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.”

by, heading toward the den. She stopped 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 encouraged us to be naughty in

will Mom be up?” I asked Gemma, turning to face her. Gemma was fumbling with the

her since… well, Ethan told me I couldn’t say anything to

“Why not?”

you have to talk about with your mom. He said it… wasn’t my business. He’s been a real

bad happened,

looked into my eyes, sighing. “Do you remember my necklace? The one my mother

A chill ran up my spine, picturing the dainty necklace in my

“Well, it has powers,”

chair, spilling my coffee. George unlatched from Gemma and twisted his face into a

“Maeve! What’s the matter?”

front door. I pulled one of Rowan’s coats on and slipped my feet into a pair of my dad’s rubber boots that

the driveway, one arm cradling my huge stomach as I ran

***

was docked at the port, covered in snow. Duck was running through the snow on the dock, playfully barking as he pounced, sticking his long snout into the snowdrifts sneezing, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Duck!” I called to him, breathing heavy as I skidded to a stop on the slippery planks of the dock. Duck barked at me in reply, his tail

upper deck

down at me. “What the hell are you doing out here in

much looking forward to not carrying around an extra sixty or seventy pounds when this pregnancy

the railing, and I sighed with relief, leaning forward

he asked, his voice brimming

| cried, looking back up at them. 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

ran from

to help her when Ernest was carrying her out of the castle, and he pushed me away. My hand grazed her chest, I felt the

on my back, Dad and Troy leaning over me

get her back to the house-” they said

I snapped in frustration, stuck on

on

get it!” I started to rock back and forth, trying to get over onto my side, but Dad stopped me, grabbing me by the armpits as he lifted me upright onto my

he said sternly, brushing snow from my coat. “Go

“You don’t understand!”

wearing my coat?” Rowan was walking up to us, glaring

put his hand over his heart, pretending he was going to faint in a

Maeve. How was your vacation?” He hadn’t had a chance to rouse me

“Shut-”

roughly by the arm and

in the air. I turned, making Dad come

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

and grabbed onto Troy’s arm, and the two of them fell off

sake,” Dad hissed as he let

had come back to the surface of the water, gasping

Dad 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 help, but

his breath and disappeared below the

after Troy, the spray coating Dad in icy, gray liquid. He threw

you going to help

head, pointing up to the