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.”

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

I asked Gemma, turning to face her. Gemma was fumbling with

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

“Why not?”

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

bad happened,

eyes, sighing. “Do you remember my necklace? The one my mother left me. You saw it once in Mirage,

my spine,

“Well, it has powers,”

twisted his face into a grimace, surprised by the noise.

“Maeve! What’s the matter?”

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

to slip, but started running again once I hit the driveway, one arm cradling my huge stomach as I ran through the gate and

***

sneezing, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Duck!” I called to him,

walked onto the upper deck

as he looked down at me. “What the hell are you doing out here in your pajamas, Maeve?

Troy?” I said in a strained voice, struggling to catch my breath. I was very much looking forward to not carrying around an extra sixty or seventy pounds when this pregnancy was

with relief, leaning forward with

wrong?” he asked, his voice

in a dizzying pattern. It was more like the flakes were suspended in the air, and I was suddenly dizzy, unable

Dad ran from the deck and were at

when Ernest was carrying her out of the castle, and he pushed me away.

suddenly I was flat on my back, Dad and Troy leaning over

to the house-” they said in unison, and

I snapped in frustration, stuck on my back like an

on

get over onto my side, but Dad stopped me, grabbing me by the armpits as

to calm down,” he said sternly, brushing snow from

“You don’t understand!”

are you wearing my coat?” Rowan was walking

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

show up, Maeve. How was your vacation?” He hadn’t had a chance to rouse me the night

“Shut-”

enough!” Dad grabbed me roughly by the arm and

the air. I turned, making Dad come to an abrupt stop. Duck was barking at

Dad bared his teeth back and took off down the dock toward

arm, and the two of them fell off the dock into the

he let go of my arm

to

you kids-” Dad grabbed Rowan by the collar of his jacket and lifted him onto the dock while Troy gripped the dock with

I dropped-” he sucked in his breath and disappeared

his name drowned out by the massive splash of water that washed over the deck as Rowan jumped in after Troy, the spray coating Dad in icy,

to help them?”

his head, pointing up