Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 984: Chapter 41 : New Dianny

*Lucas*

New Dianny, considering how young it was for a city in the Light Realm, had sprung up like a field of tulips at the edge of the sea, scant miles from a jungle. If it hadn't been for the sea, the place would have been sweltering. As it was, it was quite warm, and the sweaters in our wardrobes became a thing of the past.

It was just as well. I'd torn the majority of Sasha's. Sometimes, something about her just made me so… impatient, especially sweaters. Goddess, I hated having to find her under all those folds.

Then again… I watched Sasha pull on a halter top and shorts that were shorter than I would have liked. There were some advantages to sweaters, like keeping other shifters' eyes off my Sasha.

“Lucas, I swear if you rip these shorts, I will rip your balls off." Sasha misinterpreted what must have been a very intense look.

I couldn't help but smile, sliding my hand into her back pocket to cup her ass cheek. “I promise. I will TRY not to shred this pair of shorts."

“I'm taking your coin stash and going shopping once we get settled," Sasha threatened.

I nuzzled the bruise I'd made on her neck. “Sasha baby, you can do whatever you want with my coin stash."

“You've been very hard on my wardrobe," Sasha sniffed, but she didn't remove my hand from her back pocket as we walked out of the stateroom.

Phoebe was similarly dressed, though she was sporting a bikini top in the warm weather, and I could see Brady was about as thrilled about her outfit as I was about Sasha's.

“We could go to the Winter Forest now," Brady suggested, his arm sliding possessively around Phoebe's bare waist.

“I thought we needed to meet Lucas's brother, Oliver, here first?" Phoebe said, confused. “Why would we go to the Winter Forest now? Not that I'm not excited to see it–"

“Better dress code," Brady grumbled.

Phoebe looked down at her bikini top and cutoff jean shorts. “What? It's hot!"

“That's not the problem. The problem is you're hot, and every man in New Dianny is going to think so, too," Brady sighed.

Phoebe beamed at him. “You think I look hot?"

Brady pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not the point. Not the point."

Sasha glanced up at me, her eyes narrowed. “You're having jealous thoughts, too, aren't you?"

“I was just thinking it's a bit nippy today, and maybe a sweatshirt wouldn't be a bad idea." I coughed.

Sasha swatted me in the chest. “You have your hand on my ass. I think that's a bright, red, flashing 'hands off' sign to any challengers."

“You'd be surprised," I growled.

Both rolling their eyes, Phoebe and Sasha led us across the gangplank and onto the bustling docks of New Dianny. On a small hill in the distance, the packhouse rose large and robust above the din.

“We're heading that way," I said to a porter, pointing with the hand that wasn't on Sasha's ass.

The porter took an appreciative look at Sasha and Phoebe, but a hiss from Brady stopped him halfway between bust and hips. He quickly turned his attention to our bags and summoned a larger town car once we reached the end of the dock.

“You're so bad," Phoebe giggled at Brady as they settled themselves across from us in the spacious back of the car.

“Yeah, well, that keeps happening and I'll be getting worse," Brady grumped.

My hand was now low on Sasha's waist, and I peeked out of the windows of the car, every movement catching my eye.

Brady was watching out the back window, seeing if we were being followed.

We didn't want to alarm the girls, but after the threats and unwelcome visitors we'd been getting since we got the orb, we'd been worried about… followers–not just those who wanted the orb, but those who wanted Sasha and… crazy prophecy-worshiping nutballs like the old priestess.

“Is it all clear?" Sasha asked me softly, and I realized Brady and I hadn't been subtle enough.

“Yeah, everything's fine," I said, kissing her temple.

“You think someone's going to follow us," Sasha continued, putting a hand on my knee.

“They can try," I replied, “but I'm not borrowing any more trouble than we already have."

“Okay." Sasha cuddled into my side.

I idly stroked her hair and kept my gaze sharp out the window. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Phoebe fell asleep on Brady, but the journey wasn't long enough for much of a nap, and soon he was giving her a little shake as two shifters in very official uniforms came to open the back door to the town car and let us out.

“Lucas Black?" one of them asked me.

“Yes, sir," I replied.

“Follow us." The guard turned and began leading us into a very modern, very beautiful pack house. I wanted to meet the engineer who'd designed it. It was awe-inspiring; its artistry was flawless, and it still managed to give off a homey vibe.

The second guard took up the rear, which told me my warning of possible unwanted additional guests in New Dianny had been heeded.

“I should have worn something more formal," Sasha fretted, tugging on her halter top as we passed under beautiful wood relief carvings dotting the ceiling down the hall.

I looked down at my own polo shirt and khaki shorts. “I think it'll be fine. It's not like you had a whole lot of options."

“And whose fault was that?" Sasha muttered.

“Mine," I said unrepentantly.

“Welcome to our home!" a loud voice boomed as soon as we were escorted into the great hall.

The big, barrel-chested ex-pirate Robbie was standing in front of his intricately-carved wooden high- back chair at the head of the room. Next to him was a small woman with blond hair, who was also smiling. Robbie dwarfed his Luna, Alison, by about three hundred pounds, and it was a miracle we could see her at all.

“Thank you for having us. I realize it's a great inconvenience, considering we might be bringing trouble behind us," I said, giving a slight bow.

“Nonsense," Robbie replied, his loud voice shaking the light fixtures. “We haven't had trouble here in so long, I'm starting to get rusty."

“What he means is we're happy to have you, and prepared for any trouble that might be chasing you," Alison said serenely.

“Still, could be fun," Robbie added.

Alison sighed. This was clearly a common back and forth between them.

“Where are my manners?" I inserted quickly, not wanting there to be a fight between the Alpha and Luna on my account. “I would like to introduce you to my friend, Brady, his fiancee, Phoebe, and this is Sasha Wentley."

“Charmed," Alison smiled.

“Thank you for having us, Luna Alison," Sasha said.

“Not at all. It's been an age since we've seen Lucas–" Alison began.

“Your story was so intriguing!" Robbie interrupted. “How could we not host you and see what happens?"

Alison rolled her eyes. “You must be exhausted. Can I show you to your rooms?"

“That would be wonderful, Luna Alison," I said.

“And you must join us for dinner!" Robbie rumbled. “We're having barbecue."

“Sounds tasty. Thank you for inviting us," I replied with a grin.

Robbie nodded and Alison stepped down off the low dais to take us to another part of the pack house.

“I assumed Brady and Phoebe would be sharing a room," Alison said. “Since your letter did indicate

they were engaged. But I did prepare separate rooms for you and Sasha."

Reality snapped painfully into place, and I winced. Technically, Sasha and I were nothing to each other. “Thank you, Luna Alison. That was very kind."

Alison looked me up and down, then Sasha. “Though I could still put you in one room."

I glanced down and noticed my hand had tightened around Sasha's waist, tucking her under the shelter of my arm.

“That's… up to Sasha," I responded in a more gentlemanly way than I was feeling.

“I'd feel a bit safer if I were still rooming with Lucas if that's alright, Luna Alison," Sasha said softly.

Safety… yes, I really needed to stop thinking about how good it felt to make love to her and start thinking about her safety.

“Dear, I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink without Robbie. Pity you're not of age yet. We'd be able to see properly if you were mates," Alison smiled.

Sasha blushed, and it stirred all kinds of feelings inside me.

“Her birthday is a few days away," I said quietly.

“Oh, you both must be on pins and needles!" Alison opened the door to a large suite and shooed us inside. “This should do for the two of you. I was going to save it for Oliver, but he can deal with something smaller."

“When is he coming, do you know?" I asked.

“He's still about a week out. But don't worry, you'll be honored guests until then," Alison beamed.

“I really can't thank you enough," I said.

“Nonsense. Robbie hasn't been this excited since he was pirating the high seas," Alison chuckled. “You've given him something to do with all his excess energy."

“Happy to oblige," I grinned back.

Two shifters showed up behind us carrying our packs. The orb itself was tucked securely in the shoulder bag Sasha carried. Technically it was a large purse, so it wouldn't arouse suspicion, but it wasn't as though we were going to leave it to be played around with.

“I'll see you both in two hours. Don't be late. Robbie doesn't like to have to wait for his supper," Alison said.

“No, I imagine he doesn't. Thank you, Luna Alison. Really. For everything," I replied.

Alison nodded and wandered back into the main area of the pack house.

I took both our packs from the servants and bumped hips with Sasha to get her to go into our new lodgings.

The suite had two bedrooms, opposite each other, with a small living area in between. Alison, in her

infinite wisdom, had decided to give us the choice, it seemed, of whether or not we'd be sleeping together.

Sasha looked from one bedroom to the other, and then back at me.

“Pick one," I said with a slight smile. “Then tell me if you want me putting my stuff in there, too, or if you want me in the other room."

“You know I'd never want you in the other room," Sasha replied, her voice husky.

Dear Goddess, we hadn't been here for half an hour and I already wanted her. I walked over and hooked my fingers in her belt loops, pulling her to me. “Did she say two hours?"

“Yes...." Sasha murmured. Her smile turned impish. “But I really should go shop for something proper to w–!"

I slung her over my shoulder and stalked toward one of the bedrooms. I didn't care which one. “I'll help you pick. I'm sure you've already got something appropriate."

“Lucas!" Sasha squealed.

Then, shortly after....

“Ohhh… Lucas...."