Protect Me, Alpha King

29. Do You Want to Know the Truth?

"River. You're sweating. Are you okay?" the twins asked altogether, suspicion in their eyes. "Do you know something about the scandal that happened last night?"

My hands went cold and I couldn't see them in my eyes. The only scandal I knew about was between the alpha king and Nora. Nothing else.

When I did not say anything, the twins pressed, even more, not wanting to be left behind from the juiciest gossip around the palace.

"Hey. Do you want to say something?" they asked. "Say it. We will never confide in a single soul.”

I doubted it since Clara was not the type who would keep her mouth shut. To be safe, it was better to leave them from the spotlight.

I chuckled and glanced sideways. Not really looking at them in their eyes. Damn it. Who was the fool again who spread that gossip? How would I meet Elijah again if our first meeting last night resulted in these kinds of rumors? Did he already know about this? Or not?

"Earth to River? You're staring into space.”

"Maybe the rumors surprise her," Flare suggested.

"Perhaps she is a virgin and her innocent ears cannot grasp the idea behind the rumors. Poor River." They nodded to each other and engulfed me in a bear hug.

Pushing them away, I explained, "I don't think being a virgin is related to the rumor. Besides, Sir Elijah? I don't think a member of the Council would do that in the open. I mean having sex for all the world to see, Clara and Flare. There are a lot of guest rooms in the East Wing. He could choose one. I knew the prince was not that cheap.”

"Prince?"

Their skepticism was growing even more. I gulped. How would I run away from these two? I was afraid that they would see through my lies.

Narrowing their eyes, the twins announced, "He is not a prince, River. He is not even related to the alpha king. The alpha king is an only child and his parents are living in a manor far away from the palace.”

Clearing my throat, I smiled but it looked like a wince. "Is that so? I did not know about that. I see. I have to learn a lot about the palace and its people.”

Damn. Why did I feel guilty when nothing happened between us and Elijah?

I stepped back when the twins leaned closer to me, with no plans of letting me go at the moment. I felt hot all over because of their burning stares which made it awkward.

"Do you know something, River?" they asked altogether. "You're acting differently.”

I faked a chuckle, looking at them straight in their eyes. "Why would I know something? I was guarding the door of the alpha king's chamber last night. I have no time to meet someone. The alpha king above all.”

Clara folded her arms in front of her chest.

"He was busy fucking Nora last night and you guard their door?"

My eyes widened, pretending to be surprised at her excellent choice of words

"F-fucking? That's not a nice word to say, Clara especially if you are talking about the alpha king.” "What do you want me to say then? That they are playing inside the alpha king's chamber? That they are cleaning inside?"

Flare laughed at her twin's statement. "Playing? How funny. That's the last thing they would do, Clara. Nora is the type of woman who loathes cleaning. That's also why she prepared to be in another group—as the alpha king's lover.”

"We felt sorry for you having to guard and listen to their moans, River. You don't have to do that. That would be awkward."

"Indeed, it was. Nora was a..."

"Screamer. We knew."

"Scandalous.

“Improper.”

"Brazen."

"Who thought she was the most beautiful servant of all even if that's not true. At least subjectively.” "Who is secretly in love with the alpha king."

My gaze darted back and forth between the two. What were they talking about?

Pretend to understand what they are talking about, River, so that they would get distracted and will not question you anymore, the other part of my mind said.

"If we were you, I will stop guarding the door when the alpha king is with his woman. Like Nora." They shuddered as if they remembered their past experiences with the woman.

"Excuse me? Are you talking about me?"

We stopped and faced the newcomer. Nora.

My face twisted in disgust as I stared at her, who was wearing a pretentious expression on her face as if she had won a competition and got first place.

"Why are you here?" the twins asked. "The alpha king no longer needed your presence. You can go back to your quarter and look as pretty as you usually do.”

Disgust decorated Nora's face as she looked at the twins.

"Creepy. Can you stop saying the same words at the same time? You're giving me goosebumps.” "Not gonna happen,” the twins exclaimed, smirking at her. "We are twins. Our minds and hearts are interconnected.”

"Not all twins are as creepy as you."

Like a child, the twins stuck their tongue at her.

Tired by looking at the three, I asked, "What do you want, Nora?"

Her eyes glinted and went back to me. "That's my concern, actually. I was silently walking the hallway when I heard my name in your mouths, badmouthing me saying I was a screamer. How scandalous! I am not. I was silent last night.”

"Silent? You looked like you were having a nightmare,” the twins replied and giggled, not believing her while I rolled my eyes at Nora.

"You're not, huh?"

"If there's a screamer it would be Sir Elijah," Nora pointed out.

My heart jumped again.

I thought I already managed to divert the twin's attention from that issue?

"Why? Sir Elijah did not do anything wrong. He only screams when he is in battle, fighting the rogues,” I answered as if I knew everything about him. I did not, but since my name was indirectly dragged into this mess, I had to do everything to settle this one before it would reach the alpha king's attention.

Nora laughed at me.

I wanted to take back the nice things I said about her last night. She was not dignified and proper. Instead, it was only her face that was good, but never her personality.

"Is that what you know?"

"Yeah. What did you know, anyway?" I asked back.

She threw some strands of her hair at her back. "Sir Elijah was seen fucking a woman in the watchtower and the woman's hair is just like yours—curly."

I paled at her announcement. The palace rarely had women who owned curly hair.

The twins laughed, clutching their stomachs while a tear dropped from their eyes.

"W-what? Y-you're saying River is that woman?" they asked, in unison, stuttering. "That was not River. She knows that if she happened to have sex with other men, without telling the alpha king about it, she will be punished. Brutally. The alpha king technically owned her.”

I looked at them, confused. "I did not know about that.”

They straightened and fixed themselves. "The alpha king's personal slave is another level, River. Let's just say the alpha king is possessive about them. And if you happened to like a man, or found your mate, you have to tell him first and he will decide if you will accept him or reject him."

How cruel. I was having a deal with the alpha king without knowing the do's and don'ts?

I was digesting every word they said when Nora said, "Impossible. It was River who was with Sir Elijah. Nothing else. Where could she have been after the alpha king kicked her out of his chamber?"

"I was not kicked out. I excused myself, Nora," I corrected when my ego would not allow me to put myself in an embarrassing situation.

She lifted her chin and said, "They are the same. My mind wouldn't change. That woman was you. I don't know that you're eager to whore yourself to Sir Elijah. I did not know you were that desperate.”

"Hey! Watch your mouth, woman! River is not like that,” the twins defended me. "She's not the best personal slave for the alpha king but at least she’s trying her best."

I appreciate their concerns but this one was my battle.

"Do you want to know the truth, Nora?" I asked and their eyes were suddenly on me.