Protect Me, Alpha King

I sighed in the end. No matter how much we debated whether Zenith was alive, no one could verify it. The hopeless romantic alpha king was still searching for her. And if he found her, what would happen to me? She was his personal servant in the first place. Would the woman allow it if I continued serving the alpha king? Or will she get jealous about it?

You are thinking about that when you are not sure if she is alive?

I wish she were dead.

I stiffened at my train of thought.

Now, now. Where did that evil thoughts come from? I may be a liar, but I did not wish for someone to die. The idea was not coming from me. Alright?

Zenith was the only one who knew if she was alive or not.

"If she is alive, will the other nobles accept her now?" If they won't, will the alpha king release a decree about that? "Such a headache, right? It's not our business to pry into Alpha King's Maxxwell private life.”

He gave me a half-shrug. "It isn't, River. We are nothing but His Majesty's followers. The best thing we could do is support him.” Support his happiness with Zenith? Why did it bring tiny prickles of pain to my heart? Foolishness. That's what it was. The kiss we shared was the reason for that— causing me confusion.

"You are so curious about Zenith that you do not remember Alpha King Maxxwell ordering his people not to talk about her. We will be punished if the alpha king knows about this.”

I drew a couple of breaths and released it. The magnificent scenery straight ahead did not do a fine job of soothing my heart.

"Is he still looking for her?" I mumbled.

"I have no idea. He is usually out of the palace to check the borders. According to the beta and delta. Who knows, it might also be his chance to look for the woman."

"Just like now," I continued.

Elijah nodded. "I wanted him to get tired of searching for her so that he could move on and find his second-chance mate. All of us wanted a Luna. A queen who will bring happiness in his eyes."

I fell into deep thought.

I wanted to go after him and see if he was searching for Zenith.

"Let it go, River."

"What?"

"Let's give her peace.”

"My mind won't stop thinking about her."

"Perhaps it's your jealousy talking. You like the alpha king. Please don't deny it. Most of the women like him to begin with. He was full of charisma. Plus, he is the alpha king. Women want to rule beside him. They want everything he can offer. Most of the time wanted him to impregnate them and bear him a child so that they would be a concubine.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line. Lies. I did not like the alpha king. I only wanted the power he owned, and I used it for myself, to my advantage.

Elijah clicked his tongue. "So much for that. Why don't you join me in buying something, River?” Momentarily letting go of that woman, I scratched my brows. "Where could that be, Sir Elijah?" "The marketplace.”

The marketplace. It was said that the place offered a lot of fine goods for the customers. "But...what if the alpha king will look for me?"

He chuckled. "River. When did you start considering His Majesty's feelings?”

I sighed. Sometimes, I forget to consider the repercussions of my actions and follow what I want to do.

"Okay. Led the way, Sir Elijah. Maybe he will arrive in the evening.”

Elijah brought me to the Great Stable of the Palace, showing me the horses His Majesty owned. All I could do was watch in awe as we waited for the servant who would bring us the horse. And after a couple of minutes, the servant brought a white saddle horse.

"The saddle horses are perfectly trained for hunting and war, River. Some are given as gifts for the alpha king, and some were bought from the neighboring kingdoms," Elijah explained, his eyes twinkling as he looked at the approaching horse. "There are also mounts and coach horses. We have seen the vehicles earlier.”

Yeah. I saw the sleds and gondolas on standby. There were also equestrians around the courtyard. More or less, all the workers here were a thousand.

"We are riding on a horse?" I asked a couple of times. It stood a little higher than me, and at first sight, I fell in love with its white color, which reminded me of the clouds I had seen earlier.

My hands were itching to touch their glorious body, but I stopped myself. Horses choose people.

A servant held the reins on the horse's right side to keep it still while the prince checked the horse. As I observed them, they looked like couples who just saw each other. Elijah held both sides of the horse's cheeks while the horse rested its forehead on Elijah. What a sweet couple.

As if the horse knew I was looking at it, its nostrils elongated, and its ears were slightly aback.

"Hey. Easy there. River is our friend, Leah," Elijah said while laughing. “I brought her here so the two of you would meet each other.”

I stepped forward, but the horse shook its head.

"What's the matter, Sir Elijah? Does the horse not like me?”

"She will accept you. She's just slightly annoyed right now. But no worries. She follows and listens to me. Right, my Leah?"

Oh, great. Even the horse did not like me at first sight.

"If that's the case, perhaps we will choose another one?" I suggested, which earned me a glare from Leah. This horse was acting like Nora, I told my mind.

The horse put her head on Elijah's hand.

Looking at the fine horse, he announced, "The marketplace place is a little far from here, River. And besides, I also wanted to show you some of the best places in the palace. You haven't toured around the place, right?"

I played with my hand. I had not. The only place I had gone so far was the alpha king's chamber, the dungeon, and the West Wing.

"Sir Elijah..why would you want me to tour around?" I asked, hesitant. "I am a slave. The others would think you are playing favorites. They may get mad at me. We can go directly to the marketplace, Sir Elijah. We can walk. Or you can ride while I walk.”

He beamed and said, "You are my favorite of all, River," he answered casually. "Walking will only tire you. After a few hours of studying, you need a break.”

My heart thumped at his declaration. Was I his favorite? Why? The nobles rarely like me. I did not know why. At Haverstone Pack, I was always on the best of my behavior for them to like me. So that I would receive less punishment, but...I always failed to grab their attention. But now, when I no longer wanted it, Elijah was giving his attention to me.

I did not want to think that he liked me. Out of the equation. He said then that he was only interested in the woman tattooed on his back

My gaze shifted back to the male servant beside him, but his eyes were focused on the horse.

"You flatter me so much, Sir Elijah. Careful, or I may believe it."

"Elijah, River. Call me by that name. I insist. You made me look like I am the oldest male here.”

I gulped when my heart jumped again.

Stupid heart. Why would I feel this way toward the prince? He had done nothing but kindness. I should never mix it with anything.

"Cause you are," I answered back.

Elijah's eyes widened. "I'm only in my thirties.”

"Sounds old to me," I responded. "Let's do it, Elijah. I want to know what this palace could offer.” "You're ordering a noble, River," he teased. An enslaved person ordering a noble was prohibited, but it seemed like Elijah was not the type to follow the law usually. Especially when it comes to Zenith, he became unusually chatty if the topic of the conversation was about that woman. Besides, I was at peace at his side. It made me feel as if I was a free woman.

Elijah patted the body of the horse. "Let's show River how wonderful the palace is, Leah,” he whispered and mounted the horse as fast as lightning.

My mouth formed an o.

Excitement rushed through me. It had been one of my dreams to ride a horse, but the situation did not permit it.

Elijah offered his hand toward me. And damn. He emitted the prince's aura. He looked like a real place as he held the reins in his hand while his foot was on the stirrup. "Here. Grab my hand, River." I looked at his hand. This man was the friendly type without even thinking that a woman would easily fall in love with him because of that. And damn it. I didn't particularly appreciate how my heart beat faster around him.

"Scared?" he teased when I did not move.

"Riding a horse is a piece of cake, Elijah," I lied. Without wasting any more time, I grabbed his hand, felt his calloused hand, and instantly sat back at his back.

When I was on the horse's back, Leah neighed and raised her feet as if she was throwing a tantrum. She was suddenly moving unnecessarily, and as a result, I wrapped my arms around Elijah’s waist, afraid that I would fall on the ground.

"Perhaps she doesn't want me to ride her, Elijah?" I asked with hesitation. "She may throw me in the middle of the road. I don't want to die yet."

The servant stepped back and watched the two of us.

Elijah chuckled while trying his best to appease Leah.

"Leah can sometimes be possessive of me and doesn't want any females riding her when I am with her," he answered casually. "But she will get used to your presence, River."

As much as I wanted to step back, I could not.

Was I riding a jealous horse?

"Just let me step down, Elijah. I changed my mind. I can walk on my own.”

The horse neighed, swished her tail, and lifted her hind look.

Oh, great. Everything showed signs that Leah was angry with me riding with Elijah.

"Elijah!" I exclaimed when the horse suddenly ran without her master's commands.

"Take it easy, Leah!" Elijah commanded. But from my point of view, she was not listening to her lover boy. She wanted me dead.