Protect Me, Alpha King

I was stuck. With no way to get away from King Maxxwell's hold. It seemed like he was aware of what I was doing and his grip tightened.

Damn it.

I cannot break away?

How can I break away?

It was then that I realized I could not. Was he afraid that I would run away and stop going with him to the palace? Or was he only making sure that I will do the end of my deal since he did the same? I sighed.

Regardless of the reason, I was not comfortable being with him. He was scary.

"Your Highness," I whispered under my breath.

"Zenith..."

I froze. A woman's name? Who could that be? Or was he only dreaming and calling a random name?

No.

He called the name with so much passion as if he knew her deeply.

Curiosity got ahead of me and waited for him to say something more. Something that would give me more information about the woman.

"F-forgive me...It was my fault."

King Maxxwell trashed and released me from his hold. Sweat soaked his forehead and clutched his chest as if he was in pain. He groaned and moaned.

"Don't leave," he whispered.

His voice was pleading. Who was the woman named Zenith? Was he his mate? As far as I remembered from the servant talks, the alpha king was unmated. Or was it only something that the kingdom spread? Maybe he has paired already with someone?

I shook my head. It was no longer my concern. I had to get away from him. It was better to sleep on the cold floor than beside him.

Using the chance, I was on the verge of jumping off the bed when he suddenly grabbed my hands. "Don't go, Zenith. I don't want to lose you anymore.”

Was this Zenith woman his lover before? Or was his mistress? Ugh. Too confusing!

"Please let me go, Your Highness. I am not Zenith," I said. I tried to break free from him. But he wouldn't budge.

Instead of listening to me, he pulled me closer to his body and hugged me. Can't breathe. I put both of my hands on his broad chest and pushed him away but nothing happened. King Maxxwell was too strong.

"I miss you."

I stilled when tears suddenly came out of his eyes. All because of that woman? I thought an alpha king was devoid of any emotions.

"My heart is constantly calling for you, Zenith."

I checked his eyes. Closed. He was still sleeping. It seemed like it was real. The crying and the nightmare.

And why would he even cry and show it to a servant like me? This was all true. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"Shhh. Don't cry. I am here,” I heard myself say, feeling guilty. My heart went towards him. King Maxxwell was not the type of man who would show his vulnerability against other people whom he did not trust. And if he found out that I was seeing this other side of him, he would kill me instantly. Without a doubt.

Despite that, I could not fathom leaving him like this.

I wiped the tears from his eyes.

He snuggled closer to my hand as if he was seeking solace. He looked like a child who was hungry for his mother's attention.

We were like that for how many hours and the next thing I knew, darkness succumbed to me.

The sun was already shining brightly when I woke up. I was instantly on my feet when I realized my mistake. I was a slave and I should never wake up late. Alpha Erik would kill me if he found I was not yet working late.

I fell on the floor with my bum first and heard someone chuckling. I looked at the source and found King Maxxwell, sitting on his chair, with a king aura.

I straightened myself.

Damn it!

"Y-your Highness. My apologies for waking up late. It was not my intention to—"

His eyes turned serious.

"Why did you wake up late?" he asked, cutting off my words. "I don't want to wait for my personal slave when to awaken. I loathed that. You should serve me the moment I wake every single day, River."

I nodded. "I understand, Your Highness. I will not do it again.”

"So why did you sleep late?" he pressed once more.

I stared into his eyes. Could I tell him that it was because he had some nightmares and that it was I who consoled him as he clutched my hands into his bare chest?

"Why are you hesitating? Did you meet Alpha Erik while I was asleep?”

Meeting Alpha Erik? There was no way I had a rendezvous with that bastard.

I looked at him, horrified. "No, Your Highness! I never did that. It's just...I could not sleep peacefully if I am not in my bed," I lied.

As if he did not hear my explanations, he said, "River. Let me tell you that you are now forbidden to approach Alpha Erik without my knowing. What I hated the most are traitors. Do you understand?" Why would I even approach Alpha Erik when I also hated him? I was not desperate for him to accept me. The purpose of selling myself to the alpha king would be futile if I will only offer myself to Alpha Erik.

I pressed my lips together. Defending myself was out of the equation.

"Yes, Your Highness. Point taken.”

"Good. Prepare yourself. We will now be going back to the kingdom.”

"Y-your kingdom? D-does Alpha Erik know about this, Your Highness?"

"I can do whatever I want. I have more hold on you than him. Why do you ask, River? Do you want to go back to him and ask him to accept you as his mate?"

I gulped and shook my head. "It is not like that, Your Highness. Rejection is irreversible. And if ever Alpha Erik regretted his decision of rejecting me, I would not accept him again.”

King Maxxwell smiled and walked towards me. I secretly sniff him. He smelled of aftershave and shampoo. And he had already taken a bath while I, on the other hand, was still dirty. Wait. Did I even smell, right now?

"Good. You will not accept him again, understood? You are mine now, River Williams. Mine alone.”

I shivered at his words, but could not help but ask myself why he was possessive of me when in fact we were not mates. We were not mates, right?