Chapter 152

Maeve’s POV

I couldn’t believe it… I stared up at him in shock, my mouth nearly on the ground.

“Maeve…” Nicholas said, his eyes dark and narrowed in my direction as he stared between Alpha Kenneth and me. “What are you doing here?” He asked, his eyes finally settling on me.

“She’s my guest,” Kenneth was the one who answered because I couldn’t seem to find my voice. “I hope that’s all right. Maeve ran into some issues, and I offered her a place to stay.”

“She’s living here?” Nicholas asked, his eyes wide. “I had no idea you even knew her like that…”

“I’ve known Maeve for a long time,” Kenneth said, leaning back in his seat as he took in Nicholas. “It seems you two know each other quite well too.”

I was still stunned speechless; did Nicholas call Kenneth father?

“Are you still joining us for dinner?” Kenneth asked him, motioning for the seat beside me. Nicholas’s eyes found the empty spot beside me, and he narrowed them again. For a moment, I thought he was going to refuse and leave. He looked as if he wanted to bolt at any moment. But then I watched him swallow; his Adam’s apple moving slightly as he processed what was happening.

I couldn’t blame him; I was still processing this as well.

Then, he nodded and stepped toward the empty seat, pulling it out, before he positioned himself on top of it. He looked as awkward as I felt. He barely spared me a look as he moved to collect food onto his plate.

“Maeve was in the middle of telling me about the problems she’s having back home,” Kenneth boldly told him, making my entire body freeze. Nicholas paused his movements and glanced up at Kenneth with a frown before he glanced at me from the side.

“Is that so?” He asked.

I felt my cheeks burning as his eyes poured into the side of my face.

I nodded.

“It’s complicated,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said gently, and I could tell from his tone that he truly meant that. “If there’s anything I can do…”

I was glad when he didn’t press me for more information.

“How about you go for a stroll after dinner and get your mind off things,” Kenneth suggested. “I’m sure she’s tired of being kept in her room all evening and could use a walk.”

Did he know I was trying to take a walk earlier today and that’s why he was suggesting it?

Nicholas glared at his father as if they were in some kind of silent battle with one another. I wondered what it was about, but quickly brushed the thought out of my head as I started to nibble on the food slowly.

“I could use some fresh air,” I admitted before I could stop myself.

“Then it’s settled,” Kenneth said brightly as he clapped his hands together.

“I would like that,” Nicholas said so softly that it felt like his words were only meant for me. “How long is Maeve staying for?” Nicholas asked his father.

“A while,” Kenneth replied, a smile tipping the corner of his lips. “I want her to think of this place as her home.”

“About that…” I started to say, but Kenneth waved off my words and pointed to my plate.

“There’s plenty of time for serious talk later, but for right now, eat. You need to keep up your strength for both you and your baby,” he ordered lightly.

I nodded and continued to eat, but I couldn’t shake the nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Kenneth and Nicholas mainly spoke about duties as we ate. I remained quiet, silently contemplating my choices. I wondered if Xaden noticed that I was gone yet… had Maggie? I’m sure she was incredibly worried about me. It was pretty late in the evening, and I knew Maggie was asleep when I left. But if she woke up and went to check on me… I’m sure she would be worried when she saw I wasn’t there.

I just needed some time and space to clear my head and get away for a while; I wasn’t planning on staying here forever.

Once dinner finished, Kenneth stood to his feet as the maids hurried around the dining hall and cleaned our mess.

“I’ll let you two spend some time together. I’ll be in my office,” he said with a warm smile as he passed me.

I turned to look at Nicholas who was frowning at his father’s retreating back.

“Can we go for a walk?” I asked him before glancing at the guards who remained in the distance. “Alone…” I added.

He followed my gaze to the guards and frowned.

“Don’t you have something better to do than follow us around?” Nicholas asked through his teeth, making the guards immiedalty turn away from us and pretend they were doing something else.

Nicholas sighed and turned towards me.

“They shouldn’t bother us,” he assured me. “Come with me. We can go to the gardens.”

I nodded and allowed him to take my arm as we walked towards the back door. Once we reached the gardens and I saw no guards in sight, I sighed deeply.

“So, your father is Alpha Kenneth?” I found myself asking, turning to face him.

He raised his brows at me, and I saw a playful smile on his lips.

“Yes,” he replied. “I thought you knew that.”

“How could I know that if you never told me?”

He shrugged one shoulder.

“It’s common knowledge. I thought everybody knew,” he admitted. “It’s not like I was hiding it.”

“I’m not exactly from this world,” I told him, waving around the gorgeous garden. “It’s all so new to me.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“Has Prime Beta Burke done something to upset you?”

I was surprised by his question and blinked.

“I’m sorry?” I asked after a beat of silence.

“Your fiancé,” he reminded me.” I completely forgot that Nicholas thinks Burke is my fiancé. “Is he the reason you are here and not at the Capital?”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I stared down at the ground. Nicholas was my friend… at least I think he was. In the short amount of time, I knew him, he never gave me a reason to not trust him.

“It’s not Burke,” I said, my voice coming out as barely a whisper.

He lifted his gaze to look over at me; I could feel his eyes burning into the side of my face. He didn’t say anything, we were both quiet for a long while.

“Can I tell you something?” I asked, turning to face him, halting both our steps.

“Of course,” he told me. “You can tell me anything. You know I’m here for you.”

I nibbled on my lower lip as I thought about what to say… or how to say this.

“I’m not marrying Prime Beta Burke,” I decided to blurt. He raised his brows at my confession.

“You’re not?”

I shook my head and lifted my gaze to meet his eyes.

“It’s Prince Xaden…”

He stared at me for a moment longer, like he was processing what I had just confessed, but he didn’t look surprised, which in return surprised me.

“I should have known that. The way he looks at you… the banquet…” he said as he got lost in thought. “I should have known.”

“I’m sorry for lying,” I told him. “We just thought the fewer people who knew about this right now…”

“You shouldn’t be kept a secret Maeve,” he said sharply, a bit of anger flashing in his eyes. “You should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops.”

I blushed at his compliment.

“As I said… it’s complicated,” I said softly, staring down at the ground, unable to look at the disappointment in his eyes. To my surprise, he placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my gaze to meet his once again.

“I’m sorry for whatever Xaden had done to hurt you,” Nicholas said, his eyes shining with understanding and what looked like affection.

The gesture was a bit too much for my emotions and tears welled up in my eyes. I wasn’t used to someone comforting me like this.

“It just hurts,” I whispered, hating that tears were burning in my eyes while I spoke about my mate. “I would have given him everything and anything… it feels like he threw me away for someone better.”

“Princess Mia?” He asked.

I nodded as tears escaped my eyes and dripped down my flushed cheeks.

“He’s been hanging around her so much lately… it feels like he doesn’t want me anymore,” I admitted.

“I’m not sure why you think Princess Mia is better, but she isn’t,” Nicholas surprised me by saying. “Xaden is an idiot if he chooses to give you up over her.”

Nicholas reached up and wiped the tears from my cheeks with his thumb, his touch warm and lingering on my skin for a moment.

“I know this isn’t ideal, but I’m glad you are here, Maeve,” Nicholas said gently. “I would like it if you stuck around for a while. We have amazing doctors here. You’ll never go without anything and your baby…” he said as he lowered his hands to cup my belly. My baby started to kick, and Nicholas smiled as he palmed my stomach. “Your baby will be taken care of because he has the best mother anyone could have. You’re an incredible woman, and you’ll come out even stronger at the end.”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” I admitted, taking a deep breath. “I can’t just walk away from Xaden and start over in a new pack.”

“I’m not asking you to walk away from him,” Nicholas said, running his thumb down my cheek and brushing away more of my fallen tears. “I’m asking you to choose yourself and your baby. I don’t want to see you getting hurt again...”

It was nice that he cared for me; perhaps talking to him was a good thing.

I let out a sob, hating that I was crying in front of him. But he didn’t seem to mind. Nicholas wrapped me in his arms, pulling me close to his body and I willingly went to him, needing that comfort and protection his embrace had. I was too weak and tired; I was tired of fighting, tired of feeling hurt… I was tired of feeling like I came last.

Even if Nicholas was just my friend and he wasn’t Xaden, his company still made me feel better.

“Let me take care of you, Maeve,” he said softly as he rested his cheek on the top of my head. “Let me be here for both you and your baby.”

I nodded, letting myself truly believe for a second that I wasn’t alone.

……

Third Person POV

“Should we collect her and have her return to her room?” One of the guards asked.

Kenneth stared out the window of his study which overlooked the gardens. He had the perfect view of his son with Maeve. A smile crept along his lips as he watched them talking almost intimately and then Nicholas stroked her cheeks with his thumb.

His son was good, he would give him that.

“Not yet,” Kenneth said as he turned to look at the guards. “Give my son some time to get to know his future wife before we send her back to her room.”

“You still think she will marry him?” The guard asked, raising his brows. “What about her mate?”

“If she refuses and she causes any issues, then we will take other measures,” Kenneth said simply as he turned back to face his son and Maeve. “I always have a plan B.”

He grinned when he saw Nicholas wrap her in her arms and pulled her close to his body.

His plan was going perfectly so far.