The Alpha's Contract Luna (Alexia)

~Kieran~

Rae returned to the office. When she settled down in her seat, she asked, "Well? How was it, Alpha?"

"She signed the contract without hesitation. I did not feel any objection from her, not in the slightest way," Kieran replied in his deep voice.

Somehow, he was disappointed. He assumed Alexia was another one of those bed-climbers or power-hungry alpha daughters. However, the fact that she accepted the terms of the contract willingly, made him think that she did not care for his rank, not his money, and she did not seem interested in sleeping with him?

Earlier, when he saw how relieved she was about having her own room, it made him feel somewhat... undesirable.

He directed his gaze to Jaxon and asked, "How was it being with her for two days?"

Beta Jaxon shrugged and replied, "She was... nice, obedient and mostly, I saw hurt in her expression after being taken away. She seemed distant with her family, even her father, like she did not belong. She was more affectionate towards her friends. What struck me the most was how she asked me if I would hurt her like she knew it was coming."

"As you have instructed, I brought her to the least refurbished room," Rae described. "She was happy about the room. Apparently, she had been living in the attic of her former home."

Dead air fell upon them before Rae suggested, "I don't know, Alpha, but maybe... our assumptions of her were wrong. Maybe she really did not know about this marriage."

"Then." Kieran groaned. He raked his fingers through his hair and wondered, "Why did the king want me to marry her? How did he come up with this decision? And why now, when the war with Eswen is still proceeding?"

"Could Queen Helen be involved in this decision?" Beta Jaxon asked.

"I don't know," Kieran replied. "But let us look at all angles."

It frustrated Alpha Kieran. His king gave him no clear reason for the first time since he had served the nation as an Alpha. King Balthasar merely gave him Alexia's file and suggested that The Stone Blood Pack needed a luna.

It wasn't the first time the king suggested he take a mate, but with Alexia Reed, he was unyielding that it had to be her. Kieran immediately assumed Alexia or her family had something to gain, that they had personally requested this of the king.

Kieran studied at the file of Alexia, the same which the king gave him. Among the truths was the fact that she came from an Alpha bloodline. Her looks and physical attributes were precise, as shown in the file. However, after hearing his Beta's and Rae's feedback, he wondered if she was the spoiled Alpha daughter the King claimed her to be.

Turning to his Beta, he instructed, "Send someone to spy on the Cross River Pack. Find out everything I need to know about Alexia."

"Yes, Alpha," Jaxon replied.

-Alexia-

The sky's booming thunder made Alexia flinch in her sleep, her hands clenched against the sheets, and her breathing became labored.

"No." Her head snapped in the other direction while her eyes remained shut. "Don't come near me."

"No! How could you?"

"Stop!"

"I beg you! Stop!"

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead while tears unknowingly flowed down her cheek. She shrieked loudly, "Stop!"

The sound of the doors banging jerked Alexia awake. Her eyes rounded as she scanned the surrounding space.

Kieran's tall frame came into her view, and she gulped. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or not. When she recognized she had another nightmare, she abruptly bowed to him.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. Did I wake you? I had a nightmare. Please forgive me," Alexia pleaded. If there was one thing she learned over the past few years, begging for mercy helped reduce any of her punishments.

It did not always work, but her family was scared to hurt her severely. At worst, she would get a slap or two, or be locked up without food for a day or two, or spite her with words.

Alexia was prepared for another berating, but to her surprise, Kieran asked, "Why are you on the floor?"

She gradually gazed at him before answering, "I couldn't sleep. I - I was used to sleeping without a bed for three years straight."

Kieran's brows met. He panned to the left, where the bed was, and looked back down on the hard floor. He ordered, "You had a nightmare because you are sleeping uncomfortably. Get back on the bed now!"

Hastily, Alexia climbed to the bed,

returning her sheets and pillows. As

she did, she did not miss the man's intense gaze on her, and she quickly covered her exposed legs. When she settled, she wrapped her hands

around her arms.

Rae and Jaxon ultimately came to check on her. They were surprised to find their alpha inside the room, and it was clear by how their mouths dropped.

"Alpha," Jaxon called, quickly masking his earlier reaction. "We heard Alexia scream."

Rae, on the other hand, redirected her attention to Alexia. She asked, "What happened? Why were you screaming?"

"I - I had a nightmare," Alexia weakly replied.

"What was it about?" Rae asked.

Alexia's eyes fluttered, reluctant to reply. She found herself looking at Kieran and then back to Rae. Eventually, she responded, "It - it had something to do with what happened to me three years ago." She looked out the window and said, "It happened on a stormy night, too. And the trees were swaying harshly against the window. Sometimes it triggers, but I'm fine. It was just a dream." "Do you want to talk about it?" Rae asked.

"No." Alexia shook her head. "I have gotten over it. I promise. Sometimes, it only visits me in a dream."

"Get her some water here," Kieran commanded, and Jaxon rushed down to fetch an entire pitcher of water and a glass.

After Alexia had some water,

everyone urged her to rest. Still,

before leaving her quarters completely, Kieran ordered, "Sleep on the bed. If I find you sleeping on the floor again, and you end up having another nightmare, will tie you to the bed myself!"

Alexia repeatedly nodded before acting to lie on the soft sheets. Behind her doors, she could hear them whispering as if in a serious discussion. She wanted to listen to them, but the voices soon faded away.

For the rest of the night, Alexia tried her hardest to sleep. She counted sheeps and even exhausted herself, doing pushups against the floor. Eventually, after two hours, she dozed off in the comfortable bed.

Outside, the rain continued to pour.

The skies roared with thunders, and

the same trees outside the room created, familiar noises. Alexia flinched at the recognizable

gel.ne

melodies, the same that brought her

back to the day when it all turned

worst for her.

However, something changed that comforted her. She found herself dreaming of Kieran Stone. In her sleep, Kieran stroked her hair and caressed her cheek, his intense brown eyes looking down at her with tenderness. How the scene soothed her was baffling to Alexia. Kieran was supposed to be the man she feared, but why was his face helping her to sleep in the middle of the storm?

The next day, after having breakfast with the kitchen staff, Rae came up to Alexia. She said, "Alexia, we have a lot on our itinerary, including finding your wedding gown, but before that, I'll move you to another room." "Another room?" Alexia asked, bemused.

"Yes. If you follow me, I will show you to your new room," Rae confirmed.

As they walked back to her room, Rae explained, "Your new room will have less noise since it's far from the trees. It will also have a good view of the entire pack, located at the topmost level."

"Alpha Kieran has considered giving you a more relaxing room," Rae added.

"Oh, dear. I hope I did not upset him last night." She groaned, angry with herself.

Alexia did not have much to pack. She and Rae were out of her room in less than an hour. They made it two floors up, opposite to the wing of her original room was located.

She noticed that part of the packhouse was more lavish, including the furniture that decorated the hallways. Alexia could not help but ask, "So, where will I be staying?"

Finally, they arrived at the designated room. Rae smiled at her as she held the handle to the door. She replied, "Here." She then pointed to the room and revealed, "Right next to Alpha Kieran's room." Alexia's jaws dropped, her hand covering her mouth. She wondered, 'Did I just... get myself into trouble? Why do I have a room next to the alpha?"