Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 972: Chapter 29 : Oh Brother

*Lucas*

I made sure Sasha was all tucked in, then went back to my office, a slight smile on my face. We'd see who could hold out the longest. I had a sneaking suspicion Sasha was going to relent sooner rather than later.

A few papers were out of place on my desk, so I organized them, dragging my feet on what I had to do next. It wasn't as though I had any problem with Oliver, my brother, but I did worry about bringing someone–anyone–new into our little circle of orb hell.

Finally, after an hour had passed of me fiddling with things that didn't need fiddling with, I picked up the phone receiver and dialed Oliver's number.

“What's wrong?" Oliver answered without preamble. It didn't surprise me a bit that my brother was in his office at this hour. He was a very dedicated Alpha of Pack Drogomor.

“Does your poor mate ever see you?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes. What's wrong?" Oliver repeated.

I sighed. There was nothing to do but tell him everything.

“How do you always know when something's wrong?" I grumbled, glancing balefully at the wood panel that hid my safe.

“You don't call unless something is wrong," Oliver reminded me.

I winced. I really needed to be a better brother. “I'll work on that."

“Ahuh. So, don't keep beating around the bush, tell me what's up," Oliver said.

I swallowed. “I… well, it's a very long story...."

“Highlights."

That was Oliver. Down to business. “I'm in trouble. Me and Sasha Wentley. And… well… the people who are close to us… perhaps the world at large...."

“More details than that," Oliver demanded. “Though how you ended up with Sasha Wentley after the tormenting you gave her growing up is another tale I'd love to hear."

“Yeah, and I'll fill you in on it when we get to Drogomor," I said.

There was a short silence. “You're coming back to the Light Realm? With Sasha Wentley?"

“And maybe a few other friends," I said. “Look, we're being hunted down by a priestess from Leviss and some shifters she has under her control, not to mention...."

“You'd better start mentioning," Oliver growled.

“I found something at my job site, something I can't even bring to Alpha King Xander or Queen Lena. It's just too big a risk," I sighed.

“You found something you can't even bring to your own cousin?" Oliver protested. “Lucas, those are some dangerous words. How can you not bring something to the attention of the king?"

“Not everyone in the Alpha King's court can be trusted and… I'm… afraid of what will happen," I replied. “This thing… it's connected to Sasha somehow, and I don't know what will happen to her once experts start poking and prodding it. I think it's an artifact from the ancient Church of the White Queens. But it… it makes people disappear. Or, rather, it makes Sasha disappear."

I heard some rustling on the other end of the phone. “Hang on. I have a feeling this is going to require a brandy," Oliver grunted.

The liquid swished, and I waited as Oliver took a long gulp.

“You were saying something about Sasha Wentley disappearing?" Oliver prodded.

“Yes. I mean, not just disappearing. Disappearing as though she never existed in the first place. No one remembers her. I'm the only person who knows her. It's… creepy," I said.

“Sounds disturbing," Oliver agreed. “And we aren't just throwing whatever it is into the ocean because…?"

I liked how my brother and I had similar thinking. “I'm afraid the orb will call Sasha after it. She's convinced the Goddess has given her a mission having to do with the artifact. And from what she described to me, that's entirely possible. But we're also being chased by an old priestess who possesses at least a little magic, so I'm wondering if Sasha, you know, saw what she saw."

“An old priestess from Leviss," Oliver said.

“Yes." I thought of the old woman and my blood burned. She would never touch my Sasha again.

Oliver was quiet again. “You're particularly possessive and growly. Is Sasha Wentley your mate?"

The thought made my insides warm, but....

“I don't know. She hasn't had her birthday yet."

“You'd like her to be," Oliver inferred.

I shrugged, then realized he couldn't see it, and replied, “It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

“You sleeping with her?" Oliver asked.

My face heated up. “That's not really the point...."

“You are sleeping with her," Oliver said. I could hear him take another swig.

“Technically not now. She's a bit miffed over me keeping her and the artifact separated, so she's gone and decided I don't get to have any if I don't let her do what she wants with the orb," I responded.

“There are other women. As I recall, you're even rather popular with them," Oliver suggested.

I saw red. “There are no other women."

“Yep. As I suspected." Another long swig. “You've got it bad, little brother."

I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering when the exact moment had been that I'd forsaken all others for Sasha. I couldn't pinpoint a time, but I knew it was true. I didn't want anyone else. “Can we talk about the artifact and leave the rest alone?"

“Sure," Oliver said. “You're coming here anyway, you said. So we'll have plenty of time to talk about other things when you get here."

I groaned inwardly. “Yes, plenty of time."

Oliver chuckled, and I wanted to punch him, but of course I couldn't through the phone. Pity. “Oh, the things we're going to discuss, little brother."

“So, there won't be any issue with my coming? I don't know yet if it's just going to be Sasha and me or if Brady and Phoebe will be coming as well," I said.

“How is Brady? And who's Phoebe?" Oliver asked.

“Phoebe's a shifter and his fiancee. He's on cloud nine over being engaged to her," I replied. “Which is another reason why this situation sucks. Brady should be basking in engaged bliss right now, but instead he's getting tangled up in this mess." This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Hmm. Well, they're more than welcome here." There was a clink as I imagined Oliver set his glass aside. “Getting caught up in save-the-world type s**t. You just have all the luck, little brother."

“Yes, well, when I bring the artifact your way, you'll be caught up in it, too," I informed him.

That made Oliver go silent again. “Our pack is strong. If there are any outside threats, we can deal with them." He paused. “But Lucas Black, I swear to you, if something happens to my mate as a result of having that 'artifact' here, I will break your spine."

“Noted. Hell, if something like that happened, I'd break my own spine," I said.

“I take it you ultimately want Mother to take a look at it?" Oliver guessed.

“Yes. I was going to have Eliza look at it, but then it disappeared with Sasha for a day, and all Eliza could think of was that the orb has something to do with time, which makes sense because when Sasha disappears, I go back to the day before and have to live a whole day in a universe where she doesn't exist." I noted that my voice sounded pained.

“Relax, brother. We'll figure it all out. You just keep Sasha away from that orb, at least until you get here and Mother can look at it," Oliver said soothingly. “Now, you go pack… or convince your probably-mate to sleep with you, or both. You sound like you need a hug from a sweet-smelling female."

I snorted. “Yeah, more than a hug, but I have every intention of winning this little war between us. Even if it means I have to be celibate for the rest of my life, she is not touching that orb, not ever again."

“Spoken like a true Alpha male," Oliver chuckled. “Alright, I'll see you when you get here. Take precautions. I don't want to hear you got snapped up by a little old lady and her band of bullies."

“Noted," I said. “I'll try to stop that from happening."

“Good." Oliver creaked back in his chair. “You've given me a lot to think about, little brother. We'll

discuss it more when you get here."

“Thank you, Oliver," I responded, relieved he was going to take us in.

“You're welcome." The line cut.

I closed my eyes and leaned back in my own chair, thinking of the mess we were in. It was tempting for me to get my own glass of something strong, but I wanted to stay sharp, just in case, by some evil magic, the old priestess got in again.

After another hour, I left my office and returned to my bedroom, where Sasha was sleeping soundly.

I sat down next to her and ran my fingers through her beautiful blond hair.

She stirred, then blinked up at me with sleepy eyes. “You're still not getting any," she mumbled.

I laughed. “I kind of figured. No, I called Oliver. We're going to start making our way to the Light Realm in the morning. We're going to Drogomor, where there are plenty of shifters to protect you."

“Us–protect us," Sasha corrected me.

“Mmm. I'm more concerned about you, Sasha sweety." I trailed my fingertips along her jaw, then ran my thumb across her lower lip.

Sasha moaned, and I felt it in my groin. “You don't play fair," she complained, her lust-filled blue eyes boring into mine.

“Right back at you, princess," I said huskily, and I brushed my lips over hers.

She didn't stop me. I knew she would, eventually. We hadn't finished our little dance. But I was willing to go as far as she'd let me.

Sasha swayed into my arms, and I pulled her into my lap, cursing the fact I'd tucked her in so tightly that I was holding a Sasha burrito. It didn't exactly leave room for what I had in mind.

“Didn't think that one through, did you?" Sasha teased, and I growled.

In moments, my satin sheets were shredded, and there were feathers from the comforter everywhere. Sasha was on her back, gasping as I pressed my erection right where I knew she wanted it–right where I wanted it.

“Mmm, Lucas!" she gasped, tugging on my hair as I rubbed against her sensitive spots through our clothes.

“Sasha sweety…" I purred. I kissed and nibbled my way along her neck. “Is there something that you want?"

“You know there is," Sasha groaned. She tugged my head down and I lapped her tight n****e through her shirt, then pulled the peak into my mouth.

Sasha trembled and moaned. “Lucas...."

“Mhm?" I responded around her n****e.

“Please… PLEASE let me use the orb," she whined.

I chuckled. Clever minx. “Not a snowball's chance in hell."

Sasha sighed, then pulled my lips away from her body using her grip on my hair. “You are so evil."

“Don't you and I know it," I grinned. “So, is this where we leave off… for now?"

“Yes," Sasha said, squaring her shoulders. “This is where we leave off."

“For now."

“For always if you don't let me work on the mission the Goddess gave me," Sasha warned me.

“Mhm. I'll believe that when I see it." I got off the bed and stripped off my shirt and pants, not caring she could see how my boxers were tented for her.

I could hear a little squeak behind me, and I gave her an innocent look. “Something wrong, princess?"

“Nope, not a thing." Sasha gathered what was left of the comforter around her and promptly rolled away from me.

I stifled a laugh, then got into bed next to her. “Sweet dreams."

Sasha groaned into her pillow.

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