Protect Me, Alpha King

Excitement was killing me as I prepared myself for the alpha king's bite.

I clenched my fist.

Finally. After this, I would carry the mark of the alpha king and would proudly wear it like a trophy. The people would look at me with envy and some with hate. I did not care about the latter. They could hate me as much as they want. What mattered most would be the alpha king's mark.

The mark will also save me from anyone's bullying. They will no longer hurt me.

Staying quiet and kind will not save me from anyone's wickedness. Being cunning and using my brain would help me.

King Maxxwell stopped mid-air. I felt his fangs retract, licked my neck, and rested his forehead against mine.

"Your Highness, is there something wrong?" I queried.

"Do you really think I will mark you, River? Do you take me as a fool? I've been serving the throne for a long time, not needing a Luna with me. What made you think I would change my mind just because you came along? Huh?" he spat.

My blood went cold.

Did he just tease me? He played with my emotions.

That makes the two of you even, River. You are going to use him.

"W-what a cruel thing to do, Your Highness."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "It's your fault for expecting too much, River. My decision remains the same." He stepped backward and extended his hands. "What are you waiting for? Resume.”

I clenched my fist. I regretted healing him! I really did!

"Understood, Your Highness," I finally said and slipped his trousers into his body. "Done."

"There. You can do it fast, yet you are not compliant earlier,” he taunted. "Acting shy."

"What do you want me to do next, Your Highness?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Accompany me to my meeting with the Council.”

I snapped my head towards him. "But, Your Highness."

"You will join me. End of discussion. It's already time.”

He buttoned his trousers while I stepped backward.

What will I do with the meeting? Serve them coffee? Tea? Drinks? Or act as their secretary? But I am freaking illiterate!

He glanced at my clothes and up at my hair. As if on habit, I flattened my hair to no avail. "Fix yourself."

l. Am. Trying.

"What about my clothes, Your Highness? I will serve as your face. I cannot go looking like this.”

I was still wearing the same clothes I wore on our trip.

"Servants!"

In a snap of a finger, a knock was heard from the door and it burst open followed by two servants. "Yes, Your Highness," they said in unison. "Your Highness, do your wound not hurt at all?"

"It's healed already.”

"That fast?" they said all together.

"Yes."

"Thank the heavens, Your Highness. The people, your people are deeply worried about your current state.”

"You can tell them it's healed."

The more I listened to their exchanges, the more I recognized the voice! They were the same voice who was backstabbing me earlier!

"Choose something that would fit, River. I will be having a meeting with the Council. She will join me. I want her to be as presentable as possible.”

They bowed. "Understood, Your Highness. We will be back in a minute,” they said at the same time as if they were sharing the same mind.

How interesting.

"Do something about her red hair. It looks wild just like her. Fixed it. Do something about it."

The two looked like twins with similarities in the color of their eyes—chocolate brown and their high nose stifled a laugh while mouthing to each other, "Wild as her." But they became serious when King Maxxwell gave them the look. One was a brunette and the other one was a blonde.

I fixed my hair in an attempt to remedy the unruly thing. To no avail. King Maxxwell was right. It was wild.

"I can do it myself, Your Highness."

The alpha king dismissed his hand. "Do it then, River. The two of you, go."

In a hurried look, the two stepped out of the chamber.

"Who are they, Your Highness?" I asked when they were gone.

"Clara and Flare. Twins. Fraternal. Been serving me for nearly two decades. Unmated.”

I was right in my assumptions. What was interesting was the alpha king knew their names. Alpha Erik rarely memorized the name of his servants, telling his subordinates it was pointless. He said that it was no longer necessary. That bastard.

"And they did not bother to buy their freedom?" I inquired.

Slaves can buy their freedom if their masters will allow it. At a given price. It can be an exchange of money. Treasures. Land. Or whatever the two parties had agreed.

"They did not."

"Will you give them their independence if they want to?" I pressed even more.

"Questions, River. Are you an investigator?”

I nibbled my lower lips. "Forgive me for asking too many questions, Your Highness. It is because since I will be serving you, I should learn a lot as fast as I can.”

"And you will serve as my face, River. Whatever you do will reflect me."

I nodded.

I excused myself and looked for my brush. I was glad when I instantly found my bag lying on the bedside table and fished out my comb.

I winced when some parts of my hair untangled and muttered I would just cut them myself to spare myself from my misery.

"Don't cut your hair," His Highness muttered.

"Fixing it will take a lot of time, Your Highness."

"It's beautiful.”

I stopped combing and gawked at him. Everyone thought my hair was not to their liking. The volume was massive and the curls were too small when in fact it wasn't. Despite that, I loved my hair, but the people's opinions about it also influenced my way of thinking and in the long run, treated it as a hassle until the alpha king said another thing.

"You think so, Your Highness?"

He looked away and stared outside, folding his arms in front of his chest, and went into silent mode. My heart danced happily at his statement and it was enough to boost my confidence.

I braided my hair and it reached the middle of my waist. And right after I was done, the twins—Clara and Flaere entered with beautiful blue-green dresses.

"Here it is, Your Highness."

"Put it into her."

"You will definitely love this, Miss—"

"River. Call me River and I am also a servant just like you. I am His Highness's personal slave.” "Ow," they said in unison and stared at each other. "Anyways, you will love this dress. It will fit perfectly on your body."

With light steps, they strolled towards me, grinning. Then they grabbed both the hemline of my dress, and lifted it, but stopped them.

"Wait!" I said.

They looked at each other, with deep scowls. "What's the matter, River?" It was Clara.

My eyes darted at the alpha king's seat. They easily understood and put the hemline back.

I cleared my throat when the alpha king continued to stare outside. "Your Highness...”

As if they knew what I would say, the twins shook their heads, stopping me from what I would say. However, I was quite stubborn not to follow them and insisted on calling the alpha king's attention. "Your Highness..."

The alpha king looked at me. "What?" he barked. "Why are you not done, yet?"

"Can you go outside?" I asked.

The twins gawked at me as if I uttered the most foolish word

The alpha king's eyes glinted. "This is my room, River."

"I know but I will change my clothes.”

He stood. The twins retreated, but I held my ground. "You want to order me to go outside while you dress? Is that it, River?"

I grinned at him. "Yes, Your Highness. It is not fit to order the alpha king but I don't want to take off my clothes when you are still here..."

"This chamber has its own changing room. You can do it there, River."

I chuckled, glancing at the twins who turned pale just by looking at us. What's the matter with them?

"I see. Forgive me, Your Highness. I have a lot of things to do—"

In an instant, the alpha king punched the wall beside us. "Know your place, River. I do not like the way you are acting. You're not my mate.”

I was left aghast.

"I don't want to be your mate either, Your Highness," I answered back.