Page 12 of Plus-Size Sold Mate
Every time I close my eyes, I see the clearing again, along with the wolves, and Sera on her knees. I hear them refer to her as property, then I ask how much.
How much…like I had any right to purchase her.
It all sits wrong in my chest, unavoidable and now something I can’t take back.
I negotiated someone’s life, and while I did it with good intentions, that isn’t how I ever wanted to lead. Especially not when it comes to resorting to something so drastic just to de-escalate. But she had been so vulnerable and weak, like she couldn’t bear the thought of taking another step.
Rather than attacking his wolves and leaving Dawson the opportunity to twist the narrative into Coldreach aggression, I paid them. They walked away with money and hunting rights, but if they’re blind enough to return home, I doubt they’ll risk bragging once their Alpha finds out they sold their target.
Everything about it was calculated and clean, yet that doesn’t erase the fact that I bought someone.
When I found them, those wolves were standing over her like it wasn’t just about retrieval. They had been chasing her, trying to get her back to Wraith Peak for one reason or another.Given how serious they looked, it’s a wonder they even accepted the bargain to begin with.
And seeing her like that, knowing just how worn down she was, that was enough to trigger something inside me.
It’s still very much alive in my chest, demanding that I keep her safe and away from anyone who might want to cause her harm, but that almost primal instinct feels too sudden to lean fully into.
I trust my instincts, as I’ve come to through my time in the military, but I won’t put blind faith into something so unpredictable, even if I can’t fully ignore it either.
By the time dawn fully breaks and more light pours in through the trees and into the house, I push myself out of the chair, well aware that I won’t be getting any rest.
Just down the hall, the guest room door remains mostly closed, and behind it, Sera continues to rest. From here, I can hear the sound of her steady breathing, feeling a strange kind of relief knowing she’s actually sleeping. At least one of us is rested, and I’m glad it’s her.
For a brief flicker, I consider closing the door all the way and locking it just to know she’s secure and safe, but I know how that would come across. I know how trapped that would make her feel, and I don’t need to make matters worse.
So I don’t.
After showering and getting dressed in clean clothes, I make my way to the kitchen, hoping to wake myself up a bit more. Though I barely make it to the coffee maker before I catch the sound of footsteps on the porch, followed by a knock soon after.
With a sigh, I head for the door and open it to find one of our younger wolves who will likely make it on the list of patrols soon enough. His expression is tight, as if he just witnessed something alarming.
My brows furrow. “Riley, what is it?”
He straightens his shoulders and gathers the words. “Dawson Voss was just seen coming from the North West border, and he’s coming to see you.”
I go perfectly still at that.
Already? That’s a faster turnaround than I expected…but maybe those shifters really were stupid enough to return. Better yet, Dawson might’ve met them halfway once they took too long.
That can’t be for nothing. For whatever reason, he wants her back, and I need to find out why.
“How many?”
“Just him.”
He’s alone. So he’s not looking for an outright war, or at least, he’s going to face me directly.
Good. Even if he might be angry or ready to make demands, he can try to fight me all he wants. My pack may be on the fence about some of my proposed changes, but at least my claim isn’t as shaky as his.
“Then I’ll see what he wants,” I tell him, gesturing to the house behind me. “I have a guest inside. Don’t let her leave the house, but don’t bother her either. She needs to rest.”
Riley gives me a perplexed look for a second, obviously curious, but he nods his understanding and stays by the porch even as I leave.
Before I can delay or give Dawson the chance to overstay his welcome, I head through the trees, catching his unfamiliar scent before long. It sticks out like something foreign, and his presence is enough to put me on edge.
Out of sight from the main parts of town, I find him standing in the very clearing where his wolves had Sera earlier in the night, examining a tree her scent still clings to. He knows she’s here without a doubt.
Despite being the odd one out here, Dawson stands there like he owns the place, unbothered and composed. When he turns to face me, I catch the slightest stitch of wariness in his face, almost like he’s more worn out than he wants to let on. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s been defending his position more often lately.
