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.”

for a moment,

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

“Troy? Why?”

you. I didn’t think anyone would be up

scowled, leaning back against the

it would have taken a certain type of man to deserve

didn’t think

it would be your arch nemesis’s son,

split second. He drained his scotch, then

karma for

Thuffed, smiling to myself.

your mother,

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

many weeks. I had already left

trying to smile to stop myself from crying. “Troy says autumn is a terrible time

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

you and mom can visit every winter, in January… when it’s negative thirty

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, on my own terms. Rowan was the new Alpha of Drogomor and would be living here now

the first time, how big of a change this was for my own

went to him, sitting down next to him. I exhaled deeply, then leaned into him as he wrapped

proud of you, Maeve,”

the

“Thanks, Dad.”

the village. Something small and cozy, you know, maybe a bit smaller than what Rosalie and Ethan have. But, I think we need to plan for at least four bedrooms

baby. I’d like to have a playroom at our house too-” Georgia was chattering away, her eyes alight with excitement as she spilled her desires for the future to Vicky, who was listening earnestly to

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

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 to Breles, rather than the

was screaming with laughter as his mom twirled in a circle, keeping in

with Will in his

quiet and lonely the castle had once been, back when it was only me, Ernest, and Gemma

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

thank the

room, 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

his eyes searching for Dad. He found him, and walked between the group congregated in the center of

the note, his face undergoing an in credible transformation. He

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

his face.