Protect Me, Alpha King

“All, rise in honor of the alpha king!”

They rose from their seats and bowed to him.

“You can settle now.”

The alpha king sat in front of them while I was beside him, gawking at them.

The alpha king's council was composed of two men and two gorgeous women each possessing their uniqueness. One man was clad in all black. His cape was adorned by the faces of men. I did not know if they were real or not, but they seemed genuine in my eyes. Was it only me who saw the faces eyes keep glancing around?

The second one looked like a prince. Or perhaps he was one. I did not know. The other female was garbed in all pink. A mask found on her face was that of a werewolf and beside her was a real wolf who looked like it was glaring at me, baring its pointed teeth. How could I see she was a woman? It was not because of the color pink on her clothes but because of the intricate designs of her dress. The other woman was dressed in all white and on her side was a bow while the arrow was on her back. A warrior.

“Do not mind her presence. She is my personal servant. Her name is River from Haverstone Pack.” “Is that necessary, Your Highness? I thought you already stopped having one when Zenith—"

At the mention of the name, King Maxxwell's face darkened. He punched the table. The wine in each of their glasses danced.

The wolf at the woman's side retreated sensing the alpha king's anger.

“I-l am sorry, Your Highness,” the woman said. She tried to calm her wolf by brushing its furs using her fingers.

“Payton! Watch your mouth! If you do not want to be an additional decoration on my cape, you will shut your mouth.”

The woman named Payton shut her mouth while the other woman, the warrior, was closely watching her.

“Noah. It was merely a slip of the tongue,” Payton said. “Besides, I already uttered my apologies to the alpha king.”

The one who was called Noah, who wore a cape answered back. “There are laws we must abide by. We are not excluded from following them just because we are the Council,” he scolded.

He looked like a father scolding his child.

She rolled her eyes at Noah. “I said I am sorry already. You talk too much, Noah,” Payton answered again.

The prince pushed the wine glasses in front of the two.

“Oh, Noah. The day is still young. You do not have to be furious now,” the prince announced, grinning. Among the four, he was the only one who I will most likely talk to. The rest, I think I should gather more courage to do so. “We will only scare the alpha king's servant.”

"You shut your mouth, Elijah,” Noah exclaimed. “It is not your time to talk now.”

Ow. His name was Elijah. The name fitted him right.

Elijah muttered under his breath saying how stern Noah could be.

“That's enough for now. We will start the meeting, Noah.”

Everyone settled back to their seats. It was a long table with the king situated at the top.

I shifted my weight from side to side. My presence was not needed here. Why would His Highness bring me into this room? Because of me, they only quarreled with each other.

“Everyone. Her name is River. I chose her as my personal assistant after quite some time. I thought everyone would agree to what I had decided.”

I did not think it was necessary to announce my name to them. I was nothing but a servant.

The warrior princess asked, “It's not to pry your personal life, Your Highness, but you can handle it now? After what happened?”

My gaze kept darting at them.

They were using cryptic conversations. The only thing that would never be erased from my mind was the name Zenith. Wasn't it the same name His Highness had uttered when he was having a nightmare?

There was no way I would be mistaken. It was Zenith.

I wanted this meeting to end and will ask the twins about Zenith. Perhaps they knew about Zenith. “It was already a long time ago. Besides, River will be training to become stronger. She will become my sword and shield. She vowed to lay down her life.”

Just like what we had talked about in the coach. I did not know if I was prepared to die or not. But one thing was for sure. I will not die without knowing my parent's identity and taking revenge against Alpha Erik for rejecting me.

“Your Highness," the warrior princess said. I better get her name later. I liked her. She looked strong in my eyes. How I wished I could be like her.

"As a warrior myself, River does not possess the ability to do that. She lacks agility and will. If there is an attack, she will run first with her tail behind her legs. If you are looking for your sword and shield, your warriors will do a great job.”

“Vivian... I will train her myself.”

Their eyes widened at his declaration.

"Your Highness, I can do it myself,” Payton volunteered. “You are already busy enough to handle the kingdom affairs.”

“And risk spilling out the secrets? Not a chance, Payton,” Noah interjected.

Payton stuck out her tongue at Noah. They looked like a child, always bickering.

“I volunteer, Your Highness,” the prince said.

“Not you, Elijah. You will only flirt with her,” Noah said again. “The best candidate would be Vivian.” “She is. But I want to train her personally.”

I fisted the hemline of my dress. They had more serious things to talk about, but they talked about me.

Wanting to put them on track, I raised my hands.

King Maxxwell's frown deepened. “What is it, River?”

“Can I have a say on this, Your Highness?”

The prince nodded while wearing a smile as if he was urging me to continue and not mind the stares coming from the other members.

"You always have something on your mind, River,” the alpha king muttered massaging the back of his neck. "Hurry up. Tell me what is on your mind.”

What will I say again?

My mind suddenly was blank. However, I felt the words at the tip of my tongue, but could not remember what it was.

“River?”

“N-nothing, Your Highness. I forgot what I would say.”

King Maxxwell gave me a bored look. “If that's the case, the meeting will start now.”

Their topic was again about the rogue werewolves. From what they had talked about, the enemies were advancing in the northern part of the kingdom. Some warriors were already in the area, trying to control them. Aside from that, I also learned that each member of the council was assigned to different parts of the kingdom's territory. The prince was monitoring the East. Vivian was in the west. Payton on the South, and Noah on the North.

The more I listened to their discussion, the heavier my eyelids became. The alpha king's voice seemed like a lullaby to my ears and I could not help but become sleepy even if I was only standing at his side.

No. I must not succumb to the darkness.

I shook my head, trying to ward off my drowsiness.

However, it was too strong. What was happening? Why did I suddenly feel sleepy?

Must not sleep. River! I chastised myself.

Until my head fell backward and my eyes awakened.

I blinked a couple of times, trying to force myself to keep my eyes awake.

“River.”

I slapped my cheeks a couple of times. The pain drove away my drowsiness.

"Yes, Your Highness!”

I looked at his side and saw his stern expression. His frown worsened even more.

“You. Just. Sleep. In the middle of the meeting.”

I gulped. Did 1?

My drowsiness easily disappears. “I-1 did not, Your Highness. I was merely imagining what happened to the North and the situation of the commoners while you talk," I lied.

“If you did not, can you tell me what time we adjourned the meeting?”

Adjourned? What? What the—

I paled when I saw the Council was already gone. How did it happen? I only sleep a wink. Right? "Do you remember you are my face, River?” King Maxxwell asked calmly.

Damn it. Why did I doze again?

"Y-Your Highness. It was not my intention to—"

“I need to teach you a lesson, River.”