The Alpha's Contract Luna (Alexia)

~Alexia-

"Frittata coming up!" Alexia announced as she took out the dish from the stove. She served the slices on several plates and paired them with the garlic bread she had earlier made.

"Ooooh! That looks so delicious!" Rae walked in, acting to have drool on her mouth. "How in the world did you learn to cook like this?"

Alexia chuckled and replied, "I had to learn. Or else I would go hungry."

Back at her pack, Alexia realized that she could only get a decent meal if she worked in the kitchen. She tried to learn numerous dishes and proved to her father that her cooking was better than the maids.

Over time, she was in charge of the kitchen, among other things. Nonetheless, cooking for the packhouse allowed her to pocket food for herself.

Rae tried to find meaning in her words, but Alexia dismissed her probing eyes and said, "Go ahead, and eat. I'll eat with Lydia here in the kitchen."

"Can't eat with him, remember? Can't breathe the same air?" She reminded, referring to the great alpha, Kieran Stone.

"You know what? Kieran and Jaxon are having an early meeting with the king on a conference call. Tomorrow's your wedding, remember?" Rae revealed. "Why not eat with me?"

Her brows furrowed. Alexia sighed, realizing that tomorrow was the big day.

"Come on! Eat with me," Rae urged, and since Alpha Kieran would not be having breakfast that early morning, Alexia conceded.

She and Rae chatted merrily over breakfast. They talked about the plans for the afternoon.

"So, since the wedding is tomorrow, you must attend the rehearsal later. It's just for an hour, maybe. The coordinator will guide you and Kieran through the flow," Rae revealed. Just then, they heard a familiar tone - a man clearing his throat. Alexia turned to find Kieran and Jaxon standing behind them.

"Our meeting has ended. We have come for breakfast," Kieran conveyed.

Recalling how Kieran reminded her of their contract, Alexia sucked in a breath. She grabbed her plate and stood up. She excused herself, saying, "I'll eat with Lydia in the kitchen -" "Stay." Kieran's orders were firm, yet they did not have the glacial feel as when they met a few days back.

Alexia looked up and met his intense brown eyes. Seeing they bore no disgust on her, she looked at Rae and Jaxon, as if asking for confirmation.

"Alpha said you can stay, Alexia," Jaxon echoed.

Gradually she settled back in her seat, but despite that, she noticed how the man was still looking at her. She peered back up in Kieran's direction, and he said, "Sit next to me." 'Sit next to me.' His words echoed in her head, and she blinked again and again.

It made little sense to her until he suggested, "Tomorrow, we will be joining the King and Queen for dinner. You need to get used to sitting next to me - just until tomorrow ends." "Oh," Alexia said. She grabbed her plate and sat next to where Kieran usually ate.

Kieran often took the single space to the left of the long table. Jaxon took the seat to Kieran's right, and Rae sat next to Jaxon.

Minutes went by, and they were enjoying their breakfast. Jaxon could not help but remark, "Just the best breakfast ever."

"Hmmm," Kieran said. He swallowed the last piece of his frittata and remarked, "I did not know we hired a new chef. I've enjoyed my meals recently."

Silence. There was nothing but silence coming from Jaxon and Rae. They were the only ones who knew Alexia had been preparing the meals for the past few days.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"Well, where is the new chef?" Kieran sought. "I'd like to meet him."

Alexia's ears were burning, her gaze fixed on her plate. When she thought of how to address Kieran, Rae beat her to it.

"Actually, Alpha, it's Alexia. She has been cooking a dish or two for our meals whenever she could," Rae reported.

Alexia gasped. Steadily, she turned her head in the direction of Kieran. Her honey-colored eyes met his brown orbs, making her heart skip a beat.

"Hmmm." Kieran said, his gaze landing on the wall in front of him.

She waited. Heck, Rae and Jaxon

studied his potential reaction, but that was all Kieran gave. Disappointment flashed over Alexia's face as she repeated in her head, the only sound that left his

lips. Hmmm.'

The stillness stretched to a minute, and Rae first broke the ice. She said to Kieran, "Alpha, don't forget to rehearse with Alexia later. It's a combined initiation ceremony and wedding at the same time." "Initiation?" Alexia asked, surprised. She knew of the wedding but did not know she would be accepted into the pack.

"Of course, Alexia. You will be our luna, so it must be done," Rae added with a wink.

Alexia turned to Kieran again and hoped for words of encouragement from him. Instead, the Alpha said, "I can't have the king thinking that you aren't welcome into my pack. It is a necessary procedure." "Oh." She said, her hopes dying down in an instant. 'He did it out of obligation.'

'Don't be disappointed, Alexia. At least the alpha turned from cold to somewhat neutral in a week. It's not so bad,' she reminded herself and reflected a smile. "Thank you, Alpha Kieran."

Alexia and those part of the wedding entourage participated in the rehearsal. A wedding coordinator guided them to how the ceremony will start, starting with Alexia's initiation.

Alexia was already aware of the blood compact procedure. Thus, she simply needed verbal instructions. There was no need for Kieran's presence then.

However, during the last and final

stage of the practice, Kieran arrived, and instantly Alexia felt her heart going wild. Of course, some parts of the wedding required him to hold her hand. It would be... the first time they would touch.

Throughout the practice, Kieran maintained his poker face. Alexia could not read him, not one bit. stole glances at his handsome. features, his unique scar that added

to his allure, and the tattoos on his arms. .

Alexia thought he was supposed to be afraid of this man, but here she was, struggling to tear her eyes away from him.

When the time came for them to march forward to the front, Kieran stretched his hand to her, and for the first time, their skins touched. Happy tingles ran through her body, and her heart drummed faster.

Her hands turned cold and sweaty under his touch. As her face burned, Kieran appeared unaffected, merely looking straight at the front, his eyes on the supposed officiant.

The wedding coordinator gave them a rundown of what the officiant would say, and at the end, the woman declared, "And of course, the last part of the wedding is... you may kiss the bride!" Alexia's eyes widened in horror. 'Of course! How could I forget this part of the wedding? How am I ever going to kiss this man tomorrow?'

She wasn't supposed to breathe the same air as him, but as it turns out, their lips would lock as part of the wedding!

Seeing Kieran peer in her direction, his expression impassioned as ever. She assumed the worst. 'Now he is really upset with me again.'