Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 196 Two Supposed Mates
Lexi didn’t even know why she was crying or how long she had been crying for. All she did know was that she was furious with herself for letting a prick like Allen get under her skin so easily.
There was no way that he was her mate, was there? Her father had said that the bonding between daemons and their mates was eternal. You only got one in your lifetime and quite honestly, the thought of being bonded to Allen for the rest of her life… the mere thought of it was driving her slowly insane.
She was so confused about her feelings for him. How was it possible to want to f“k someone to an inch of their life…but also want to murder them with everything you had in you? Wasn’t that the sort of toxic relationship that she had spent her life trying to avoid?
Then why did she feel so empty without him near?
She groaned loudly and turned onto her back on the luxurious bed, casting her eyes around the room for the first time she had arrived there.
It wasn’t bad at all. The furnishings were a little old-fashioned, homey, and antique, and she liked that. The smell of solid wood, when it had been freshly polished, had always given her a sense of peace. Perhaps it was a residual memory from her childhood.
Papa had always told her that her mother insisted on having wooden furniture…the old heirlooms passed down through generations from her maternal side. Yes. That’s what it was.
That was why this room felt like home…this pack.. felt like home.. it was nothing to do with the fact that Allen was here.
Lexi snorted as she stood and went through to the bathroom, and when she caught sight of her tear-streaked face in the full-length mirror and her bedraggled hair she swore internally.
No. She wouldn’t let anyone see her in this state. If you looked weak, then people treated you differently and she didn’t want that. Especially not in the heart of a pack of wolves. They respected strength, and she was more than strong. She was f**“‘g indestructible.
With her characteristic smirk, she strode to her case and grabbed a change of clothes before heading back to the bathroom to freshen up. They would only see the best that she had to offer here. No more playing games and chasing and tormenting Allen.
No.
If he wanted her, then he could damn well work for it. She was done chasing. It was his turn now. No sooner had she pulled the dress down over herself, was she disturbed by a knock at the door. She smoothed her hair down and checked her reflection in the mirror before heading over to the door and opening it just a c***k and peering out through it warily.
When she saw that it was Allen standing there, and the forlorn expression on his face that he tried to hide quickly, her stomach flipped in anticipation.
“Hey…” Allen greeted awkwardly as he rubbed his neck.
“Yes? What do you want?” Lexi answered cooly, as her stomach erupted in butterflies. “Look, I don’t want things to be difficult between us,” Allen said, looking at her uncertainly. “Us?” Lexi snorted, “What do you mean?”
Allen’s face was blank, but his eyes were full of a pain that she didn’t recognize. “Lexi, everything that happened at the Enclave, I don’t regret. Not for a second.”
“Really? Because you spent a good amount of time trying to convince me that I was the furthest thing from
desirable that you thought anything could get.” Lexi hissed.
“I know. I… I was an i***t. I’m sorry. I… I was scared…” Allen answered mournfully as his eyes focused on the floor.
“You were scared?” Lexi said in disbelief, “Scared of what, exactly? Being judged by someone in an unfamiliar place? Being forced to fight against years of prejudice because not only are you a hybrid, but a hybrid born of two of the most reviled species in history? Oh. Wait. That was me…” She continued with a sneer of distaste on her face. Allen sighed heavily and raised his eyes to meet her glare head-on.
“You’re right Lexi. I was an a*s*s. An insufferable prick.” He snorted as Lexi blinked in shock at his easy admission, “I don’t know half of what you face on a daily basis, and I only compounded it when you came here. I should have been supportive and accepted you as my mate without hesitation.”
“Wait just a second. I haven’t offered myself as your mate yet, Allen. Don’t you think you’re being a little presumptuous?” Lexi said, a hint of fear creeping into her voice too.
Allen knew then that Lexi was just as scared as he was in the beginning. Forever was a longtime, but he couldn’t get her out of his head, and they would make it work. He was sure of it. He just had to get her to accept it.
“You know it doesn’t work like that with wolves. Lexi… I know you feel that pull too. It isn’t as obvious as a wolf’s mating pull, but… it should still be there in some sense.” Allen tried to explain, “Haven’t you wondered why you chased me around all the time?”
“Because I enjoyed getting a reaction out of the self-righteous prick that paraded around the place thinking he knew everything. I got a lot of pleasure seeing you rattled by my harmless poking.”
“So you don’t feel any sort of pull towards me?” Allen frowned.
“I hate to bust the little bubble you have going on there, but the pull I feel towards you, I also felt towards Greyson.” She said a little more harshly than she had intended and then sighed regretfully, softening her tone a little at the look of confusion on his face.
“Look, I have no idea what that means Allen, okay? I didn’t want to be tied down and now suddenly I have not one, but two supposed mates. How the f**k does that even work?! Actually… never mind… I’m sure it’s a whole heap of fun in the bedroom but I’m not supposed to have two mates. It makes no sense.”