Chapter 161

Xaden’s POV

“I don’t know what Alpha Kenneth would want with her, but I did find out something today and she and our baby are put in the wrong hands… it could be bad,” I said, staring up at my father who narrowed his eyes at me.

“What are you talking about?” My father asked.

“She’s perfectly safe in my pack,” Nicholas said, folding his arms across his chest. “I just spoke to her last night. She’s upset, but she’s safe.”

“You spoke to her??” I asked through my teeth, my wolf on edge at the thought of our mate with another man.

“You’re one to talk,” Nicholas murmured. “Haven’t you spent all your time with Princess Mia?”

“I did that out of duty,” I growled.

I was a bit taken aback that he knew about this; that meant Maeve had spoken to him about this. My heart twisted in my chest, but I kept my face neutral as I attempted to calm down my wolf.

“Answer my question!” My father roared, making me flinch. His Alpha King powers washed over me, making it almost impossible for me to resist.

“Maeve’s birth mother belonged to a witch tribe. There was a prophecy about her mother stating that her line would be able to produce Enigmas. I have reason to believe that our son is an Enigma.”

My father stared at me with wide eyes; it wasn’t often that my father was speechless, but at this moment, he had no idea what to say.

“Are you saying that Victoria is from a witch tribe?” My mother, who I had forgotten was present, asked.

I shook my head; my eyes found hers.

“No,” I replied. “Maeve’s mother is not Victoria. It was a lie, so people didn’t know that Alpha Burton had an affair.”

My mother gasped and covered her mouth. I then turned to Nicholas who was even paler in the face as realization dawned on him.

“Still think she’s not in danger?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

“Who else knows about this besides those of us in this room?” My father finally asked, recovering from his stupor.

“Only Alpha Burton,” I replied. “And maybe Kenneth.”

“My father has no idea. He would have said something,” Nicholas quickly said, but I wasn’t so sure.

My father nodded and then turned to my mother.

“I’m going to speak with Alpha Burton,” he told her. “Stay here in case she returns, or you hear anything.”

My mother nodded.

My father then turned to Nicholas.

“Return to your pack and see if Maeve is still there. Try to get her to return to the palace if she is,” my father ordered.

Nicholas was a bit hesitant and didn’t say anything for a moment, which pissed my father off. He let out a low and threatening growl, letting his Alpha King powers wash over Nicholas.

Nicholas flinched and bowed his head, unable to refuse his king.

“Yes, Alpha,” he agreed.

My father then turned to Lucas and Mia.

“Continue leading the search,” he ordered. “I want everything covered.”

“Yes father,” Lucas said.

“And find Henry; get him to help,” my father continued.

Lucas nodded.

My father then turned to me.

“You’ll come with me,” he ordered.

“I need to look for Maeve. I’m going with Nicholas,” I said without hesitation.

“No, you’re coming with me and filling me in on everything you know,” my father said through his teeth. “No more secrets, no more lies.”

It was a stare-down for a long while, but as soon as I saw his wolf flashing in his eyes, I relented.

“Yes father,” I said, knowing there was no use in arguing with him. He’s already made up his mind and there was no changing it.

With nothing more to say, everyone broke apart and did exactly what my father asked. It was killing me not going to Dawnguard Pride to search for my mate, but my father demanded that I go with him to speak with Burton who had no idea we were coming. The second we were at his doorstep; I knew he could feel the royal presence.

The door was open before we had a chance to knock. Just as the door creaked open, my father shoved his way into the house and grabbed Burton by the throat, shoving him against the wall and knocking over a picture frame. Burton’s eyes were wide as he struggled to breathe.

“Tell me everything you know,” my father demanded. “Who is Maeve’s true mother??”

Burton’s eyes grew even wider, but this time it wasn’t because my father was choking him. It was because he never thought that anyone would find out the truth. My father released Burton so he could answer the question. Burton nearly fell to the ground, rubbing his aching throat as he stared up at my father, his King.

“Her name was Esmeralda,” Burton croaked, not bothering to deny it, knowing that it would only cause his death if he did. “She was a human witch in a tribe. I was ordered to kill them.”

“And why didn’t you?” King Arlon asked.

“Because she told me about the prophecy,” Butron said as he pulled himself to his feet. “I thought she would be the one to birth the Enigma, so I got her pregnant.”

“But she didn’t,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

“No, she didn’t,” Burton said through his teeth, a flash of anger clear in his eyes. “But there’s a possibility Maeve is.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and I kept my stoic expression as I glared back at him.

“Who else knows about this?” King Arlan asked, narrowing his eyes at the Alpha; even I could feel the Alpha King's power washing off him in waves, making it impossible for Alpha Burton to lie.

“Only Kenneth. He was there when I killed them,” Burton muttered.

My heart jumped into my throat and suddenly, all my worst fears were becoming a reality.

“Are you saying he knows about the prophecy?” I asked. I already assumed as much, but hearing it confirmed from Alpha Burton made it way more real.

“Not only that…” Burton said, his eyes finding mine and darkening in an almost taunting way. “He was convinced way back then that my daughter would produce an Enigma. He told me that he wouldn’t expose my affair or the prophecy to anyone if I allowed him to take Maeve once she comes of age.”

“Take her?” My father asked. “What do you mean by take her?”

Burton let out a pathetic laugh that made me want to punch him in the face. I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to maintain my composure and not lose my temper.

“I mean, he wants her to mate with his son and produce Enigma babies,” Burton spat out.

……

Third person POV

Nicholas returned to his pack, his stomach in complete knots.

When he saw Maeve last night, she was physically fine. She was pleased to get out of the capital and get some space from everything. He was going to convince her to stay with him permanently because he could treat her so much better than anyone else could.

Xaden was an idiot and broke her heart. He didn’t know a good thing if it slapped him in the face. Nicholas would never hurt Maeve like that. He sauntered through the forest, his mind filled with Maeve’s smiling face. He hoped it would still be smiling when he saw her again.

As he reached the packhouse, he went straight up to Maeve’s room, hoping she was there so they could talk. He knocked on her door, and when there was no answer, his stomach began to knot even more. There was a chance she could be sleeping; it was a strange hour to sleep, but it wasn’t impossible after everything she had been through.

However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He knocked once more; maybe she was in the bathroom or something? After another silent pause, there was still no answer, so he took it upon himself to let himself into her room.

He felt numb as he searched her room; he even looked all around the bathroom but there was no sign of her. He wasn’t sure if she had anything with her when she arrived, so he couldn’t tell if she left for good or not.

“Commander?” A voice said from behind him. “I thought you were traveling to a different territory today?”

He turned to see one of the Gammas appointed for packhouse security, walking towards him.

“Have you seen, Maeve?”

He froze in his footsteps and looked behind Nicholas and into the room.

“No, I have not,” he said, his eyes finding his again. “Perhaps she returned to the Capital.”

“She wouldn’t have left without saying anything.”

“Well, you weren’t supposed to be here. She probably didn’t want to wait for you to return. You were supposed to be gone for a few days, I thought,” the Gamma said, narrowing his eyes. “Is there a reason you are still here, Commander?”

Nicholas didn’t like the guard giving him the third degree like this and he let out a warning growl, making the guard tense.

“There’s been a change of plans,” Nicholas said, his teeth baring in a threatening manner. “Where is my father?”

“He stepped out,” the Gamma replied. “He won’t be back for quite a while.”

Nicholas didn’t bother sticking around to hear any more of what this Gamma had to say or deal with his strange attitude. Despite Nicholas being the Commander of the royal army, this one particular guard worked under the jurisdiction of the Dawnguard Pride pack. His loyalty lies with Kenneth, so Nicholas knew he wasn’t going to get any straight answers where his father was concerned.

But he knew one thing for sure, Maeve was missing… and his father was somehow involved.