Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 113: Like Nothing Happened

Maeve

“Can I have a bite of that?” I asked, motioning toward the turkey leg wrapped in greasy brown paper that Troy was holding up to his mouth as he prepared to take a bite. He arched his brow, then sighed, handing me the leg and shaking his head at me as I took the largest bite possible.

“I could have bought you your own-“.

“I didn’t want one until you had one,” I grinned, enjoying my bite.

Troy wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we continued to walk through the square in the University Center of Mirage, which was now housing a huge market and festival to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

It felt odd being not only this happy but this carefree. Three days ago, I had been standing outside the remains of the cave system, in a white, soiled dress, thinking my family had just been crushed to death.

Now I was walking around Mirage beneath webs of paper lanterns, my mate’s arm around my shoulders and his turkey leg, which was now mine, in my hand.

I could see Gemma in the distance, standing in line to buy a mug of mulled wine. Ernest was behind her, George fast

asleep in a carrier strapped to his chest.

“Where are the boys?” I asked, a moment of panic washing over me as the crowd seemed to swell. I knew they were with our family, but I didn’t see them now.

ILL

“With your parents,” Troy said as he pointed off in the distance. Mom was pretty easy to spot with her white hair. She was pushing a double stroller, and Dad was walking beside her, carrying Oliver in his arms. “They’re fine, see? I’m sure your parents will find us when the kids start getting hungry. Speaking of which, since you stole my dinner, I’m

going to have to get something else-”

He turned me toward a long row of booths selling all kinds of treats. I continued to munch on the turkey leg as Troy tried to decide between a basket of fried chicken or a burger. I was hoping for the fried chicken.

“Are there festivals like this in the Isles?” I asked as we waited in line.

Troy shrugged, crunching the empty paper cup of cider and tossing it into a trashcan. “I doubt it. There weren’t before, not under Damian’s rule.”

“Keaton told me once that you used to distract old women from their purses so the rest of the boys could steal,”

“Ah, of course he did,” Troy smiled, shaking his head.

The conversation was momentarily interrupted as Troy stepped forward to order his food, glancing at me before telling the man behind the booth what he wanted. I pointed to the picture of fried chicken, and Troy rolled his eyes, leaning forward to drop a handful of coins into the man’s hand.

| stepped to the side, turning to look over the crowd once again in search of my parents, but they were now lost in the swell of festival goers.

“Anyway,” Troy continued as he turned back to me with a bucket of fried chicken in his hands, “Avondale used to have several hotels along one of their beaches, in a neighborhood that used to house the castle of the Alpha, as well as a handful of mansions built for high ranking pack members from way back in the day-”

“You’re just going to eat it plain? No honey, nor hot sauce?” || interrupted as Troy began to walk away from the booth, passing the table of condiments.

He gave me a dirty look then turned back to the table, doctoring up what would no doubt be my second, or maybe third, dinner.

We fell in step with each other as we continued on through the market, passing a piece of chicken back and forth. I was pleasantly full, and pleased, when Troy ushered us into a sprawling beer garden in the center of the market. I sat on the grass while he bought another round of cider.

the drinks. It felt like just yesterday he had bought me a lemonade during the Spring Festival when

was. Before I knew him as Troy or even as Aaron. My mouth

it-every minute, every second of the past ten or

right there, in the red jacket, that bastard cut in front of me in line,” he said as he sat down next to me, handing me the steaming, golden

in front of the Alpha of Poldesse,” |

“Maeve?”

“Yeah?”

was saying earlier, about Avondale… look, it’s going to be rough, okay? And not like… not the obvious, that it’s highly likely our titles aren’t going to be met with total acceptance. The Isles are a rough place. They’ve decayed significantly since the war your parents were involved in. I don’t remember it any other way, but I worry…

my hopes up

Troy’s pocket before we left the castle. “The castle of Poldesse is in ruins; it’s going to need

I don’t care

uncertainty. I straightened up a little. “Not that… I know you didn’t grow up in a castle back

about me not liking where we

think you should stay here or in Winter Forest for a few months, until I

“No, I won’t do that. The boys and I are

sighed, looking out over the groups huddled around

know how safe it’s

isn’t it? To take care of the people

a lot more

head toward the corner of the beer garden, where Caroline, my sixteen-year-old cousin,

in so much

stifling a laugh.

or the fact that she was snuggled up

or Paul in hours,” Troy replied,

be watching Sarah and

of my younger cousins

out by herself. She’s

well, Kat is likely out there bossing poor Sarah around as we speak. Sarah’s shy, you know. I don’t think I saw her

not wanting her to

her evening

Maeve,” Troy murmured, draining his cup of

not,” I replied, reaching for another piece

know that. Everyone looks at you when you walk

blushed, looking up at Troy through my lashes. He leaned down

warmth spread through my belly

find a dark alley somewhere?” he growled into my

get beat up

to start moving again, this time in search of my parents and our children. I was bursting with milk after eating my weight in

Hanna’s father. Eugene was holding several large stuffed animals in

have none, Alpha King. Here, you can have this one, it’s the smallest. Better luck next time, I say–” He handed Dad a fuzzy, pink teddy pair, patting Dad on the

then looked the bear up and down before placing it on top of Charlie, who was sleeping in the

up, except for maybe Keaton; and so far, he had

Oliver tucked in his jacket as we lingered

which was centered around