Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 77 I Just Want Answers
Ann froze as the enormity of her father’s words hit her. “You’re seriously going to disinherit me and remove my livelihood?” Ann whispered in horror.
Leopold smiled a cruel smile as he glared directly at Adam.
“Let’s see how long Alpha Nocturne sticks around now that you’re no use to him anymore.” he chuckled.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Adam growled as he glared back at the Alpha King.
This had descended into madness far quicker than he had dared to imagine. It was true that he and the King had never truly seen eye to eye, but as a child, he had looked up to the strong and seemingly capable Alpha King, and for a time at least, had held him in high regard. But Ann was right, something had changed drastically in the King. Now, he was nothing more than a middle-aged man, past his best and seemingly teetering on the brink of madness.
Leopold laughed at Adam’s statement and grinned wickedly.
“Am I? I don’t think so. She has chosen her bed and now? Well, now she can lie in it. She’s no daughter of mine. She should have rejected you as she did Brad. Who in their right mind would take an unhinged Alpha rumored to have k*il*led his parents?” Leopold sneered viciously.
Adam tensed considerably as Ann gasped loudly and before she could stop her, Maeve surged forward and pushed Ann to the back of her mind.
“I’ll happily lay in the bed of my mate, as the goddess intended.” Maeve sneered as she stalked forwards with no fear in her golden irises as she neared the King.
Leopold visibly paled and took a hasty step back, realizing almost instantly that he was now dealing with Maeve, and had no idea what to expect from her.
“What’s wrong father? Are you not happy to see this side of your daughter? The side that has been suppressed for too long under your own roof?” Maeve chuckled darkly as she came face to face with him, their noses almost touching.
Her eyes narrowed as she inhaled deeply and tried desperately to catch the scent of the wolf that she knew had sired her, but as hard as she tried, there was nothing.
“Where is my father, Leopold? What have you done with him?” Maeve asked, her tone dangerously low as she noticed the slight trembling that seemed to have overcome him.
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about! He’s suppressed inside of me, as he should be..as you should be! The human side of our nature should always maintain control!” He stammered back, not sounding convinced of his own words.
He turned his head suddenly to the guards behind him who shifted uncertainly on the spot.
“Leave us! All of you! And shut the door!”
“But, your highness.. do you..”
“DON’T QUESTION MY AUTHORITY! GET THE f*uc*k OUT AND SHUT THE DAMN DOOR BEHIND YOU!” Leopold roared as instantly, they scattered.
Maeve chuckled as the door closed behind them and threw her head back to stare at the ceiling as she paced around him slowly.
“What’s the matter, ‘your highness’?” she mocked with a smile, “Do your guards not know your little secret? Have you locked my sire away inside of you? Or has Narcissa bewitched you so completely that you don’t even feel the loss anymore?”
‘Maeve, please! He can’t know that we know too much! It will ruin everything!’ Ann screamed furiously inside her head.
‘I just want answers, Ann, I want to know if my sire abandoned me willingly, or if he was f0rced.’ Maeve answered softly.
‘I know, but please, Maeve, just don’t let him know that we suspect them of dark magic…they can’t know..’ Ann all but whispered.
“Maeve? Is Ann alright?” Adam asked hesitantly as Maeve flicked her eyes toward him and nodded curtly. “I have questions that I want answered, my mate.” Maeve purred darkly as she flashed him a grin.
The seductive tone of her voice stirred the wolf that ordinarily lay dormant inside of him and his sudden interest flooded Adam with desire. He clenched his jaw in resignation as Maeve turned her back to him and focused her attention back on Leopold.
“Now, where were we? Ah, yes. My Sire. Where is he?” Maeve continued as she circled the Alpha King slowly.
Leopold was a mess. He swallowed nervously as his eyes darted around furtively, but he refused to answer. “It’s okay little king. You can answer… I won’t tell a soul.”
Maeve purred dangerously.
The sound of her voice sent a shiver down Leopold’s spine.
How had he not known that his daughter’s wolf was an Alpha female? They were incredibly rare and almost unheard of, even in royal bloodlines, but there was no mistaking Maeve’s power.
“I won’t let you talk to him.” Leopold ground out, his tone almost petulant.
Maeve sniggered.
“I didn’t ask you to. I merely wanted to know where he was..but if I make an educated guess, I can surmise that you have no idea about his current feelings, do you? Is he lost to you, father? Does he refuse to speak to you because of your actions?” She crooned.
Leopold was sweating profusely and had begun shaking visibly as Maeve once more stopped only centimeters away from his face.
She dragged her eyes disdainfully over his pathetic figure and smirked as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
“If my sire has deserted you, then you’re no Alpha King anymore, father. You’re simply an empty shell.” She whispered as she straightened up and sighed heavily.
“Before I give Ann control back, understand this. My mate did not k*il*l his parents, despite what you may have heard, and as much as I despise Ann’s soft-hearted nature, I will tell you this also. If you ever decide that you need our help, then call her. But until the day that you take responsibility for your actions, I will never willingly step foot back inside that gilded cage that you call home. Both I, and Ann, are more than happy with our mate and the direction that our future is heading.”
Maeve flashed him a sardonic smile as she turned and made her way back to where Adam stood silently.
She paused as she looked back at the King with a trace of pity in her eyes.
“It saddens me to see what you have become.” She said finally before letting go of the control that she had taken and handing it back to Ann.