten in the car and driven here. I hadn't asked any questions other than for him to put it in writing.

"John and Constance Moon are no longer in debt to Alpha Ernest Rock if their daughter, Isla Moon, follows through with the agreement made with said Alpha on this day…" Dated, signed by both parties, and here I am.

I'm still not sure what that agreement was for.

Alpha Ernest goes inside the office, and I was tempted to strain to see inside, too, but I don't. I've never seen him before, the Alpha King, the head of all of the Alphas and all of the territories in our region, for thousands and thousands of miles. I've heard lots of stories about him, though.

Presently, I am hoping that most of them are not valid.

I would like to see his face to know if the rumors of his attractiveness are accurate.

But I'd rather not see him if I had a choice. Word of his cruelty proceeds him, and the rumors circulating imply that he is just as brutal as he is handsome.

"You may sit," the butler says, gesturing to a chair near the door that has closed behind Alpha Ernest.

I nod, but I am not capable of thanking him verbally right now, not when my teeth are near chattering with fear.

I sit down, still grasping my bag in my hands. I wish I had put on more than the thin cloak my mother had given me last winter. Cloaks were cheaper than coats, so that's what I had.

I wouldn't hide the trembling that was beginning to ravage my body, though.

Doing my best to ignore the shaking, I focused on the faint voices behind the thick wooden door. I didn't expect to be able to hear because the door looked sturdy, but Alpha Ernest was loud.

As for Alpha Maddo...Well, he just sounded agitated.

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice," Alpha Ernest said.

When Alpha Maddox replied, it was harder to hear. He wasn't as loud. "I don't know why you're here unless you're about to pay me the money you owe me." At least, that's what I thought he was trying to say.

"Unfortunately, sir, I don't have the money—not exactly," the other man replies. I hear Alpha Maddox grumble in response. "But I have something else to offer you instead. Something better."

"Something better than the one and a half million dollars you owe me?"

My heart catches in my throat, and I nearly choke. One and a half million dollars? Did I hear that correctly? What in the world could Alpha Ernest have worth that kind of money?

"Oh, yes!" Alpha Ernest says. "Please, sir, hear me out. I have a bargain for you. One that will allow me to settle our debt and help you with a certain… problem you have."

Problem? What problem could Alpha Maddox possibly have—other than the fact that he might have killed all the people he wanted to yell at?

I sit with my feet flat on the floor, my eyes focusing on the eggshell wall across from me, listening, not believing what I am hearing.

"Ernest," Alpha Maddox says, "you are the last person on earth I would turn to to help me solve a problem, not that I even know what you're referring to."

"Let me enlighten you, sir, if you don't mind?"

Alpha Maddox growls again. If he says anything else, I don't hear it.

Alpha Ernest continues. "You have just turned twenty-nine last month, yes?" I assume Alpha Maddox confirms this because my pack Alpha continues. "Everyone knows that the Alpha King is expected to have an heir by the age of thirty."

"Alpha Ernest—" the king says.

"Give me only a few moments of your time, Alpha," Ernest says, and I can imagine his hands way up in front of him. "You need someone who can bear you a child, someone with no complicated relationship involved, someone who is beautiful, with good, healthy genes. A strapping mother who has born many children and proven herself to be from good stock."

With every word he speaks, my heart leaps higher into my throat, even though my brain still doesn't want to compute what he is saying.

"What are you proposing, Ernest?" Alpha Maddox says. "I don't have any problem picking up women. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" Alpha Ernest says. "But women at court are complicated. They have expectations. I know you don't intend to marry again. That's why what you need is a willing, compliant, beautiful girl who is eager to spread her legs to earn money, bear you a child—or two or three—and then fade away. And I have just the girl for you."

I take a deep breath and hold it. Surely, Alpha Maddox will not agree to this. Why would he agree to this?

Why have I agreed to this?

Did I agree to this?

"Let me see if I understand you correctly, Alpha Ernest," I hear Alpha Maddox say, and I can't tell if he's angry, offended… or intrigued. "Are you proposing I take some girl you've brought with you into my home for the sole purpose of having a child?"

"That's right, Your Majesty," Ernest says. "I'm proposing you take on… a breeder."

*Maddox*

I heard the word come out of Alpha Ernest's mouth and watched his gums flap as his fat cheeks shifted into a smile. His greasy mustache danced as he tipped his head up and blinked at me.

He's like a shoddy used car salesman, trying to convince me to take something I don't want or need.

Something that's broken and doesn't even work correctly—something that will never serve its intended purpose.

He doesn't know that I've been considering finding a breeder for the last few months. I just haven't had the time to find a woman who would fit the requirements.

Everything he's said is true. I certainly don't ever want to marry again, no matter what. Even thinking about my wife makes my heart tighten and my eyes water. I had to push her beautiful face out of my mind immediately. No, I will never take another bride.

That means, to have an heir, I have to find a woman who'd be willing to carry my child, knowing that no strings are attached.

That simply cannot happen with any of the women in court. They all want something more.

They all want me.

Finding a woman from one of the other pack lands has always been possible, and I've had a few Alphas mention their daughters occasionally. Still, I've never wanted to put a loyal Alpha in a position where I'd be using their daughter in such a manner. Whoever carries my child will be unable to ever marry and have a normal life.

What other man would ever want her? Even if she found her fated mate, he'd know that she'd been with me, the Alpha King, and he'd never, ever be able to live up to those standards.

She'd live the rest of her life discarded and alone.

Who would want that?

Alpha Ernest has found someone who won't mind. I need to know more.

"Who is the girl?" I ask, trying not to sound too interested like I am humoring him. It isn't too hard for me. My reputation for being abundantly cruel isn't completely unfounded.

"Her name is Isla Moon, Alpha Maddox. She is a member of my pack. Today, she came in and asked if I had any odd jobs she could do to pay off the debt she owes me, and I offered her this one. She accepted."

He is holding something back. I can tell by how his eyes are wide and how he shrugs his shoulders as he speaks. There has to be more to Isla's story than this. "Why does she owe you money?" I ask him.

He only shrugs. "Family debt. I'm not sure."

I study his face. He is lying. He knows exactly what it is. I wonder if the girl has been manipulated to be here if she came of her own free will. Had she heard about the handsome, mysterious Alpha King and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time in his castle and frequent his bed?

I also want to make sure she isn't some prostitute who is going to make me sick. "Has she been… inspected?"

"No," he says. "But that's not necessary. The girl is a virgin."

I scoffed. "How do you know that?"

"I've known her for her entire life," he says quickly. "My pack is small. I know everyone. Of course, if you are worried, you can send your physicians in to see. If I am lying, I would gladly pay you twice what I owe you, sir. I would never deceive you about such a thing." I raise my eyebrows. He realizes he slipped up. "I would never deceive you about anything."

Somehow, I doubt that. "What does she look like?" I ask.

"She's beautiful," he tells me. "She's outside the door."

I shake my head. I don't want to see her yet.

"She's a small girl, about this tall." He raises his hand to show me she's about five foot two. "She has long, curly blonde hair, and her eyes are wide and blue. Her skin is smooth, like porcelain, and bright. She's a bit skinny, I think, but she has large breasts and curvy hips."

I close my eyes and slowly shake my head at his crassness. It shouldn't surprise me. I wonder if the girl can hear us. "Is she intelligent?" I don't want my heir to be an idiot.

"Oh, yes. She did very well in school. Top of her class. She went to college for a few years but had to drop out for some reason." Again, he is holding back. He knows why. "She's a sweet girl. You will enjoy her." He winks at me, and I know he means sexually.

It makes my skin crawl because I know he wishes that he could enjoy her.

I don't know why the girl has decided to come with him here, but I won't send her back home with him, not today anyway.

I have much to do today, including a dinner party with an Alpha from a distant region. I decided to keep her and possibly speak to her for a bit before deciding what to do. While it sounds like her services may solve my problems, I'm not sure I'm ready for all of these complications.

"How old is she?" I ask him.

"Twenty, I think," he says.

Twenty. She is young. When I was twenty, my father was still alive. I wasn't even the Alpha King yet.

It seems like a very long time ago.

The image of my wife's face flutters in front of my mind, and my mouth wants to move of its own accord.

"Rebecca…."

I won't say her name. I've learned not to. It makes people question my sanity, and since they already do that enough over my alleged viciousness, there's no reason to have them think I'm seeing ghosts as well.

If there's one thing they don't need to worry about, it's me seeing Rebecca. I've looked everywhere for her and have never seen her, not even once.

Not even in my dreams.

"What do you say, Alpha Maddox? Why don't we make this agreement? Take the girl. Enjoy her. My debts are erased if she gets pregnant and gives you an heir in the next year. If she does not… I will find another way to repay you with an interest."

Alpha Ernest extends his hand to me. I take a deep breath and look at his palm, not sure whether to shake it or not.

Do I want to take the girl and keep her as a breeder—or send her back home with this man, possibly to her family, or possibly to become some sort of sex slave to him?

* * *

Isla

"This way. Keep up, and don't touch anything."

I followed along behind the tall, middle-aged, blonde woman in a suit as she walked very quickly through the castle. She's wearing gray slacks and a black jacket, the shirt beneath with a white collar that's buttoned up to her chin. Her hair is in a tight bun, and her nose is in the air. She seems very proper, and I don't think she's very nice.

I keep thinking about that word. Breeder. What does it mean? Why am I here?

I do my best to keep up, but she's walking so fast, and I have no idea where we are going or why we are going there. I didn't hear much of the conversation between Alpha Ernest and Alpha Maddox. Once Alpha Ernest offered to sell me to Alpha Maddox to get rid of his debts, they began to negotiate much quieter, and I don't know what's happening now.

I walk through narrow halls and larger openings that contain artwork like vases, paintings, and even some suits of armor. Everything is as regal and expensive as it was before, and I wouldn't touch anything even if she hadn't told me to because I am afraid I might break something.

Everything here is worth more than my family makes in a year.

"I have no idea why Mr. Thompson, the butler, has asked me to show you to this room," the woman says as I follow along, carrying my bag in front of me and trying to keep up. "But apparently, the king has asked him to. Judging by how you're dressed, I think it must be a mistake."

My eyes immediately drop down to see what I am wearing, and I remember that I didn't have much time to prepare for this journey. I am still wearing a black skirt and white blouse I had put on for work that morning under my black cloak. My shoes are old tennis shoes with a hole in one toe, and because they are wet from the rain, they squeak a little. I'm sure she loves that.

"I asked him if he meant for me to show you to the maids' quarters, but he said no. I was to show you to this suite. Whatever in heaven's name the king has in mind for you, it's none of my business, but perhaps he's got it in his head that you're from Alpha Jordan's pack, Maple pack, though none of them have arrived yet. I'll set him straight in a bit."

"Yes, ma'am," I say, trying to be polite.

She stops and spins around, her dark eyes like daggers. "I am the head of the staff here at Castle Blackthorn. You will address me as Mrs. Worsthingshorethinshire. Do you understand me?"

I stare at her for a long moment, wondering why she would address a guest in such a way. Her eyes are wild, and I imagine a maid would get a slap across the face for such an offense. I'm unsure how to answer since I'm certain I cannot repeat that name.

I most certainly will not say, "Yes, ma'am."

So, instead, I nod my head. "Beg your pardon," I say.

She stares at me for what seems like a minute or two before saying, "I beg your pardon, Mrs. Worsthingshorethinshire."

I clear my throat and say, "I beg your pardon, Mrs. Worsthingshurtinshirthenshire."

She takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. "Worthingshorethinshire. It's not that difficult!"

I am afraid she's going to make me try to say it again, but she doesn't. Instead, she spins around and starts walking once more, and I follow, feeling sorry for the maids who have to answer to her and attempting to practice her name as I go.

I do not like her at all, this Mrs. Worsthingstirshorethinsire or whatever her name is.

And I just want to go home.

"Your room, for now, is just down the hall from the king's room. But don't expect it to stay that way. Because, as I said, I believe there has been a mistake."

We round a corner quickly, and I run into a table. The contents—a silver bowl, a vase—clatter, and she turns around and comes at me. "Be careful!" she shouts.

"I'm so sorry!" I say, praying that nothing falls.

She rights the bowl and steadies the vase, shaking her head as she does so. "I told you not to touch anything. If that happens again, you'll wish you never stepped foot in this castle! I don't care who you are or why you're here, young lady! In my castle, under my watch, there are consequences for breaking the rules!"

I step backward, feeling myself shrink a bit with each shout. I know I must try to say her name again as she towers over me, her face red with rage.

"Yes, Mrs. Worthersthershirhirethire."

"That's not even close!" she screams in my face. "You're incorrigible, aren't you? It's no wonder someone brought you here and left you!"

I wonder how she knows that, but I say nothing, only watching the veins in her neck protrude.

I have seen that before, right before my boss at the flour mill would hit me because I dropped a bag or before my boss at the diner would beat me for accidentally spilling a tray of food. I'm not clumsy, but I'm not that strong. Eventually, after working eighteen or nineteen hours, I would grow tired, and things would slip.

I am afraid she's going to hit me now, but she doesn't. She only walks a few more steps before she produces a key and unlocks a door.

We walk inside what must be an antechamber because there's another door. This room is mostly empty. Just a little sitting area and a table with another vase on it. It's quaint and pretty.

She props the main door open with a doorstop and then continues. "These are your rooms for now," she says, leading me to the other door.

As she pushes the other door open, I step aside and bump the table slightly with my hip. I think nothing of it, though, because these are my rooms.

Until I feel pain radiating through the side of my face and am knocked off my feet, falling to the floor as my bag goes flying free from my hands so that I can try to catch myself.

"I told you not to touch anything!" she screams at me.

Shocked, I sit on the floor momentarily, trying to grasp what has just happened. Did she just hit me for bumping a table in my chambers?

Am I not supposed to sleep in the bed the king has appointed for me?

Or sit on any chairs?

Before I can react, she reaches down and grabs me by the collar of my cloak, yanking me to my feet. She is so much bigger than me and stronger. She shakes me as she screams, "Who do you think you are, coming in here and messing things up? You little tramp? She slaps me again, and this time, I manage to get my arm up to partially block it, but I still feel her hand make contact with my cheek. Over and over again, she swings at me, and it's all I can do to keep her from knocking me down again.

Until I heard a commanding voice shout, "What on earth are you doing?"