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.

as well as the screeches of all four

through the library and

the walls.

at nearly the same

Gemma, who she had loved as much as I had, was

fact, alive.

| leaped from the couch and took Charlie from her arms before she dropped him in her haste to rise from the couch. Cleo had risen, equal ly as pale but much more reserved in

and

mourned

front of us, healthy, robust, holding

nma was

and threw her

patted Charlie against my shoulder,

of utter,

knee. George was rather particular about only wanting his mother, but Alison had

quite yet animated conversation

the other end of

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.

on my lap, his round cheeks soft

rosy.

fruitful,” I replied with

have… she would have

flushed with

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

did

While

in. She had grown up in Dianny and would see

took everything she had ever known from

us. She just wouldn’t go. Nor would my two eldest sisters… and their children. I was able

her grief. She didn’t need

She was in great pain over the deaths of many,

said with a soft, somber smile, her eyes glistening with warmth as she said his name. “Four each in his arms, if you can believe

can,” I said with a little

had been manhandled

sometimes Troy’s, orders.

we went back… Robbie was only one of four men who got out of… of the city before Tasia … before she….” Another wave of tears fell over Alison’s pale lashes, her

have all been through

is no shame in feeling sadness. I cry all the time,” I

for. Alison’s family was

grateful smile touching her lips. George was reaching for her, his chubby fists opening and closing as she held him against

Troy

Parts of the castle I hadn’t even seen

evening I had brought Robbie to meet

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

on edge as well as we stood on the stairs, watching through the window as servants

tell us

after several moments of

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

her head as she