Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate By A E Randell Chapter 38


    CHAPTER 38 The Traditional Gift-giving


    “Please, everyone, if you would like to move through to the banqueting hall, we’ll continue there,”


    Narcissa announced to the remaining people in the ballroom. “We have another announcement to


    make and the traditional gift-giving between the Alpha King and his daughter.”


    A*n rolled her eyes as Lexi linked her arm through hers and forcibly coerced her through the small


    entryway and into the banquet hall.


    The Royal family sat at the head table as the banquet was well underway.


    Before long, Narcissa stood and called everyone’s attention.


    “I’d like to propose a toast before the gift-giving.” She said graciously as she raised her ss and the


    rest of the room hastened to follow.


    “Here’s to the long and happy marriage of Ada and Brad, and the long and healthy lives of their pups.


    The marriage signifies the strengthening of our kind and brings us together in an alliance not only of


    diplomacy but also of blood… please, drink to the happy couple.” Narcissa beamed as she gulped the


    liquid in her ss.


    Ada elbowed Brad in his side and whispered furiously as he reluctantly did the same. A*n also gulped


    her drink, but she refused to raise her ss.


    She hoped they both got what they deserve and that an innocent child wasn’t pulled into this madness.


    “Now I’ll hand you over to my husband for the traditional gift-giving.” Narcissa trilled and inclined her


    head towards the Alpha King.


    He stood slowly, almost unwillingly as he cast a guilty nce toward A*n before swinging his gaze to


    look apprehensively at Ada, Narcissa, and Brad.


    He took the prepared boxes handed to him by one of the s*rvants and A*n watched carefully as he


    approached.


    The gift-giving was unimpressive in itself, but when A*n realized what exactly was being given, her


    mouth gaped open and she stood angrily.


    Ada’s face was a mask of joy as the jewelry set was unveiled and she flicked a look filled with malice


    and contempt toward A*n as she held the items up for the media present to see.


    “Oh, father! These are beautiful, thank you so much! You do me a great honor!” She simpered.


    The items she had been gifted were from A*n’s maternal grandmother and the sight of them around her


    neck and in her hands ignited a fury in A*n that she hadn’t known she possessed.


    “Take them off.” A*n snapped angrily as a deathly silence filled the room.


    Ada painted her face with a mask of innocence.


    “I’m sorry. What’s wrong, A*n? Don’t you like them?” The tone she used was a perfect


    bnce


    To those unfamiliar with her duplicitous nature, it sounded as if she were merely asking an


    innocent question, but her words wereced with malice.


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    She knew that A*n loved those heirlooms… they were meant for her when she ascended the throne.


    They were never meant for Ada.


    Yet there she stood, wearing the jewelry that her grandmother and mother had worn… the only real


    memories she had left from either of them, and Ada knew it.


    “I’ll give you one chance to take them off, Ada. Those aren’t yours and you know it…” A*n growled out


    lowly, feeling Maeve’s anger begin to rise quite rapidly.


    “A*n, don’t do this here. Not in front of all these people.” The Alpha King intervened lowly, the guilt clear


    in his eyes.


    “Are you insane? Those are my mother’s! Those are MY heirlooms from MY mother! The woman you


    rejected for this w*ore and your b*stard child!” A*n roared furiously, feeling Maeve push forward and try


    to wrestle control.


    It was strange… Maeve wasn’t speaking, but insisting on surging forward.


    Ada’s eyes were shining with anticipation as she wrapped her arms around her stomach protectively


    and transformed her face into a mask of fear.


    “A*n! I don’t understand… why are you so angry?” Ada pleaded in a pitiful voice, the emotion in her


    voice at odds with the emotion in her eyes.


    A*n could barely think straight anymore, it was like her head was full of static and intense pressure that


    only seemed to build with each passing second.


    A*n clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, dropping her head to her chest and struggling to retain


    control. Her sanity was hanging by a thread and she could feel it, mixed with blind rage and terrifying


    panic from Maeve.


    It was simply too much to bear.


    A*n’s head exploded backward as a terrifying roar tore from within and Maeve surged forwards, taking


    control of A*n’s body and forcing a twisted half-human, half-wolf form with a humanoid figure.


    She was aware of the terrified screams all around her, but it was *uffled as if she was underwater.


    Lexi’s panicked voice shouted desperately for her to grab a hold of herself as she snapped wildly at the


    air and advanced menacingly towards Ada.


    All pretense had been wiped from Ada’s face as she scrambled backward wildly and Narcissa rushed


    to her daughter’s side.


    “You s*upid little girl. What did you do?!” Narcissa hissed into Ada’s ear furiously as she pulled her


    away


    “! .. I didn’t mean to ” Ada stuttered as she tripped over her own feet trying to back


    “Shut up! Just I’ll deal with you after if we ever manage to get out of here alive” Narcissa snarled as she


    dragged her backward


    Although everything was m*ffled, Ana had heard every word. Healizing that they were probably to


    me for whatever this was she let go of thest thread that held Marve back.


    With thest thread of restraint gone Maeve pounced, springing towards them at a frightening speed,


    her eyes wild and her teeth bared.