Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1283 - 38 : Ambushed

*Zara*

My sickness was only intensifying at this point, though I was trying to stay positive and concentrate. It was very difficult, though. Noah had helped me back to my room after I’d nearly passed out following the meeting.

He was tense as he sat next to my bed, his head hanging, exhaustion radiating from him as well. I couldn’t help but feel horrible for him, too. I wasn’t the only one in this mess.

But, still, in the end, my life was being completely changed now, and I knew it could change even further. I told him, not one to hide my thoughts, “Noah, this is getting too out of control.”

He nodded, running his fingers through his black hair, and letting out a sigh. “I know it is. But Zara, your reputation will be ruined more than mine if we stop what we’re doing right now.”

“I know you’re trying to be helpful, and I really appreciate it. But it’s making everything so much worse. How do you know we’ll even be able to stop this?”

“We just need more time, Zara,” he told me firmly, but gently. “That is why I did the fake engagement. We need to keep at it, and even promote it, for now.”

“But pushing it in front of everyone will make things worse in the end.”

“Not if it’s old news by the time we come around to shattering it,” he said. “The pack will be appeased, it will calm down rumors, and most importantly, it will buy us time.”

“Won’t they expect a quick wedding given how fast you tried to move with Serena?”

He shook his head. “No, because you helped me come around, and they realize that. In fact, the whole situation with Serena is helpful for us right now. It will be clear we both are excited to be engaged, but we will need more time to plan the wedding.”

I thought about that for a moment and had to admit he had a point. That was the best way to handle things. Otherwise, the pack would have kept asking about the mystery mate, only to very likely find out about how I still couldn’t find him, which would completely ruin my reputation as a matchmaker and any chance for my dream career.

“Alright,” I said softly, letting out a sigh. “But I need to tell my parents this, somehow. I’ll try to get word to them through a letter tomorrow when I can focus better.”

Noah nodded. He leaned forward and squeezed my shoulder, looking intently into my eyes with his gorgeous blazing blue.

“I know you’re still intent on finding your baby’s true father,” he said. “I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”

“I know you don’t,” I answered honestly. “This whole thing is dragging us both down. You need to be able to find your true love too, Noah.”

He nodded, his eyes growing distant for a moment. I noticed a flash of sadness deep within his gaze, which caused a spark of curiosity in me.

My wolf pressed me to ask him what was on his mind, but I ignored the urge to do so. Rather, I remained silent, until he spoke again.

“Thank you. Zara, you need to get some rest. Do you need anything right now?”

I smiled. “Yes, water, please... otherwise, some peace and quiet, unless you have some medical herbs to quiet my stomach a bit.”

“I will ask Healer Calvin for you,” he said softly.

With that, he went off to get those things for me. I had to hope there would be no more surprise meetings popping up.

I didn’t think I could handle anything else. The stress and nausea were a bit too much. Once Noah brought me the water and herbs, he left me to rest for a bit.

I fell into an uneasy slumber that night, my dreams filled with judgmental glares and whispers from the Drogomor pack about everything that’d been going on.

*****

That morning, I was feeling quite a bit better due to the herbs Noah helped get for me. Still, I had a light breakfast, and Noah helped get me set up to write my letter.

I stared at the blank paper for a while, feeling a rush of guilt go through me because of the white lies I needed to tell my parents. I really wanted to be honest with them.

They had no idea I was pregnant still, though, and this would just add onto everything else. I couldn’t tell them the truth right then. I wanted to be able to tell them in person.

But that was something I just couldn’t do right then, given the increasingly complex situation and my condition.

The letter was a short one, detailing how I was engaged to Noah and how I really didn’t want them to worry. They’d been warming up to him during his visit, at least, which was good.

They’d be disappointed when we separated again because they truly wanted me to find someone who I was happy with, and that would inevitably smell like drama.

It was the best I could do, though. They would be worried enough without knowing this whole thing was a charade, even if I told them not to worry.

My thoughts returned to my mystery mate, and I realized I needed to redouble my efforts. I had hundreds of messages to go through in the group posting.

I could reach out to Gia, too, and she could possibly come to help me again. She would go crazy when she heard of this situation, no doubt.

I felt guilty pulling her away from potential plans with Marcus, but I knew she would feel very hurt if I didn’t call for her help. I resolved to reach out to her after I sent the letter, and would start up on my own search all day.

Time was quickly running out, after all, and I wasn’t sure how much of it Noah was going to actually buy us with this fake engagement.

All these thoughts flowed through my mind as I finished up my letter. I read it once, then twice, then determined it was all set.

It was time to send it out.

I had started to stand when my door burst open, causing me to jump and yelp. My eyes widened as I turned my chair and fixed my eyes on a very tense Merida.

She was red in the face, with some strands of her brunette hair falling into her eyes as she clenched her fists. I was worried for a moment that she was going to come right up to me and hit me.

I tensed, my wolf surging with anger that she’d intrude upon our space. I wasn’t a fighter, but if I had to, I would, and I knew my wolf would help me out with that.

I hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but either way, the situation was tense when Merida snapped, “Well, don’t you look proud of yourself.”

“I’m sorry?” I croaked. “Merida, I–”

“You fucking bitch. You’re stealing my man... my man! It was all worked out until you swooped in and took him from me... not only that, but also my rightful place as Luna.”

“That wasn’t my aim, Merida. Your return was a surprise, and–”

“Don’t think I don’t know your engagement is a sham,” she said in a nasty tone, baring her teeth in a sneer at me.

My heart clenched, and I wondered how she knew.

It was clear she had intentionally outed the pregnancy. It would probably be only a matter of time until she lost Noah and me some time through corrupt rumors.

I tried to damage control, entirely lost as to why she was acting that way. Noah had built her up to be someone far more considerate and open minded than... this.

“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is, b-but–” I stammered, but she cut me off again.

“Oh, you don’t? You’re playing so dumb, but I know your game. You wormed your way into my place in the pack, chiseled down his cold heart, swooped in as the savior. It isn’t going to happen. I won’t let it.”

“I just want Noah to be happy, Merida, and he will be with–”

“Bullshit. He would be happy with me. Me! Him as Alpha, me as Luna. You bitch, I won’t let some nobody matchmaker take what is mine!” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

“What’s yours? Noah isn’t yours. You just came back from–”

“Oh, shut the hell up you sniveling little wretch. Enjoy your ‘peace’ while you can. Time is running out, dear little matchmaker,” she said, that last part dripping with sarcasm.

She then turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving me completely wide-eyed and shaken.

All her warmth toward me before had been fake. The questions poured into my mind. What else was she pretending with? Why was she so obsessed with Noah? Was she this obsessed when they’d been together initially?

She was completely unhinged, and I feared for my life, my baby’s life, and even Noah’s life.

I didn’t think she’d hurt Noah physically, but manipulating him emotionally could be another story. I gulped, reaching up to rub my temples.

After that incident, I needed to take some time to calm down. I didn’t want to add more to Noah’s plate right now by telling him.

Really, I didn’t even want to talk about it yet. Everything was happening so quickly, and more just kept being added to the pile.

I’d given myself a chance to lie down before standing up to walk about and clear my head. At this point, I was sure the stress and anxiety were hitting me as much as being pregnant was.

Walking through the mansion, then outside and into the woods, I tried to focus on other things, happier things. At least the Luna Lily matters were progressing smoothly.

Noah had the rogues taken care of, and despite us being tangled up in this engagement situation together, I still trusted him with all my heart.

I knew he was coming from a place of caring, as a good friend. He’d meant it when he said he didn’t want to get in the way of me finding my mate.

I smiled, thinking of him, and I felt my heart sink at the thought of needing to leave him someday. Oh, if this all could be real... if only he could be the one–

Suddenly, someone hit me hard from behind, and I gasped. Before I realized what was going on, I felt something wet being shoved up against my mouth and nose.

A powerful chemical smell filled my senses, and I bucked, struggling against arms that were now wrapped around me. My eyes widened, and I spotted a group of masked individuals darting in front of me.

They had the same markings as the rogues that had attacked us at the Luna Lily cultivation site.

I was getting dizzy, and my body went limp. The crunching of leaves sounded by my head as I tried to focus, but I was fading very quickly.

Fear clenched its jaws on my entire soul as I began to fade into unconsciousness.

I had a sinking feeling that Merida was behind this before I completely blacked out.