Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 118 Regrets Don’t Make a Betrayal Any Better
Ann’s arms rippled p@infully with the vibrations as Brad sawed patiently at the bolts in the plate above her head.
Sawing through the manacles was out of the question, as they were too tight and Brad was certain that they were made of the same material as the chains. They would need the key itself to unlock those, and if it couldn’t be found, then they would have to track down the locksmith that made these.
It was an arduous process but by the time he had finished, the plate slipped over the expandable bolts and the chains hung free.
Her legs felt a little strange from being kept in that position for such a long time and as soon as the pressure was released from her arms and her weight was distributed properly, her legs gave way.
“Goddess! Ann, I’m so sorry! I should have thought! Are you okay?” Brad fussed as he rushed over to her and carefully helped her to stand.
“I’m fine, really Brad,” Ann said quietly as she tried to push away from him, it didn’t feel right for him to be touching her, not after he had touched Ada with those same hands.
A flicker of hurt crossed his face as he understood her thought process and he steadied her before stepping back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think…” He stammered, clearly unsure how to behave around her now.
“It’s fine, let’s just get out of here okay? Ann murmured wearily as she turned to make her way out of the cell, but her legs wobbled again and she leaned against the door for support.
“Here let me help you…” Brad offered quietly as she swore at herself.
“No really… I’m… oh my goodness…” Ann stammered as her legs were lifted from underneath her.
Brad held her close to his chest as he strode purposely forwards. The look in his eyes and the steady beating of his heart was, for the first time in a long time, a familiar sound that rea*s*sured her.
She could feel his wolf rumble in contentment at their proximity and Ann couldn’t help but quirk a smile.
‘He misses us terribly, doesn’t he…’ Ann murmured quietly to Maeve.
‘Well, he should have controlled his human better…’ Maeve scoffed.
‘Maeve, the magic though… if he was indeed under some sort of spell…’
‘It’s irrelevant now, Ann. What’s done is done. Regrets don’t make a betrayal any better. He’s lucky that I allow him any contact with us at all.’ Maeve grumbled.
Brad paused as he glanced into a door to his right, the motionless form of Narcissa was dr*a*p*ed across the table and even from this distance it was easy to see that Brad had done some serious dame to her. She was still breathing… barely.
Suddenly a rush of footsteps could be heard from the stairwell in front of them, and Brad and Ann exchanged a worried look.
Neither of them was in any fit state to be involved in any further clashes, but it didn’t look like there would be any other option if this intrusion turned out to be allies of Narcissa. To be honest, Ann wasn’t even sure that Adam was on her side anymore, so she couldn’t count on his appearance being a positive thing, especially after what she had just seen.
“Are you sure it’s down here? It’s been too long… what if she’s hurt…” “Relax, furball, she might have a few superficial injuries when we get there but Maeve can handle it, even if Ann can’t. Papa is on his way as well to help with the cleanup.”
Ann felt Brad stiffen as Adam’s voice drifted down the stairwell and Ann found her lips curling up involuntarily into a sneer, perfectly mimicking the way that Maeve’s lips were drawn back in a snarl.
The footsteps approached rapidly and as Adam and Lexi rounded the last corner in the stairwell and emerged into the corridor, they came face to face with Brad and Ann.
Lexi blinked in shock at the sight of Ann cradled against Brad’s chest as Adam’s face darkened, his thunderous aura so thick that Ann could almost taste it.
“Long time no see, f*uc*k boy… it looks like you got it pretty rough, huh? Did Karma finally catch up with you?” Lexi quipped quickly as she stepped forward.
Brad scowled but said nothing, he was currently far too busy being engaged in a furious staring contest with Adam.
Ann patted Brad’s chest gently, resulting in a low warning growl from Adam as she did so.
“It’s okay, Brad, you can put me down, thank you,” Ann said as calmly as she could manage.
Maeve was furious at Adam’s double standards and Ann was trying her best to reign the temper of her wolf in. The fallout from his choices with Ada could wait, all Ann wanted to do was get the issue of Narcissa and Ada wrapped up.
Adam reached out for her to try and pull her closer but she deftly sidestepped and shot him a furious glare. The hurt on his face was obvious, but at that moment neither Ann nor Maeve cared.
“Ann? What’s going on? I came as fast as I could…” Adam murmured, confused at her rejection.
Ann snorted.
“I bet you did you f*uc*king animal… are you not ashamed of yourself?” She hissed, Maeve’s eyes flashing alongside her own.
Adam froze, his eyebrows furrowing deeply as tried to figure out what she was talking about.
“Ann, I don’t know what you mean..what are you talking about?!” He pleaded desperately as he reached for her hand again and Ann swatted it away angrily.
“Don’t you dare touch me with the same hands that have been on her? I thought you were better than that, adam, how could you betray me like that?!” Ann’s voice cracked as she berated him.
No matter how much Ann wanted to leave this until later, Maeve wouldn’t let her, and the look of confusion on Adam’s face just infuriated her more.
“What? I didn’t…”