Protect Me, Alpha King

I inhaled sharply and turned around. King Maxxwell was up, his eyes darting all around.

"River," he uttered again. This time with urgency.

"Your Highness!" I exclaimed as my heart hammered against my chest. Did he find what I just did? Did he realize it was I who healed him?

Relax, River. It is too soon to panic.

He heaved himself out of the body. He moaned. Because of the pain from his side? But I healed him. I rushed to his side, and snaked my arms around his waist, helping him stand on his feet.

Ugh. Too heavy. He looked like a giant compared to me.

"Why did I suddenly feel light?" he asked with a confused look on his face.

I chuckled nervously.

"Perhaps...the pack doctor did an amazing job of healing you, Your Highness. That's why you feel that way."

He observed himself and without further ado, yanked the medical gauze out from his body. Looking downward, I stared at his left side...

Both of us looked at his wound. Just as I expected. The only thing that was left was the long scar.

I smiled inwardly and patted myself for doing a great job.

"It's healed?"

"The pack doctor is the best, Your Highness. I suggest you raise his rank.”

He threw the cloth to the floor.

"How did you know the pack doctor tended me when during that time, you fainted, River?"

I shifted the weight to the other side of my foot. Damn. I should be careful with my words now. "It's merely my guess, Your Highness. It is a tradition in my pack that if someone was injured, we would always call the pack doctor.”

"That's the first thing to do. Actually.”

His eyes squinted, not really believing my statement even if I was telling the truth. No one knew I could heal. If Alpha Erik knew about it, he would use me and force me to heal our packmates who were on the verge of dying. I was not saying I did not want to save them. I just did not want to be taken advantage of.

King Maxxwell released a sigh. "You have a point.”

I beamed at him.

"Where will you go now, Your Highness?" I asked, changing the topic of our conversation. The more I lie, the more I will be caught.

"Bring me my clothes. I will attend a meeting with my council.”

Ow. That would be great. Then, I will have the chance of roaming around the palace. I vow to start a new life and never allowed anyone to trample me. And the first thing I would do was to gain the servant's affection. And if I succeed in that, they will defend me.

I clenched my fist.

My lips pressed into a thin line. I will rise to the top so that they will look at me and respect me. "What are you thinking, River? And where are my clothes?"

I jumped at his voice and realized I was still in front of him. Not moving. "Oh! Forgive me, Your Highness. I will look for your clothes.”

I did not know where he put his clothes. This was my first time in this room. Left with no choice, I opened every door I saw, scampered, and went to his cabinet and was welcomed and overwhelmed with his expensive suits, vests, t-shirts, and everything I could think of. My eyes widened as I felt the softness of each fabric. There were also military clothes and crowns safely hidden inside.

Wow.

"Hurry up! What are you even doing there?" King Maxxwell's roared.

"Right away, Your Highness!" I grabbed whatever thing my hand could grasp and rushed towards his side.

Breathing heavily, I offered the clothes to him. One long navy blue jacket and the same color of trouser.

"Here it is, Your Highness. Sorry for the long wait."

He glared at me.

"Your mind is always elsewhere, River. Do you want to return to Alpha Erik?"

I stepped back, waving my hand like crazy. "No, no, Your Highness. I don't want to return to Haverstone Pack. I want it here."

"Is that true or are you merely letting me hear what I wanted to hear?"

"It is what my heart desires, Your Highness. Nothing else. I want to serve you because I believe I can do well with you."

"I will watch for that. Put the clothes on my body."

I cross my arms across myself. My gaze shifted all around the areas of the room.

"What? But—"

"Are you saying no, River?"

I snapped my head in his direction. "No, Your Highness."

"Put it on my body.”

Against my will, I slipped the long jacket into his body and buttoned everything.

"Next. The trousers."

I shifted my weight from side to side. "Your Highness..."

"Now!"

I flinched at his voice and looked down only to see he was only wearing his underwear.

My cheek burned in humiliation. Why didn’t the servants put anything down there?

And why did it suddenly feel so hot?

I glanced up and met his gaze. His eyebrows were raised, waiting for me to slip his trousers into his body.

"Can't you do it yourself, Your Highness?" I asked. I may be a servant at Haverstone Pack but never did I experience clothing with someone, not even a man!

Scowling, he asked, "You're saying no to the alpha king? May I remind you that you permitted yourself to be my personal servant in exchange for helping you?"

"And to look for my parents and mark me, Your Highness," I added.

I bit my lower lip as I realized what I had said. I needed to take command of my tongue. "Did I say too much, Your Highness?"

Without even saying anything, His Majesty strolled towards me. I held my breath as I waited for what he would do.

My heart beat so loudly that it seemed I was becoming deaf.

King Maxxwell lifted my chin, forcing me to gaze at his tantalizing eyes.

"What did you say, River?"

Swallowing greedily, I answered, "I am solely reminding you of the deal that took place between us, Your Highness."

"Marking you, you say? For what purpose? Do you even know what it means to mark someone to us werewolves? Or are you a fool for asking me that one?"

The softness of my mounds pressed into him and I could feel the beating of his heart. It was steady and felt like a melody in my ears. Unlike mine which was beating frantically.

I looked down. "Marking means you take me as yours."

Why was he hesitating? The servants said that he had a lot of harem with him. I was certain they also have marks on their necks—a sign that would make other men back off from them.

"And you still insist on marking you?" He shook his head. "You are a fool. I would never mark anyone unless she is my mate. You are not."

I gritted my teeth. "But you promised, Your Highness. Why is it easy for you to break your promises?"

"I said I will do it. But not now. I will fulfill it if my mind changes. However, at this moment, I stick to my desire of marking only my mate.”

He turned his back to me.

Oh. Do not go yet, Your Highness. We are not yet done talking.

"An alpha king doesn’t break his promises,” I announced. "You should be true to your words, Your Highness. How will your people believe in your words if you yourself did not know to honor our promises?”

The alpha king rotated one hundred eighty degrees and faced me again.

King Maxxwell's eyes glinted dangerously. He squeezed himself into my body and I could not help but step back until my back hit the cold wall.

"You are the only one who possesses this kind of foolishness, River."

Instead of getting intimidated, I said, "It is not foolishness, Your Highness, but being true to our words."

"Finding your real parents is okay. But marking you? A child?"

"I am no longer a child. I am at my legal age."

He scoffed. "Still a child to me."

His breath fanned against mine. And the next thing he did, he leaned on me and rested his face on the hollow of my neck.

I felt his teeth scraping my soft flesh.

"Is this what you want me to do, River?" he asked and licked my skin. I felt his teeth elongate.

My heart jumped. Excitement and nervousness rushed through me.

Would he really bite me?