Alpha Nocturne's Contracted Mate

Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell

Chapter 244 Portraits

The next morning Ann saw very few people in the corridors as she made her way to the room that Bartholomew had set aside for use for the portrait today.

Maeve had already been insufferable today, waking her early on with her insistent chatter and asking whether or not she should shower and bemoaned the fact that no one was around to rub fragrant oils into her coat.

She didn’t take kindly to Ann’s suggestion that no one really liked the smell of wet dog anyway and had skulked back into the recesses of Ann’s mind with a petulant face.

As she entered the room and saw Bartholomew helping the artist set up the backdrop and props, she wanted to turn around and walk straight back out.

She had no idea how they did it, but they had managed to somehow create Maeve’s vision perfectly, right down to the crimson silk and crown.

Ann winced as Maeve rattled around her head excitedly, practically clawing at her eyes in her excitement to shift.

“Ah! You Highness! What do you think?”

Bartholomew greeted with a broad smile as he spread his arms wide, gesturing to the backdrop that he had helped to create.

“Maeve loves it.” She grimaced, “So much so that I’m going to have to shift shortly or I think she may just claw her way out of my skull.”

Bartholomew chuckled as the artist smiled in satisfaction, clearly pleased that she had managed to capture the desired feel for the portrait on the first attempt.

“If you would like to shift and take a seat on the elevated throne that we prepared for you, I can set the other props in place for you. Is your wolf okay with that?” The artist asked softly.

she will be putty in your hands. Honestly, I’ve never known her so obsessed with anything so … pretentious” Ann

way to the screen and began removing her

as a Queen should be treated, your highness.” she

been removed did Maeve surge forwards and force

stretched her front and back l*egs luxuriously behind the screen

Bartholomew and the artist.’ Ann muttered

with a smirk as she slipped the necklace carefully over her tail, “There’s not a chance that I’m leaving this off…’ she muttered

padded proudly out from behind the screen and across to

as Maeve made her

muscles… how her eyes radiate her primal power… just… I’m so honored that you would choose me for this!” The artist gushed with tears

this.’ Maeve smirked as Ann

means, bask in the glory of her attention for now, but don’t let it go to your head. These… artists and courtiers… they’re vacuous and will say exactly what you want to hear just to get in your good graces even if they don’t believe it. It’s all in their own self-interest.”

it stops being in MY self-interest, I’ll just rip their pretty little faces to shreds so they remember not to take advantage of the Alpha Queen and her wolf in the future.’ Maeve snorted unrepentantly

You can’t just go around ripping people’s

stabbing us in the back. Relax, it’ll send a message

a tyrant and happy

to be liked… I’m perfectly happy

the artist settled the crown and a very large, very ornate necklace around her neck, brushing her fur into a pleasing display as she draped reams of crimson silk over her body, leaving only her front

you insist on wearing clothes…even silk is itchy on the fur…’ Maeve grumbled as Ann grimaced silently in

with that,

placement. “Please try to stay as still as possible… I want to capture everything as it is right at

a royal. She was dreading her own portrait, and so far, she has successfully managed to postpone it, but she