Chapter 121

Xaden’s POV

I burst through the doors of the emergency room and Burke was quick to greet me.

“Where is she?” I asked, holding my hand up to stop whatever he was about to say. I was feeling a sense of dread and panic all at once and it wasn’t a feeling I particularly liked. I wouldn’t feel good until I got to see Maeve for myself.

“She’s in surgery right now,” Burke said, making my shoulders fall.

Surgery? It was bad enough that she needed surgery?

“I don’t understand how the kidnapper was completely fine, but Maeve isn’t…” I said, shaking my head.

“The car crashed on her side,” Burke explained. “She got most of the damage and the kidnapper only got a few bumps and scratches. Nothing his wolf won’t heal.”

“Who was he?”

“Someone not part of our pack,” Burke said, running his fingers through his hair. “I’m not entirely sure where he came from. He’s in the dungeon and being questioned as we speak. Some of the best warriors are on it and torturing him until he gives us answers.”

I nodded, grateful my Prime Beta was there to take care of business.

“Let me know everything you find out,” I ordered.

“Of course, Alpha,” he said. “I’ll head there now. They brought Maeve to the operating room, but later she’ll be moved to the private ward on the second floor.”

I nodded. The royals have their own private section of the hospital in case any of us fall ill and need privacy. I was pleased that Burke thought to have Maeve moved there after her operation. Now, I just had to wait and see if she recovered… and the baby.

Oh, Goddess the baby.

Please, let them both be okay.

……

Maeve’s POV

The dreamworld I woke up in was starting to become more familiar to me. I wasn’t sure what to expect this time around, but I was almost relieved to be out of the situation I was in only a moment ago. A servant took me and then the next thing I knew, the car was flipping, and I was surrounded by nothing but darkness.

I stared down at the beautiful baby boy in my arms. He was wrapped in a blue blanket, and he was asleep. He yawned slightly and smacked his lips together, melting my heart even more. I held him close to my chest and took in his scent. It was a mixture of Xaden and me and my heart gushed over the fact. He was our baby through and through; there was no denying that fact.

I kissed his forehead and smiled, letting myself relax. In this world, nothing could hurt us… at least not right now.

“Maeve…” a familiar voice said. My body stilled; I knew that voice well. It was the same voice that always seemed to find me in this world. I was fully expecting to only just hear the voice, but when I saw the soft glow appear in the distance and a woman stepped out of the glow, my eyes grew large.

The meadow we were in illuminated with her aura and I could see the bright smile on her face, though it was masked by the concern in her eyes. She had long flowing blond hair with flowers entwined in her lightly formed curls. She wore a white dress that flowed silkily to the meadow ground. Her porcelain skin was practically glowing.

She paused next to a giant oak tree and placed the palm of her hand on the tree as if she were greeting it. The gesture seemed to make her grow bright and she inhaled deeply, a soft smile playing on her lips.

I was seated on the forest ground, my back against a tree and my baby in my arms, but upon seeing her, I felt compelled to stand up and greet her properly. My eyes could barely believe what they were seeing, and my heart was beating heavily in my chest.

Her ocean-blue eyes found mine and as she neared me, I realized her eyes weren’t just blue, but a ton of different colors. I had never seen anyone with eyes quite like hers before; there were specks of blue, green, yellow, pink, red, orange, and purple.

I was speechless and in awe of this woman’s beauty.

The way the rays of the moon followed her every movement made me suck in a sharp breath. I knew who this woman was… it was in my mind as if it was my own thought, but I don’t think it was my own thought. It felt like she had given me these thoughts.

“Moon Goddess,” I whispered, bowing my head to the Goddess.

“My child,” the Goddess said, cupping my face with her warm and delicate hands, bringing my gaze up to meet hers. “I’ve come here to warn you; your child is in grave danger.”

My heart sank hearing her words.

“W…what?” I asked, staring down at my baby who was now awake and staring up at the Goddess like he too was in awe. “Was it the accident? Did he—” I could not even get my words out; thinking that my baby was seriously injured was too much for me to handle.

“Your baby will be okay,” she assured me. “The doctors will save you both and you’ll recover nicely.”

Relief flooded me and let out the breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

“Then, what did you mean?” I asked her. “Something will happen to him in the future?”

“This person trying to kidnap you will be one of many,” she told me. “Your child is very powerful, and because of that, there are greedy people who want him.”

I gasped and held my baby even tighter.

“No…” I whispered.

“One wrong move could mean endangering your child,” she continued. “Such as allowing a servant to help you with groceries.”

I winced at her words; I should have looked more into him, but I had no reason to not believe him.

“I messed up…” I whispered.

“It could have been much worse,” she told me. “And if you aren’t careful, it will be. There are people in your life who aren’t in your best interests. They wish to do you and your child harm. You must be wary about who you allow in your life.”

“Why must you be so cryptic?” I asked desperately. “Can’t you tell me who they are?”

She sighed and her expression softened.

“There are some things that I cannot tell you, Maeve. There are some things that you must find out on your own. The most I can do right now is warn you.”

“But why?” I asked her, feeling my voice getting louder as desperation clawed at my soul. “I just don’t understand why you can’t tell me…”

“Long ago, I gifted my children free will at the beginning of time. I never take away a gift once it’s been given. Telling you who they are, would be taking away their free will,” she explained. Her face suddenly grew somber. “It makes me sad to see my children acting from greed and doing harm to one another, but I can’t prevent it from happening.”

“Then why warn me at all? Why not just let what happens happen?” I asked her.

She was quiet for a moment and then she met my eyes.

“Because I’ve seen what will happen if they succeed,” she said softly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded as I looked down at my baby. I understood what she was saying, but I didn’t like it. I wished she could just tell me who to be wary of because as of right now, I wasn’t sure who to trust. The only one I truly trusted was Xaden and even still, I was worried that my trust in him would bite me in the butt. We’ve only known one another for a short time.

Was it truly a coincidence that we met that day?

Or did he target me on purpose?

The thought left me feeling devasted and tears spilled down my cheeks.

“You will be waking soon… be wary of who you allow into your life,” the Goddess said, her voice growing softer.

I looked up at her and saw that she was starting to fade away. I wasn’t ready for her to go yet; I needed to know more information. I needed more of her wisdom, and I wanted to ask her about my birth mother. Was she with her? Was she the other voice that I heard? I remembered it sounding so maternal… I thought maybe it could have been, but then the voice would change, and I would hear the Goddess again. I wondered if the other voice was my imagination.

“All your questions will be answered in due time,” she told me as if she could read my thoughts.

I mean, she was the Goddess… so, maybe she could read my thoughts.

“Protect your baby…” she said, her voice was nothing more than a whisper in the wind as the glow dimmed and her image disappeared.

I was once again alone in the meadow and my baby started to cry in my arms. I cradled him to my chest and kissed his pink cheek.

“It’s okay…” I whispered to him. “Mama is here and I’m not going to let anything happen to you…. I promise.”