Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 37 The Unwilling Alpha
Her face took on a grim look of determination as she realized that there was no fixing it tonight. The pictures of the pregnant wolf and the unwilling Alpha would be plastered across tomorrow’s headlines whether she liked it or not.
The Alpha King gestured for Ann to come forward as Ada took her seat next to Brad and Lexi whistled lowly under her breath.
“What a f*uc*king car crash… good luck!”
Ann said nothing and walked slowly towards the dais feeling all attention riveted on her as her father spoke to the a*s*sembled guests.
“Please, excuse my daughter, Princess Ada. This is a stressful time for her. We had hoped to keep the news a secret for a little while longer but as I’m sure you’re aware, Ada and Brad are expecting pups.” He beamed proudly as the crowd gasped and questions began to be fired in quick succession at the family on stage.
“Wait… but I thought that Alpha Brad was mated to Princess Ann?!”
“That’s right! They were supposed to have been married this week! What is this lunacy?!”
“Did they have an affair?!”
“Poor Ann, and f0rced to attend this debacle as well. What sort of family does that to their own daughter?”
Ann smirked as she took her place next to her father, and maintained a neutral expression. It felt oddly satisfying to have people recognize the situation for what it was.
A quick glance to the side revealed Ada and Narcissa glowering furiously at her and Brad’s eyes still riveted on her, full of sorrow.
Her father, however, faced the direction of the crowd resolutely.
“That’s enough gossip.” He growled furiously. “For some reason, Ann and Brad’s wolves recognized themselves as mates, but they were mistaken. Ada is Brad’s mate, so as you can see, all is as it should be. When the truth was revealed, things were corrected instantly.”
A split of opinion buzzed around the room and Ann seethed internally. How could her father lie so easily about this??
“Then why is she pregnant already? The marriage was only called off at the last minute, I don’t believe it.”
“I wonder if they knew but carried on regardless? I heard the sister’s relationship isn’t good.”
Ann snorted to herself as the last comment reached her ears.
How ironic that what her sister did to Ann, Ann was now under suspicion of doing to her sister.
She could feel Ada’s smirk as she reached for Brad’s hand and squeezed it rea*s*suringly.
“Really, what my father said is right. Mistakes happen. Perhaps because we were always so close, the mixture of our scent on one another confused him.” Ada simpered sweetly, although the warmth of her words didn’t match her eyes.
“I don’t hold any grudges. I just hope that my sister is happy wherever she ends up.”
Ann didn’t flinch and stood resolutely at her father’s side.
“Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let’s proceed with the rest of the event, shall we?” The Alpha King announced, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Ann moved to the side of the dais as the greeting of guests by the ‘happy’ couple commenced. Brad was distant and unfocused throughout, offering only grunts of acknowledgment or murmured words that were barely distinguishable.
The longer it went on, the more irate Ada became and Ann could feel the palpable aura of fury that emanated from Ada in waves.
Lexi appeared to be having the time of her life though and when it came to the interviews with the couple, she made sure to ask lots of awkward questions that were phrased in such a way that Ada couldn’t help but incriminate herself no matter how she answered.
As people began to move through to the banqueting hall as the food was served, Brad finally f0rced himself to move and tried to approach Ann.
She blatantly ignored him as Ada pulled on him furiously and as he snatched his arm away she didn’t miss the words that he hissed at her, nor did a few of the socialites that remained close by.
“You are not my mate and never will be. You’ll never replace Ann. All of this is because of you!” He hissed angrily.
Ada looked momentarily taken aback and her cheeks flushed furiously.
“How can you say that?! I’m carrying your pups… our child…”
Brad sneered as he swept his eyes over her.
“Are they mine though? I don’t know what you did to me in order to get me into bed with you, I don’t remember any of it, but when I find out…” He threatened darkly, leaving the sentence hanging in the air.
Brad staggered off into the back room, using the wall for support as he walked and Ada glared furiously at Ann, narrowing her eyes.
She stomped over to Ann with her hands held protectively over her belly and glared defiantly up at her. “Are you happy now?” She hissed
“For what? You’re the one who wanted me here… I would have rather stayed away.”
“I wanted you to see it with your own eyes, and I haven’t finished yet Ann. I meant what I said when I promised to take everything from you.” She spat before stomping away again.
Ann watched her warily. She was fully prepared for the fact that her invite here today would most likely be in order to embarr@ssher publicly. Now, with that plan seemingly going so badly, she would most likely have something more up her sleeve.
She wished Maeve was more responsive. Perhaps she had shut herself away to avoid dealing with the drama but that wasn’t at all like the Maeve that she knew. If anything, she had expected her to come out kicking and screaming.
The silence was unsettling.