Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 81 : The Moonstone Sinks into the Ocean

Maeve

Gemma was sitting at the kitchen island, pouring a hefty amount of cream into her coffee. She stirred in two spoonfuls of sugar before setting the spoon down and lifting the mug to her lips.

I was standing near the sink, the carafe of coffee in my hand as I prepared to pour myself a mug. It had been a long night with little sleep. Dad had finally gotten me into my bed, tucking me in without even giving me an opportunity to take my boots and coat off, acting like if he didn’t get me into bed and tuck me in like he used to when I was girl, I would disappear right before his eyes, like a dream.

I hadn’t even had a chance to talk to Mom. He had made her go back to bed before I even reached the top of the stairs.

Mom was always the first one awake in the mornings. I thought I’d

see her in the kitchen, making coffee. Instead, I made it myself, alone, until Gemma came in from where she had slept on the couch in the den.

“Is everyone staying in the house? The whole family?” I asked her as I poured a small cup of coffee. Cleo had been wary of the fact still preferred coffee over tea, saying something about the effects of caffeine during pregnancy, but I hadn’t listened.

Coffee in the morning was my ritual. I wasn’t the same without it. I did try to make it a bit weaker than I had before my pregnancy.

“Oh, not. Not usually. Talon and Ernest are in Mirage, so Georgia

wanted me to stay here instead of at home, so I wouldn’t be taking care of George all alone. Vicky’s girls wanted to put on a talent show for us last night, and it got late, so they stayed over. I don’t think they like staying in the castle, it’s more fun over here.”

“I’ve missed a lot, haven’t 1?” I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice as I sat down on the stool across from her, reaching for the bottle of cream. She slid the sugar bowl toward me, smiling somberly.

“You missed a lot of drama, that’s for sure. But you’re here now; that’s all that matters.”

“Do you know where Troy is?” I hadn’t spoken to him since we left the ship, and Dad had shut me in my room, where Troy hadn’t joined me. Gemma pursed her lips, sighing deeply.

“Rowan made him sleep in the garage.”

“What? Why?”

“Because your dad wouldn’t let Rowan lock him out of the house entirely. I saw the three of them leaving the house early this morning when Georgia came into get George so I could sleep a

little longer.”

Gemma didn’t seem concerned, but I was reeling. She noticed this and shook her head, sipping from her coffee. “They’re not going to kill him, Maeve.”

“Are you sure? Rowan and Troy beat each other up pretty good last night.”

“Well, based on what Rowan’s face looked like this morning, I would say Troy was the winner, huh?” Her eyes twinkled with mirth

as she set her mug down, turning it in a circle.

I heard footsteps in the foyer, and Georgia appeared, carrying George against her shoulder. He was roughly two months old and very active, squirming and chomping down on her shoulder.

“He’s trying to eat me,” she laughed, handing him to Gemma and running her finger along his cheek and tickling him under the two sets of rolls beneath his chin.

He grinned, his dark blue eyes creasing up at his grandmother. “And I said I have nothing for him. That time for me has passed!” Georgia said in a goofy voice that George seemed to love. He cooed and squealed, then promptly turned his head toward Gemma’s chest, rooting with vigor.

“Oh, he’d try. Trust me. Ernest had to start sleeping with a shirt on because George got him once when he was sleeping between us. I think it scared Ernest to death, he wasn’t expecting it.”

heading toward the den. She stopped to squeeze my shoulder and kiss me on the cheek, unusual behavior on Georgia’s part who I had always considered the crazy aunt who had taught us bad words and encouraged us to be naughty in front

Gemma, turning to face her. Gemma was fumbling with

Ethan told me I couldn’t say anything to you, Maeve. I’m

“Why not?”

to talk about with your mom. He said it…

bad happened,

my necklace? The one my mother left me. You saw

chill ran up my spine, picturing the dainty necklace in my

“Well, it has powers,”

the chair, spilling my coffee. George unlatched from Gemma and twisted his face into a grimace, surprised

“Maeve! What’s the matter?”

front of the front door. I pulled one of Rowan’s coats on and slipped my feet into a pair of my dad’s rubber boots that were sitting by the door before

stairs, careful not to slip, but started running again once I hit the driveway, one arm cradling my huge stomach as

***

long snout into the snowdrifts sneezing, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Duck!” I called to him, breathing heavy

onto the upper deck of the cruiser,

chest as he looked down at me. “What the hell are you doing out here

voice, struggling to catch my breath. I was very much looking forward to not carrying around an

walked up to the railing, and I sighed with relief, leaning forward with

his voice brimming with

cried, looking back up at them. It had started to snow again, fine flakes that fell in a dizzying pattern. It was more like the flakes were suspended in the air, and

both Troy and Dad ran from the deck and were at

the castle, and he pushed me away. My hand grazed her chest, I felt the necklace on

I was flat on my back, Dad and Troy leaning over me with their faces darkened with

back to the house-” they said in unison, and

snapped in frustration, stuck

safe on

to rock back and forth, trying to get over onto my side, but Dad stopped me, grabbing me

said sternly, brushing snow from my coat. “Go back up

“You don’t understand!”

was walking up to

Rowan dramatically put his hand over his heart, pretending he was going to faint in

a chance to rouse me the night before because he was too busy trying to beat up

“Shut-”

grabbed me roughly by the arm and

Troy was walking briskly forward, holding the moonstone up in the air. I turned, making Dad come to an abrupt stop. Duck was barking at him,

when Dad bared his teeth back and took off down the dock toward Troy, but

onto Troy’s arm, and the two of them fell off the dock into the swallow, icy

sake,” Dad hissed as he let go of my

to

onto the dock while Troy gripped the dock with his fingers, his teeth chattering. Dad reached down to help, but Troy suddenly let go

dropped-” he sucked in his breath and disappeared below the

| screeched, his name drowned out by the massive splash of water that washed over the deck as Rowan jumped in after Troy, the spray coating Dad

you going to help them?” I

up to