Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 218 Traditions
A low growl emanated from Linus’s chest as he bared his teeth at Lexi who was finding the whole situation far too amusing and was doing her best not to double over with laughter.
“Impressive… I’m surprised your wolf is still alive in there.” Lexi remarked as she gasped for breath. “I believe you haven’t been introduced to my second in command, The Alpha Queen’s Beta, Lexi.” Ann introduced her casually with a warm smile.
Linus looked as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head as he spluttered and choked on his own saliva in indignation.
“This… this… no… NO! There has never been a half-breed in a position of power within the Enclave and I will not stand for it!” He raged.
“Too bad you old fart, it is what it is.” Lexi smiled sweetly down at him.
“Over. My. Dead. Body!” He snarled viciously, straining against his chains in an effort to reach Lexi. She was completely unfazed by his display of fury and instead, bent forward until her face was level with his own and only centimeters apart.
“That could be arranged…” she purred with a flirtatious smile, before standing upright again and peering down at him.
“You know, you really have made this interrogation ridiculously easy so far.” Lexi mused contemplatively as he continued to growl, “You already acknowledged that the Omega’s claims are valid, and in fact, you dispute it being called a crime because you say that they are here to serve at your pleasure. So… I’d count that as a confession of sorts.”
“I never admitted to a thing. All I said was that they are here to serve and that is exactly what they did “
“No.” Ann’s voice cut sharply through the air, “Your interpretation of servitude and duty does not align with what civilized people associate those words with. What those Omega’s do is not servitude, it is essential to keep things running smoothly and allows us to devote our time to focusing on serious issues…”
“They are unskilled workers! Fit for nothing other than seeing to our needs!” Linus scoffed.
“Have you ever tried to cater for often hundreds of hungry wolves yourself Linus?” Ann snapped, “Or ensure that a household of hundreds of people never runs out of anything? Do you have any idea how much skill is needed to ensure that those things are seen to efficiently on a daily basis’?”
“It is low-skilled work at best. They could not dream of ever holding the responsibilities that those in power do. They would fail miserably. Their wolves are weak, if they have them at all..” He sneered, snorting in laughter.
Ann clenched her jaw as she fought against Maeve’s desire to rearrange his face and leave him a lasting reminder of their entanglement.
“See? You don’t even have a response for that do you?” He laughed, “You know. Deep down you know, that servitude is ALL that they are good for. Omega’s, filthy half-breeds… they’re all the same… and you as well, your Highness. You would do well to remember that a woman’s place is at the side of her man… slightly behind of course… wouldn’t want you females thinking that you hold more value than the space between your legs.” He continued with a smirk.
Whilst he drank in Ann’s furious expression, his eyes shining with a cruel sort of glee, he failed to notice Lexi’s demeanor change
He was not at all prepared when Lexi launched herself from the position that she had been standing in and practically soared through the air at a frightening speed towards him, connecting with his frail body in seconds, the force throwing him violently back against the wall of his cell.
He screamed as his skin made contact with the silver-lined walls and the faint hiss as his flesh reacted to the contact slithered through the air.
Lexi showed no mercy and picked him up confidently around the throat, holding him up before her as she peered at him before slamming him against the wall as her eyes burned with a terrifying flame that ringed her irises.
“Weak, you said?” Lexi purred as she brought her face nose to nose with him and he shrieked at the pain that seared the skin on the back of his head, “It seems to me that you’re the only one screaming here old man.”
“Hardly a fair match when I’m restrained in a cell now is it!” He protested between gasps.
“Mmm. Hardly a fair match when you force yourselves on those that you are supposed to protect now, is it?” Lexi purred, her grin spreading across her face and revealing her frightening fangs in all their glory,
“I’ll happily take you on one-on-one though, you dusty, decrepit bigot…and It will take me even less time to tear you apart…”
“Lexi. That’s enough.” Ann’s calm voice commanded from behind her.
She held him in that position for a few seconds longer before finally, reluctantly, releasing him as she turned and stalked back to the edge of the room, glaring sullenly at the spot where Linus had landed in a heap.
Ann stared at him with a grim expression as she debated her choice of words. “You know, some part of me had hoped that you would at least be repentant for what you had done, or at the very least attempt to deny the claims and say they had never happened… but my suspicion of your depravity seems to have been well founded.” She said emotionlessly as he looked up at her with disdain.
“If you manage to somehow wheedle yourself out of punishment in your trial tomorrow, Linus, and manage to somehow, against all odds, retain your position in the Enclave, then I will take great pleasure in making your life hell and destroying everything that you believe in.”
“Foolish girl. Our traditions are Ancient. You cannot change a thing!” Linus laughed, with a manic edge to the sound.
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Ann smiled as she gestured towards the door to Lexi, and she began to move towards it, “You see, you state that the Omega’s are unskilled, but I can prove you wrong on that already. You also state that they can never hold a position of power or influence… well, that’s about to change.”
“Impossible” He snorted confidently, convinced that Ann was bluffing.
“On the contrary, Linus. I have chosen Coral as my personal secretary to oversee my diary and appointments,” She smiled as she watched his face fall, “You remember Coral don’t you? I believe you took great pleasure in allowing her to ‘serve’ you.”
Linus’s face was a whirlwind of emotions as he watched Ann make her way to the door and turn to look over her shoulder at him with a smirk.
“I’ll make damn sure that you pay for your crimes Linus, one way or another.” She said as she turned and swept out of the cell, Adam closing the door on Linus’s howls of frustration and leaving him to his misery.