Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 632

Chapter 132 : A New White Queen

*Xander*

Maeve walked toward us, a beaming smile stretching across her face. She was dressed casually in a pair of pale blue gym shorts and a T-shirt, her hair knotted in a large bun on the top of her head. Lena looked surprised to see her, which I found odd.

“I decided to stop here on my way to Winter Forest," Maeve said as she pulled Lena into a hug. “I'll be back before the baby is born; I promise. I'm catching a flight to Winter Forest after dinner tonight."

“You're leaving so soon?" Lena was disappointed, I could tell. I'd just arrived, so I had no idea who was currently staying in the castle. Lena's surprised expression told me Maeve had just arrived, and likely while we were talking with Carly and Lincoln.

“I have a few things I need to discuss with your grandma. Plus, Troy is meeting me there. I finally convinced him to leave Breles for a few weeks and take a break."

“Has he not been back to Avondale?" I asked, and Maeve shook her head.

“No, not at all. Will has been standing in as Alpha for over two months now," she replied.

An odd feeling settled in my stomach and I glanced at Lena for confirmation that something was up. I felt the change radiating off of Maeve already. She was… relaxed, peppier than I'd known her to be.

Troy's behavior in Breles suddenly made sense. I'd seen him briefly when I arrived back in the Realm of Light. I spent a few nights in Breles searching for Oliver. I wasn't going to make the trip to Crimson Creek, at least not yet. The only thing on my mind after crossing the portal into Lena's world, was her.

Troy had been wholly focused on rebuilding Breles. We'd had a conversation about the most recent plans for who would claim the title of Alpha of Breles, and I was shocked to learn that Charlie's mate was related to the late Alpha in some way, a distant niece. There was talk of Charlie becoming the Alpha of Breles, and his mate ruling as Luna.

Talk wasn't a great word for it, actually. Troy was talking about it like it was already set in stone.

With Will ruling Avondale in his parent's absence, and Charlie in Breles, Troy and Maeve were… free. But that didn't feel right.

“Are you moving to Winter Forest?" I asked without meaning to say it out loud.

Maeve stared at me for a moment, her mouth twitching at the corners into what I thought might have been a smile.

“It's hot as hell out here," she said, wiping her brow.

The sun was beating down on us, and my own skin prickled with heat. Maeve and Lena were already turning a bright pink, and I nodded my ascent as Maeve turned Lena toward the castle.

But before we walked through the great, arched wooden doors, Maeve turned to look at me, a twinkle in her eye.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as an understanding passed between us, and months and months of pressure eased from my shoulders in a single second.

***

Hanna passed me a bowl of green beans as I passed a bowl of mashed potatoes to Maeve. It was an informal dinner, and we were serving ourselves, but that really meant I was the one passing every bowl and serving platter between the women as they chatted over glasses of sweet iced tea and plates of barbecued chicken.

Lena was picking her food, her eyes meeting mine every once in a while. She gave me a weak smile as she brought her tea to her lips, and I felt a prickle of heat run down the length of my spine. We'd spent the majority of the afternoon tucked away in Lena's bedroom, and we definitely hadn't been resting, but I felt a fresh wave of desire creeping through my body as her cheeks began to burn under my gaze.

I was hoping dinner wouldn't take long so I could go back upstairs with Lena. Two months had felt like an eternity, and we had a lot of catching up to do.

“I don't mind the walk. The airport's not that far," Maeve replied to Hanna's offer to have a car brought around to take Maeve to the airport. “My luggage is in Winter Forest already, I had it shipped three days ago."

“How long are you planning to stay?" Hanna asked with a hint of suspicion to her voice. She eyed Maeve, who was loudly stirring a spoonful of sugar into her iced tea.

“I already told Lena I'd be back before the baby is born, and stay until shortly after the birth," Maeve replied matter-of-factly, her chin lifting slightly as she peered over at Hanna. Something flashed between the two women, some silent, knowing conversations only the two of them could hear. Hanna's eyes narrowed, and she gave Maeve a look I didn't know Hanna was capable of giving anyone. I saw her for the Luna she was at the moment, as well as the legendary Dream Dancer who'd saved her realm from ruin two decades ago.

She was part of Lycaon's line, and I could feel it now.

“When are you going back to Avondale, Maeve?" Hanna asked in a lifted voice, her voice as sweet as candy.

Lena's eyes focused on her mother, her brow slightly furrowed. The air in the room shifted, and I felt tension descend on the table as Maeve pursed her lips and c****d her head to the side, obviously more than happy to drag this discomfort out as long as possible.

“I'm getting a little tired of feeling like I have sand sticking to my skin all day," she drawled, leaning back in her chair as she sipped her iced tea.

I could practically hear Lena's heart thundering her chest as she leaned forward, her eyes flicking between Hanna and Maeve.

Maeve waited several excruciatingly long seconds before she huffed out a breath and rolled her eyes, crossing her legs beneath the table.

“Troy and I are moving to Winter Forest. It's not a big deal."

Lena rose from the table, the dishes clattering as her belly knocked against it. I started to stand but Hanna motioned for me to stay seated, her face shadowed by confusion.

“What do you mean, you're moving to Winter Forest?" Lena said sharply, her cheeks flushing of color. For a moment I couldn't tell if it was relief or disappointment that flashed behind her eyes.

I continued to eat my dinner like nothing was happening.