Protect Me, Alpha King

River Williams

My heart hammered against my chest. Suppose I positioned myself in the wrong place. One single mistake, and I was bathing in my blood by now.

Gulping, I looked up.

The man pulled out the sword, which only meant one thing—they wanted us to die!

Get out! Run! my mind screamed.

I cannot move my fucking feet!

But even if I had to, my foot was already rooted to the ground.

This was no simple robbery. They wanted us dead after robbing us.

The carriage shook, signaling me that whoever it was above, he was already planning for his next attack.

I could no longer hear the surroundings outside. All I could hear was the fast beating of my hands. Move your butt, woman!

The person above moved and mustered all the strength I could carry, and I forced my feet to move. And I did. I managed to get out of the carriage, losing my footing and falling to the ground.

I coughed as I ate the dirt.

Looking up, the coachman was fighting against one of the bandits. They were all huge and muscular compared to the skinny coachman. I did not know if we would be alive after this, but I hoped the alpha king would at least bury my body six feet below the ground.

"River!" Dawn called while fighting against two bandits. "Wait for me!"

I could not wait for her.

Putting both hands on the hot surface, I forced myself to stand, doing whatever I could to help my comrades.

Dawn may be so skinny now, but she never lost her ability to fight.

I clenched my fist.

I wanted to help them. But how?

"Where are you going, milady?" someone asked and grabbed my wrist forcefully. “I'm not yet done with you.”

He forced me to face him. A man with a patch on one of his eyes with a stinky breath. Perhaps he was on the roof trying to stab me with the sword swinging in his hips.

Glaring at him, I tried to break away, but he tightened his hold even more.

"Let me go this instant!"

He smirked, showing me his crooked teeth. "Even in desperate times, a noble still pretend as if her nobility will save her from death.”

Royalty my foot.

I inhaled him. Aside from the pungent smell coming from him, I smelt something. He was human. Perhaps I could fight him. Or not.

Damn. If only the alpha king had forced me to learn swordsmanship or how to fight against the enemies, I would have made him immobile by now.

"What do you want? I will give you what you want. You seemed to be the leader.”

As if you have something to offer, River. Nothing is left for you now. You already had given everything to Henderson.

I knew. But I still had to try.

From the corner of my eyes, Dawn could fight against the two and the coachman. It will be a matter of time before these bastards will overpower them.

"I want you. I don't want your sickly slave.” He was pertaining to Dawn.

Until now, one was fooled into believing I was a noble. The clothes, indeed, were a great help. Dawn was a noble. Not me. But I had to keep it a secret if I didn't want to jeopardize her safety.

Gripping my wrist tightly so I won't run away, he whistled at his comrades as if signaling we were utterly overpowered.

The one fighting Dawn smiled and pulled out his sword on the brink of stabbing Dawn. The man fighting the coachman followed after.

"Stop! I will give you what you want!" I cried. The leader smirked and whistled again, halting his comrades.

My eyes trembled as my chest beat wildly against my ribcage. I wouldn't allow anyone to spill their blood on the ground because of me. I did not deserve it.

"Now, we are talking. Men! Capture them."

"I will do what you want. Just don't harm them.”

One man kicked Dawn on her side, and she fell to the ground. Our eyes met, and I smiled at her, assuring her that I would handle the situation from now on.

Dawn was still weak. No matter how much she tried to help me, she could not yet do it. Her body would never allow it.

"Just don't harm them, and I will be compliant.”

Alpha King Maxxwell

Another day of a futile attempt to search for Zenith. I went to the territories near the rogue, but nothing. No progress. She was nowhere to be seen.

I sighed.

How much longer will I keep on doing this? My body was already sore. I was tired from doing this every single night.

I looked at the sky.

Denaro was on edge, wanting to be out, but I did not allow him.

"You must retire to your chamber, Your Majesty,” Beta Valentine said. He was with me throughout the journey, painstakingly joining me even if I kept on insisting I would do it on my own. But he would not allow me. Fearful that the rogues would do an ambush and kill me in the end.

Death.

If Zenith were already dead, it would be better if I came after her. Will we meet in the Underworld? I hope so.

'Do not die, Maxxwell. River needed us,’ Denaro announced, pacing back and forth.

'No one could replace Zenith."

“She died. It's time to focus on our second-chance mate. Protect her.’

I scoffed internally.

It was my beast who forced me to look for Zenith. However, when Denaro discovered that River was our mate, he suddenly wanted me to stop. But I had already done a lot. I felt like I was getting nearer to Zenith's whereabouts.

"Your Majesty?" Valentine asked, wanting my attention.

"What did you say again?"

"You're tired. You must return to your chamber.”

"We both are exhausted.”

"When will you accept that Zenith has died, Your Majesty?"

"Not now, Valentine.”

Valentine shook his head. "Aren't you tired, Your Majesty? Your body needed rest. You've been sleeping for how many hours? Barely five? If you do not have Denaro with you, you've been imprisoned on your bed for getting sick. Why doesn't your attendant reprimand you for doing this? I'll talk to her,” he said, changing the topic.

I stared ahead, my hands clutching the reins of the horse tightly. The torches decorated beside the palace gate were getting visible, and my men readying themselves to pull down the door.

"Let her be. She does not know what I am doing."

He looked at me in disbelief. "Let her be? That's all you can say? May I remind you he is your slave? Not your friend. Why are you loose on her? Treat her as your slave. Your real slave and let her do something to the point she would never have the time to stick her nose on somewhere else business."

"Valentine. Stop talking ill against her.”

Denaro was baring his fangs at my beta.

His mouth fell open. "Am I hearing it right, Your Majesty? When did you become soft towards your slaves that you treated them as your friends? You are not like this.”

"Valentine! I am drained. Let's stop talking about that woman. I will reprimand her when I reach the chamber."

She wouldn't be sleeping right now. She never did. Not until I arrived. I was not asking her to tend to me when I reached our chamber, but surprisingly, that woman was awake every time I came home.

“She is our mate. In flesh and blood."

I disregarded Denaro.

Valentine sulked, his expression getting darker than the night.

"Let's not argue about my personal attendant.”

"Treat her like she is your slave. That's what I want.”

Our horses stopped in front of the gate.

Delta Isagani was already waiting for us. We were somewhat the same. Always waiting for something that was out of reach. Him for Lady Juliana. Me for Zenith.

"Any news?" I asked.

He and my men gave their courtesy bow. "Your Majesty. I have a matter of concern.”

"Is it about Lady Juliana? Tell her I don't want to entertain her. Tell her to stop spreading gossip that we are betrothed to each other. I'm getting sick of that. It may reach the neighboring kingdom where I have my luna."

He shifted on his feet. "It's not that, Your Majesty. It's something else.”

"Say it, Isagani. We do not have all the time to wait for your hesitation," he growled.

"My apologies, Beta Valentine. It's about the alpha king's personal attendant.”

River?

Valentine growled. "Why? Did that woman create a mess again? You should consider selling her off, Your Majesty. She is nothing but a pain in the butt.”

Sighing, I asked, "What happened, Isagani? Did she investigate Zenith again?"

He rubbed his neck. "Maybe. But the bottom line is she still hadn't come back after going to Henderson's slave auction house. It had been fifteen hours, Your Majesty.”

"Perhaps she ran away, Your Majesty. Slaves do that when they are no longer satisfied at our side.” "I don't think so. I traced where they had gone, and all I saw were their belongings beside the road. And that place was notoriously infested with bandits.”

"Let her die," Valentine said. "She brought it to herself, Your Majesty. You never asked her to go there."

"Another fucking word, Valentine, and I will cut off your tongue,” I growled.

She was gone?

'Find her, Maxwell!" Denaro roared.