Alpha Nocurne's Contracted Mate

Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell

Chapter 222 You are Wrong

The murmurs in the council chamber had faded to an almost deafening silence as Ann and Lexi made their way to their allotted seats at the front of the room.

Although the Elders wouldn’t have noticed, as Ann took her seat, she picked up the minute details in Lexi’s body language that showed just how uncomfortable she was in this position, but she hid it well.

To the casual observer, she would still appear as the fiery and opinionated half-Daemon that people had heard so many whispers about lately.

“Thank you all for coming.” Ann’s voice cut across the chamber, echoing loudly above their heads. “It’s not as if we had much choice, your grace. If you could give us a little more notice…”

“Oh, it’s notice you want?” Ann smiled serenely although her eyes flashed with a dangerous light as Maeve simmered below the surface, “Perhaps if you had cleared the Rogues at the first instance then meetings wouldn’t have to be called so abruptly.”

The rustle of cloaks could be heard and awkward muttered apologies as they cleared their throats and waited for

Ann to continue.

“It brings me no delight in pulling you all up on your shortcomings whilst you managed the kingdom under my father’s rule, but it cannot be glossed over that the issues we face now are largely due to your incompetence. My father, as terrible as his reign was, was one man, there are close to a hundred of you Elders and you cannot tell me that not one of you could act to intervene.” Ann continued levelly as she cast her eyes over those gathered before her.

“As a result, we are currently facing attacks on two fronts..”

your Grace, and we have been working diligently to find

voice cold, “Because the attacks are

has not been an attack since before Felix arrived. Well, not one where we suffered significant casualties. There is plenty of time to..” the elder sneered disdainfully, his dislike for Lexi clear in

that arrived, wrapped neatly, and presented to a current diplomatic guest…that’s all a lie? Perhaps the blood-soaked cloth it was wrapped in was all a dream as she unwrapped it over breakfast. Better yet… perhaps the inhabitants of Elwood are not in danger at all and are merely playing a game of hide and seek.” Ann sneered as she cut off the Elder that had raised his

his peers for support but found none

escaped your notice then perhaps the second attack within our own borders has also failed to register on your radar of interest?” The elder sat down and lowered his head under the intensity of her cool gaze and low murmurs began to ripple

female

responded, your grace?” A male voice rose from somewhere towards the

seats seemed to be amenable to working with her. It was those that had never truly been sat at the helm of the kingdom

that she would have to eventually reshuffle the way that Elders were allocated their positions, seniority should not only be decided by the amount of time you have held the

time to weed out. There was no quick fix available

the village was in trouble, fully anticipating an attack on their location

thrown by this news, and the noise in the chamber rose higher until Lexi grew tired of the incessant ringing of their voices

noise dissipated almost instantly and with a satisfied smile, Lexi sat back, her eyes falling

already been sent to the containment facility and we have two teams being assembled as we speak to attend both sites. One will provide what backup they can and to the team already dispatched and the other will head in the opposite direction to the border and clear out the town, rescuing what survivors there may be.” Ann continued,

are pulling resources from Dark Moon and a few other allied packs in order to make the numbers up

elders, and as one, people visibly stiffened, terrified that they would be

concerning the governance of a