Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 75: The Fourth Time I’ve Died for You

Maeve

“This is at least the fourth time I’ve died for you-or almost died for you,” Troy said weakly as Cleo rolled a bandage over his chest. “You’re going to marry me.”

“Okay,” I whispered, my mouth trembling as I smiled, and my eyes welled with tears. I looked from his face to his chest, which was moving up and down as he breathed.

He was breathing. He was alive.

And he had a moonstone.

Keaton was sniffling behind us, Myla murmuring reassurances in his ear as she stroked his back with her head pressed against his shoulder

I’d had a strained relationship with Keaton since the day I met him. I thought he was ornery and arrogant, and I would continue to think that, but kneeling on the beach with him while Troy died in front of us had cemented an intimate type of relationship between us a shared indescribable grief, and eventually a communal joy when Troy opened his eyes once more.

We were all standing in absolute disbelief, still processing the events that had taken place in the last thirty minutes or so. Troy had died and come back to life. Damian was dead. Opaline had been captured and was hogtied and laying in one of the skiffs, her screams of frustration mingling with the rush of the incoming tide.

And we had the moonstone we had come all this way for.

“We‘re going back to Winter Forest now,” Troy grunted, trying to sit upright despite Cleo’s protests.

“We–we can’t. We have to go to Dianny first-“| stammered, stepping forward into the circle that was standing around Troy.

“Maeve’s right. We can take whatever goods we find here back to the Persephone, but we’ll need to stop to-”

“Tasia-” Myla and I said at the same time, which caused the low murmuring taking place around the circle to quiet.

I sucked in my breath, glancing at Myla before exhaling deeply and telling everyone what had happened, and what had been said, after Myla killed Damian.

Keaton’s face fell at every word. I knew he was thinking about Robbie. We all were. I didn’t know if I fully believed Opaline, but even Damian had warned me about Tasia and her powers.

“We have to go back and see what happened. If there were survivors. If Robbie…” | tucked my hands into the pockets of my pants. I was filthy, still in the clothes I had worn when we entered the tomb three days ago.

“Robbie would have made it out; he’ll be fine,” Keaton turned to Troy, offering his hand. Troy took it as Keaton helped him upright, holding onto Keaton’s shoulder for support as he stood, wobbling for a moment before regaining his composure.

It seemed that my blood hadn’t healed him. The moonstone had brought him back to life, but he still had a deep wound across his chest. Pete was holding the knife Opaline had stabbed him with during her attack, turning it over and over in his hand.

“We’ll split the supplies Damian has here at camp,” Troy said firmly, looking from face to face. “Maeve and I are going north, back to the pack lands… to Winter Forest. The rest of you will go to Dianny.”

“Troy, we should go with them,”

“No,” he rounded on me, looking irritated. I pursed my lips, biting the inside of my cheek as he continued. “This was the plan all along, to stop Damian from getting his hands on the moonstone. It’s done. It’s time for you to go home, Maeve.”

His tone was incredibly harsh, and I felt myself beginning to cower. He was angry, whether at me or the situation, I wasn’t

sure.

But Troy was watching me with interest as he spoke, his eyes boring into mine. I could feel his gaze all over my skin and it brought a warm blush to my cheeks. I looked away from him, knowing exactly what he was looking for. He knew today was my birthday. He knew what that meant.

I wondered if he felt the mate bond.

I wondered if he knew I didn’t.

“Troy’s right; we split up. Someone find the keys to that cruiser in the distance,” Keaton stepped out of the circle, letting go of Troy. He was barking commands to the crew now, his skin tight with dried tears. I swallowed against the apprehension tightening my throat and looked at Myla, who just shook her head.

“We‘re really going to split up?” I said to anyone who was still listening.

“I want to go north with you.” Pete had stepped forward, his words directed at me instead of Troy. This took Troy by surprise, and he turned to face Pete, his brow furrowed.

“That’s not up to you–” Troy began.

“I’d never been off the Isles when I first boarded the

Persephone. Now, I’ve traveled south, about as far as you can go. I didn’t find her,”

“Find who?” Troy asked, narrowing his eyes.

“My… mate.”

his head as he chuckled and turned to face us. “I knew it

to go with Maeve. I want to see the world north of the

around him before he fell over. His body was warm against mine, and I couldn’t help but lay my cheek against his back, thankful when his body softened to

rest of us gather up supplies.” I whispered against his

out of my arms and

hurt.” Keaton

in the

hard, nodding as I looked

only

***

tent flap and people were walking by with bundles of supplies in their hands. Cleo came in carrying fresh bandages,

last night?” she asked as she sat her bundle down on Damian’s desk and

He’s in pain, Cleo. I offered to help him but he-he told me not to bother.” I

I’m sure he didn’t mean it to upset you.” She soaked a rag with what smelled like

you to watch me do this, okay? You’re going to have to do this when we… We…” She paused, biting her lip and shaking her head as she set the alcohol-soaked rag on a small tray. “I can’t say I’m totally on

me with you, being as pregnant as

going north in Damian’s cruiser, while the rest of the crew of the Persephone would be going to Dianny, which included Cleo. She had protested, but I knew she would come to regret being separated from Myla if she didn’t go with them, especially after hearing the story of Cleo’s

sincere. I had at least three months to go before I gave birth, and a two-month-long journey to

to have to leave soon. Keaton is taking Opaline

struggled to sit upright. His bandages were red with fresh blood. He blinked into the soft morning light, his gaze

took the tray between her hands and stood before him, giving him

fate, and Cleo started to unwind the bandages over

away, but Cleo called me over. “This is the area you need to worry about, right here. See how deep this

Troy closed his mouth and breathed through his nose as

stitch him up. But you still need to clean the entire area at least twice a day. When you get to Winter

told anyone about the painful feeling lodged

into his eyes, which were focused on mine again with the same intensity as the night before. He said something to Cleo, and she nodded in response, turning away from him and

my breath as I sat down on the couch across from Troy, my mouth going dry.

speak. He

don’t feel it,

know you don’t.

mate. Your mate is still out there somewhere, and I… I won’t let you sacrifice that happiness.

it, Maeve, even if

incredibly serious, which matched the look etched on his face. There was no softness in his

in love and being with

tent flap. I looked away from him. “How could you possibly know

“I love you”

enough for

and help unravel the tangled

couldn’t even feel my wolf.

useless. I wasn’t a White

it would kill me if he found his mate and refused her because of me. I wouldn’t let him sacrifice that right, that gift. I loved him too much to let

he said, but I interrupted him, holding

change how I

like a totally different

soft chestnut brown by the sun and curled softly against his shoulders. His skin was still deeply tanned, but his face was

looked tired, annoyed, and overall

silent plea of understanding in his

said as he rose to his feet, baring his teeth against the

for all

the wound over his heart, closing his eyes for a moment. “I would do it all over again. I would. And I’ve told you time and time again how I knew you were my mate the second I saw you. I was watching, you know, before I even knew who you were. I had seen you in the market twice

brawl? When I got pushed into

taking another

was in the bar, waiting to meet with Horace on the castle grounds, just trying to pass the time. But I also knew you passed by Johnny’s almost every day

on someone’ s foot. He thought the man standing next to him had stepped on him, so

“And you ran outside-”

you right before you broke your damn ankle. Touched you. I felt it then. I’d had a feeling what I was feeling was the mate bond, but… that cemented it for me.” He took another pained

need to sit