Alpha Nocturne"s Contracted Mate

Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell

Chapter 204 Welcome Back

Bartholomew waited patiently at the front steps for the car to arrive that contained the

latest visitors to the Enclave, with two omega’s waiting patiently behind him with their

heads lowered respectfully and their hands clasped together in front of them.

The cool air wrapped itself around his robes he inhaled deeply and savored the fresh,

chill air that flooded his lungs. As much as he loved the Enclave, he had to admit that

he missed being outside as much as he used to.

His duties at the Enclave kept him busy enough and forays into the outside world

were few and far between. The most that he could manage nowadays tended to be a

walk around the gated gardens or one of the many secret courtyards and private

arboretums that were hidden away in the maze of tunnels and corridors.

Quite frankly Ann’s ascension to the throne had changed a lot of things within the

Enclave and Bartholomew was one of the few that welcomed it with open arms,

having always had a propensity for adventure and drastic change. The same could

not be said for some of his colleagues, but what choice did they have otherwise?

There were no viable replacements for Ann if the Elders decided to try and forcibly

usurp her from her rightful place on the throne, but that didn’t mean that they were idle

in the background.

Bartholomew had already gotten wind of whispers of rebellion amongst people that he

had expected to be unhappy about a female holding such a high position of

unsettlingly, even from some that he

mission.

he could do was ensure

their dissent, whilst secretly supporting Ann and her consort

that could keep her safe and

his wife had

indeed, and her handling of Cornelius in the

as well as Linus’s indiscretions, had sent a strong message to those

thought she would be a weak ruler

as he remembered the timid child that had hidden behind Leopold

visit to the Enclave, and clung to her

surrounded by unfamiliar

seemed to glaze over with sadness as he

she had blossomed into would have made

fail Ann, as they had all

under the tires of

into pulling himself together and with a few deep breaths,

within him, where he was sure it

he was alone.

door opened and Allen emerged he nodded

between Lexi and

her and helped her out of

two produced the faintest of

that Lexi had

Although it remained to be seen what

with interest as

developed.

Lexi was the only friend of Ann’s that he knew of, and he

that she would be instrumental in the forming of

her input

third figure emerged from the back of the car,

mouth, and his breath caught in his chest as he locked

that now stood

appear to have aged a