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 breath, shaking his head as he chuckled and turned

serious! I want to go with Maeve. I

He swayed, and I jumped forward, wrapping my arms 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

There’re couches in the big tent. You can rest while the rest of us gather up supplies.” I whispered against his skin. I felt him nod, weakly, his muscles trembling as he

my arms and walked

He’s hurt.” Keaton was looking at me,

shining in

swallowed hard, nodding as I

was only half

***

supplies in their hands. Cleo came in carrying fresh bandages, and I

she sat her bundle down on Damian’s desk and began to

him but he-he told me not to bother.” I tried to hide

a rag with what smelled like pure alcohol, and I sucked in my breath, imagining how much it would sting when she

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 board with

you, being as pregnant as you

Damian’s cruiser, while the rest of the crew of the Persephone would be going to Dianny, which included

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

have to leave soon. Keaton is taking Opaline

soft morning light, his gaze settling on me for a moment before looking at Cleo, then her bandages. “No,” he said

been over this twice already.” She took the tray between her hands

bobbing as he accepted his fate, and Cleo started to unwind the bandages over his chest

you need to

not-” Troy closed his mouth and breathed through his nose as Cleo gave him another cold look, then settled

you get to Winter Forest, your mother should take a look at it and see if she can help him, okay? He might

lodged in my chest that was telling me something

exactly what she was doing and why. As she was wrapping a fresh bandage around Troy’s chest, I looked up into his eyes, which were focused on mine again with the same intensity

breath as I sat down on the couch across from Troy, my mouth going dry. He cleared his throat, and I looked up at him, waiting for him

he didn’t speak. He just

don’t feel it,

don’t. It doesn’t

my hands together. “I’m not your mate. Your mate is still out there somewhere, and I… I won’t let you sacrifice that happiness. If you found her

Maeve, even if you

face. There was no softness in his features. He wasn’t trying to convince me. He was telling me it was

difference between being in love

His eyes were shining in the sunlight coming through the tent flap. I looked away from him. “How could you possibly know the difference? What do you feel for me, Maeve? Tell me how it’s

“I love you”

enough for

my mind and help unravel the tangled web of emotions I was feeling. I loved him.

he was my mate, I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t even

useless. I

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

said, but I interrupted him, holding my hand up to silence

change how I

looked like a totally different

Mirage. His hair was much lighter now, bleached a soft chestnut brown by the sun and curled softly against his shoulders. His skin was still deeply tanned, but his face

looked tired, annoyed, and overall

the silent plea of understanding in

rose to his feet, baring his teeth against the pain. “I have been beaten, broken, and seen death

for all of

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,

I

taking another

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 at the same time in midmorning. I saw your hair in the crowd, and I stood

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

“And you ran outside-”

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

need