Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 313

Chapter 93 : The Beta of Poldesse

Maeve

The gardens at the castle were very much changed with the season. Winter had yellowed and driedthe leaves to a chilled crisp, and the garden was littered with foliage debris. It was cold, but not likethe bitter, dry cold of Winter Forest. Here, the air still seemed thick with moisture, and the gray skyseemed more apt to rain than snow.

I wondered about the boys as I followed Troy, Keaton, and my dad into the sanctuary of the lowergarden. The nanny Geor gia and Talon had hired to help care for Ernest when he was young hadcome out of retirement to help with the three new in fants at the castle. She was a seasonedprofessional, and Mom had chosen to stay behind to help, but I was still weary, especially sincewhatever conversation was about to take place would likely take a while.

Troy stepped into the gazebo, motioning for Keaton to sit down. Keaton was eyeing Dadsuspiciously, but sat down nonetheless, crossing his arms over his chest as he settled back against awrought iron chair.

Dad was well aware of our time spent in Dianny. Mom had been briefed as well, but I doubtedeither of them fully understood the shock Keaton, Troy, and I felt at the news that Tasia may havedestroyed the ancient pack.

“Robbie's alive,” Keaton said with soberness in his voice. “So is his mate, Alison. They made it outbefore shit really hit the fan.”

"What exactly happened?” Troy took a seat across from Keaton, but Dad had chosen to stand,leaning against one of the

stone columns that supported the roof of the gazebo. I leaned as well, enjoying a moment ofphysical activity after spending most of the last week in bed, covered in babies.

“Tasia she... well, I guess I should start by saying Una is dead, as is her husband, and most if not allof Tasia's siblings.”

"What?" I could barely believe it. Tasia was the eldest of her siblings, and she couldn't have beenmuch older than myself.

Keaton nodded, his eyes wide as he stared down at his shoes. He shivered, then shook his head,looking into Troy's eyes. “It was mayhem from what Robbie said. Tasia declared herself Al pha, butthe pack revolted against her. That's when Robbie and Alison left with those who didn’t want tofight, or couldn't. Mostly families. We brought them all to the isles... so many children. Or phans,now. Tasia brought the whole damn valley in on itself. There's nothing left but stone.”

"She... what? What do you mean she brought down the val ley?" I asked, trying to make sense ofwhat he was saying.

"Robbie said they had just arrived at the shore when what felt like an earthquake rocked the jungle.They camped on the shore for a week before we arrived and rescued them. I sent... I sent a fewscouts back to Dianny. There's nothing left. It's buried under hundreds of feet of stone. The village.The lake. It's gone.”

"Oh, my Goddess,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around the column for support. I looked up atDad, who was listening to Keaton with a blank expression

"And Robbie is here, in Mirage?” Troy asked. Keaton nodded, then shrugged.

“Aye, he is. The women wanted to gather some supplies be fore we left the port again-clothes andtoys for the children back

on Suntra. That's where they're all staying now, you see, at our old compound. They're all that's leftof The Daughters of Artemis now.”

“I'd like to talk to him, get his word about the disaster,” Dad stepped forward, tucking his hands inhis pockets. “What's his full name? I assume everyone is staying at the inn in Old Town?”

"Robert Arlo,” Troy answered, nodding his head in agree ment. “We do need to speak to him, Keat.We need to know what we're dealing with here.”

Keaton crossed his ankles, leaning back in his chair. “We're dealing with a power-hungry madwoman. What more is there to say?”

To my surprise, it was Dad who replied, telling Keaton in de tail what had happened in WinterForest. Keaton listened in shock, especially when Dad began to explain how we combined themoonstones.

“Well, we're all going to die,” Keaton deadpanned

Dad stared at him, his brow arched. But Troy chuckled, cross ing his leg over his knee as he leanedback in his own chair.

"And it sounds like Maeve almost died already, anyway,” Keaton added.

“Oh, I did die,” I said lightly. Troy stopped chuckling, his face falling in sudden remembrance. “Toosoon?”

“Leave the poor man alone, Maeve,” Dad said sternly, step ping forward into the center of the circle."You go by Captain Keaton formally, correct?”

Keaton straightened up a little bit, glancing at Troy with a

smug touching his lips. “Aye, I do.”

“Well, Captain. You need to stay in Mirage for another two days, until the conference on Friday.”"What conference?” I asked, thoroughly in the dark. I thought we were leaving for Winter Forest onFriday and wasn't aware that our plans had changed.

“The conference of our allies, to announce-" Dad said, but Troy jumped to his feet, interrupting.

“I need to talk to Keaton for a moment, alone,” he said quick ly, nodding shortly at Dad.

Dad glanced at Keaton, then nodded, turning to me with his arm outstretched to lead me back intothe castle.

Troy

I walked with Keaton out of the gardens, moving in silence as we reached the edge of the castlegrounds and what was left of Old Town. In the nine months since Damian had invaded, much hadbeen done to repair and rebuild the damage to the old village, but there was still a long way to go.The main street where the market used to be was nearly empty, not a single canvas — Cov

ered stall to be seen.

“Are we going to the inn to get Robbie?” Keaton asked, kick ing at a stick on the ground.

I nodded, chewing on the inside of my lower lip as I tried to muster the courage to say what Ineeded to say.

“Look, Keat. I'm going to be... to be Alpha of Poldesse. That's partly what this conference is about.The Alpha’s of the East and

West are coming together to discuss what's to be done about Ta sia, and Ethan will be announcingmy title. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”

“I feel like we already had this conversation,” Keaton grum bled.

"Kind of, I guess. It was more about Ethan possibly killing me the second I stepped foot in WinterForest, which you were obvi ously wrong about.”

“You're really accepting the title?” he asked dubiously.

“Yeah, I am. Maeve was meant to be a Luna. She was born for it.”

"And what happens when her mother dies, and she has to be the White Queen? You split up?”“No... I doubt we'll have to worry about that for a long time. The boys will be grown by the time weneed to even think about it, I hope.”

“And what of the boys? I still can't believe you had three.”

“Me neither, honestly. Every day is a blur.” I couldn't help but laugh. I wanted to go back to thecastle as soon as I fetched Rob bie, Myla, and Cleo. I wanted nothing more than to witness Maeve'sreunion with them, and to see them gush over our sons.

“But now you have three sons to fight over the title of Alpha of Poldesse, Troy. Is that what youreally want for them?”

"Of course not,” I tucked my chilled fingers in my pockets, looking straight ahead as we began tonear the inn near the train station. “But what choice do I have? This is my birthright, and I believeEthan is correct in the Isles needing an Alpha. It's been

over two decades since the people of the Isles have had a real pack to be a part of. Damian's rulewas... not what it should have been.”

"And what of those who don't agree?” Keaton rounded on me, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I won't force anyone to pledge their loyalty. I won't be collect ing tribute. I'll just be there; that'swhat's important. And Keaton, look, I need you there too.”

“Where?”

I drew in my breath, unsure if I wanted to hear his answer. “I want you to live in Avondale, with usAs my Beta.”

“No,” Keaton replied without hesitation as he began walking again.

I exhaled, rolling my eyes as I caught up to him. “Why the hell

not?”

“Because I've never had a master, and I don't plan on chang ing that.”

“Master? What the hell are you talking about?”

Keaton rounded on me once more, his eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. “You'd be my boss,Troy. I think the hell not!”

"Oh, come on, Keaton! You know it's not like that.”

“And what will the other Alphas think about having a known pirate and smuggler as the Beta ofPoldesse? hmm? And your fa ther-in-law? That man wanted nothing more than to rip me to shredsin the foyer of that castle you're all living in-"

s “Be my Beta!”

over two decades since the people of the Isles have had a real pack to be a part of. Damian's rulewas... not what it should have been.”

"And what of those who don't agree?” Keaton rounded on me, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I won't force anyone to pledge their loyalty. I won't be collect ing tribute. I'll just be there; that'swhat's important. And Keaton, look, I need you there too.”

“Where?”

I drew in my breath, unsure if I wanted to hear his answer. “I want you to live in Avondale, with us.As my Beta.”

“No,” Keaton replied without hesitation as he began walking again.

exhaled, rolling my eyes as I caught up to him. “Why the hell

not?”

“Because I've never had a master, and I don't plan on chang ing that.”

“Master? What the hell are you talking about?”

Keaton rounded on me once more, his eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. “You'd be my boss,Troy. I think the hell not!”

"Oh, come on, Keaton! You know it's not like that,”

“And what will the other Alphas think about having a known pirate and smuggler as the Beta ofPoldesse? Hmm? And your fa ther-in-law? That man wanted nothing more than to rip me to shredsin the foyer of that castle you're all living in-"

“Be my Beta!”

"NO!" Keaton walked away, his shoulders tight and arms at his side.

“Keaton, for Goddess's sake, listen to me-" I grunted with ef fort as I caught up to him, grabbing himby the shoulder and forc ing him to face me. “Look at me, Look-"

“I told you before we parted ways that this is against every thing we promised each other when wewere young. I won't. I refuse.” Keaton shrugged off my hand.

"What will you do, then? Live on the Persephone for the rest of your life? And what of Myla? Is thatwhat she wants as well, or would she prefer a home on land for your future family? Keaton, I' m notasking you to go around the Isles upending people's lives. That's not my plan. I just want somepeace for Maeve and me. I have the opportunity to build something for my children, okay? II wantyou to have the same.”

"Don't speak for Myla. She has already promised to go wher ever I go.”

"Yeah, so did Maeve. And she always will. So will Myla. But it’ s our responsibility as their mates totake care of them, Keaton. Provide for them.”

“I don't need your money-"

“I know. That's not what I'm saying.”

“No, Troy. I won't. Don't ask me again.” Keaton was dead se rious, and I felt my heart crack as I sawthe hurt behind his eyes. This was a betrayal to him

“I'm not Damian. Or Romero-"

“But you're an Alpha. I'm a pirate, Troy. This isn't going to

work.” Keaton turned away and walked briskly to the inn, throwing up the door and letting it slamshut before I could reach it.

“Bastard,” I mumbled under my breath, stepping inside the run-down lobby and watching as Keatonhopped up the stairs two steps at a time. “I'll just wait here, I guess-"

I was alone in the lobby for barely a minute before Myla’s voice rang out through the hallway abovemy head. She nearly fell down the entire staircase as she bounded down the stairs, throw ing herarms around me and squeezing me tightly. Cleo was close behind, and so was Robbie, who had ahuge grin on his face as he clapped me on the shoulder in hello

"How is Maeve? Where is she? Has she had the twins yet? They should be due any day!” Cleo wasgripping my jacket, con cern lining her face.

"She's great. They're great. All three are boys,” I answered, smiling as she looked up at me in shock.“Triplets?” Myla gasped.

“The Alpha King is expecting us at the castle, Robbie. Let's go,” Keaton said shortly, pushing past usas he headed out the door.

We watched him walk away, not bothering to try to keep up with him.

“What'd you do to him, Troy?” Robbie asked as we reached the street.

I shook my head, watching the sunset through the trees.