THIRD PERSON POV Look at her, Isabelle thought with a scoff. Daring to enjoy herself. The afternoon of the banquet had come and, as a prettily-dressed Maeve mingled with Xaden and Charlotte on the far end of the banquet hall, engaging in private, light conversation with one another, the dubious
It was out of Isabelle’s hands now. MAEVE POV The moment I learned that there was going to be another banquet held at the royal palace, where our attendance was unfortunately deemed mandatory, my stomach sank with dread. One week was not enough time for me to mentally recuperate from the event
MAEVE POV I had thought I was well hidden. At least, as hidden as I possibly could be in the banquet hall of the royal palace, that was. I’d been so careful to choose a seat that was well out of range of any wandering eyes or gossiping lips. And everyone in the room had seemed to be so submersed
“It’s okay! I’m just—” “Ma’am.” The man’s sudden interruption seemed to suffice enough to quiet her down for the time being. “I apologize for cutting you off,” he said, though the tone of his voice indicated that he very much felt otherwise. Inwardly, relief bloomed within me once she had stoppe
MAEVE POV “Y-You?” I repeated, mouth open agape in shock as I scanned over his amused face. “You’re the alpha?” Upon first glance, I had pegged him for a mere soldier, or the son of one of the soldiers, at best. Nothing about him gave me the impression that he was the rough and tough, battle-bor
Xaden bristled at my side. The longer this conversation persisted, the more restless he was becoming… and the more panicked that made me. I was not sure if it was due to jealousy or his urge as an alpha to claim me, but whatever it was, it was not good. I could feel his anger roll off his body in wa
MAEVE POV Xaden burst out of the banquet hall doors like a man on a mission, dragging me behind him with Burke following closely behind. “Wait right here—” Xaden barked the order to his beta once the three of us were alone in the hallway, pointing his finger firmly at him. “Do not move from this
While the couple answered, I briskly pulled away with a quiet gasp, though Xaden’s hands remained firmly locked around me. Flushed red, I gently tried to pry his needy hands off of my body while focusing my attention on the three voices a short distance away from our slightly disheveled forms. Bur