Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Maeve

Cleo and Myla were sitting in awe in front of the hearth in the library, looking down at infants in their hands. Alison, Robbie’s mate, was holding Will, who was surprisingly well behaved as he peered up at the perfect stranger in whose

arms he rested.

“I don’t know how I missed him,” Cleo whispered, looking down at Oliver with a soft frown creasing her brow. “I’ve nev er… Oh, Maeve, I am so sorry!”

“Cleo, none of this is your fault. None of it. We’re all fine

now, that’s what matters!” | sat between her and Myla and on the couch, holding a mug of hot cider between my hands as | glanced from baby to baby, a wave of relief washing over me. We had all finally been reunited after Troy and I had separat ed from the Persephone.

ooh “This one looks so much like Troy.” Myla ran her knuckle

over Charlie’s cheek, which caused him to smile in reflex.

Myla beamed, tears glimmering in her eyes.

“Both Will and Charlie look shockingly like Troy, but | think Oliver looks like me.” | sipped my cider again and caught Cleo’s surprised gaze. She looked down at little Oli, whose name I hadn’t uttered until that moment. Myla rested her hand against my thigh, then leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Thank you, Maeve,” she whispered, just as Cleo dissolved into tears.

I wondered if Cleo had ever told Myla the truth about Olivia, who had been Cleo’s mate and Myla’s mother. Based on their ease with each other, and the teary, knowing glance they shared, I assumed that they had. Cleo didn’t bother to wipe the tears away as they fell, she kept her gaze firmly on Oli, Olivia’s namesake.

“What a blessing,” Cleo grinned, her voice distorted by a

sob.

Alison, who was pregnant herself, seemed slightly over whelmed as Myla and Cleo prodded me for details about the birth of the boys.

“I worry about myself,” Alison said, swallowing hard.

“Why is that? You’re strong and healthy, and only carry one child-” Cleo retorted, but Alison paled.

“I carry Robbie’s child, Cleo. He is seven feet tall. I am sure

he was a giant infant at his birth.”

My eyes widened as I took Alison in. She was very petite,

hardly five feet tall herself, maybe shorter. Seeing her stand ing next to Robbie was shocking.

Robbie, Dad, Troy, Rowan, and Ernest were all in Ernest’s old office, talking about Dianny. Gemma had just entered the

library, George balanced on her hip while she walked behind

a maid pushing a tea cart stacked with all kinds of lunch foods.

Good, I thought. I was absolutely starving,

“I was just in the kitchen and saw your mom, Maeve. She

said there’s a conference of Alphas meeting in town tomor row. And a gala the next day?” Gemma and the rest of the family from Winter Forest had arrived late the night before, and we had spent the majority of the early morning explain ing what had happened when Troy and I left for Mirage with

my parents.

I opened my mouth to reply to Gemma, but Myla

screamed.

scream, as well as the screeches of

through the library and echoed

the walls.

of not only my family, but my friends from the Persephone, arriving at nearly the same time, I had

she had loved as much as I had,

fact, alive.

Myla I am so sorry -” | leaped from the couch and took Charlie from her arms before she dropped him in her haste to rise

and

had mourned

now she was standing in front of us, healthy, robust, holding

nma was

the time Myla reached her and threw her arms around her. Alison

smiled as I patted Charlie against my

of utter, indescribable

a fruitful season,” Alison said as she bounced George on her knee. George was

vigor, lost in quite yet animated conversation with Myla and Cleo at the long

other

thick blanket in front of the hearth had become a sleeping mat for Will and Oli, who were happily snoozing in the radiating warmth of the wide fireplace. Alison reached up to run her fingers through George’s hair, who cooed happily,

my lap, his round

rosy.

has been fruitful,” I replied with

she

place.” Alison flushed with sudden

to visit…” | tapered off, notic ing the tears glistening in Alison’s eyes.

did what I could

While Robbie had been

in. She

something that took everything she had

and their children. I was able to convince my other sisters and their families to leave, but the men… their husbands,

grief. She

and I told her as such. She was in great pain over the deaths of many, many

kids out in his arms,” she said with a soft, somber smile, her eyes glistening with warmth as she said his name. “Four each

with a little laugh,

manhandled by Robbie at

sometimes Troy’s, orders.

of four men who got out

been

is no shame in feeling sadness. I cry all the time,” I said honestly, but the words felt flat against my tongue. My

and accounted for. Alison’s family

at me with a grateful smile touching her lips. George was reaching for her, his chubby

Troy

seen before had been opened up, cleaned and decorated richly, and several large white tents had

had brought Robbie to

formal out fits instead of catching up with our friends. Then Rowan, Hanna, and the rest of the family from Winter Forest arrived, and all hell seemed to break loose. Maeve and I weren’t get ting much sleep already, and we had spent the majority of the night awake, passing around the babies

as well as we stood on the stairs, watching through the window as servants set up several heaters in the

didn’t he tell us about the conference?

asked after several moments

the answer. “Because he’s going to announce me as the Al pha of Poldesse, that’s

shaking her head as she turned