Chapter 105

THIRD PERSON POV

With Burton at his beck and call, Kenneth stormed out of the office without another word or second glance. After twenty long, arduous years, his patience was finally starting to pay off and Maeve would soon be in his clutches.

All he had to was take her.

His mind ran awhirl as he barged through the front door of the Moonstone manor and headed for his awaiting parked car.

Assuming all goes well, which… it should, for Burton’s sake… then I should prepare—

“Alpha Kenneth!” a voice suddenly exclaimed, scraping almost painfully at Kenneth’s poor ears. Loud, shrill, very obviously belonging to a woman, and it was one he was only a little familiar with.

After all, his business only truly lay with her mate. He’d never spoken to her longer than was courteous. Whatever she wanted, Luna Victoria would have to wait.

Indefinitely.

Just ignore her. Get to your car. Make your plans—

“Alpha Kenneth—” Victoria tried again, trying desperately to keep up with his long strides in her expensive high-heels. “Please, I need just a little bit of your time! I have something to discuss with you!”

He bit back an exasperated sigh. She was either painfully oblivious of his blatant attempt to flee the packhouse, or simply did not care.

But it mattered not. Kenneth refused to entertain her follies regardless of the reason. He did not have the time or patience to deal with whatever she wanted from him right now.

All thanks to that spineless fool she called her mate.

Plastering on his best charming smile, he swiftly whirled around, only slowing his pace but not bothering to stop for the dark-haired luna chasing after him. “Really, I do apologize,” he said, shrugging his shoulders in feigned helplessness. “I wish I could stay and chat, but I have urgent matters to tend to.”

She looked utterly desperate, pleading with him. “But—”

By that point, he had already turned back around, once again quickening his pace.

Victoria was about ready to panic. This was her one chance to enlist his help. He was the only alpha she personally knew with connections to the palace. If there was anyone who would be able to help save her daughter, it was him!

Damn it, she was not going to let him slip through her fingers like this. Not if she had any say in the matter.

So, she sucked in a breath and shouted:

“I know you want Maeve!”

And, within steps of his car, he froze.

Whether it was in disbelief or intrigue, she cared not. All that mattered was that he stopped, and was going to listen.

“Excuse me?” he questioned, turning around with his brows knitted tight.

Once she’d finally caught up with Kenneth, he could see clearly how her eyes were bright and wild and filled with something that could only be called determination in its purest form.

“I know you want her,” she repeated, taking on a low tone. “And if you don’t want me to report you to the crown for conspiring to kidnap her, then I suggest you listen to me.”

Kenneth was astonished, almost amused by the sheer audacity this woman displayed. She really was attempting to blackmail him?

“And what do you hope to gain from this?”

Her eyes glinted. “Meet me in the capital tomorrow, and I will tell you everything.”

This woman was either incredibly courageous and bold, or insanely stupid and reckless, but she had his hands tied right now. Still, chances were, if it did come to this, the king would take his word over hers, thanks to his impeccable record and the deep level of trust he’d established over his many years as alpha.

However, she was a claw in his side that needed to be eradicated, and the best way he could do that was to play right into her hand.

“Very well,” he said slowly. “Tomorrow, you’ll have your audience.”

Victoria’s breath caught in her throat, and it was all she could do to keep herself from screaming her excitement to the heavens.

“I only have one request. A suggestion of my own, if I may.” Kenneth pulled open the car door, still meeting her gaze head-on, cold ice clashing with molten magma. “Do make it worth my while.”

MAEVE POV

“Mmm…” I winced, pressing my fingers into my slightly throbbing temples with some pressure.

About an hour had passed since we returned home from the lunar banquet. Everything was fine and we were preparing ourselves for bed, until I felt the sudden onslaught of a small headache beginning to pinch at my head.

But, more than that… I felt these small prickles of unease that I just couldn’t shake, like intrusive thoughts gnawing at the back of my mind.

I’d had no reason to feel like that, especially now that I was home, so… why was I—?

“What’s wrong?”

Glancing up, I caught sight of Xaden gazing worriedly as he left the bathroom to approach me. His damp, dark hair fell into his face in messy waves. Droplets of water clung to his steaming body, freshly showered after tonight’s banquet, and covered only by a pair of black, cotton pants.

Goddess, how was it possible for him to always look so good?

“It’s nothing…” I answered, blushing as he knelt before me. “Just a small headache.”

For a moment, he did nothing but study me. That lovely shade of forest green I couldn’t get enough of, illuminated faintly by the dim lamplight of our bedroom, scanned every inch of my face that he could, bathing me in the most protective warmth.

There were times when I couldn’t help but shy away from his penetrating eyes… hell, I still wasn’t completely used to it. But right now, I wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by his worldly green.

His fingers brushed over the curve of my eyebrow and along my temple, careful, tender, and so unlike the touch of a wolf who’d claimed the largest kill of the banquet mere hours ago. No heat or lust burned from his fingertips. It was as innocent as a touch could be.

Still, he felt like magic against my skin. And perhaps he was, as I felt my throbbing pain begin to ebb away.

And my body started to sink into his touch in utter, breathless relief.

“It was an eventful night,” he then said, beginning to pull away, and the absence of his skin from mine made my breath catch. “You should stay hydrated. Let me fetch you a glass of water—”

“Not yet,” I pleaded, clasping my hands over his, leaning into his touch. The abrupt gesture caught him by surprise. “Please, stay.”

To my relief, he made no moves to protest and, instead, settled on the edge of the bed beside me. Slowly, I felt his thumbs brush over my temples, warm and coarse and everything I could ever want from his tender touch.

I hummed, melting further into his hand.

“Maeve… as much as I want to help you, I don’t possess any magical healing properties,” he murmured with light amusement, but not once did he attempt to pull away a second time.

Out of habit, I tried to shake my head, but quickly regretted the action once I felt the pounding pain intensify ever so slightly. And at the same time, just feeling him… smelling him… knowing he was right here soothed me in its own way.

“You feel wonderful,” I whispered. “I don’t need anything but you right now.”

“In that case… how else can I help you?”

I swallowed, suddenly feeling shy. “You can… talk to me.” I was secretly very relieved that my face was partially concealed by his hands. “I like hearing your voice.”

The movement of his thumbs against my temples slowed for what must’ve been a fraction of a second. “Well, how can I say no to such a request?” he murmured, and, right then, my heart began to flutter.

Okay, time to calm down. He’s just being super considerate and sweet.

“I loved watching you tonight,” he said softly, switching his focus between my eyes and his fingers on my temples. “You seemed different, somehow… more confident and outspoken, even with another alpha there.”

I blushed, keeping quiet. So, he noticed, too.

“Perhaps you don’t believe me quite yet,” he continued, “but I see the change in you. Slowly, but surely, and I know when you’re ready to blossom, you’re going to blow everyone away.”

My hands tightened around his—a silent gesture of gratitude. By now, my headache was mostly gone, just by his touch.

Xaden was silent for a brief moment. “I’m… excited to go to the clinic with you tomorrow,” he admitted. “We don’t get to do a lot of things together out in public, so, even if it’s for something as routine as a baby check-up, I want to take every chance I’m given.”

Hearing him say this aloud warmed me up. “I’m happy you’re coming with me, too.”

“You said appointments are weekly, yes?”

I gave him a gentle, careful nod. “Because of how much he’s grown in just a month, she thought it best that I see her once a week. It’s only to start us off,” I amended, “and once we’ve found a rhythm for things, we should… hopefully… be able to scale back on the appointments.”

His fingers continued to caress my skin. “I appreciate the effort she’s putting in for a new patient. I was ready to have a chat with her if I heard otherwise.”

“You would’ve likely given her a heart attack,” I teased. “I think she’s nice, so please try not to do that.”

He let out a light-hearted scoff. “Honestly, she shouldn’t expect much else from an alpha prince.”

I tried my best to hide a wince. “Well…”

Xaden raised a curious eyebrow. “Well?”

“She… doesn’t actually know that you’re the father. Not yet, at least.”

“I see.” He suddenly looked pensive as he regarded me.

He gently lowered his hands from my face. “I… understand the need for secrecy, especially if you’re meeting with doctors in the capital, but… you know, you also have the option to visit one of the palace physicians.” He gestured in the general direction of the palace, which was vaguely visible beyond our bedroom windows.

My lips pressed together as I silently followed his hand before focusing back on him.

“They will see you whenever you have a need for them, and they won’t dare discriminate against you in any way, shape, or form,” he said lowly, and I knew he meant business if I received such contrary treatment. “You will never need to hide from them, or feel ashamed about anything.”

I sighed. “I know,” I admitted softly, averting my gaze to play with his fingers that had settled on my thigh. “Still… I wanted to see her.”

The decision hadn’t been made because I was ashamed. I was just still so accustomed to fending for myself, and I’d wanted to take advantage of the freedom I had before my entire life changed… but, how was I supposed to say that without offending him in any way?

And then Xaden gently pulled me forward to press a kiss against my forehead.

“It’s alright,” he said, as if he could somehow read my mind. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I just… don’t want you to feel like you don’t have options.”

Upon hearing his tone soften, I lifted my gaze to meet his, and I was welcomed with wonderful understanding.

“I like caring for you,” he added, overflowing with sincerity, “and being able to do things for you. I want you to know you can lean on me—for anything. You have only to ask.”

At that, my lip began to quiver. He was so good at ensuring I didn’t feel like a burden. “… Thank you…”

“Now—” he murmured with a smile, “let me get that water for you.”

At that, I couldn’t help but stifle a short giggle. “Okay.”

As he left the room—a prince fetching water for a former servant—I couldn’t help but soak in my adoration for him. As long as he was around, I always felt so safe and secure, and I knew he worked so hard to make sure I was.

And, indeed, I was… whether that was from what lay before me, or something I couldn’t quite see yet.