Breeder To The Brutal Alpha King

Rebecca’s POV

​When I opened my eyes the next morning, sunlight was already spilling through the curtains.

​Kane was sitting on the edge of my bed, and Stephine was standing right behind him, holding a small tray with a cup of warm tea.

​”Ruby,” Kane murmured softly, leaning over to touch my cheek. ”How are you feeling? How is the pain?”

​I swallowed hard, my throat dry. ”It’s... it’s gone,” I whispered.

​”I am so sorry I wasn’t here last night,” Kane said, his eyes filled with worry. ”I came back as fast as I could after Stephine contacted me about what happened. I should have been here with you.”

​I gave him a faint nod, but my mind wasn’t really on Kane.

​I knew who had been here. Even through the haze of last night’s pain, I remembered the heavy, warm touch of a broad hand on my stomach. I remembered how the sharp, terrifying ache inside me vanished the very second he touched me. It wasn’t Kane who saved me last night. It was Kaden.

​He had stayed right beside me in the dark for hours, holding my hand until I fell asleep. He must have left only after he was sure I was safe.

​”Are you ready to get up and bathe?” Kane asked gently, snapping me out of my thoughts. ”We still need to find that key today.”

​”Yes,” I replied, forcing a small smile.

​”Good. Get dressed, and I’ll be back in a few minutes. As soon as I return, we’ll walk around the packhouse together.”

​”Okay,” I agreed.

​The moment Kane stepped out of the room, I turned my head toward Stephine. ”Stephine... when did Kaden leave my room last night?”

​Stephine sighed before answering quietly. ”He left around midnight. He sat by your side and held your hand until you were completely at peace.”

​A tight knot formed in my chest. ”I see.”

​Should I say thank you to him? I thought to myself, staring down at my blanket. He stayed with me all night to keep the baby safe...

​I shook my head, quickly shutting down the idea. No. It’s better to stay away from him. I warned him to stay away from me, and I have to do the same.

​After taking a quick bath and dressing in a simple gown, Kane returned to my room, and we began our search.

​Our goal was simple: find the hidden key.

​Kane took my arm and slowly walked me through every part of the packhouse. We searched the main dining hall, the lower kitchens, and the guest suites. We even stepped inside Kaden’s private bedroom while he was gone, and then walked through his massive study.

​I walked slowly, waiting for the choker around my neck to react, but nothing happened. It stayed completely cold against my skin. The key wasn’t in any of those rooms.

​”Let’s check the training grounds outside,” Kane suggested, guiding me down the grand hallway toward the back exit. ”It’s one of the few places left.”

​We stepped out into the bright afternoon air and walked toward the wide, open field.

​A group of warriors was practicing combat in the center of the ring, but my eyes immediately landed on one man. Kaden. He was bare-chested, his skin glistening with sweat as he traded heavy blows with a guard.

​The second I took a few more steps toward the field, the choker around my neck suddenly thrummed with a sharp, vibrant pulse.

​A gasp escaped my lips, and I stopped dead in my tracks.

​Kane instantly turned to me, his eyes sharp. ”What is it? What’s wrong?”

​”The choker...” I whispered, my heart racing against my ribs. ”It’s humming.”

​Kane’s eyes widened. ”That means the key is nearby. It’s somewhere right around here.”

​I couldn’t move. My gaze was completely locked on Kaden.

​As if he felt my eyes on him, Kaden paused mid-strike. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm and turned his head toward us. His dark eyes met mine across the dusty field, burning with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

​Kane didn’t notice the silent look passing between us. He simply raised a hand and gave Kaden a brief wave before turning me around.

​”Come on,” Kane said softly, leading me back toward the house. ”We shouldn’t draw attention to ourselves.”

​Once we were back inside the safety of my bedroom, Kane closed the door and turned to me.

​”The key must be hidden somewhere near the training grounds,” Kane said, pacing near the window. ”I’ll inform Logan and have him search the perimeter discreetly.”

​”Okay,” I murmured, nodding mechanically.

​”Rest for now. I’ll be back later,” Kane said. He kissed my forehead gently and walked out, leaving me alone in the quiet room.

​I sank onto the edge of my bed, wrapping my arms around myself.

​My mind kept drifting back to Kaden—the way he looked at me across the training field, and the gentle warmth of his hand on my stomach last night.

​I want to thank him, a small voice inside my head whispered. He helped me when I was in pain.

​I bit my lip, shaking my head to clear the thought away. No. It’s a terrible idea. Going close to him, talking to him... it only makes things dangerous. It’s better if I just keep my distance.

​A short while later, a dry itch settled in the back of my throat. I felt terribly thirsty. Rather than calling for Stephine, I decided to head down to the kitchen myself to grab a cold glass of water and stretch my legs.

​I pulled open my bedroom door and stepped into the quiet hallway.

​The house was still, the soft afternoon sunlight painting long shadows across the floorboards. I made my way to the top of the grand staircase, resting my hand lightly on the polished railing as I began to step down.

​Halfway down the stairs, I heard heavy footsteps coming from below.

​I paused, looking down.

​It was Kaden. He had pulled a clean shirt over his broad chest, but his dark hair was still slightly damp from a shower after his training session.

​He froze the second he saw me, his boots resting on the lower step.

​Our eyes interlocked.

​The air between us instantly grew thick, heavy with everything we weren’t saying—the dark hours of last night, the gentle touch on my stomach, the boundary lines we both knew we shouldn’t cross. I opened my mouth to speak, to say something—anything—to break the intense silence.

​Before a single word could leave my lips, a violent, fierce pulse shook my chest.

​The choker around my neck flared to life, humming harder and faster than it ever had before. The vibration was so intense it sent a jolt of heat straight down my spine.

​My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes widened in complete shock.

​The key hadn’t been buried on the training grounds.

​The key... was on Kaden.