Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 121: Who’s That Man?

Rowan

Mom ran her fingers across Selene’s head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the

doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near

the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried to

organize her shock.

Everyone else had cleared out to give us some privacy. Just Mom, Hanna, Maeve, the baby, and I

remained, and Mom had just finished feeding the baby a bottle. Hanna awoke, but she was still groggy

from sleeping so much.

“She’s beautiful, Hanna,” Mom said softly, smiling down at the baby in her arms. “What’s the meaning

of her name?”

“I-I don’t know. She told me her name, in a dream.”

“We could think of a nickname for her,” I added, chewing on the side of my cheek as I narrowed my

eyes on Maeve. Her pacing was heightening my anxiety.

Hanna had described the birth, which had been about as easy and peaceful as it could possibly be. But

the midwife had been frantic, and fearful, as a lunar eclipse sent a shadow over the castle and then

bathed all of Mirage in an eerie red glow just as Selene was born.

Hanna looked up, meeting Mom’s eyes, and whispered, “She was conceived on a full moon, Rosalie.

And then… and then

born on a lunar eclipse. You know… you have to know what this means.”

Mom nodded, resting her hand on Hanna’s leg.

“Your daughter is the Moon Goddess?” Maeve’s words weren’t said like a question. We all already

knew the answer.

“Whatever she is,” Mom said, smiling down at the baby with nothing but love behind her eyes, “she is a

White Queen. The twenty-first White Queen. And my granddaughter. And that’s enough, for now.”

Hanna took a deep breath and then smiled softly to herself. I

could feel the tension leaving her body, and she closed her eyes. But then, she started to cry.

Maeve was at her side in an instant, taking Hanna’s hands in her own. “Oh, Hanna. It’s going to be

okay. We don’t know what this means, for her, for youll for any of us.”

“I’m scared of her, Maeve.” Hanna’s words cut so deeply into my heart I found it hard to breathe. I knew

she had been

struggling. I knew she was hurting.

But I hadn’t known that.

“She’s just a baby!” Maeve laughed, reaching out to take Selene from Mom. “Look, see? She looks like

you, Hanna. Just lighter. She has your eye shape, and your chin. I think she has Rowan’s nose,

though, and that crazy cowlick is definitely from our side of the family-”

Maeve went on and on, her enthusiasm breaking up the heavy emotion that had been crippling Hanna

since Selene’s birth.

“She could grow up to be a warrior or a poet. Maybe she’ll want to be a baker and make cookies for a

living. That prophecy… it’s over. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that she’s here, and she’s safe. And

she needs you, Hanna. She… she loves you.”

Maeve handed Selene to Hanna and rested her hand over Selene’s head. “She’s the best, Hanna. The

only girl in the family so far. Troy and I are done, as you know. Gemma and Ernest might have another.

But for now, Lena is our baby girl.

“And a few years from now, she’ll be bossing the boys around and making Rowan and Dad play tea

parties with her,” Maeve smiled. Hanna smiled too, her eyes glistening with tears.

“We’ll be there for her, Hanna. No matter what.” The words felt heavy in my mouth. It was an oath.

Hanna met my eyes and nodded, swallowing back a relieved sob.

“Ethan wants to see her, Hanna. Would it be alright if he came in?” Mom asked, but Hanna shook her

head.

“Rowan should take her down to see everyone. I’ll-i’ll take a shower and change first. I’ve been in bed

for… well, since she was born. I didn’t know what else to do. I should have had you here, Rosalie. I’m

sorry.”

“Oh, goodness Hanna. You have nothing to be sorry for, alright? Come, I’ll run you a bath” Maeve lifted

Selene out of Hanna’s arms as Mom helped her out of the bed. Maeve turned, handing the baby to me

as we began to walk toward the door.

I looked over my shoulder, watching as Hanna and Rosalie disappeared behind the bathroom door.

“She’s going to be okay, Rowan.”

“There’s more Maeve. You know there’s more.”

Theld the door open for Maeve as we walked into the hallway.

“About Hanna… about her visions from last year?”

I nodded, my throat tightening.

“So much was wrong, Rowan. Even Hanna said so. How could she possibly still believe she’s going to

die before Selene grows up?”

“I don’t know. She hasn’t said anything to me about it for months. She’s not dream dancing anymore.

She refuses to shift. She’s just… existing. I feel like I’ve already lost her.”

“I feel like I should stay for a while-”

“No, Maeve. It’s fine. You’re the Luna of Poldesse. You’re needed there.”

“You’re my brother, Rowan,” she said, resting her hand on my arm. “Just tell me what you need me to

do, and I’ll do it.”

I thanked my sister for her kindness, and then the two of us headed downstairs to see what everyone

else had been doing while my mother and sister tried to help Hanna gain the courage to emerge from

our room.

The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive

spread that had been laid out by the kitchen-two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast

ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.

George was fast asleep in Ernest’s lap, his face dappled with

gravy. Maeve’s sons were being passed around the table in an effort to keep them entertained. Hanna

sat at the head of the table, flushed with pride as Georgia and Vicky gushed over Selene.