Chapter 119

Maeve’s POV

“A baby shower?” I asked, raising my brows at Charlotte’s eager face.

“Yes!” Charlotte all but shouted.

“Manners, Charlotte,” the queen scolded softly, but she had a smile on her face.

“Sorry, mother,” Charlotte said with a sheepish grin before turning back to me. “But yes, we would love for you to allow us to throw you a baby shower,” she told me gentler this time. “This is going to be the first grandchild of the throne and mother, and I are so thrilled.”

“But it would have to be a secret baby shower,” I told her, my voice coming out low and breathy. “If word got out about it around the kingdom—”

“It won’t,” Charlotte said quickly.

“I was also thinking that maybe this baby shower could come after the mating ceremony or after your pregnancy announcement,” Queen Leonora said, giving Charlotte a pointed look.

She pouted and glared at her mother.

“I’m just excited is all…” she murmured.

“And I understand that, Darling. But don’t you think it would be nice for the capital and maybe other packs to contribute as well?” Leonora asked. “The baby will need a ton of supplies and as first-time parents; they will need as much help as possible.”

“I think the idea of a baby shower is wonderful,” I finally said after a short while. “I feel blessed to have you both in my corner. Thank you so much.”

I felt tears burning in the corner of my eyes, but I wasn’t going to cry in front of them, at least not during brunch when I was supposed to be elegant.

“I’ll start planning right away,” Charlotte said as she took a bite from her mini sandwich.

We continued talking until we finished our brunch. During our talk, Leonora explained some of the appropriate topics during brunches and the best way to respond to some of the questions asked. She explained during meals that we weren’t allowed to eat until Alphas ate first.

I nodded along with each thing she said and by the end of the brunch, my brain was filled with a ton of new information.

As we walked back towards the castle, one of the guards approached us and bowed.

“Miss Maeve, the car is waiting for you out front. Prince Xaden asked for a car to bring you home. He’s stuck in a meeting this afternoon and won’t be home until this evening.”

I nodded my thanks to him and turned to face Charlotte. She immediately pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly.

I would never get used to this level of affection from people. I grew up with zero affection and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t nice. Once she released me, the queen was next to hug me and then she kissed my cheek lovingly like she had with Xaden earlier.

“Take care of yourself, Maeve, and I will see you again for training soon,” she told me as she pulled away.

“And I will call you,” Charlotte said with a grin. “I can’t wait for our shopping spree.”

I nodded and said my final goodbye as I followed the guard to the front of the castle. He opened the car door for me, and I got in. I thought the guard would accompany me back to the mansion, but he didn’t. It was only me and the driver.

The drive back was quiet. Once he pulled up to the front of the mansion, I thanked him before getting out of the car and walking through the front doors. The mansion was oddly quiet as I walked around, searching for Maggie, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Frowning, I walked into the kitchen only to see a note from her left on the counter.

Maeve,

I went to the store. I will be back shortly.

-Maggie

I felt better knowing she was only at the store and would be back soon. While I waited, I decided to take a shower and put some comfortable clothes on. I still felt a little weird being in this bathroom after what had happened the other night. Even though it was classified as I shadow, I couldn’t help but still feel watched, even as I looked out the window and stared into the nothingness in front of me, those eyes were still so real to me at the time.

I brushed the thought of it out of my head and quickly dressed. By the time I got downstairs, Maggie was walking into the house with a ton of grocery bags in her arms. She smiled at me as I walked down the stairs.

“Do you need some help bringing in the groceries?” I asked her as I reached the bottom step.

“That would be great,” she answered. “I have a few more in the car. I’m just going to put these away.”

I nodded, walking past her and outside. I walked down the large porch steps and reached her waiting car. The trunk was still open, and a few grocery bags were inside. Just as I was about to grab one, a hand reached out and stopped me.

“Let me, Madam,” a gentle male voice said, drawing my attention to his face.

I didn’t recognize this man, but he had a kind smile.

“I don’t believe we’ve met. Are you one of the mansion servants?” I asked him.

“Yes, Mam,” he said as he grabbed the rest of the bags and helped me bring them inside. As we walked, I stood behind him, taking in his appearance. He wore an old suit that looked a bit too big for his body and his long hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. He kept glancing over his shoulder at me, and I felt my cheeks heating when his eyes found mine.

Those eyes.

They were familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I had seen them before. I was sure I had never met him before, but then again, this mansion was huge and there were a ton of maids and servants lurking around. The same thing with the castle; so, I couldn’t be sure I knew every single one of them in the short time I’d been here.

“Have you worked here long?” I asked him as we entered the living room.

“I’ve worked for the royal family awhile,” he answered. “I came from the castle. In fact, that’s the reason I’m here. They’ve sent me to fetch you. There’s an urgent matter.”

I frowned.

“An urgent matter?” I asked. “That’s odd… I just came from there and they hadn’t said anything. Are you sure?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“Yes,” he answered. “The King wanted me to fetch you.”

I frowned and my stomach twisted.

Could something be wrong with Xaden?

Before I could ask, we had entered the kitchen. Maggie looked surprised to see me entering the kitchen with a man and she looked between the two of us with a skeptical frown on her lips.

Didn’t she know him? It would be strange if she had never seen him before given how long she’d worked for this family for.

“Oh, hello,” she said to him, noticing he was carrying the rest of her groceries. “Thank you.”

He nodded and then turned to me. After a brief moment, I nodded and turned to Maggie.

“I’ll be stepping out for a few,” I told her.

“Is everything okay?”

I nodded.

“Apparently there is an urgent matter back at the castle and I must hurry. The King himself has summoned me. I’ll keep you updated once I know more.”

“Well let me finish putting these away and I’ll go—”

I was already out the door before she could finish that sentence. I wasn’t going to take any chances if there was truly something wrong. The man was trailing behind me and as we got outside, he motioned for me to follow him, taking me by the arm as he did so. I wanted to ask him if we should take some guards with us, but I barely got the chance because we were rushing towards his waiting car. I frowned at the car; it didn’t look like a car I had seen at the castle before and a nervous pit formed in my belly.

“Trust your instincts,” the queen's words echoed in my mind.

The grip on my arm grew tighter; why would the King send a servant to fetch me and not one of the guards? Something wasn’t sitting right with me and the closer we got to the car, the more nervous I seemed to be getting.

“What did you say your name was?” I asked him, breathlessly.

He opened the back seat of the car and shoved me into it roughly. Before he answered, he slammed the door shut and then ran around to the driver’s seat. He sat down and turned the car on, my heart hammering in my chest.

His silence was speaking volumes.

“Sir…” I said, nervously as I glanced around the small space. I glanced at the ground of the car and my heart dropped.

Silver handcuffs and other bondages…

What could a servant be doing with those?

I glanced up at him and his eyes found mine from the rearview mirror.

Those eyes….

I knew those eyes. I realized suddenly why they were so familiar.

They were the same eyes I had seen watching me through the bathroom window.

This was no servant.