Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 122 An Apology An Apology Might Be a Good Start
He turned back to the conversation with Brad and struggled to absorb everything that was being said. It was all so outrageous and fantastical that it was hard to believe at first, but the more he heard, the more everything in his life began to make so much more sense. He lifted his eyes briefly, and his gaze fell on the sight of his daughter Ann, held tightly in Alpha Nocturne’s arms as they strode forward together with Lexi at their side. Leopold’s heart twisted p@infully at the sight of her, and he knew that the chance of seeking forgiveness after everything that had happened was slim to none, but he had to try.
“Brad, excuse me for a moment…” He shrugged apologetically as he gestured in Ann’s direction.
“Of course, your highness,” Brad answered with a slight bow as he stepped back and Leopold made his way over to his daughter and her friends as quickly as he could. “Ann… wait…” Leopold said with a raised voice as he approached the three of them.
Ann paused briefly and turned, looking over her shoulder at the sound of his voice, and as soon as she realized that it was her father, her gaze hardened.
Leopold’s stomach turned as he realized there was no warmth or love in her eyes anymore, just cold dark hatred and a distrust that broke his heart.
He couldn’t fault her for this reaction though. He had let her down not only with his abysmal judgment as her
King but also with his lack of skills as a father.
Quite honestly, he wouldn’t blame her if she chose never to speak to him again.
“Ann, are you okay? Brad told me what happened… I… I don’t know what to say…” Leopold began awkwardly.
He wasn’t used to being the one in the wrong, and the fact that Ann showed no leniency in her aggressive stance toward him was making it hard for him to think straight.
“An apology might be a good start…” Adam growled furiously from Ann’s side as Lexi snorted.
“Not that it will come anywhere near close to covering the betrayal and the damage that you delivered to your own daughter.” She sneered.
Leopold hung his head slightly and nodded.
“I know. I’m sorry, Ann, ” he said as he looked up and met her gaze head-on, “I am truly sorry for everything that my weakness and failings have put you through and what I put you through with your mother as a child. You deserved better. Both of you did.” He offered softly.
Ann felt Adam’s arm tighten around her rea*s*suringly and at this moment, she was grateful for it.
The little girl that lived inside of her wanted to run to him, wrap her arms around him and tell him that it was fine and that she forgave him, but the grown woman in her told her that he needed to face the consequences for his actions and earn his place back in her life.
He had been so quick to discard her at the suggestion of his wife, regardless of whether or not the magic was responsible, it still cut deeply. If he hadn’t have been such a weak-willed king all those years ago, none of them would be in this predicament now.
Ann exhaled slowly as she stared at him for what seemed like an eternity.
“You know, I should hate you for everything that you’ve done Leopold, but quite frankly, I pity you. Both of our lives could have been so much different if you had actually lived the life that the Moon Goddess intended with your fated mate but I guess we’ll never know how great you could have been,” She said coldly, her expression devoid of any emotion as she spoke to him. “Ann… I… please. Can you at least give me another chance?” Leopold pleaded.
“This is the wrong time to be asking me this. Right now, I don’t care if I ever see you again, and quite frankly, I’m not sure if that will change in the near future.” Ann said as she turned to walk away.
“Then let me try to prove myself to you again, Ann, as your father..” he tried again, the desperation in his voice clear.
Ann paused and her head dropped slightly as she stood with her back to him, before it lifted suddenly and she whirled to face him, storming towards him with a look of determination on her face.
“I will consider speaking to you cordially again once the trial is over and done with, for all three of you.” Ann hissed. “The Kingdom deserves better from their rulers and as far as I’m concerned, I hope they remove you and decide on the punishment for Narcissa and Ada without your input. I don’t trust you to make the right decision when it comes to them.”
Leopold flinched as the words hit home and stung his pride. He had no grounds to refute her words because she was right,
“Very well. Wait until the trial is over before making any decisions, Ann. I just needed you to know that I am truly sorry for all the p@in and suffering that my decisions have caused you over the years. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you when, and if you decide to give me another chance.” he said finally, his heart heavy with the grief he felt at the loss of not one but two daughters in the same day.
Lexi, Lord Brarthroroz, Ann, and Adam all journeyed back to the Dark Moon Pack’s compound together.
The whole rescue operation had been far easier than Adam expected and he hadn’t needed any help at all from the teams that had been on standby. He did, however, feel a rising sense of guilt for his standoffish behavior towards his Beta over all these years.
Allen had always been unwaveringly loyal towards him and the pack, but Adam had never truly known who he could trust. At one point, there had been so much sabotage occurring both inside the pack compound and within the business projects that he had been leading and in the process of setting up, that he had considered Allen as a potential culprit.
nobody was beyond suspicion at that time.