Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate Chapter 153


    Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell


    Chapter 153 You Remind Me of Your Mother


    Ann and Adam stood side by side on the balcony, waving down to the crowds that had gathered below.


    The noise from the crowd was almost deafening. It almost seemed as though they were fighting with


    one another over whose voice could shout the loudest and reach the newly crowned Alpha Queen’s


    ears first. Adam chuckled softly.


    “All this is for you, my Queen.” He murmured as he took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips,


    kissing it gently.


    Ann giggled lightly, her nerves getting the better of her as loud cheers echoed through the air.


    “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for their excitement and the more than warm wee, but I’ve done


    nothing to prove myself to them yet.” She replied with a worried smile.


    “Is that really what you think?” Adam murmured quietly, “Ann, take a step back and think about it for a


    second. These past few months have thrown so much at you and the usations and lies that were


    thrown in your direction put you under intense public scrutiny. Yet, no matter what Narcissa and Ada


    threw at you, you continuously emerged triumphantly with your reputation intact”


    “Yes… but I couldn’t have done it without you, you know? I’ve had a lot of support..” Ann protested


    weakly before Adam held a hand up to stop her.


    “Ann, stop. Take a second to remember where you’re standing. If I know Maeve as well as I think I do,


    I’m sure she will tell you to stop with the self-doubt.”


    ‘He’s right you know… but I don’t intend to do it in such a nice way. Listen up sugar-puff, sure,


    acknowledge that sometimes everyone needs a little help but stop being a crybaby. I’m not having you


    throw a little pity party for yourself every time you’re insecure about your abilities. You’re a goddamn


    Queen now… act like one.’ Maeve smirked, ‘If the Moon Goddess wanted us to fix everything for


    ourselves, then she wouldn’t have granted us mates in the first ce. For once in your life use your


    common sense.’


    ‘Wow… a little harsh there, Maeve. I’m not throwing a pity party at all, I just..’ Ann replied, a little taken


    aback by the passion in her words.


    ‘Ann, whatever you’re going to say I want you to know that I’m not listening and I intend to ignore it


    anyway. Just shut the f**k up, ept it, and enjoy this day as a celebration of a new beginning for us


    all… and while we’re at it… I still want that portrait of me in our crown.’


    ‘Are you serious? I thought you were joking when you said that…’ Ann snorted in a mixture of disbelief


    and amusement


    ‘Deadly. Serious.’ Maeve growled. ‘I don’t understand why you’reughing.’


    ‘I’m not sure the Elders will agree… it’s not exactly protocol…’ Maeve snorted and bared her teeth.


    ‘f**k the protocol and f**k the Elders too. There’s nothing wrong with me wanting to feel pretty


    sometimes too… and the crown is shiny… and I want to wear it…’ she pouted sullenly as Ann debated


    how best to respond. Luckily for Ann, she was drawn out of the bizarre conversation by a voice from


    behind her. “Your highness, the people have seen you now, so I think it would be wise for you to


    withdraw and return inside.”


    As she turned, her eyes met the gaze of the elder that had conducted her coronation ceremony and he


    smiled warmly at her from the doorway.


    “The celebratory feast will be underway shortly and your presence is required before it can begin.” He


    advised with a small bow.


    Ann nodded and nced backward, her concerned stare focused in the direction of the thousands of


    people below.


    Seeing her hesitance the Elder chuckled good-naturedly, his severe features crinkling into an


    expression that was not unlike one that you would expect to see on a kindly grandfather.


    “The people will not miss out, your Highness. They will be escorted to the za, where food and drink


    has been provided for them. I promise you, their feasting and additional celebrations willst far longer


    than ours…” He smiled as a wicked glint crept into his eyes, “It will probably be much more fun as well.”


    Ann grinned before she could stop herself and froze momentarily, not sure if it was particrly


    ‘Queenly’ behavior but the Elder returned her smile warmly.


    “There is no need to be stone-faced all the time, your highness. Despite our fearsome reputation, we


    elders are no different than any other individual that resides within our kingdom. Apart from our current


    privileged positions of course… and the ever-increasing years that only add to our already ancient


    status… but we won’t talk about that.” He chuckled, as he gestured for them to enter again.


    With a final wave to the crowds below, and feeling incredibly guilty as the sounds of disappointment


    drifted up toward them, they turned and left the balcony leaving the cool air behind them.


    Mimi had been correct in her prediction of the chill that would await Ann on the balcony and she had


    found herself incredibly grateful for the thick cloak that chased the chill away. She pulled it tighter


    around her as she made her way inside to the equally chilly stone halls of the Enve.


    “Now, if you will allow me the honor of escorting you both to the banquet hall, I would be delighted to


    show you the hospitality reserved for the Alpha Queen and Consort.” The old man smiled as he


    gestured for them to follow. Ann and Adam exchanged a brief smile with each other before they


    followed his lead out of the grand hall and through the twisting stone corridors.


    “You know, you remind me a lot of your mother, my Queen.” The Eldermented as he turned to look


    at Ann with an almost sad smile.


    Thement startled Ann, as she hadn’t been expecting the topic of her mother to be brought up so


    quickly, but she didn’t let it show.


    “Really? Did you know her well?” Ann enquired politely as the sound of their footsteps echoed around


    them. The Elder chuckled softly and nodded.


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    “Yes, since she was a child actually.” he replied with a sad sigh, “Not a single one of us supported


    Narcissa’s intrusion into the Royal household, but there was nothing that we could do. We attempted to


    safeguard both you and your mother, but we clearly underestimated the lengths that Narcissa was


    willing to go to. We feel that part of the me for her death, and your misery,nds squarely at our


    feet.”


    “That’s nonsense.” Ann answered quickly with a frown, “The only people that are to me our my


    father and that… that…”


    “You are too kind, my Queen. However, we intend to atone for ourck of foresight as we can.” The


    Elder interrupted with a tone that brokered no argument as they pulled to a stop in front of yet another


    set of heavy ornate doors.


    The sounds ofughter and gentle music could be heard from within and Ann knew instantly that within


    the room beyond those doors,y her first official banquet as Alpha Queen.


    The Elder smiled warmly at her as the doors slowly opened, the sounds of merriment increasing in


    volume as they did so.


    “Are you ready, my Queen?”


    “As much as I’ll ever be,” Ann replied confidently as she took hold of Adam’s hand and they made their


    way inside.