Protect Me, Alpha King

"Why did I hear the bitterness in your voice, River?" Alpha King Maxxwell asked. "Are you waiting for the day I will no longer fall in love with Zenith but instead with you?"

I scoffed inwardly. Did he not know? What an insensitive jerk.

Faking a surprise, I pointed to myself. "Bitter? Me?" I waved my hands like crazy. "No, no, Your Majesty. I'm not feeling like that. I am only telling the truth. You don’t care for me at all, Your Majesty. I'm also telling this so you should not bother yourself to save me.”

Until now, I remembered his voice. How it quivered as he was calling my name, but that time, my eyes were already closed, and opening them required a tremendous effort. Until his voice was getting further away.

The alpha king bared his teeth.

"I will save you over and over again as long as I have the power to do it, River. Saving you is not something you cannot refuse. Zenith died without giving me a chance to save her. What made you think I will allow you to die without trying to protect you?"

His words were full of emotions and reached my soul. It touched my heart, but bitterness started to explode when I remembered he mentioned Zenith.

"Do you understand?"

I stepped back, his demeanor scaring the hell out of me.

"You don’t have to be mad, Your Majesty,” I said nervously. “Fine. Save me all you want, but I don't need some savings. I could perfectly handle myself, just like what happened that day.”

If my wolf did not come out at the right time, I would be dead by now.

He put his hands in his pocket. “Take my words seriously, River.”

“I am taking your words seriously, Your Majesty.”

"You're not."

I fell silent.

I shuffled my feet. He always saw through me. And it was unsettling. I never wanted to feel any vulnerability, especially if it was around the alpha king's presence.

The alpha king sighed in the end as if talking to me had drained him entirely of his energy. Arguing did.

"I'll ask the twins to bring you food.”

I was astounded by his announcement.

Stepping forward, I said, "I can do it, Your Majesty. I can go to the kitchen and eat there. My body is not hurting anymore.” My hands suddenly felt clammy. “May I say what is on my mind right now?” “You never stop talking. What is that?”

“You are surprisingly good to me right now, giving me small favors. It's weird. Really. I can get my food, Your Majesty."

"You will wait for the twins," he insisted, his face darkening.

I held my hands in the air. "Alright, Your Majesty. I get it. You don't have to be irritated," I said with a laugh.

"Stay still, and 1 will be back.”

Accepting it would be no use fighting him, I nodded sweetly at the alpha king and sat on the bed when he disappeared as weird as he was acting, but I liked the feeling of being treasured as if I was important. Only a few individuals will make me feel that way, and if it was coming from the alpha king, it was...flattering on my part.

After a couple of minutes, the door burst open, and the twins entered. I tamped down my disappointment and hid it behind my smile when I no longer saw the alpha king with them. I suddenly missed his presence—another spooky feeling for this day.

"River!" Clara and Flare said in unison.

Waving my hands at them, I said, "Hi. Miss me?"

Instead of replying, they threw themselves at me, which made me fall on the bed.

Laughing, I patted their back and tried to console them as they cried their heart out. When they pulled themselves together, their eyes were already puffy and red.

"Hey. What are the reasons for your tears? No one died, okay? I already asked the alpha king." Damn. I forgot to ask him about Dawn's status in the palace. Will he allow her to stay here for as long as Dawn wants?

The twins helped me sit upright.

"Yeah. No one did, but we nearly died in worry when you did not return in the afternoon.”

I laughed nervously. "Sorry about that. Something unfortunate happened. It turned out the bandits were waiting for us.”

“Don’t laugh. What happened to the three of you was terrible,” Flare scolded.

"If there's no rogue, bandits will be our enemies. That's why we were hesitant to let you go. Imagine our shock when the alpha king brought you here, unmoving. There was blood all over your body. We tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't wake up. We will not allow you to go there again,” Clara added.

"I won't. I learned my lesson, so please relax.” But if the situation asked for it, I would do it again. "Anyways, how long have I been out?"

"Three days."

My eyes bulged. "Three days?" That long?

"And did you know that the alpha king never left your presence? He was constantly checking on you to see if you were still breathing or not. He has not been eating since yesterday. If Beta Valentine did not force him to eat, he wouldn't put something on his stomach and continued waiting when you will be awakened.”

“You may not have known it, but when you arrived, he never wanted anyone near you except for the pack doctor.” The twins shivered at the memory. “That's why we never wanted to see the alpha king get mad. It was frightening. We nearly peed our pants.”

The alpha king did that? Why was he furious? And why did it make me smile secretly?

My, my. The alpha king did not say something about that. Teasing him will not also help me. I was confident he would only deny it.

“You made us worry, River. Even Sir Elijah came and asked for you."

"Why would the alpha king tend to me?"

The twins looked at each other and shrugged. "Perhaps because you two are mates?" They offered in reply. "Like, come on, River. That's normal between mates.”

There was nothing ordinary about our situation right now. I had no space in his heart. Only Zenith. "It isn't. I'm famished. The alpha king said that he would ask you to bring food. May I eat?"

The twins stared at me with wide eyes. "Oh! We left the food. We will be right back in the moment.” And they scampered away from me and went back to the kitchen.

After filling my stomach, I looked for Dawn and found Dawn beside Isagani's presence in the open, where warriors usually practice their swordplay. The two were side by side, cleaning the swords.

My steps faltered, and I realized how closed they had become. Much closer than me and Delta Isagani had for the past few days.

Unknown to Dawn, Isagani kept glancing at the woman as if he was starstruck.

I shook my head. Perhaps I imagined things. Delta Isagani was fascinated with and loved Lady Juliana.

The two did not notice my approaching presence and continued talking while cleaning their swords. My heart warmed looking at Dawn. She was looking better compared to the first time I saw her. Red started to decorate her cheeks, and fats began to appear.

I cleared my throat, and the two instantly glanced in my direction.

"May I disturb the two of you, Delta Isagani?”

"Yes. You may," he answered and put the sword back on its sheath.

Dawn smiled at me and tossed the cloth on the table where her dagger was lying. "River. I'm glad you are awake now. You make me worried."

"I'm also happy you have friends right now. Did the alpha king and you talk?"

"We did, and he gave me permission to stay here until I want to return to my previous pack, which I know left nothing but dust.”

"And?"

"And?" she asked. "What do you like to know more, River?"

I shrugged my shoulders, letting it slide. "Nothing. I'm glad you and Delta Isagani are friends.”

Her brows furrowed while Delta Isagani looked away.

"We are not friends. I came here first, and Delta Isagani joined me, saying it had been a long time since he had cleaned his sword. We did some practice. He taught me things to make my fighting style better. Nothing else.”

Feigning a surprised look, I covered my mouth. "Oh. I thought he was your second-chance mate now."

She stifled a laugh. "Second chance, mate? Nothing will replace my beloved in my heart.”

Why can't everyone get over their first love? Like hello? Someone out there would be much willing to love them. And I was not referring to the alpha king and me but somebody else.

"You should also consider getting a new one. I'm certain your mate will like you to do that. Do you also think the same, Delta Isagani?" His eyes kept glancing sideways, refusing to meet me in the eyes.

I smirked. "Delta Isagani. May I ask a question?"

"What?" he barked. "You always raise a lot of questions.”

I chuckled. "Do you have a little crush on Dawn?"