Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 14 Do You Regret
“If you kept your hands to yourself I wouldn’t need to…” “Wouldn’t need to what, boy? Make a fool of yourself and give people reason to doubt your capabilities as an Alpha?” Adam snorted.
“I’ll make you regret that!”
“I’d love to see you try again when you’ve put a little more thought into this…whatever this was.”
Brad growled as he finally lay still under Adam’s grip.
He was furious. How had he let himself be made such a fool of? His reputation would suffer greatly for this. Alpha Nocturne had already gained himself a reputation as a powerful Alpha and Brad had been looking forward to crushing his arrogance when he ascended to the throne.
Now, not only had he shown himself as incapable of that in a moment of fury, but he had also managed to alienate the one person who was truly capable of helping him rise to the throne.
Ada was nothing compared to Ann, she didn’t even have a wolf for goddess sake. The packs would never accept her. She would never rule and now he was stuck with a pregnant wolfless partner from an encounter that he hardly remembered.
“Mark my words, Alpha Nocturne. I’ll make you pay for this.” He snarled quietly. Adam leaned in with a grin.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll try at least. However, right now, I have someplace to be and I intend on taking your ex¬mate with you. She’ll be staying with me for the foreseeable future and there’s absolutely nothing that you can do about that.” He murmured just quietly enough so that only the two of them could hear it.
Adam stood quickly and brushed his clothes down, smoothing the wrinkles on his suit. With a last glance of annoyance at the spot where Brad lay on the floor, he turned and walked towards Ann.
He flashed her a charming smile and extended his arm to her, watching her expectantly.
“Are you ready to go?”
Ann’s stomach flipped at the sight of that boyish smile and she hooked her arm in his. They made their way to the door of the cafe, countless pairs of eyes watching them silently as they made their way out.
“Wait! Ann! Your bag!” Lexi’s voice shouted excitedly from the doorway as Adam held the passenger side door open for her.
Ann paused and turned, seeing the glowing face of her best friend rushing towards her. Lexi flung her arms around Ann’s neck and hugged her tightly.
“He’s perfect.” She whispered into Ann’s ear before she stepped back with a coy smile.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She grinned wickedly and winked as she waved to them both and turned to leave.
“That doesn’t rule out a lot!” Ann yelled after her retreating form.
Lexi lifted her arm and threw a middle finger up as she walked away, without even bothering to turn back.
When she got into the car she turned and found Adam staring at her with a blank expression on her face. It made her feel a little uncomfortable so she turned and grabbed her seat belt, pulling it over her slowly and fastening it as quietly as she could.
When she was done, she held her hands together in front of her, resting on her lap, and stared straight ahead out of the windscreen. She could still feel his eyes on her though.
“I’m going to have my hands full with you, aren’t I?” He commented with a sigh before turning the ignition on and pulling away.
‘That all depends on if he’s planning to remove our clothes or not…’ Maeve sniggered.
Ann’s cheeks flushed as she shifted awkwardly in her seat. She dreaded to think what Alpha Nocturne’s wolf was going to make of Maeve.
She was fearless, bolshy, opinionated, and as far from demure as you could get. If he was expecting a doting, the loving mate who never argued, he was in for a rude awakening.
They had driven a little way in what Ann felt was an uncomfortable silence, but Ann didn’t know what to say. She could see that Adam kept glancing over at her out of the corner of her eye.?
“So, the young Alpha back there…” Adam said finally, “Did you reject him before, or after you agreed on the contracted marriage?”
Ann squirmed uncomfortably and stole a furtive glance to try and read his expression.
His face was calm as he stared ahead at the road, his full attention on driving. He held the steering wheel with one hand, the other arm leaned casually on the open window as the breeze playfully ran through his hair.
He certainly cut a powerful figure, even when he was in such a relaxed position.?
Ann sighed to herself as she turned her attention to the scenery passing by her window again.
“It’s a little complicated.” She answered finally. “I actually caught him and my sister in the act on the night that I met you before I met you obviously. I’d been trying my wedding dress on and was going to show my father… we had been due to get married today actually.” Ann said quietly.
Adam’s face remained calm, the only thing that hinted at his displeasure was the slight downward turn of his eyebrows.
“You confronted them then?” He asked simply.
Ann shook her head and laughed bitterly.
“No. I left the house and wandered before I came to my senses in front of the bar. My wolf was furious and managed to talk me into going inside… I don’t usually drink actually.” She said as she turned to face Adam.
“I was obviously quite tipsy by the time I …er… inadvertently overheard your conversation with your Beta.” Adam nodded slowly.
“Do you regret the decisions you made at the time?” Adam asked sincerely, turning to glance quickly at An and holding her gaze for a few moments before turning back to face the road.