Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama-Chapter 28: Bad mom...

Selene POV

I ran a finger around the diamond-studded engagement ring on the third finger of my left hand and sighed, looking out of the window.

I didn’t know how to feel about accepting Noah’s proposal. First, it had come suddenly and I couldn’t reject it either. The sincere way his eyes had shone made it difficult for me to say no.

Still, Noah was a good man and since I still had a lot of reservations about my mate, I decided settling with Noah was a better option. Until now, I didn’t know how much the girls needed the presence of a male in their lives and I also know Noah was crazy about the girls.

"Hey," Noah said quietly, reaching for my hand while giving me a tender look. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah," I nodded, smiling at him. "I’m just tired,".

"We’ll be home soon," he whispered, raising my hand to his lips as he pressed tender, light kisses at the back of my hand.

Last night, it had taken a lot of intervention from both the girls and a little pleading from my end for Noah to keep his hands off my body. It is common for a Werewolf to want to mate with his mate once he engages her or smells her out, so I wasn’t surprised when Noah made passes at me.

Despite my lame excuses, he had agreed to take things at my pace, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long.

"I can’t wait to be back," I said warmly, returning his smile.

The girls were strapped in at the back of the car, and Maeve had been refusing to speak to anyone since yesterday. All efforts by her sister and Noah to make her talk had proven abortive.

I decided I was going to ignore her, too. If she was looking for attention, throwing tantrums is the wrong way and I wasn’t going to indulge her.

"I’ll have some of our soldiers escort you guys to the airport," Xavier said, as he came to the window.

My heart lurched with hurt as he avoided my gaze again. Probably the 100th time since yesterday. Since he walked in on me and Noah, nearly kissing, he hadn’t said a word to me.

Last night, at the dinner table when Noah had announced that we’ll soon be wed, he had been the first to offer his congratulations. Lucius wore a disappointed look on his face, while Theo appeared visibly surprised.

The girls had taken the news in a stride. Vina had come later to me to ask me if I would be happy marrying Noah instead of Xavier and when I had told her yes, she hugged me and said.

"Congratulations mummy,".

Maeve didn’t spare us a glance as she concentrated on her food.

"Thank you, Xavier," Noah clasped his hand in appreciation. "For your hospitality and everything,".

"Anytime, Your Majesty," Xavier nodded, "Alright, see you at the Annual Ball this December,".

As he made to step away from the car, Maeve suddenly stretched her hand towards him, making a crying sound.

"Alpha," she cried out, "I’ll miss you,".

"Oh!" Xavier’s gaze flickered to me for a moment before he took her hand. "And I’ll miss you too. You can reach out to me anytime you want to, okay?"

"Will you..." she trailed off as tears welled up in her eyes, "Come visit me at Moon Whisper?"

I noticed she kept referring to herself.

"As soon as I can, okay?" Xavier gave her a reassuring smile.

"Okay," Maeve nodded, sniffing, "Can I at least get a hug?" she asked, stretching her hands towards him.

Xavier’s brows arched in confusion as his gaze flickered to me again. I felt guilty that he didn’t understand why Maeve was being unusually clingy.

"That’s enough, Maeve," I said quietly, "You’re making Alpha Xavier uncomfortable,".

"Please..." she begged him, ignoring me. "Just for a few minutes. Or would you like for me to stay here with you? I don’t want to go back with them,".

"Maeve!" I called out sharply, turning to look at my daughter, who ignored me. Her gaze was fixed on Xavier and tears were rolling down her cheeks. "If you don’t want to be punished this moment, you’d stop acting like a child,".

"I am a child!" she yelled, turning to stare at me and for a moment, I saw hatred flit in her eyes. "I am going to be Four years old in two days, Selene. So, I am still a child,".

The air filled with heaviness as Maeve called out my real name. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Xavier come closer to the car, his brows still furrowed in confusion.

"Your name is Selene?" he asked, staring at me.

I froze as fear crept into my heart.

"No," Noah placed a possessive hand around my shoulders "The child is just angry,".

"Oh!" Xavier nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. "Let me just hug her real quick, okay. I don’t mind, really,".

Noah nodded.

He opened the door of the car and immediately Maeve flew into his arms, sobbing. She wrapped her hand around his neck, begging him not to let her go. The scene was so heartbreaking, but I looked straight ahead.

Maybe when she’s old enough, she’ll understand me, but for now, I knew she was just throwing tantrums to get me to do what she wanted.

Prying Maeve from Xavier took another ten minutes before, finally, we were on our way to the airport. Maeve kept sobbing silently and all the attempts by her sister to console her proved abortive.

An uncomfortable silence settled in the car until we got to the airport. Since we were using our private jet, we directed ourselves towards the strip where it was parked. After settling in, I decided to take a quick nap to clear my head when Linda came running to me.

"Ma’am, is Maeve with you?" she asked.

I sat up in alarm. "Maeve... No? She isn’t with me," I said, immediately rising to my feet. "What of her sister?"

"She’s sleeping," Linda said.

"Maybe she went to the toilet or something." I could feel panic coursing through me as I tried to mind link her, but it wasn’t working,".

"I’ve checked there too," Linda said. "She’s not there and none of the guards have seen her,".

My heart was pounding in my chest nervously as I tried to mind-link her again, but it wasn’t working. I sprinted lightly to where Vina was and shook her awake.

"Mom?" she looked at me with sleepy eyes.

"Can you try mind linking your sister?" I tried to sound calm.

"Why? What happened?" Vina asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Just do as you’re told!" I screamed at her, "Mind link her now!"

Vina shuddered as her pupils went dark for a moment. I paced the small space, waiting for her. After a few minutes, her pupils turned normal. "She isn’t responding Mommy. It seems she blocked me off but my wolf tells me she’s not here, that she left,".

"Left?" my heart thudded. "Left to where? Was she taken by force?" I asked.

"I don’t know," Vina shrugged.

"Mind links her again," I was sounding hysterical now "Maybe she didn’t hear you that first time and got busy. Please..." I begged, shaking her.

"Mom," Vina cried out, "You’re hurting me,".

I let her go and started running to the door when I ran into Noah.

"Hey," he held my shoulders "Calm down,".

"Don’t tell me to be calm," I screeched. "My child is missing and you want me to be calm,".

"You can’t look for her in this state," Noah held me tightly. "I’ve deployed the guards with us, they’re searching the airport. Do you have a tag or something we can use to find her easier?"

"No," I shook my head, fighting the sobs that caught in my voice.

Perhaps it was because of everything I had done to her was why she ran away. I was a bad mom. No matter what, my children come first; their feelings and their emotions, should be put before mine.

"It’s my fault," I sobbed "If I hadn’t...".

"Pull yourself together, Olivia," Noah sighed, hugging me tighter "None of this is your fault," he said "We’ll find her,".

I leaned against his shoulders as he soothed me gently.

"Looking for someone?"

Xavier’s voice sounded behind us. I did a 360 and saw Xavier with Maeve in his arms. She had a defiant look on her face and Xavier didn’t look pleased either.

I clasped my hand over my mouth, as I staggered backwards.

He knew!