Contract With The Alpha King

Fiona followed Elijah and Rio into the dining area, trying to shake off the lingering awkwardness from the conversation that Elijah had quickly de-escalated.

The room was surprisingly modest, not the grand hall she had expected. The rectangular table was made of dark wood, polished to a shine, with enough space to scat six to eight people. Elijah took the seat at the head of the table, guiding Fiona to sit

it on his right. Rio sat across from her, on Elijah's left.

She watched as a servant brought out a variety of dishes, all exquisitely prepared, and placed them on the table. The food looked delicious, but Fiona's appetite was dampened by the unscase she felt. They had been traveling for hours, and she was both hungry and tired, yet for some reason, she didn't think she could eat much today,

Opposite her, Rio had a mischievous grin plastered across his face. Earlier, after he made the comment about the woman named Carissa. Elijah quickly called him out for lying, and he apologized.

What surprised Fiona was that Rio was now acting like he hadn't said anything wrong in the first place. He picked up a bottl of wine and poured some into Fiona's glass. "You must try this," he said, pushing the glass toward her.

Before she could respond. Elijah's voice cut in. "She doesn't need that, Rio. We've been traveling for hours, and this is her first time inside the barrier."

Rio raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. Instead, he reached for a plate of food, offering it to Fiona. "Here, try some of this instead. I'm certain you'll like it."

Elijah's hand moved to intercept. "I'll serve her," he said, taking the plate from Rio. He carefully sliced a portion of meat and placed it on Fiona's plate, his movements precise and deliberate

Fiona glanced at Elijah, sensing the unspoken tension between him and Rio. She picked up her fork and took a small bite. the flavors rich but somehow distant, as if she were too distracted to fully enjoy the meal.

As they ate, Rio tried to engage Fiona in conversation. "So, Fion, what's it like outside the barrier? How's life in your pack?"

Fiona kept her answers brief. "It's different."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Rio nodded, but his eyes were probing. "Must be interesting to see both sides. What would you miss outside of this barrier?

Fiona smiled faintly. She lifted her eyes and met his blue ones don't think I'll be missing much.

"Oh, isn't that sad? What about your parents? You're from the Rosenthal Family, right? I think.. I think I've heard about them somewhere. 1-"

"Rio, what made you think I would be marrying Carissa?" Elijah interrupted him, finally breaking the tension from earlier that Rio had been trying to diffuse.

Almost immediately, the room fell silent. Rio's playful demeanor faded, and he glanced down at his plate. "I heard rumors. People talk, you know. Especially since the Rites started."

"Rumors aren't facts, Carissa and I were never in that kind of relationship, and I thought you were smart enough to realize that While Elijah's face remained calm, something cold glinted in his eyes. "Was it she who told you these rumors?" He made sure to emphasize the word "rumors."

Rio looked up, meeting Elijah's gaze with a serious expression. just thought... You two seemed close."

"We were," Elijah admitted, his tone matter-of-fact. "When we were five."

Fiona felt the tension in the room cases slightly, but the conversation had taken a more serious turn. She realized how little she knew about Elijah's past and the complexities of the world she had entered. She turned her attention back to her meat.

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Dinner Continued, with Rin gecasionally trying to lighten the mood with a joke or a comment, but the earlier case was gone. Fiona felt as though she was navigating a delicate dance, careful not to step on any fors

As the meal drew to a close, Fiona found herself more intrigued by the dynamics between Elijah and Rio. There was clearly a deep bond there, but also layers of unspoken history and unresolved issues.

Rio suddenly paused, his eyes widening as if he had just remembered something crucial. "Wait a minute, he said. looking at Fiona with renewed interest. By now, everyone was done with their food, Rio was enjoying desserts while Fiona and Elijah were sipping wine. "The Rosenthal Family... Aren't they known for their healing abilities? They're one of the oldest families in the Kingdom! Are you from the Rosenthal Family? Hold on! never heard that- "We can discuss family histories another time, Ric. We're both really tired and need to rest," Elijah cut in smoothly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Rio blinked, his excitement dimming as he realized he might have overstepped. "Of course, my apologies, Fiona. I didn't mean to keep you up."

Fiona nodded politely, appreciating the gesture. Not long after, Rio offered them a quick bow before excusing himself. promising to come by the next day.

After Rio left. Elijah guided Fiona to his study. The room was spacious but cozy with walls lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves filled with ancient tomes and modern volumes alike. A large desk sat in the center, and a few comfortable chairs were arranged near a small table. The warm glow from the fireplace cast a soft light across the room, giving it a welcoming yet intimate atmosphere..

Elijah poured a glass of wine and handed it to Fiona. "I thought you might like something to help you unwind," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Right now, the thing that would help her unwind was a hot shower. Still, Fiona accepted the glass, taking a small sip as she settled into one of the chairs.

The wine was rich and smooth, its warmth spreading through her. She glanced around the study, taking in the sheer number of books. "Are there many people staying in your palace" she asked, her curiosity piqued by the silence that had enveloped the place after dinner. This place is huge, she thought inwardly.

Elijah leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her. "Not many Only a few trusted people. They're discreet and don't bother me... or us. So, we pretty much have the place to ourselves.

There was something in his tone that made Fiona's pulse quicken. The way he said "us" was laden with implication, and the space between them seemed to shrink even though neither had moved. She could feel the heat of his gaze, the tension between them growing despite the exhaustion that weighed on her.

Fiona set her glass down, her fingers lingering on the stem. She met his eyes, a silent question in her gaze. Elijah didn't break the stare, the corner of his mouth lifting in a subtle, knowing smile.

"We'll have plenty of time to explore the palace," he said, his voice soft but charged with meaning. "But for now, maybe we should get some rest."

Fiona nodded, her heart beating a little faster. "May I ask you something?" she asked, switching the topic to calm herself down

"Anything"

"About Carissa," she observed his expression. "I-I mean-I didn't want to sound like I am snooping into your private affairs but she cleared her throat. By now, she could already feel blood rushing through her face, She was probably blushing like a tomato!

Fiona took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "I just wanted to know about Carissa because... well, I want to be prepared if any issues come up. We do have a contract, after all. Chapter 21

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Elijah raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing as he listened to her stuttering explanation. Fiona's cheeks flushed even more, and she hurried to continue. "I mean, the contract is clear. We can't be with someone else as long as it's in effect. Of course. if you want to be with someone else, we can end it first. But I jus

Elijah's smirk remained, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Fiona felt flustered, realizing how jumbled her words had become. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, she finally said, placing her glass of wine on the table. "I'm just going to head to the room. But before she could take a step, Elijah reached out and gently killed her back. With a swift motion, he guided her onto his lap, holding her close. Fiona's breath caught, her heart racing as she found herself suddenly so near him. "You don't have to run. Elijah murmured, his voice soft, but with a hint of teasing.

Fiona tried to maintain her composure, meeting his gaze. T'm not running," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I -I just want to go to the room to rest. You said I could do what I want."

"I'm not stopping you from doing what you want, but first."he said, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the fact that he was clearly teasing her. The realization only made her blush even more. "You need to know where our room is, no?"

Fiona's eyes widened. He was right! She didn't even know where the room was! What the heck was she thinking? "I-I just-" "I will guide you to 'our' room," he said. "But you have to know that Carissa Montego is the daughter of Minister Montego, an influential and prominent member of the Council working with the King."

Fiona turned her head away. She had a little idea that Carissa would have an influential background too. After all, she grew up with him. However, Elijah suddenly held her chin and gently turned her head toward him. "She and I grew up together." he added, ignoring the pout on her lips. "We were friends at some point. Then I focused on my training, and then there was nothing. I never spent time alone with her."

"I-I don't think you needed to mention that last part, Fiona mumbled

I need you to understand that she is not a part of my life."

"What about the rumors?" she asked.

"What about them?" Elijah lifted one sexy eyebrow,

"Well-"Fiona cleared her throat. "I-I just didn't want to cause any misunderstandings."

"Is that all?" he asked,

"Yes."

"Are you certain?

snapped, irritation creeping L

"What else would there be?" she her voice. What frustrated her even more was not knowing why she was irritated in the first place-thinking about it only made her angrier. Does that even make sense?

He frowned, catching the sharp edge in her voice, "And here I thought you might be jealous

"J-Jealous?" she stammered, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Are you not?" he asked, his gaze i

She blinked, confusion swirling in her mind. Why would she be calous? She tried to say a word, but she actually couldn't refute his words!

"Wolves are possessive, Fiona," Elijah murmured, his voice dropping to a husky tone. He leaned closer, the space between their faces shrinking. I wouldn't tolerate another man offering you a drink or food. His gray eyes darkened with intensity as Chapter 21

he leaned in, his breath warn against her skin. "In fact, I would like it if you even looked at another man besides me"