Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama
Chapter 101: Amber-eyed man...

Chapter 101: Amber-eyed man...

Noah POV

I cradled Selene in my arms, pressing her to my chest as I inhaled the deep, rich scents from her hair feeling a tranquil settle over me. After everything that has happened this week, holding my mate like this was the only therapy I needed, even if it was just for a short while.

As we stood cradled in each other’s arms and a world of our own, a sharp rapping at my door, made Selene jump with fear and made me tense while I turned to the door, wondering what was so important so early in the morning that I was already getting visitors.

"Are you expecting someone?" Selene asked leaning further away from me as she eyed the door with apprehension. Shaking my head silently, I pressed a kiss on her brow, gently extracted myself from our embrace and went over to the door.

My heart jumped with unease when Kurtis’s face came into my line of vision. Beside him stood Xavier; both men were wearing a blank expression making it difficult for me to read them and from the way they stood silently, it couldn’t be good news. At least I knew that much.

Exiting out of my room, I closed the door gently behind me as I faced them "What now?"

I noticed that Xavier was unusually quiet. It was as if he didn’t want to be here right now. Just before I closed the door, I saw him glance past me momentarily into the room. When his gaze returned to mine, his eyes were grave and it was as if he was trying to suppress a certain emotion.

"We apologize for coming this early to your room but we’re here on the orders of your Beta Reid. Conrad has arrived unannounced at the packhouse. He’s currently seeking an audience with you so, Reid asked us to come to inform you," he said.

The hairs at the back of my neck prickled as I stared at both men. I was yet to get over his maltreatment of my wife yesterday and now he dares to show up announced. What is he driving at? What games does he have in his sleeves now?

"Did he give any reason for his unexpected visit?" I asked pointedly refusing to show how annoyed I felt.

Xavier paused for a minute as his gaze strayed to the door again before he spread his hands in a hapless shrug "None that I am aware of, at least not yet. But you should be expecting this? After yesterday’s saga, if he didn’t return, it would have been so suspicious. So, let’s just deal with it,".

"I don’t think he came to douse suspicious," Kurtis finally spoke up, his voice without a single emotion "I’m sure he came here to pull his weight regarding something. Yesterday after everything I had a deep thought and I was trying to wonder why he would come all the way here knowing he’s an impostor without a lot of his soldiers. And this is not me saying we should rule out that he suspects we might be behind Selene’s visit to him yesterday,". Kurtis added quickly

"He’s going to work on guesses now and if you play your cards well, there’ll be no reason for him to suspect you,".

A chill ran down my spine... If Conrad gets wind that Selene had infiltrated his circle yesterday to uncover his identity ... plus she didn’t even know that was her mission... he was going to take advantage of that and may use it as a basis for attack.

Suddenly, the door opened and a bright-eyed Selene came towards me. She acknowledged the presence of the men by nodding silently in their direction then came to place a gentle hand on my arm.

"Is something wrong?" she asked me.

"Before I could respond, Kurtis stepped forward "Nothing is wrong, Your Majesty except that Conrad is here and seeks an audience with the king. I advise that you remain unseen for the time being until we can ascertain his reason for visiting,".

"What?" she let out an amused laugh "I’m sure it’s me he came to see somehow. Why should I hide in some corner? It’ll make him grow suspicious the more. We’re trying to create a narrative that I went out to meet King Tanner without my husband’s consent. I should be nervous that he might tell my husband I visited him yesterday and at that, would be present and try to stop him if his conversation goes in that way,".

Xavier nodded in agreement "I think she’s right, Kurtis. She doesn’t need to hide. There’s no need to,".

"Fine," Kurtis exhaled "But don’t come immediately. When Noah goes to see him, give him a few minutes and then barge in looking distressed and stuff. You know what to do, no?"

"Leave it to me," Selene said sweetly.

After that, she leaves, murmuring something about going to check on the girls. All the while, I had noticed, Xavier’s gaze on her and how she was purposely trying not to notice him. As soon as she left, I excused myself and went back to my room to put on decent clothing. When I came back out, I met only Kurtis.

Trying not to panic, I asked Kurtis in a calm voice "Where’s Xavier?"

"He excused himself to check on something. I think his Beta needed his attention or something. Let’s go, Your Majesty, we don’t want to keep our guest waiting for too long and Xavier didn’t go after Luna Selene. His Beta mind linked him some seconds ago. It would be best if you didn’t worry about that,".

"I’m not worried," I shrugged and began striding down the corridor with Kurtis beside me "I just want my wife to belong to me alone. It seems my union is so crowded that one of these days, I fear I may catch Xavier on my bed,".

"Xavier has his flaws but he’d never put himself in a position where you’ll be hurt, purposely. I know that much and I don’t want you to keep seeing him in that light. He’s your nephew and maybe you’re sharing the same mate but Xavier is a good man,".

"Then could you talk to him for me," I stopped walking and faced Kurtis holding his gaze "Ask him to stop swaying my wife. To stop pitting us against each other. Is that too much to ask?"

"Uhm..." Kurtis slowly backed away raising his hands in defeat "As a rule I don’t embroil myself in family drama, so I’ll sit this one out thanks,".

"But that’s the truth, Kurtis," I resumed walking trying to control the anger that was simmering in my heart "If you were in my shoes, maybe you’d understand and I didn’t steal his wife from him. I gave her multiple chances to go back to Xavier but she kept choosing me and am I not allowed happiness too?"

"You are," Kurtis said with a dismissive tone. By this time, we’ve reached the waiting hall and we paused "But I need you to have your wits about you. it’s difficult to predict what kind of tactics he would use but no matter what he says or how much he tries to rile you, don’t allow him to get under your skin,".

"Okay," I nodded and indicated for the guard on duty to open the doors but I was surprised when I saw that Kurtis had stepped back and hid in one corner. "Aren’t you coming with me?"

"No, Your Majesty," he shook his head "I’ve had business dealings with him in the past. Who knows, he might recognize me or not but just to be on the safe side. I’ll just sit this one out. When you’re done, I’ll come to you,". he gave me a bow and left.

Taking in a deep restorative breath, I walked into the room. Reid who had taken his position on one of the sofas in the waiting room rose to his feet. Copying his movement also was a tall, amber-eyed man with grey hair and a pleasant smile on his face.

Is this Conrad? I asked Rio as I searched the room hoping to see another person present there but it was just Reid and him.

They must have been talking amongst themselves because the atmosphere was relaxed and chilled. Like you could tell they had a good rapport going on. This wasn’t what I anticipated. I’ve pictured Conrad a lot of times as someone who’s burly, pot-bellied and not the pleasantly looking man standing in front of me.

King Tanner wasn’t much of a beauty. He was short and had small, eyes that always looked like he had them shut. Plus it didn’t help that he was on the big side.

"Your majesty," the amber-eyed man crossed the room and almost ran to me as he bowed his head in reverence. He had the gait of a cat and instantly I became suspicious. Lycans were Lycans and due to our highbred features, we do not resemble any other animal even Alphas or Betas or Omegas in the werewolf clime.

"It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you," he said kissing my ring as a sign of respect.

"And who might you be?" I asked coldly.

"Ah!" he chuckled and straightened. There was nothing fake about his smile or the way he laughed. He was genuine and that heightened my confusion.

"My name is Conrad and I am King Tanner’s brother – only brother purse I apologize beforehand for not mentioning my coming which you Beta just educated me a while ago that it’s not supposed to me. You know I am new to all of these things and I’m still trying to understand them all but I assure you, it won’t happen again,".