Chapter 6
-Jaxon-
"Have you sent Sheena to the Cross River Pack?" Out of nowhere, Keiran asked in the middle of discussing the war.
"Ah, yes, Alpha. She should arrive tomorrow," Jaxon replied. "We will get word about Alexia soon."
"Where were we?" Keiran asked, and while they were covering the matters of war, Jaxon could tell his alpha's mind was elsewhere. "Fuck! I can't concentrate!"
Jaxon understood where the anxiety was coming from. He watched as his Alpha repeatedly sighed, as if unable to decide what to do first.
There was an unfinished war between Taplean and Eswen. It was affecting the coast, south of the nation. While the southern part of the land was not part of Kieran's pack, being one of the trusted alphas under King Balthasar's rule, he was in charge of defending the same territory.
Now, he had to deal with his sudden marriage to a woman he barely knew.
'Still, it's not like him to be affected by a woman,' Jaxon thought. 'Just what is with Alexia that had riled up my alpha? And it happened in just less than twenty-four hours?'
Earlier today, Kieran asked if Alexia had eaten breakfast. When Jaxon reported that she ate with the kitchen staff, his lips twitched, seemingly disappointed.
Then, recalling last night, Kieran showed a hint of concern for Alexia. He may have tried to mask it, but being his long-time friend and his beta, he saw right through him.
The surprising part was how Kieran had ordered Alexia to be transferred next to his room. It wasn't just any room, but an adjoining room! 'Why would he do that? Didn't he dislike Alexia?'
While Jaxon asked these questions, he could not deny that he was also sorry for Alexia. After all, he was the one who brought her to the pack. He saw her genuine character and was almost certain she was not the woman they assumed her to be.
The nightmare Alexia had was no trivial one. Her screams were real, and the fear behind her voice gave him chills down to his bones. Jaxon could tell something happened to Alexia that wounded her soul; one that haunted her in her sleep. "Again! Where were we?" Kieran asked.
"The enemies keep coming back. Even if they had lost so many men, they seemed determined to claim territories on the southern coast," Jaxon reported.
With a sigh, Kieran ordered, "The packs on the southern coast have suffered too much. Relocate them until the war has been won."
"Yes, Alpha," Jaxon replied.
"Seek other warriors from the neighboring packs and order them to proceed to the front. Of course, this is with the king's approval," Kieran ordered. "Send a battalion of our men as well." "Yes -"
Just then, they heard a knock on the door. Jaxon immediately knew it was his mate, Rae. "We are back!"
Jaxon saw how Kieran's head snapped in Rae's direction. His first words were, "Where is she?" "Who, Alpha?" Rae asked, confused.
"The ungrateful woman who did not even thank me for moving her to a better room," Kieran answered bitterly.
With rounding eyes, Rae quickly replied, "Oh, Alexia? She went straight to her room? We already had dinner, so she -"
Jaxon was taken aback. He watched his Alpha storm out of his office, his steps heavy against the floor. He and Rae looked at each other, trying to determine where he was headed. "Is he going to... see her?" Rae asked.
"I... think so," Jaxon replied.
Minutes later, Kieran returned in a worse mood than before.
Hours later.
Jaxon and Rae were chatting about how Alexia behaved around the pack members Rae's narration of her day only confirmed his perception of Alexia. She was good with people and with children. Alexia easily won their hearts with her charm and
character.
"I think she isn't that bad. She just lacked training on how to be a leader," Rae suggested. "Maybe she can be a good luna?"
"Hmmm. I don't know. Try not to get
too close to her, Rae. You know how
Kieran has been working on changing the king's decision about her. If he finally wins this war, I'm sure he will ask for his freedom from this marriage. Before we know it, they might end up having a divorce. The next event we will be attending is a rejection ceremony," Jaxon reminded.
"I'll try, but it's hard not to like her. If you spend time with her, you will know what I am saying," Rae answered.
Jaxon did not react. He tried to
reject the idea, but he knew precisely what his mate was saying. After all, he spent two days with Alexia, traveling from the Cross River Pack to the Stone Blood Pack.
Resting with his mate, Jaxon was about to shut his eyes when he suddenly heard his alpha speak to him in his mind, 'Give me all the keys to all rooms.' 'Alpha Kieran? Come again?' Jaxon made sure he heard him right. Besides, what did he need all the keys for?
'I. NEED. ALL. THE. KEYS. TO ALL. ROOMS.' Kieran mindlinked with him.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
'What for?' Jaxon asked back.
There was a sudden pause from the Alpha, and Jaxon was unsure if he would pursue his demand. Eventually, Kieran spoke, 'For security purposes.' 'And you need all rooms?' Jaxon confirmed.
'Are you deaf? Can you not hear me saying... ALL ROOMS?' Kieran repeated.
'Including ours?' Jaxon sought.
He could already imagine his Alpha grunting in displeasure, but eventually, Kieran replied, 'Fine, except your room. Give me all the keys to the rooms!'
It took a few minutes, but ultimately, Jaxon ended up in front of Kieran's door, surrendering the box with all the spare keys to the packhouse, except for the room he shared with his mate, Rae.
As he handed the box, Jaxon sought, his eyes landing on Alexia's room, "You aren't going to open her room, are you?"
A scoff left Kieran's room. He replied, "Why would I? I had to lock my room from the inside. I don't want this woman climbing on my bed."
"You think she would climb on your bed, alpha?" Jaxon asked, trying to awaken his alpha of the truth.
"Every single alpha daughter who has met me had tried. She is no exception!" Kieran answered. 'Well, I don't think this one will.' Beta Jaxon thought it, but he dared not voice out his thoughts.
"Again, this is for security purposes," the alpha insisted. "Go back to your room, beta."
The next day, Jaxon caught up with Rae and Alexia before they left for town. He overheard their conversation as he walked over to the driveway.
"I must have crawled back up to the bed. I swore I slept on the floor, but in the morning, I found myself in bed," Alexia told Rae.
"You must have climbed on the bed. Stop sleeping on the floor, Alexia! This isn't your old home. Remember, this is better than your home," Rae encouraged.
Clearing his throat, Jaxon greeted Alexia good morning. He kissed Rae goodbye and sent and helped them ride in a car.
Thinking back to what he had discovered, Jaxon shook his head. He muttered, "Oh, great, Alpha Kieran. You are full of surprises."
Entering the Alpha's office, Jaxon noticed how Kieran was in a lighter mood. He smiled, asking, "Good day today, Alpha?"
Kieran simply hummed. He did not deny or confirm it.
"I bet it had something to do with your security check last night, Alpha," Jaxon teased. He laughed but quickly shut his mouth, seeing the death glare coming from Kieran. "Do you want me to ship you to Eswen, Jaxon?" Kieran threatened.