Sould 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.”

blankly for a moment, then snorted with

owe Troy an apology next,” he smiled, taking a long swig

“Troy? Why?”

up with you. I didn’t think anyone would be

back against

moment, “I only meant that… it would have taken a certain type of man to deserve

didn’t think one

be your arch

darkened for a split second. He drained his scotch, then

karma for all

Thuffed, smiling to myself.

your mother, Georgia, and Talon.

catch the nine o’clock train to the Port of Val

passed between us. The time had come after many weeks. I had already left my family once, but this felt

“Troy says autumn is a terrible time to be in the Isles…. Hurricanes, can you

the last of the fireweed blooms if you come in

every winter, in January… when it’s negative thirty and windy

will. I

at him, searching his face, seeing lines of fatigue and of surrender. I was going away for good this time, starting a life of my own,

realized, selfishly and for the first time, how big of

to him. I exhaled deeply, then leaned into him as he wrapped his arm

of you,

the smile in his

“Thanks, Dad.”

the village. Something small and cozy, you know, maybe a bit smaller than what Rosalie and Ethan have.

have a playroom at our house too-” Georgia was chattering away, her eyes alight with excitement as she spilled her

for all of the drama of the last several

and Paul were leaving for Breles with their daughters in the morning, taking the same train as Troy and I. We’d be riding to the port together, but they would immediately board a ferry to take them straight

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. Mom was playing something upbeat and happy, and it lightened

ing over the top of my shoulder, chomping lazily on my dress. Troy was walking around with Will in his arms, the boy fast asleep, while Dad had Oliver, of course, resting against his chest as he sat in a high-backed chair

how quiet and lonely the castle had once been, back when

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

the Goddess

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,

was just about to head back over to the 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

an in credible transformation. He slowly

exchange, and she took her hands from the piano keys, looking

his face.