Chapter 149

Third Person POV

The Queen and King remained in the garden a moment longer with Princess Mia. She had watched Xaden leave the gardens with a lungful expression on her face and then she sighed. The conversation wasn’t exactly how she planned; his viewpoints on certain topics were a bit alarming and he seemed almost cold and calculating. Not at all like the Xaden she had gotten to know over these last few days.

She nibbled on her bottom lip as she processed this newfound information.

“How are things going between you and Xaden?” The King asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. She noticed the King and Queen watching her; the King with a hopeful expression and the Queen with a wary one.

“Oh, he’s so charming and delightful. I quite enjoy my time spent with him,” Mia said, a smile lighting up her pretty. “I hope we can spend even more time together.”

“That can be arranged,” the King said, nodding along with her words.

She smiled up at him and then faked a yawn.

“I’m so very tired. I’m going to turn in,” Mia said thoughtfully before she dismissed herself and walked back towards the palace doors with her warriors trailing at a distance behind her. She was used to having them always around her, so she often forgot that they were there. They have mastered the art of staying hidden, so those she’s around also don’t often notice their presence until they want to be noticed.

It was all part of their training.

As she reached the inside of the palace, Isabelle appeared around the corner.

“The plan is going perfectly,” Isabelle said with a chuckle, making Mia pause for a moment. “Maeve was here earlier, and I might have insinuated that you and Xaden had slept together. I also might have told her that he plans to marry you. You should have seen her face.”

She continued to laugh, and Mia nodded slowly; Maeve must have been so heartbroken. Of course, it wasn’t true that she slept with Xaden. Truthfully, she wouldn’t have done that until he made it clear that things were over between him and Maeve. Flirting was one thing, but actually sleeping with him was another.

The words of Lucas replayed in her mind; their last conversation wasn’t exactly a pleasant one. He told her that if she continued to do what she was doing, then she might as well be called a homewrecker because that’s exactly what she was doing.

She wasn’t a homewrecker, and she refused to be labeled as one.

“Why don’t you find more enjoyment in that?” Isabelle asked with a concerned frown. “You aren’t changing your mind, are you?”

“Of course not,” Mia snapped, her eyes turning cold. “I want Xaden, and I’m pleased that it’s looking like it’ll happen. But I won’t be labeled a homewrecker. It’s better if you don’t spread lies like that around in the future.”

Isabelle’s face turned red, and she nodded, not wanting to displease Mia.

“I apologize, Princess. I overstepped,” Isabelle admitted.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m quite tired and would like to get some rest before tomorrow,” Mia said as she brushed past Isabelle, her warriors following after her.

Meanwhile, the Queen and King spoke privately in the gardens. The Queen was worried about her son, but most importantly, she was worried about his relationship with Maeve. She loved Maeve like she was her own daughter and the thought of Xaden breaking her heart didn’t sit right with her. Despite these negative test results, which were most likely false, Maeve was Xaden’s fated mate, and breaking that bond would be detrimental to them both.

“What is on your mind, dearest?” The King asked, noticing the Queen’s indifference.

“I’m worried for our son,” she admitted, turning to her husband.

“What’s there to worry about? He’s doing a noble thing by assuring that the princess is happy,” King Arlan said, frowning down at his mate.

She sighed as she peeked up at him, worry still clear in her eyes.

“He’s mated, Arlan,” she reminded him. “I’m not sure what happened with the paternity test results, but I don’t think they were accurate. I’m worried for our son, and I only want him to be happy.”

Arlan sighed, hating that his wife was upset, but needing to do what was best for the Kingdom. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

“Please, don’t be too worried my darling,” he told her softly. “Things will work out for the best as they always do.”

She stared up at him and saw that he was serious, but she wasn’t so sure if he was right. She just hoped that her son made the right choice and didn’t break Maeve’s heart.

….

Maeve’s POV

The mansion was quiet; it was late in the evening, and I knew most of the mansion staff were sleeping, including Maggie. Some guards were still awake and patrolling the area; if they knew that I was awake, they would follow me. But I kept quiet and hid in the shadows as I padded towards the front door. I didn’t bother packing anything with me out of fear that I would be caught.

The only thing I knew at the moment was that I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t fathom spending another moment in this mansion with the knowledge that I have now. My stomach twisted at the very thought. Xaden had told another woman that he would only have children out of duty. Then what was I? I was somehow part of his duty?

Bile rose up in my throat and I had to swallow it down. I glanced down at my phone and saw the coordinates that I was meant to go to. Taking a deep breath, I ran across the mansion grounds, praying to the Moon Goddess that none of the guards spotted me.

When I didn’t hear any of them or any type of commotion, I let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. As I started to walk towards the wooded line, I paused and turned back to the mansion standing tall in the distance. Very few lights were on, indicating that most were asleep.

I wondered if Xaden would move Mia into the mansion once they officially married. Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes, and I placed my hands on my belly, rubbing soothing circles and feeling my baby kicking inside of me. He was upset, I could tell. A mother always knows when their child is unwell and right now, my child is unwell. I wrapped my arms around my body and allowed tears to stay down my cheeks.

“It’s going to be okay…” I whispered, not sure if I was talking to myself or the baby. “We are going to figure this out…”

I let out a shuddering breath before I turned on my heel and ran away from the mansion. Sure, I was acting immaturely by just running away and not talking about it first. But I couldn’t help myself… I needed space and time to figure out my feelings and what my next plan was going to be. I was given an out and I’m going to take it.

As I neared the spot that the coordinates had taken me to, my anxiety worsened. My heart hammered in my chest, and I had to stop moving to catch my breath. I leaned against a tree, closing my eyes, and taking in the smell of pine. I rubbed my face with my hands; feeling sorry for myself wasn’t going to do much of anything for me. I needed to get a grip on myself.

“Foolish girl,” a familiar voice cut through my thoughts.

I whirled around to face Victoria, and I gasped as she stepped towards me with a couple of guards by her side. I recognized these guards from the Moonstone pack.

Her icy eyes were turning into slits.

“Did you really think I would let you get away that easily?” She asked, the corner of her lips tipping upward into a smile.

“Victoria…” I breathed. “Wh…what are you doing here?”

Amusement flashed across her face.

“Oh, was I not who you were expecting?” She asked with fake innocence. “Well, that’s too bad… because now you are going to suffer just like you made this entire family suffer!”

I wanted to tell her that I did not do such a thing and that she was spreading false information, but I couldn’t get my mouth to work. I stared at her completely speechless.

The guards closed in around me when Victoria motioned with her head towards me; I took an unsteady step away from them, my body trembling.

“Take her to the dungeons and I want my daughter released immediately,” Victoria demanded. “It’s time for little Miss Maeve to feel the same pain my daughter felt!”

They were just about to grab a hold of me when a deep and loud voice cut through the night.

“Lay a finger on her and I’ll have your heads!”

The guard froze completely when Alpha Kenneth walked towards them, his eyes blazing with fury.