Protect Me, Alpha King

I backed to the corner as King Max advanced towards me. My heart hammered against my chest as I gazed at him.

What will he do now?

What did I get into again? I asked myself. It felt like I was suddenly in a lion's den. I felt like I was the prey and he was the hunter.

I hesitated. "You're scaring me, Your Highness," I could not help but say.

I stopped when my back hit the wall. Dead end. Breathing was getting difficult.

"That's what I am doing, River,” he whispered against my ears. "You're a lamb who did not know what she was doing when she entered the wolf's den. It was your desire to have revenge on Alpha Erik. Without even knowing what kind of person I am. Your thirst for your revenge drives you to me." It was true. I had a little knowledge about the alpha king and all of them were rumors from the servants themselves. Baseless rumors without proof of their authenticity.

I had zero interaction with him.

"I know the rumors are true, Your Highness."

I squinted when he suddenly imprisoned me with his arms. His sweet spicy scent hit my nose.

I wobbled.

"Tell me about those rumors, River," he whispered. His voice sent shivers in my spine.

The back of my hair stood. As he continued staying closer to me.

Why did King Maxxwell smell so good?

"The rumors said that you are compassionate and kind, Your Highness. I told myself before that they were not true. That you are ruthless and cold. But after you showed me your kindness by helping me to show Alpha Erik that he was wrong," I lied.

"Compassionate and kind?" he asked.

I looked away when I could no longer stare at his intense gaze.

"Y-you are, Your Highness. You prove this tonight."

I put my hands behind my back.

"A-am I wrong, Your Highness?"

I was expecting that he would catch my lies. However, he suddenly threw back his head and laughed. Tears came out from his eyes laughing too much.

And all I could do was stare at him.

When he suddenly finished, he looked at me. "You're young and innocent. You don't know what you are talking about. I am ruthless. Cold. Domineering. And all the negative adjectives you could think of, that's me. Stop your delusions, River."

I was right with my hunch. But I had to gain his favor.

He put a safe distance between us.

"I will know you better when I serve you in the palace, Your Highness. To the best of my ability. Then I can see for myself which among them are true or false.”

He cocked his eyebrow. "True or false? You reminded me of the times when I was studying when I was young."

I envy him. He had the chance to study, while I do not. I was glad when I could write the letters of my name, but I cannot read.

If 1 tell him I want to study, will he approve or not?

Right before I gathered my guts to ask him if I could study or not, he said, "Let's call it a night.”

He went to the bed, while I was still clutching the clothes to my chest. He cocked his brow when he saw I wasn't moving.

"What are you doing? Won't you sleep?”

"I will guard you, Your Highness. I will make sure no one will assassinate you." After all, that was my main role in his life. Why he accepted me as his personal slave.

"I have my warriors with me, River. They will strike whenever it is needed. Sleep. I need you to wake up early in the morning.”

"Could I at least change my clothes?" I asked.

"You can. Do whatever you like. I don't care.”

I hastily went to the bathroom and changed into a plain white t-shirt and shorts. My cheeks flushed when I saw a fresh set of underwear with the right size. Did Alpha Erik prepare it for me?

I shook my head. Perhaps no. His arrogance won't allow him. Maybe he asked a servant to get this from my room.

After checking myself that I am ready to face the alpha king again, I stepped outside and saw him on his bed under the fuzzy blanket.

The bed was already good for two people. Where will I sleep now?

"Hurry up, River. And turn off the light."

"Yes, Your Highness."

I went to the switch and turned it off. Moving the darkness was no problem to me. I could perfectly see. I was thankful that despite my lack of wolf, I had other wolf abilities.

I grabbed an extra blanket and pillow and put it on the floor.

"What are you doing?" King Maxxwell, asked.

I froze and looked at him. "I will sleep on the floor, Your Highness."

"Why? There is a vacant space beside me."

I gaped at him.

Sleeping beside the alpha king? Was that even acceptable?

"What? You suddenly lost the guts to sleep beside me when you even permitted me to kiss you? Or are you just afraid I would do something to you?"

I admitted that it was because I was driven by my anger and hurt toward his rejection. But now, I was suddenly embarrassed.

"It's not like that, Your Highness."

"Why are you acting ashamed, River? As far as I remembered, you even offered yourself to me. So sleeping beside me should never be a problem. Am I right?"

Not wanting to argue with him anymore, I slowly walked to his bed and crawled in it. I positioned nearly on the edge of the bed, afraid our skin would touch.

King Maxxwell threw an irritated sigh and I yelped when he suddenly dragged me towards the comfort of his body. "This is what I am referring to, River. I am not always patient.”

I froze. "Understood, Your Highness. I will be alert from now on.”

"When you are in my presence, I want you to think as sharp as you could or the others would use that against you.”

"Y-yes, Your Highness."

"Sleep," he ordered.

I closed my eyes and secretly smelled him. The sandalwood scent coming from him was addicting, but I did not want him to know that I was smelling him like a fool.

Sleeping beside the alpha king was one of the dreams of the other servants, while it was not mine. All I wanted was to spend this day with my mate. This was supposed to be a joyful celebration for entering a legal age, but it did not happen like that.

A couple of minutes passed, and His Highness was already snoring softly. Using the opportunity, I tried to break away from his arms so that I could think clearly now.

However, when I tried to wriggle away from him, his arms around me became tighter and he snuggled on the hollow of my neck.

I stiffened. How could I break away?