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.”

looked at me blankly for a moment, then

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

“Troy? Why?”

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

back against

moment, “I only meant that… it would have taken

I didn’t think one

bet you didn’t think it would be your arch

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

for all

Thuffed, smiling to myself.

in the morning with your mother, Georgia, and

train to the Port

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

visit,” I said, trying to smile to stop myself from crying. “Troy says autumn is a terrible time to be in the Isles…. Hurricanes, can you believe

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

in January…

will. I

his face, seeing 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 Drogomor and

realized, selfishly and for the first time, how big of a change this was for

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

proud of you,

hear the smile in

“Thanks, Dad.”

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

chattering away, her eyes alight with excitement as she spilled her desires

overwhelmed, having been in the background for all of the drama of

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

as his mom twirled in a circle, keeping in rhythm with the piano. Mom was playing something upbeat and happy, and it lightened the somber mood significantly, giving our goodbyes a

peer 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

lonely the castle had once been, back when it

their early relation ship, wishing I’d had the wherewithal to notice the small de tails I had missed. They had been

the

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

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

looked down at the note, his face undergoing an in credible transformation. He slowly

and she took her hands from the piano keys, looking at Dad with a

his face.