Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 995 - 58 : You Don’t Know What You’re Getting Into

Chapter 995: Chapter 58 : You Don’t Know What You’re Getting Into

*Sasha*

Before departing to Lycenna, I wanted to see my mom and check in with her. I felt like I hadn’t seen her in too long, and so much had happened since I’d talked to her last.

When we got to her house, she gave Lucas a strange look but didn’t say anything.

“It’s good to see you, my daughter.” She hugged me close.

I took a deep breath, her scent bringing back childhood memories.

“I missed you, Mom.”

“I missed you too, Sasha.”

She led us into the living room. Lucas and I sat on the couch together. He slipped his arm around my hips and I noticed how my mom’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’ll get us some drinks.”

She disappeared into the kitchen for a moment.

I looked around my childhood home, my heart swelling with nostalgia. Light came into the windows, casting a reflection on pictures hanging on the wall–pictures of me running around as a little girl, playing with butterflies, and swimming.

My mom returned and set a tray of lemonade on the coffee table.

“So, tell me about your life.”

I grabbed a lemonade and took a quick sip.

“The good news is that I got some really great work-study opportunities through school.” I bit my lip and glanced sideways at Lucas.

“That’s good to hear.”

“And, I got my wolf and found my mate!” I beamed a smile and put my hand on Lucas’s knee.

My mother’s eyes narrowed and she gave Lucas a hard, firm look.

“I remember you. You used to bully my daughter.”

“Mom!”

Lucas cleared his throat. “I was a brat as a kid. In working together, I’ve gotten to know Sasha so much more and I think back on how much of a jerk I was. It sickens me to think I ever treated her like that.”

“Hmm....”

My mom didn’t look convinced. I saw how she fixed her eyes on my hand and Lucas’s arm. It seemed to bother her that Lucas and I were touching each other.

“I suppose it’s not my place to argue with the Moon Goddess’s pairings.” She licked her lips quickly. “Though, I won’t say I’m overjoyed with this new development.”

I sighed and gave Lucas an apologetic look. It wasn’t like I didn’t understand my mom’s concerns. She’d always been very protective of me. In my heart, I knew my mom just wanted me to be happy.

“What are you two doing here?” She pulled her eyes from Lucas and gave me a warm smile.

“We’re on a mission to find an orb,” Lucas explained.

“An orb?” I noticed the hitch in my mother’s voice.

“At the building site we were working on, we discovered a very unique temple. Inside, there was this orb that sort of... called out to me.”

My mother gasped and I saw the blood drain from her face. Pale as a sheet, she lifted her hand to her cheek, staring off into the distance.

I continued telling the story. “After finding the orb, things got a little crazy. We’ve been trying to find out what it means and what it wants. There’s this immortal shifter that keeps popping up and he told me that my power was evil. Mom, do you know anything about that?”

“The binding spell is fading....”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Mom?”

She blinked several times and turned her eyes to me. The color slowly returned to her cheeks. She still looked pale and shaky.

“The binding spell that protects you–it is fading. Sasha, it is imperative that you do not go anywhere near your father’s people. You must avoid them at all costs.”

“I....”

Lucas put his arm around my shoulders. “I promise, Clare, I will protect your daughter, no matter what. I’m not letting her out of my sight and I won’t let anyone lay a hand on her.”

My mother sniffed and shook her head. “If only it were that easy. Don’t make promises until you know what you are up against.”

I saw the confidence in Lucas’s eyes falter and my stomach shifted. There was so much about my mother and my own past that Lucas didn’t know yet.

“If they get anywhere near you, they’ll claim you and your powers as theirs. You don’t want that.”

“No, I don’t,” I agreed.

“Since you have a mate now, you should be safe.”

“Should?” I squeaked.

My mother sighed and sank into her chair. She looked defeated suddenly, like the chair was too strong and would swallow her whole, right into the stuffing.

“Tell me more about this orb.” My mother waved her hand toward us.

I got the feeling that she was trying to change the subject.

“We’re still figuring it out. The orb seems to be connected to the White Queen magic, because it was found in a White Queen temple.”

My mother’s eyes flew open. “A White Queen temple in the Dark Realm?” Her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline.

“We were surprised by that too,” Lucas said.

“So far, what we do know is that my dream dancer abilities activate the orb. It has done some strange things and shown me some events from the past.”

“And your quest is to discover more about the orb and your power?”

It sounded like she was speaking more to herself.

“Yes, and possibly find the orb’s twin to better understand the power of the orb and my power.”

“I see.” She nodded absently. “Sasha, I know I can’t stop you from doing this. In fact, I think it is necessary for you to better understand yourself and your heritage.”

“That’s not the only reason I’m doing it. It seems like there is something the orb wants me to do. Fix a mistake or....”

My mother held up her hand and I stopped talking.

“Listen to me, daughter. Now that you have your wolf, you should be growing into your power. In time, you’ll be more powerful than anything.” Her voice took on a deep, somber tone.

A shudder ran through me, and Lucas tightened his grip on me.

“I want you to be careful. This power you have is great and strong. However, with the blood legacy of your father’s pack, it could easily turn your power dark. It could turn you dark.”

I swallowed hard, too stunned to say anything. All these years, I never fully understood what my mother was protecting me from.

It was just like the immortal shifter had said. My power was darkness and could be used to hurt a lot of people.

I couldn’t let myself get sucked into that darkness. I had to only use this power for good. Otherwise, I’d become the thing everyone feared.

Lucas and I went out on the back porch alone. After bringing up all those painful memories, my mom wanted to lie down for a while.

I didn’t blame her. She’d sacrificed so much to keep me safe and keep me away from the darkness inside of me.

Somehow, I’d managed to dig it up, literally, and bring it right to the surface.

My hands trembled as I paced back and forth on the deck.

Butterflies and bees buzzed around the vibrant flowers in my mother’s garden. When I was a little girl, I had a butterfly net and I’d spend hours chasing the colorful insects, catching them and letting them rest on my hands and arms as I studied their colors.

“Are you okay, Sasha?” Lucas asked. He grabbed my hand, pulling me to a stop.

I shrugged. “I never knew what my mom was trying to protect me from. It must have been a horrible burden for her to carry that around for so many years.”

“She might have sacrificed a lot, but your mom is strong. She did what any mother would do–protect her daughter.”

I smiled lightly and nodded. “You’re right. I’m just so... grateful to her for what she’s given me and what she’s done for me.”

I shuddered again and rubbed my arms as gooseflesh prickled my skin.

“Then what is bothering you?”

“I’m... scared of becoming like my father. I don’t want to be anything like him. But if we follow this path with the orbs, I might become him. I might turn into the bad guy....”

Lucas shook his head and pulled me against his firm, muscular chest in a tight embrace. Steel cable arms wrapped around me, making me feel safe and secure.

“I won’t let that happen.”

I nodded against his chest. But did Lucas really understand?

“After the bracelet was broken... my mom was so worried. I didn’t understand why at the time. She was worried someone would find me, my father’s people,” I murmured into the cloth of his shirt.

“I know you think that his blood links you to darkness. Sasha, I don’t buy it.” Lucas shook his head.

I pulled back from him and gasped, covering my mouth as the memory of pain stung my gums, again.

“I don’t know what his blood means for me, but what I do know is that it terrified my mother enough to....” I pressed my tongue to the back of my mouth, feeling the tooth.

Lucas still had his arms looped around me. He arched an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

My heart thudded heavily in my chest and my hands trembled as I thought back to that day, all because of a stupid bracelet breaking. At least, that’s what I thought at the time.

I closed my eyes. The last time I had thought of this memory, it had filled me with terror and torment. But now, I had a different kind of respect for my mother.

“They needed a fresh bone of mine for a spell–I’m assuming a protection spell. My mother held me down while I had a tooth ripped out. No painkillers, no... nothing. I was terrified because I didn’t understand what they were doing. It hurt so badly and I felt betrayed by my mother.”

I sighed and pressed my forehead to Lucas’s chest.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that... and because of me,” he whispered, rubbing my back.

I shrugged. “You’re missing the point, Lucas. My mother, who loves me more than anything in the world, was willing to traumatize me and cause me that much pain to protect me from my father and his people. That’s the kind of man he was.”

Lucas pursed his lips and nodded slowly. I could see that the reality of the situation was starting to sink in, the heavy truth that surrounded us.

“That same darkness my mom went to such great lengths to protect me from... it’s inside of me. It has been my whole life.”