Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 203 She Deserves Better
“Shall we go then?” Allen asked as he blocked out the images of Lexi’s belly swollen with their pups as she waddled around the kitchen stuffing her face with cakes that Orvar insisted on sharing with him.
He tried his best to school his face into an expression that resembled something like eagerness in the hopes that they would just a*s*sume that he was eager to get on with the schedule for today.
The same delirious look of happiness that was plastered all over the omega’s faces, shone from Allen’s own expression, and Lexi couldn’t help but laugh, completely oblivious as to the real reason for his almost inane grin.
“This pack mentality is really something.” She said shaking her head as Allen frowned at her in confusion.
“What do you mean?” He asked carefully, hesitant to ruin the connection that he had thought they made last night with any clumsily spoken words today.
“Nothing. Forget it.” Lexi sighed waving her hand dismissively at him, “I hope I’m not gonna be expected to pick up all of Miss Horny’s workload anyway. I have enough s**t to deal with, without hers added on top. Do you have any idea how difficult it’s been to put together a comprehensive program revolving around Daemons that I can actually lecture on in a way that people will understand?”
Allen’s eyes slid across to where her father sat quietly and their gaze met for the briefest of seconds, but it was enough time for Lord Brarthroroz to read the unspoken cry for help and shrug unhelpfully in response.
‘You’re so damn incompetent. You should already know what’s wrong with her instinctively. We were made for each other, how can you not be competent enough to anticipate her needs?’ Orvar snapped sulkily as Allen stood and followed Lexi silently, with Lord Brarthroroz sauntering casually behind them.
‘I’d like to see you do f***g better.’ Allen hissed back in irritation, ‘I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t with you when it comes to Lexi aren’t I?’
‘How am I supposed to trust your judgment with her when you very nearly f**”d everything up for us?’ Orvar replied just as testily, the hackles on the back of his neck standing on end as his irritation grew.
‘Maybe the fact that I successfully managed to connect with her last night? That should have at least restored some of your faith in my competency.’ Allen snapped.
Orvar scoffed derisively as he rolled his eyes.
‘Oh yeah, you’ll stick your d**k in her but not mark her… very cla*s*sy. It solved everything didn’t it?’ He sneered,’ She deserves better than that, and you f*****g know it.’
‘I never said I was cla*s*sy.’ Allen smirked,’ And you’re wrong about it not solving anything, I think it was pretty damn effective in bringing us closer.’ He finished, clearly pleased with himself.
‘I disagree. You didn’t mark her, therefore she is not officially ours and that jumped-up little prick is free to claim her as his anytime he feels like it. You need to fix this and soon.’ Orvar snarled.
‘Or… you need to get used to the idea of Lexi perhaps having more than one mate.’ Allen bit back as Orvar instantly exploded in a ball of fury in his mind.
Allen smirked to himself as he shut Orvar’s ranting out and slid into the back seat next to Lexi.
“What are you looking so smug about?” Lexi asked curiously as she peered at him suspiciously, raking her eyes over him as if she half expected some sort of cutting remark in response.
Allen felt bad that she obviously felt on edge around him still, despite last night’s passion, but he was fully prepared to take as much time as it took to get Lexi to realize that even if they shared a bit of banter and picked at each other in a teasing manner, he would always want her.
Never again would he deny what the Moon Goddess herself had chosen for him, no matter what the cost might be. He smiled at her, and reached for her hand, ignoring the way she flinched from him as he did so and gave her fingers a little squeeze. “Nothing to be overly smug about really, just a discussion with my wolf. We disagree about a few things, but this time, I know I’m right, whether he likes it or not.”
“Charming,” Lexi drawled with a sickly sweet smile, “Not even the slightest bit smug that you somehow managed to bag a fine specimen like myself as a mate, despite the fact that you really don’t f***g deserve me or my winning personality.” Allen snorted loudly.
“Keep telling yourself that, dear” He quipped quickly with a final squeeze as he released her hand and settled back into the seat as Lord Brarthroroz got into his seat and buckled in opposite them.
Allen pulled the electronic diary out of his pocket and ignored the heated scowl that Lexi directed toward him as he swiped through the pages. “Okay, I need to take you down to the facilities on one of the lower levels when we arrive Lord Brarthroroz. One of the Elders of the Enclave will meet us there and escort us down.” Allen announced, his forehead wrinkled with concentration as he read the itinerary aloud, pausing briefly as he glanced up at Lord Brarthroroz.
“I believe it’s Elder Bartholomew that will be meeting us at the entrance. He…” Allen continued before Lexi practically squealed in delight. “Oh you’ll love Barty, Papa. He’s… like… a little musty old man with an office full of dusty books and his head full of stories that he’s only too happy to share.” She gushed as she screwed her face up in delight.
Allen cleared his throat and glanced across at her with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Well, ‘Barty’ will be accompanying your father for most of his time there I believe” Allen said in an amused tone before turning to Lord Brarthroroz, “Evidently he’s very forward thinking and seems to have taken Ann under his wing, so to speak, while both she and Adam settle into their roles. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’ll be acting in their stead whilst they are… erm… otherwise engaged.”
Lord Brarthroroz chuckled.
“There’s no need for a detailed itinerary Allen. I have all the time in the world.” He said before pausing briefly and glancing out of the car window with a faraway look in his eyes. “You know, it seems like centuries have passed since I last visited the Enclave. Knowing the Elders though, I doubt things have changed too much.”
“Oh! Do you think you might have met Barty before then?” Lexi asked excitedly before her animated face seemed to crumble in disappointment as her father shook his head.
“It’s doubtful. I don’t know how old this particular man is, but I highly doubt that he was in attendance when I was last there.” He answered matter of factly, before turning back to Allen, “Your efforts are appreciated nonetheless, Allen. I hope that the cooperation between us continues in the same manner… and with far less thinly veiled hostility than before.”
The color seemed to drain from Allen’s face rapidly as Lord Brarthroroz flashed him an easy grin.
“Just remember, Allen, Lexi is my daughter, and your attitudes towards her, both past and present, have been noted. If it weren’t for your obvious bond and the importance of your Alpha’s position, then I would more than likely have acted by now.” He continued easily as Lexi glared at him furiously. “I’ll take this opportunity to remind you, Beta of the Dark Moon Pack, that whether I am present or not, there is always someone who will fall over themselves to keep me updated on the goings on in this realm, especially when it concerns my daughter, just to further their own interests.”
Allen nodded carefully. It wasn’t an explicit threat but he understood it clearly enough. Lord Brarthroroz was aware of how he had treated Lexi previously and by letting him know that he would always find out, that was enough warning in itself as far as Allen was concerned.
As much as he had fought against the bond in the beginning, he didn’t really want to make an enemy of one of the most powerful Daemon Lords in existence.
One thing troubled him though, if people were eager to tell Lord Brarthroroz of Allen’s actions here, then just who exactly was it that Allen should be wary of?
If they were capable of revealing details about his actions to Lexi’s father, then it begged the question of what else they might reveal and just who else they might be willing to sell him out to.