Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 195 You’re Both Terrible Liars
Lord Brarthroroz refused any a*s*sistance with their baggage from the omegas and instead insisted on carrying it themselves as Allen led them up the stairs and through the corridors to the comfortable guest quarters that were reserved for important guests.
Allen was positive that Lexi had completely misunderstood his lack of composure when they first appeared and he actually missed her over-familiarity now that she had closed herself off from him.
He would give anything to have her gripping hold of his arm and teasing him mercilessly, instead of trailing behind him with that cold, emotionless stare that she had fixed on his back at the minute. “Is everything okay, Beta Allen? You seem as distracted as my daughter has been. Is there something going on between you two that I should know about?”
“No!” Allen and Lexi both replied hastily at the same time, with matching guilty expressions plastered on their faces.
Lord Brarthroroz chuckled.
“You’re both terrible liars… but I won’t press you for details. You’re both adults. I trust that you can sort whatever this is out between you both before I have to travel with you both to the Enclave tomorrow. Things are going to be difficult enough without you two adding to an already tense atmosphere when we arrive.” He said casually as they stopped in front of one of the luxurious rooms that Adam had specified were specifically to be reserved for Lord Brarthroroz should he ever visit.
Allen cleared his throat awkwardly and bowed slightly to him. “This is your room, Lord Brarthroroz. Would you like any help settling in?”
“I think I can manage.” Lord Brarthroroz smirked in response. “I a*s*sume I just head back downstairs when it’s time to eat?”
Allen nodded gently.
“Yes. I’ll have one of the Omegas come and let you know when the meals are served if you like.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Very well. Can I offer you a tour of the pack grounds? Or perhaps the library…” Allen offered, his nervousness at being alone with Lexi very shortly, starting to get the better of him.
“Allen, I’m sure I can find my way around the pack house if you don’t mind me exploring a little bit and stretching my legs. I would much rather you and my daughter sort whatever it is that’s going on between you out.” He grinned mischievously.
“There’s nothing for us to sort out Papa. You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Yes. I’m sure I have. But I will say this, the longer you leave an argument to fester without resolving it, the bigger it will get. Don’t let it get to that point. Take it from an Ancient Daemon Lord with many years of life experience.” Lord Brarthroroz answered quietly, before patting his daughter on the shoulder and going inside his room, shutting the door gently behind him.
Lexi and Allen stood outside the door to his room in silence, shifting awkwardly on the spot, before Allen took a deep breath and cleared his throat nervously.
“Right. Well, I’ll show you to your room then.”
Lexi nodded without saying a word, instead glaring at him with an unreadable expression. Allen reached for her bag, which she allowed him to take, and strode off down the corridor, to the room that Ann had allocated to Lexi.
They both felt that if Lexi was going to be staying here on a semi-permanent basis to lecture in the schools, then she should also have her own room so that she had everything she needed close at hand.
The only downside was that it was on the same floor as Allen’s room.
Not that Allen saw it as a downside, but more of a temptation that would be difficult to cope with if he wasn’t able to resolve the issues between them.
Lexi frowned when she realized where they were headed and snorted loudly. “You better not be thinking I’m staying in your room with you, Beta boy.”
“I never said that. I didn’t choose the room. Ann did.”
Lexi snorted again, a little louder this time. “Oh of course she did. Sly little Queenie. Well if she thinks I’m going to roll over and play happy families with you she’s got another thing coming.”
Allen stopped outside of her room and opened the door for her, his wolf howling his displeasure at Allen’s performance so far in his head, and his heart aching as if Lexi had driven a dagger through it with her dismissal of him. “This is your room. Do you want help unpacking?” Allen said tightly, willing his voice not to c***k under the intense emotion he was feeling.
“Do I look like I can’t handle myself?” Lexi snapped as she took the bag from him. “No… that’s not what I meant…”
“It never is, is it, Allen? You offer help presuming that I’m incapable and then backtrack when I bite back.” She hissed furiously.
“Lexi, I…”
“Save it, Beta boy. I’m so furious with you that I don’t even know how I’m supposed to feel about any of this. Based on how I’m feeling right now if I never saw you again, then I could live quite happily with that.” She fumed furiously as she turned and stormed into her room slamming the door behind her.
Allen stood staring at the door in front of him and listened to his wolf’s furious diatribe in his head. He wasn’t mad at Lexi, he was mad at Allen, and when the soft sounds of Lexi’s crying drifted through the air, Allen’s heart felt as though it might shatter.
He had done this and he would never forgive himself. No matter what it took, he was going to put this right.