The Alpha's Contract Luna (Alexia)

~Kieran-

The fire root plant often lived for two years upon its growth. They cultivate all year round and feed on the minerals in the crater of an active volcano. However, should Mount Nefarious erupt, that was another story.

Mount Nefarious was named as such due to its intermittent inferno. Its crater often burned at the center, whereas the fire root plants grew on the right side of the volcano's hallow.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The problem was the only feasible access to the volcano's top was its left wing, and getting across to the right wing meant climbing sideways above the burning flames.

Kieran and his men struggled through their climb as the volcano was very steep. Moreover, the soil's rocky surfaces were slippery; it was challenging to stay grounded even in their wolf form.

In his black wolf, Kieran led the group of warriors and the king's guards. He was jumping from one large rock to another when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent.

A growl left his lips, and he sucked in a deep breath. He turned to his colleagues and announced, "We have company."

One of his gammas, Ace, ran towards Kieran and smelled the surroundings. He confirmed the same, "Doesn't this smell like - "

"Prince Caspian is here," Kieran confirmed.

"If they are here, it means one thing," Ace said.

"They already found out that the king is missing. They probably suspect we are coming for the fire root plant," Kieran said. He ordered, "Seth, you, me, and Ace, let's race to the top! Prince Caspian is here, and who knows what he meant to do with the plants!"

If Caspian intended to destroy all the fire root plants, that meant they would wait for another natural germination, which could take years. The king didn't have that long.

The king's guards were also alerted, and they all sprinted to the top, hoping they could catch up with Caspian's party.

Soon, the earth on the volcano rumbled. With the speed they were going, rocks unavoidably rolled down, some slipping yet fearfully climbing back up.

Above them, they could hear howls; soldiers of Caspian were scrambling to reach the top. It did not take long for Kieran's group to find Caspian. They were also in their wolf form, racing to the crater.

"Hurry! We need to destroy all the fire root plans!" Caspian ordered. He has led his group of men, running in his red-brown wolf.

A loud growl escaped Kieran's lips as he picked up the pace. He leaped in between rocks and dug his claws into the slippery earth, making sure not to fall down. The king's life depended on him.

Kieran managed to reach a soldier and efficiently bit the wolf in the leg, thrusting him to the ground. It sent the soldier rolling down. He glowered in Caspian's direction, asking, "Why are you doing this? To your father? Why, Prince Caspian? Your father treated you well!" "I don't have to answer you, Kieran! My father betrayed my mother!" Caspian quickly said before running to the crater again.

"Is that why you poisoned the king? Merely because of possible disloyalty when it has not yet been proven? There is something that you are not telling me, and I meant to find out what!" Kieran snarled, his nose flaring in anger as he lunged at another soldier trying to block his way.

Unfortunately for Kieran, Caspian ignored him and continued his ascent to the top. He was busy biting off the soldier's arm when he saw from the corner of his eye how the prince was closer to the volcano's opening. He yelled, "Ace! Seth! Hurry!"

Another soldier came at him, but before the same wolf could reach Kieran, Seth's wolf flew in mid-air, biting the opponent with his enormous jaws.

From that point on, the werewolves from both groups fought against each other. Kieran could hear the howls and the shrieks of pain behind him. He saw how his group was outnumbered, but he had faith in Seth and Ace. They would fight bravely and strongly for their lives. As for the king's guards, Kieran knew they were the best warriors trained by Beta Ford. He hoped they could sustain the fight, but Kieran still had to catch up with Prince Caspian.

When Kieran reached the crater, he saw how the bottom of the volcano was on fire. It was just like he feared. From afar, Prince Caspian navigated through the side. He changed into his human form, holding on to rocks as his feet cautiously stepped on slippery minerals. Kieran also shifted back to his human form, realizing his size wouldn't help. He needed his hands to grip the rocks and minerals forming on the side of the volcano's hallow.

As Kieran traversed through the crater, he asked the prince, "I didn't think you hate this father this much. What did the king do to you, Prince Caspian? Tell me. I don't understand."

His eyes narrowed in Caspian's direction, but seeing him not responding, he asked, "Are you the king's son or not? Prince Caspian!"

Finally, he got the reaction he wanted. Prince Caspian stilled, and when he turned in Kieran's direction, he saw how the prince formed a full frown on his face. He claimed, "I am the king's son, the rightful heir, and the next king! Do not ever doubt my lineage, Kieran!" Kieran saw it as an opportunity. He sped his steps as he challenged, "I doubt that now, seeing how badly you want to kill your father. The king has done nothing to you, nothing!"

"You want the truth?" Caspian said. "I'll give you the truth! I never loved the king. For he is not my real father! He is just the tool for me to get the crown!"

Then, out of nowhere, Caspian threw earth in Kieran's way, blinding him momentarily. Whatever the prince had tossed in his direction stung his eyes, and Kieran recoiled in pain. When he opened his eyes, he could barely see.

However, noticing how Caspian's

frame has nearly to the other side of the crater, Kieran rushed to follow after the prince, despite not being able to see clearly. He realized that some of the soil going through the path was warm, probably due to the volcano's opening, and it was the same soil Caspian used to blind him.

Holding on to one of the rocks, Kieran miscalculated. He thought it looked firmly rooted against the earth, but he slipped after holding on to it!

"Ahhh!" Kieran glided down, feeling some rocks pierce against his body while the earth burned his skin. He was going down so fast that he feared falling into the inferno.

He repeatedly screamed, trying to grip the earth with his hands. However, he wasn't getting any luck. Each second, he felt the heat scorching more and more into his bare skin. From atop, he heard Caspian laugh, saying, "Die Kieran! Die!"

The prince's voice was so loud it echoed throughout the volcano's opening, resulting in some rocks falling into the fire.

'Moon Goddess! Save me!' For the sake of his people, his king, and his wife, Kieran pleaded in his head. He wanted to live!

"Alpha Kieran!" He heard his gammas alternately scream.

Before Kieran knew it, rain instantly fell from the skies, and he found himself halted, stuck in what he felt like bushes that carried his weight.

The brach appeared to have grown from the side and firmly rooted. As Kieran took a moment to let it all sink in, how a mere bush tree saved his life, the rain continued to pour. It came down so vigorously that the fire below was put out. Instead, hot steamed covered the creator, and the entire top had no visibility.

"Yah! Yah!" Kieran heard Caspian make noises as if he was assaulting someone or something above, but later on, he realized that the prince was destroying the fire root plants.

Kieran studied his surroundings, but no matter how he opened his eyes, all he could see was the mist. Worst, his eyes were still in pain.

His hands tried to feel the earth and later touched an opening to his left. He stretched to the same direction, learning it was a much larger opening. Slowly, he climbed sideways, checking further how big the hole was.

He wasn't sure how much longer the bush could hold his weight. After all, he was a massive man. Thus, he took a leap of faith and made his way to the unknown entrance. He then recognized that it was a small cave.

Kieran did not know how long he

stayed there, but as the minutes passed, he felt utterly defeated. He was certain Caspian had already destroyed all the fire root plants. Then, he was worried for his men For their sake, he hoped they had stayed put. Attempting to save him would be futile, and they would only fall into the crater where more danger awaited them. Although the fire was put out, the crater's center would still be at boiling point, enough to kill any creature upon contact.

Hours passed. Kieran realized he had fallen asleep inside the small cave. When his eyes fluttered open, the skies were fog had already cleared. He tried to peek above the cave, but he saw no one. At least, in his view, no one was in his line of sight. Kieran thought about climbing back up, but it was too steep and dangerous. He turned into the cave's depths and decided to explore it, see where it might lead.

It was dark, but crystals guided his way. Nearly half an hour later, he made it to part of the cave where more crystals had grown. Not too far, he saw a flock of light. It was so bright that it was blinding. Still, he persisted on the same path.

Little by little, he felt the light become tolerable. He saw crystals sparkling in the dark, and around it was like a plantation of fire root plants that could heal a thousand men.

Kieran felt the weight on his chest lift, and tears stung his eyes. His king could be saved in the end.