Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 116: Are We Missing Something?

Maeve

The castle was buzzing with activity. Dinner had been served buffet style, and everyone was congregating in the for mal dining hall where the ball had taken place.

But I found myself in the library, which was quiet and emptý, save for my dad.

He was standing in front of one of the windows, a dram of scotch in his hand. He looked meditative, but his brow was furrowed.

“Hey,” I said, closing the door behind me. “You wanted to talk to me?”

He turned from the window, nodding, and motioned for me to sit. I felt a sudden wave of unease, wondering if I was in trouble for something.

“I just wanted… I just wanted to say I’m sorry, Maeve-”

“For what? What could you possibly be sorry for?” | was dumbfounded, but I could tell something was troubling him greatly.

He sat down on one of the couches in front of the hearth and sighed, bringing the scotch to his lips before thinking bet ter of it. He lowered his glass as I sat on the opposite couch.

“Is this about the moonstones? Dad, you couldn’t have known-”

“I knew enough to not send you to Valoria in the first place.”

“When I came to live with Ernest?”

“Yes,” he lowered his gaze, swirling the scotch in his glass. “It was wrong of me to put that kind of expectation on you-”

“I wanted to do it. You didn’t have to convince me-”

“I should have handled the situation without involving you. I should have put Rowan in Ernest’s place. It wasn’t your re sponsibility to carry the weight of our family’ s obligations, Maeve. It was mine.”

“Dad-”

He looked up at me through his lashes, the fire in the hearth reflecting off his irises. He looked very young at that moment, and for a second I caught a glimpse of what Mom must have seen when she was my age, just getting to know my Dad for the first time.

I couldn’t imagine. Even their stories of that time couldn’t explain the full scope of what it must have been like for them.

I was in love, and able to show it. Troy and I fit together like a puzzle piece. We had always been able to communicate clearly and efficiently, and I didn’t realize that until trying to navigate my relationship with my father.

Dad was an enigma, totally and utterly impossible to read.

“I accept your apology,” I said, even though it felt like a lie. I had no reason to accept an apology from him. He had done nothing wrong. He only felt like he had. “I’m sorry too. For causing you so much stress.”

• He looked at me blankly for a moment, then snorted with mirth, shaking his head.

he smiled, taking a

“Troy? Why?”

think anyone would be up for the

scowled, leaning back against the couch

he said after a moment, “I only meant that… it would have taken a certain

I didn’t think one

it would be your

darkened for a split second. He

karma for

Thuffed, smiling to myself.

mother, Georgia,

Port of Val oria. We set sail close to sundown,

weeks. I had already left my family once,

smile to stop myself from crying. “Troy says autumn is a terrible time to be in the Isles…. Hurricanes,

to see the last of the fireweed blooms if you come in early August,” he said

winter, in January… when it’s negative

I promise

lines of fatigue and of surrender. I was going away for good this time, starting a life of my own, on my own terms. Rowan was the new Alpha of

how big of a change this

him. I exhaled deeply, then

proud of you, Maeve,”

the smile in his

“Thanks, Dad.”

house just outside of the village. Something small and cozy, you know, maybe a bit smaller than what Rosalie and Ethan have. But, I think we

playroom at our house too-” Georgia was chattering away, her eyes alight with excitement as she spilled her desires for the future to Vicky,

having been in the background for all of the drama

We’d be riding to the

was filled with conversation and music. Gemma was dancing with George in her arms, who was screaming with laughter as his mom twirled in a circle, keeping in rhythm with the piano.

was wide awake. He was peer ing over the top of my shoulder, chomping lazily on my dress. Troy was walking around with Will in his arms,

looked around, remembering how quiet and lonely the castle had once

not knowing the details of their early relation ship, wishing I’d had the wherewithal to notice the small de tails I had missed. They had been in love from the beginning, and I was so thankful they now had the chance to be together like

thank the Goddess

stopping to talk to Pete for a moment. He was planning to stay in Mirage for a while with Kacidra. They were getting mar ried next summer, when his mother could join them in Valoria. He no doubt thought he was the luckiest man alive, and I could see the joy in his eyes when he glanced over at Kacidra, who was talking

piano when a warrior hurried into the room, his face pale and his eyes searching for Dad. He found him, and walked between the group congregated in the center of the dining room without saying a word. He walked right up to Dad and placed a letter in

at the note, his face undergoing an in credible transformation. He slowly rose to his

she took her hands from the piano keys, looking at

his face.