Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 247 Does He Even Know Yet?
“Sit. Eat.” Allen demanded as Ann glowered at him furiously.
“Shouldn’t that be, ‘Sit and eat, your Highness’?” Lexi sniggered as Ann shot her a glare that told her in no uncertain terms to shut up.
Allen sighed and ran his hands through his hair, clearly a little stressed.
“Look, if I don’t make sure you eat, Adam is going to kill me… not to mention his wolf… and I quite like having my head attached to my shoulders thank you very much,” Allen explained, “Does he even know yet?”
“Well, I’ve hardly had time to tell him yet…” Ann replied weakly as Allen raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
“So, you had time to throw a text to Lexi and not Adam?”
“Listen, there’s not a lot he can do from all the way over there is there? Besides, I don’t want to distract him if he’s in the middle of something. And I would much rather he hear this face to face rather than by text or phone call.” Ann snapped.
Allen narrowed his eyes at her before turning and walking slowly over to the omega behind the bar to place the order for a meal that he felt was adequate to meet her newly increased needs.
“Seriously Lexi?” Ann hissed as soon as Allen was out of earshot.
She shrugged and grinned as she leaned back in her chair.
“I’m sorry, my mouth slipped.” she said completely unbothered at how furious Ann was with her right now, “What? Don’t look at me like that. It got you out of your funk didn’t it?” She continued, her grin widening as Ann continued to scowl at her.
Ann knew she was right, but she didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that. She was saved from trying to think of a suitable reply as Allen took a seat at the table again.
“Food will be here shortly.” He announced gruffly as he flicked through his phone.
“Rude of you to have your phone at the table,” Lexi teased as she leaned forward to peer at his phone, “Wait, who are you messaging?”
“Well, I was going to tell Adam to come back…”
“Absolutely not!” Ann snapped furiously, slamming her hand down on the table, “These babies might be important, but so is neutralizing the threats at our borders.” She hissed as Allen blinked in surprise at her outburst.
Ann took a moment to compose herself as she realized there were several people seated in the bar area now looking over at them with interest.
“I think I can manage to take care of myself for a few days, maybe even weeks without his presence here. The Enclave is perfectly safe and I know damn well that Adam wouldn’t have left me in your capable hands if he didn’t have faith that you could keep me safe in his absence.” She continued a little more calmly.
“I still think he would want to know.” Allen pressed, as Ann moved to the side slightly as the waiter placed the food on the table in front of her.
“The rest will be with you shortly,” The waiter informed them before bowing slightly and disappearing again as they nodded their acknowledgment to him.
“You’re wrong Allen. It can wait. I don’t want you to go against me in this, and if I have to order you to keep quiet about it, then I will.” Ann stated firmly as she reached for the sandwich in front of her and took a bite, washing it down with a sip of the juice that the waiter had placed in front of her.
She grimaced as she swallowed.
“Thank you for the food, Allen, and for looking out for my well-being, but for future reference, I’m not a huge fan of mixed smoothies, they always have a weird aftertaste.”
Allen sighed and nodded reluctantly.
“Noted Ann. I’m just trying to make sure you get everything that you and your babies need. Three pups are a lot to carry.., especially for a first pregnancy. Your body is being thrown in at the deep end from the start.”
“I know, and I appreciate it, but my physician has given me a bunch of supplements to take as well… oh…”
Allen frowned as Ann’s face paled suddenly and she almost seemed to waver in her chair as she brought her hand up to her chest.
“Ann? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” she answered weakly as searing pain seemed to ripple and spread through her body accompanied by the overwhelming desire to close her eyes, “I don’t … feel so great..”
Both Allen and Lexi shot out of their seats to Ann’s side and together they caught her as her body fell from the chair like a dead weight.
“GUARDS!” Allen roared as Lexi’s panic-stricken eyes met his own briefly before turning back to her friend who lay motionless in their arms, “Seal the area, and don’t let anyone leave the Enclave! No exceptions!” Allen roared above the chaos that was developing behind them.
“Ann? ANN! Wake up!” Lexi pleaded as she shook her gently and her voice cracked.
She looked to Allen helplessly, instantly knowing that something had gone devastatingly wrong but unsure how to deal with something that she couldn’t fight or charm her way out of.
The darkness that seemed to have taken over Allen’s face chilled her to the bone, but the ruthless efficiency that he showed as he barked out orders to the guards and instructed samples of everything on their table to be taken and secured, at least provided her some reassurance that things would be taken care of properly.
In seconds Allen was crouched back at her side, his mind clearly working in overdrive as he scooped Ann up in his arms without a word and began racing towards the exit of the bar.
“Allen.” Lexi called out as she hurried after him.
“We need to get her to the infirmary,” He said urgently as he began racing through the corridors with Lexi keeping pace effortlessly at his side, “If you think your father can help, get him to meet us there.”
Lexi nodded as tears filled her eyes and she raced off to find her father.
This couldn’t be happening. Not to Ann, not now.
She prayed with everything that she had in her to all of the gods that she could think of that Ann would make it through whatever was happening and that her babies would be spared the evil that had assaulted her.