Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King

Chapter 95: 0095

Hey guys! Check out the Author’s Note at the bottom of this Chapter

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Lorelei POV

"This is Isaac," Paul introduced the following morning, extending a hand toward the young guard standing beside him.

"He’s only twenty-one, but don’t let that fool you. Isaac is incredibly quick on his feet, and he’s honestly one of the best trackers I’ve ever trained with. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and his loyalty is unquestionable."

I studied the young man standing before me.

He was tall, with a lean, athletic build, short dirty blond hair, and warm brown eyes.

But twenty-one?

Wasn’t that a little too young to be working under the harsh, cutthroat conditions of this estate?

Stepping forward, Isaac bowed deeply before me.

I still wasn’t used to being treated like someone important. It might take me a while longer to get used to this.

"It’s an honor to serve you, Miss Ella," he said respectfully. "I know I have big shoes to fill following after Paul, but I promise I won’t let you down. I’ll protect you with my life."

Damn.

What was it with these men and their dramatic promises?

I really didn’t want anyone dying for my sake.

"That’s... that’s very kind of you, Isaac," I replied with an awkward but polite smile. "But I sincerely hope it never comes to that."

"I hope so too, Miss," Isaac replied, the corners of his lips lifting into a warm, genuine smile. "But I’ll be ready either way."

The easy smile on his face and the warmth in his expression instantly put me at ease.

Paul had to be right.

I could already tell Isaac was someone I would have an easier time trusting.

"How are your wounds healing today?" I asked, turning my attention back to Paul.

Hearing the question, he lightly touched his side before nodding.

"Much better," he replied. "The healer said the internal bruising is healing nicely, and I should be back to full strength in another week or so."

A genuine wave of relief washed over me.

"That’s good," I said with a smile. "I’m really glad to hear that."

****

Later that afternoon, Skye and I decided to take a stroll through the estate’s sprawling gardens.

My foot had healed up nicely, and to keep ourselves busy, we grabbed a couple of watering cans and casually tended to the vibrant rows of white roses and lavender blooming beneath the warm afternoon sun.

Since Paul had gone back to rest, it was just the three of us.

Compared to Paul, Isaac kept a respectful distance. He stood near the entrance of the greenhouse, his brown eyes constantly scanning the surroundings while still giving me enough space to move freely.

"Ah, I forgot the pruning shears and the fresh fertilizer mist in the shed," Skye suddenly muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Let me quickly run back and grab them. Don’t move an inch, okay?"

"Go ahead. I’ll be right here," I replied with a small chuckle.

After setting my watering can down on a nearby stone ledge, I decided to take a break from the afternoon heat. I slowly made my way toward a secluded vine-covered pergola that cast a deep, cool shade over a polished marble bench.

It was peaceful there, tucked away from the rest of the garden. I didn’t mind the quiet, even though I could still feel Isaac’s watchful gaze following my every step.

The moment I stepped beneath the canopy, though, my breath caught in my throat when I spotted Darius.

He was sitting on the marble bench with his head resting against the back and his eyes tightly shut.

But the second I got close enough, a gasp escaped me, and both my hands flew to my mouth.

His white shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, was soaked with dark, fresh blood. Crimson had already seeped through the hastily wrapped bandage around his shoulder, staining the fabric beneath it.

"Darius!" I choked out, completely forgetting Isaac as I rushed to his side.

At the sound of my panicked voice, his dark gray eyes slowly opened. They looked heavy and slightly unfocused at first, but they quickly cleared as they settled on me.

"Oh..." he murmured, and despite the blood soaking through his clothes, a faint smile still found its way onto his lips.

"Don’t look so worried," he said softly. "I’m fine."

"Fine?" I cried, my hands hovering helplessly over his bloodstained shoulder, too terrified to touch him in case I made it worse. "You’re literally bleeding! What happened to you? Should I go get the healer, or..."

"No, don’t," Darius cut in softly, his hand reaching up to gently but firmly catch my wrist, stopping me from turning around to yell for Isaac. "It’s just a minor scratch from a perimeter scouting dispute. Nothing a Beta can’t handle. I only came out here to enjoy the quiet view and get away from the alpha’s shouting for an hour."

But seeing I still looked panicked, his grip on my wrist relaxed as he leaned back.

"I’m sorry if this bothers you."

Those words made my eyes widen, and I quickly shook my head.

"No, of course not," I said, feeling a sudden wave of guilt wash over me.

To prove I wasn’t bothered by his presence in the slightest, I shifted closer and sat right beside him on the bench.

"Can I take a look?" I asked gently, gesturing toward the crimson stain spreading across his shirt.

Darius raised a faint, curious brow, which was followed by a breathless chuckle.

"Do you even know first aid?" he asked.

"A little," I replied softly.

I mean, I had spent years being the only person available to patch myself up whenever things got bad. I had learned how to clean deep cuts, stop the bleeding, and bandage wounds well enough to get by.

Thankfully, Skye returned at that exact moment, her arms full of the gardening supplies she had gone to fetch. The second she spotted me sitting beside the bloodied Beta, her eyes widened in complete shock before she quickly lowered her head into a respectful bow.

"Good afternoon, Beta Darius," she greeted, her voice tight with sudden nervousness.

But Darius only offered a nod.

"Skye, can you help me get a first aid kit?" I asked urgently.

Her eyes flickered between the two of us for a brief, hesitant moment before she gave a quick nod.

"Of course. I’ll be right back."

Without wasting another second, she hurried down the gravel path, leaving me alone with Darius once again.