Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 81 : The Moonstone Sinks into the Ocean

Maeve

Gemma was sitting at the kitchen island, pouring a hefty amount of cream into her coffee. She stirred in two spoonfuls of sugar before setting the spoon down and lifting the mug to her lips.

I was standing near the sink, the carafe of coffee in my hand as I prepared to pour myself a mug. It had been a long night with little sleep. Dad had finally gotten me into my bed, tucking me in without even giving me an opportunity to take my boots and coat off, acting like if he didn’t get me into bed and tuck me in like he used to when I was girl, I would disappear right before his eyes, like a dream.

I hadn’t even had a chance to talk to Mom. He had made her go back to bed before I even reached the top of the stairs.

Mom was always the first one awake in the mornings. I thought I’d

see her in the kitchen, making coffee. Instead, I made it myself, alone, until Gemma came in from where she had slept on the couch in the den.

“Is everyone staying in the house? The whole family?” I asked her as I poured a small cup of coffee. Cleo had been wary of the fact still preferred coffee over tea, saying something about the effects of caffeine during pregnancy, but I hadn’t listened.

Coffee in the morning was my ritual. I wasn’t the same without it. I did try to make it a bit weaker than I had before my pregnancy.

“Oh, not. Not usually. Talon and Ernest are in Mirage, so Georgia

wanted me to stay here instead of at home, so I wouldn’t be taking care of George all alone. Vicky’s girls wanted to put on a talent show for us last night, and it got late, so they stayed over. I don’t think they like staying in the castle, it’s more fun over here.”

“I’ve missed a lot, haven’t 1?” I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice as I sat down on the stool across from her, reaching for the bottle of cream. She slid the sugar bowl toward me, smiling somberly.

“You missed a lot of drama, that’s for sure. But you’re here now; that’s all that matters.”

“Do you know where Troy is?” I hadn’t spoken to him since we left the ship, and Dad had shut me in my room, where Troy hadn’t joined me. Gemma pursed her lips, sighing deeply.

“Rowan made him sleep in the garage.”

“What? Why?”

“Because your dad wouldn’t let Rowan lock him out of the house entirely. I saw the three of them leaving the house early this morning when Georgia came into get George so I could sleep a

little longer.”

Gemma didn’t seem concerned, but I was reeling. She noticed this and shook her head, sipping from her coffee. “They’re not going to kill him, Maeve.”

“Are you sure? Rowan and Troy beat each other up pretty good last night.”

“Well, based on what Rowan’s face looked like this morning, I would say Troy was the winner, huh?” Her eyes twinkled with mirth

as she set her mug down, turning it in a circle.

I heard footsteps in the foyer, and Georgia appeared, carrying George against her shoulder. He was roughly two months old and very active, squirming and chomping down on her shoulder.

“He’s trying to eat me,” she laughed, handing him to Gemma and running her finger along his cheek and tickling him under the two sets of rolls beneath his chin.

He grinned, his dark blue eyes creasing up at his grandmother. “And I said I have nothing for him. That time for me has passed!” Georgia said in a goofy voice that George seemed to love. He cooed and squealed, then promptly turned his head toward Gemma’s chest, rooting with vigor.

“Oh, he’d try. Trust me. Ernest had to start sleeping with a shirt on because George got him once when he was sleeping between us. I think it scared Ernest to death, he wasn’t expecting it.”

to squeeze my shoulder and kiss me on the cheek, unusual behavior on Georgia’s part who I had always considered the crazy aunt who had taught us bad words and

Gemma was fumbling with the

sleeps late now. It’s been hard for her since… well, Ethan told me I couldn’t say anything to you, Maeve. I’m

“Why not?”

about with your mom. He said

happened, didn’t

remember my necklace? The one my mother left me. You saw it once in Mirage,

my spine, picturing the dainty necklace in

“Well, it has powers,”

my coffee. George unlatched from Gemma and twisted

“Maeve! What’s the matter?”

already sprinting through the house, sliding to a stop in front of the front door. I pulled one of Rowan’s coats on

the stairs, careful not to slip, but started running again once I hit the driveway, one arm cradling my huge stomach

***

pounced, sticking his long snout into the snowdrifts sneezing, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Duck!” I called to

the upper deck of

down at me. “What the hell are you doing

to catch my breath. I was very much looking

walked up to the railing, and I sighed with relief, leaning forward with

wrong?” he asked, his

It had started to snow again, fine flakes that fell in a dizzying pattern. It was more like the flakes were suspended in the air, and I was suddenly dizzy, unable to differentiate the sky from the ground. It

a crunch, and both Troy and Dad ran from the deck and were at

out of the castle, and he pushed me away. My hand grazed her chest, I felt the necklace on my hand. It-it stung me.

on my back, Dad and Troy leaning

back to the house-” they said in unison, and then they stared at each

other moonstone?!” I snapped in frustration, stuck on my back like

in the safe on

forth, trying to get over onto my side, but Dad stopped me, grabbing me by the armpits as he

calm down,” he said sternly, brushing snow from my coat. “Go back up

“You don’t understand!”

Rowan was walking

you too, idiot!” I hissed. Rowan dramatically put his hand over his heart, pretending he was going to faint in a dramatic way.

of you to finally show up, Maeve. How was your vacation?” He hadn’t had a chance to

“Shut-”

arm and began walking me across the dock towards

walking briskly forward, holding the moonstone up in the air. I

took off down the dock toward Troy, but slipped, sliding on his side into Rowan, causing Rowan’s knees to

his balance and grabbed onto Troy’s arm, and the two of

as he let go

towards the dock, where Troy and Rowan had come back to the surface of the water, gasping in shock from the

grabbed Rowan by the collar of his jacket and lifted him onto the dock while Troy gripped the dock with his fingers, his teeth chattering. Dad reached down to

dropped-” he sucked in his breath and disappeared below the surface of

the spray coating

to help them?”

shook his head, pointing up