Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate Chapter 216


    Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell


    Chapter 216 Apologize


    Although the walk to the cells was made in rtive silence, Ann’s mind was in overdrive. Whenever


    she thought she was making some headway toward solving issues, something else invariably cropped


    up and added to her ever-mounting list of things that needed sorting out.


    She was rapidly starting to gain at least a little understanding of why her father just handed everything


    over to the Elders. The constant issues were like a suffocating weight on top of her, that just seemed to


    fight harder to drown her with every passing day.


    But she wasn’t her father. She wasn’t going to give in that easily.


    As they reached the entrance to the cells, the door swung open in front of her, startling her for the


    second time today and she frowned as the figure of Cornelius froze in front of her with a look of


    abstract guilt stered all over his face. The low growl that emanated from Adam’s chest forced him


    into recovery rather quickly, and he hastily bowed in front of her, keeping his head lowered


    “My Queen.” Cornelius greeted with a shaky breath.


    “Cornelius… what an unexpected surprise.” Ann purred with a sardonic smile gracing her lips.


    Lexi frowned slightly as she picked up on her best friend’s distaste for the man in front of them, and her


    demeanor visibly tensed as she readied herself for any confrontation that might be forting.


    Not that Ann would react that way, but there was something about this man that made her skin crawl


    and she was not going to give him any opportunity to hurt her friend with his actions, or his words.


    Cornelius didn’t respond though, simply bobbing his head in reply, but Ann hadn’t failed to notice the


    thin beads of sweat that were starting to form along his temples.


    “You should answer your Queen when she speaks,” Lexi said coldly.


    Cornelius stiffened and lifted his eyes, the hatred in them as he stared levelly at Lexi, was almost


    breathtaking and it only consolidated what Ann already had a suspicion of. Cornelius was indeed going


    to be a thorn in her side for the foreseeable future.


    “I wasn’t aware that Her Highness had asked me a question…half-breed.” He all but sneered at Lexi


    before turning to Ann and smiling apologetically. “My apologies, I had not heard you…”


    “I did not ask you a question yet, Elder, although it was implied, but I can’t really me you for not


    wanting to reveal your reasons for being down here, now, can I?” Ann sighed theatrically before


    shing a sinister grin, “However, I will find out, you can mark my words on that, Elder”


    The color from his flushed cheeks rapidly drained and he eyed Ann warily as she slowly stepped


    toward him with a sly look in her eyes.


    “I can also make you apologize to Lexi, Elder Cornelius.”


    “Apologize?? For what?! There is no requirement for an Elder to apologize to someone of lesser


    status.” Cornelius snorted and struggled to maintain hisposure in the face of Ann and her friend’s


    weighted stares.


    Ann chuckled suddenly It was a chilling sound that seemed to delight in mocking him, although he


    wasn’t quite sure what he was being mocked for yet and the confusion on his face only made Ann’s


    grin widen.


    Was this what it felt like to be holding all the cards and serving justice on those who deserved it? Both


    she and Maeve could quickly get used to it… the feeling was intoxicating.


    “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong Elder Cornelius.” Ann simpered, “Perhaps you haven’t been paying


    attention to the goings on in the pack structures and hierarchy that suddenly entered the fold when I


    ascended to the throne. You really should have made sure that you were kept up to date with the


    developments in our personal lives, that I’m almost positive your little spies report back to you with.”


    “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about..” He stammered before being swiftly interrupted by Ann’s


    mockingughter.


    “Oh, but I think you do Cornelius. Our former Beta is actually mated to my best friend, and as Adam’s


    status ascended to the Alpha Queen’s Consort on my coronation… then our former Beta’s mate


    bes…”


    Ann paused waiting for him to connect the dots, and as his face fell, Lexi sniggered. “That’s right you


    crusty little prick No more living in the dark ages for you I’m afraid, you got yourself a “half breed”


    second inmand, who will act in your revered Queen’s ce when she is absent, so I’m afraid it


    actually puts you at a disadvantage when you choose to insult me.” Lexi purred as she examined her


    fingernailszily.


    Cornelius looked as though he were about to explode, and the muscle in his jaw clenched repeatedly


    as he ground his teeth.


    “Apologize,” Ann demanded coolly.


    “I apologize for my words. I will not speak so hastily in the future.” Cornelius practically hissed Lexi


    reached out and patted him gently on the shoulder, the contact between the two of them making him


    flinch as he was forced to endure it.


    “There’s a good little puppy,” Lexi crooned with a smirk, “No hard feelings though, hey? Everyone


    needs to be humbled at one point or another.”


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It took everything that Ann had in her to stifle the smile that Maeve’s outrageousughter was stirring


    inside of her. “I’ll see you at the council meetingter, Cornelius,” Ann said lightly as she swept past


    him into the entrance hall of the cells.


    “Meeting? What meeting? I wasn’t informed of any meeting’” Cornelius blustered indignantly as Ann


    continued walking.


    “Elder Bartholomew has the details I suggest that you contact him to either confirm your attendance or


    excuse yourself.” Ann called over her shoulder as she carried on undeterred into the dimly lit area


    beyond.


    She could feel the hatred in the stare directed at her back, but at this very moment, she didn’t care. It


    wasn’t really how she had wanted to inform the council that Lexi was to be her second inmand, but


    now that Cornelius was aware, she was sure that the news would spread like wildfire.


    It was the first of many changes toe that would break centuries of ancient tradition and there would


    definitely be some fallout from the changes they would make, but as long as she had her chosen family


    by her side, then she was positive that together, they could ovee any obstacle thrown at them.