Chapter 21
-Rae~NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.
"Alexia, you are right. I don't know what's in Alpha Kieran's head," Rae admitted. "But I know I have never seen him this way, and even Jaxon thinks the same."
"Maybe he doesn't realize it yet or is not willing to acknowledge it, but soon, he will," Rae supplemented.
Rae saw the disappointment on Alexia's face, and her heart ached. She realized her answer gave her friend no assurance. If only Alexia would look past the contract and see the obvious signs. Maintaining to hold Alexia's arm, she suggested, "Even if he has that poker face, trust me when I say he cares for you, Alexia -"
"Or he feels sorry for me. Or he is still doing this out of obligation to the king." Alexia interrupted. "Can you speak on behalf of Kieran, Rae?"
The question caught Rae off-guard. Of course, she could not speak for Alpha Kieran. Her lips parted, but no words left her mouth.
"Anyway," Alexia looked down, her brows meeting as she said, "I am not in the position to complain. My life is better here - a contract wife or not, true mate or not. I want you to know that I am happy here. You and all the pack members have been incredibly welcoming." "Alexia -"
"Let's go. Please, let's forget about this discussion. I'm sorry I even brought up finding true mates when, statistically, half of the werewolf population never find their true mate," Alexia suggested.
Rae saw Alexia smile at her. She said, "The Goddess blessed you and Jaxon for finding each other."
They walked away, leading to the backdoor of the packhouse.
~Kieran-
Inside his office, Kieran was in his chair, listening to Sheena's report. Jaxon, his beta, was doing the same, standing behind him.
"Alpha," Sheena placed a black duffle bag on Kieran's desk and revealed, "We've checked the money, and it's two million dollars, as you have asked from Alpha Roland."
Kieran let out a low growl, remembering how Alpha Roland dared to file a formal complaint about him to the king. The old alpha was courting death! His eyes narrowed at the bag, asking, "Did you have trouble securing the money?"
"Just a little, Alpha," Sheena admitted. "They did not want to give any money at first, denying how they had mistreated Alexia, but I told them how Drake was the source of my information in the first place."
"I made their refusal as an excuse to take Drake with us. That was how we managed to punish him for trying to assault our luna," Sheena revealed. "They paid up after two days."
Kieran nodded. He turned to Jaxon and ordered, "Put the money in the bank and under Alexia's name. This way, she has money of her own."
"Yes, Alpha," Jaxon confirmed.
Returning his attention to Sheena, Kieran asked, "Anything else I should know?"
"Ehh, well." Kieran saw Sheena form a sneer. She responded, "There is something that you should know."
Sheena chuckled lightly and reported, "Alpha Roland's family seems to be under the impression that our Luna Alexia married an ugly alpha and that she had to endure being in your presence, wearing a blindfold at night. They think Alexia is in a worse condition than her previous state, living with them."
Another growl left Kieran's lips. He did not mind being called ugly. However, it did not sit well with Kieran that Alpha Roland's family belittled Alexia for having married him.
"I'm sorry, Alpha Kieran. Their mocking provoked me that I dared threaten you would eventually see them." Bowing her head, Sheena said, "Of course, it would not matter now. They paid up, and that's what's more important -"
"I will." Kieran sighed. "I will see them in person soon."
His eyes narrowed as he added, "Soon."
Waving his hand, he commanded, "Thank you, Sheena. You are dismissed. Don't forget. Tomorrow, you will take over Alexia's training."
"I would be happy to train Luna Alexia personally." Sheena bowed before leaving Kieran's office.
After Sheena left, Jaxon and Kieran discussed security matters before finally making their way to the party. They were almost at the packhouse's backdoor when they heard the conversation between Alexia and Rae. "My feelings? What about Kieran's feelings? How do I even know if he likes me? Do you forget how I am only a contract wife? When the war ends, will he not ask for a divorce?" " Kieran heard Alexia say. "Alexia, you are right. I don't know what's in Alpha Kieran's head sometimes, but I know I have never seen him this way, and even Jaxon thinks the same." The next person who spoke was Rae. Immediately, Kieran glared at Jaxon. He mindlinked with his beta, 'You talk about me with Rae? Don't you even think of warning your mate.'
After cautioning his Beta, Kieran continued to listen to Alexia and Rae's conversation in secret. After their voices disappeared, Kieran purred in disapproval. What about his feelings? He wasn't sure himself.
While he was at the coast, fighting
the war with his men, he constantly thought of Alexia. He wondered how she was doing, and his heart craved to speak to her - to see her face. The feeling was alien to Kieran. He could not understand why she kept popping into his head.
Kieran was indifferent to women. He respected those who worked under him and other lunas during alpha gatherings, but he never once admired a woman's beauty. However, with Alexia, it was different. Becoming an alpha at a young age made it impossible for Kieran to look at a woman that way. Kieran had a pack to run. He did not have the time for women, but even when Alexia tried to avoid him, he wanted her attention.
Earlier today, when he saw her in Seth's arms, he was enraged. The idea of his distant cousin touching her skin filled his heart with resentment. He concluded that being his wife, Alexia was his to touch!
Again, the emotions taking over him
were so foreign that he did not want to put a name on them. All he knew was that it felt good to be with
Alexia; touching her, kissing her net
caressing her face, and looking at her made him secretly happy. A few times, he swore his member swelled beneath his pants.
Hearing Alexia question his intentions toward her made him think deeply. 'Should I go down this road?'
He had thought about it after having an exchange with the king. He could not imagine Alexia being wed to another man. It just made him all uptight.
Before he could thoroughly make up his mind, however, Jaxon cleared his throat. He said, "Can I speak as your friend and not your beta?"
"No," Kieran cut him off.
"If you want to change Alexia's perception of you - change your relationship," Jaxon said. "If you think this marriage is something worth keeping, then I suggest you change the terms of your contract." Kieran could not believe it. Despite warning him from speaking, Jaxon still expressed his thoughts.
"Kieran, when the war ends, will you still ask for a divorce?" Jaxon sought.
Kieran did not answer Jaxon. Instead, he sped his steps and made it out of the packhouse. The first person he looked for was Alexia. When he finally found her, he swallowed air down her throat.
He could not deny it. Alexia looked stunning. She wore an off-shoulder white dress patterned with lace. The last time they had dinner together she wore the same cut, but her skirt flowed loosely down her legs. This time, however, the rest of hendress hugged her body closely. The skirt went five or six inches above her knee, flaunting her long, slender legs.
The way Alexia looked reminded him of their wedding day.
A hiss escaped Kieran's lips when she turned to him. The way Alexia gracefully turned in his direction played in his head in slow motion. Her eyes appeared to sparkle against the night, and her thin lips seemed to call on him like a binding spell. "I'm so fucked up," he muttered under his breath.
"I could not agree more," unknown to him; his beta had caught him staring at Alexia in the most awestruck manner. Even if it was just a second, he had mistakenly given himself away.
Returning to his usual stern demeanor, he commanded, "Get lost, Beta. I should have your head!"
Jaxon chuckled as he walked to find Rae. Kieran, on the other hand, slowly paced toward Alexia. When he stood a meter from her, she smiled amiably and asked, "I hope I did not overdress. Rae insisted I wear this. How do I look?" "Hmmm," Kieran answered.