Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1645 - 87 : Above Pride

*Briella*

There were butterflies swirling around madly in my stomach, and they definitely weren’t the good kind.

This was the day that Mathias was supposed to send all the forces we were able to collect. We had to leave for the island before we could confirm who was coming. All we had been able to do was send out the messages. We had to leave the rest up to Mathias and Kai.

Maybe it was silly to worry, but I couldn’t help but fear that people would decide not to come. I knew it was a bit irrational. There was no way Kellan wasn’t going to show up, and Roy’s father would likely pull through with his promised forces.

I still wondered about what if something came up and they were no longer able to send people. What if the forces were needed more in their respective home packs?

What would we do if we were vastly outnumbered when it was time for us to fight?

I was sitting on the beach, watching Kryzen and Roy as they sparred. They were pausing and chatting quite a bit, strategizing for when the forces arrived. They were planning out some basic combat forms that they could teach everyone, even those who had no experience fighting.

I had been sparring with them until a few moments ago. Kryzen had practically ordered me to take a break, claiming that I was pushing myself too hard. I had obeyed silently, not wanting to admit that he was right. It was easier for me to push my body to its limit than to admit I was worried about something.

“Those two can really go at it for hours, can’t they?”

I moved so I could smile at Alyna. She plopped down beside me in the sand. I always looked up to her as a child. That really hadn’t changed just because I was an adult. She had always been beautiful to me. Even now, after being on an island for a few days, she still looked radiant with her dark hair spilling over her shoulders, her wide gray eyes studying the boys as they sparred.

I laughed inwardly at myself when I realized I probably found her breathtaking because she and Kryzen looked so similar.

“Yeah, they really can,” I agreed. I scoffed loudly.

Alyna gave me a startled look, but her eyes were amused. “What?” she asked, one corner of her mouth twitching upward.

I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, but I sighed and gestured toward the boys. “Your brother sent me over here to rest,” I complained lightly. “He thought I was pushing myself too hard.”

Alyna giggled knowingly but then eyed me seriously. “Were you?” she asked.

I winced and shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe a little bit,” I admitted, unable to lie to her.

She nodded in understanding but then gave me a stern look. “Don’t go exhausting yourself before we even go into battle,” she said, slapping me lightly on the back. She surprised me by wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Everything will work out, you’ll see.”

I looked at her in surprise. Although, it shouldn’t have been shocking that she knew I was stressed out. “What if no one shows up?” I found myself asking her, my voice low. I immediately felt ridiculous for voicing my worries.

Alyna showed no signs of thinking me strange for my question. She just tightened her arm around me in a comforting gesture. “Even if one or two people show, or no one at all, we’ll make do.”

I couldn’t help but voice my skepticism. “You saw how many possessed beings were down there,” I whispered. Fear struck me as I recalled the terrifying army.

“I also know that you and my brother are extremely powerful all on your own,” Alyna said with conviction. She laughed lightly. “Don’t be so modest. Roy told me how you destroyed dozens of these demon shadows back in Celestial City.”

I was a little comforted by her words, but I also knew the full truth of my abilities. Kryzen and I had to work together to get rid of all those creatures. After doing so, I had been hospitalized for days. I had limits that could very well be our downfall.

I forced a smile onto my face. “Thanks,” I said. I nudged her. “I’m really glad you’re here. Roy was starting to be such a third wheel.”

Alyna laughed loudly before giving Roy a fond look.

We jumped to our feet when the familiar gust of wind started to form between us and the guys. Roy and Kryzen heard it too and hurriedly rushed to our sides.

The air shimmered with an otherworldly hum, a strange melody rising up as a bright blue energy ball started to form. It grew as the sounds got louder and louder. It was as if the air itself was singing a haunting song of mystery and magic.

Kryzen appeared by my side and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he stared intently into the light.

I held my breath, biting my lip nervously. This was it. This was a bigger moment than I had originally anticipated. Depending on how many people came through this portal essentially determined our fate. If we didn’t get a significant amount of forces, the fight against Tian and his dark army would essentially be a suicidal bloodbath.

I should have had more faith in Mathias and Kai. Dozens of people started to flood through the portal, stepping owlishly into the light as their eyes adjusted to the much-dimmer world compared to the bright lights when realm jumping.

I was shocked to find that the first people to come through weren’t the soldiers we were promised from Drogomor or King Rhys. They were the friends we had most recently made when we traveled through the Embervale.

At least a dozen people from each community we visited had come to help us fight. Many of them approached us immediately and shook hands with us. I could hardly respond as I stared at them in open-mouthed shock.

“It is good to see you both again,” said one guy with dark hair and a lopsided smile. “We might not be fighters, but we will do our best.”

“We will do our best to learn to fight,” said a young woman from Ethereal Grove. Her dark eyes were narrowed in determination. “I can promise you that much. This Tian will pay for using our companions as his slaves.”

Several others in the group cheered in agreement.

“Thank you so much,” was all I could manage to say as the people kept streaming in, their eyes lighting up as they recognized Kryzen and me.

I was put into even further shock when a very familiar face appeared in front of me. “Arista,” I gasped, my eyes rounding as I stared at the girl.

The daughter of Alpha Azure and Luna Marina of Astral Haven beamed at me and threw her slim arms around my shoulders, holding me tightly to her. “It’s good to see you, Briella,” she said warmly.

I hugged her back dumbly, blinking in shock, trying to make sense of why she was there. I wordlessly took her hand and dragged her away from the crowd.

“Where are we going?” she asked, the confusion clear in her voice. She also sounded like she was in awe as she gazed around at the island paradise we had chosen as the rendezvous point.

The rest of the crowd was chatting with one another. They didn’t seem to be paying us any mind, so I stopped walking and turned to face the Alpha’s daughter. “It’s good to see you, Arista,” I said carefully, looking her right in the eye. “It really is, but I have to ask if you’re certain about this. Do your parents know that you’re here?”

I felt funny asking that last question as if she was a child who ran away from home, but I needed to know. I didn’t want the Alpha and Luna upset with us. Their daughter was important to their community. There was a chance we might have needed to send her back. This situation was far too dangerous.

“I know what I’m doing, and so do my parents,” Arista told me firmly. She flinched slightly. “They might not be happy about it, and I might have had to fight them a little for them to let me come, but I know I’m meant to be here.”

I nodded. I could respect that. Her conviction reminded me a lot of when I decided to leave Drogomor to come to Celestial Valley. I believed her.

I was still concerned for her. “It’s going to be dangerous,” I told her. “This man Tian is a true tyrant. And he’s powerful.”

Arista just grinned at me. “If you’re trying to scare me off, it’s not working,” she said. She then gave me a serious look. “You taught me that our gifts are capable of so much more than making pretty water art, Briella. I want to fight alongside you.”

I inhaled sharply, tears filling my eyes as I hugged her again.

“Attention, everyone!”

Arista and I glanced at each other before making our way back to the large crowd. That had been Roy’s commanding prince voice that boomed through the sea of people. He might have been soft-spoken, but he could get a crowd’s attention when necessary.

Kryzen and Roy were standing on top of a large flat rock so that they could be seen and heard by a large amount of people. I looked around in amazement. There had to be over a hundred people who showed up. There were a lot of faces I didn’t recognize. Judging from their dark uniforms, I could only assume they were the men and women King Rhys sent.

Kryzen’s voice was commanding and firm. “First, I want to thank you all for your courage and willingness to fight alongside us,” he said.

His strong voice echoed over the beach, causing a hush to fall over everyone. Each one of us stared up at Kryzen with rapt attention.

“We don’t have long before we must march into battle,” he continued seriously. “Our enemy is ruthless and has grown in numbers. We will need to fight as a unit in order to win. We will train tirelessly each day, honing our skills in both combat and magic-wielding depending on your skill set.”

“For now, focus on your training,” Roy added. “Kryzen and I will largely be in charge of guiding you in combat while Briella will be helping anyone who can wield magic. We will talk strategy as the eclipse draws nearer.”

Kryzen’s eyes found mine in the crowd. “Briella and I will lead you into battle,” he said gravely. “But let it be known that each and every one of you is vital to our fight toward freedom and justice. Together we will defeat Tian and his army and emerge victorious.”

A chorus of cheers erupted among the warriors. I felt a surge of pride swell within me as I looked out at the faces of those who decided to fight with us, their eyes shining with determination and resolve.

Far above that pride was hope.