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, then snorted with mirth,

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

“Troy? Why?”

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

leaning back against the couch

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

I didn’t think one

you didn’t think it would be your arch nemesis’s son, either. Did

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

it karma for all my past

Thuffed, smiling to myself.

your mother, Georgia, and Talon. Ernest and Gemma

catch the nine o’clock train to the Port of Val oria. We set

many weeks. I had already left my family

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

the last of the fireweed blooms if you come in early

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

will. I promise

going away for good this time, starting a life of my own, on my own terms. Rowan was the new

first time, how big of a

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

you, Maeve,” he

the

“Thanks, Dad.”

maybe a bit smaller than what Rosalie and Ethan have. But, I think we need to plan for at least four bedrooms because, well, Gemma and

was chattering away, her eyes alight

been in the background for all of the drama of the last several weeks, but was doing her

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

conversation and music. Gemma was dancing with George in her arms, who was screaming with laughter as his mom twirled in a circle,

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 next to the

quiet and lonely the castle had once been, back when it was

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 Goddess for

getting mar ried next summer, when his mother could join them in Valoria.

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

face undergoing an

from the piano keys, looking at Dad with a quizzical

his face.