Protect Me, Alpha King

I know Alpha Erik, and I did nothing wrong. The man lost his balance and took all the fall, but the alpha king's scrutinizing eyes made me feel I was at fault and deserved his angry stares at us. “Your Majesty,” I mumbled to myself.

The alpha king's eyes shifted back to the table and saw the bottle of wine and our three empty glasses. His mood was getting more sour as the moments passed by.

“Did you celebrate something? Or is it your upcoming union?”

Union? He had a hyperactive imagination right now.

With clumsy moves, I scampered away from Alpha Erik.

"Your Majesty. It's not what you think,” I explained, my words still slurred.

Damn it.

How would I convince him if I was drunk?

Alpha King Maxxwell folded his arms in front of his chest.

"I was looking for you earlier when you suddenly disappeared beside me. Only to find you with your ex-mate. I wondered what the two of you had talked about, River. Or maybe I will take my leave so that you will continue what you haven't finished.”

Alpha Erik was already standing on his feet, a mere distance from me. He wiped the dust from his clothes.

"Your Majesty. Her Grace is telling the truth. We did nothing—"

"Out, Alpha Erik," the alpha king commanded in a low voice, cutting off his words. “Don’t show me your face until tomorrow, or I may do something I will regret.”

Instead of getting worried for his life, Alpha Erik looked at me with concern but sighed in the end. He had no choice but to follow the alpha king's order.

“It was I who offered her a drink, Your Majesty. Please don't get angry with Her Grace.”

“I'm not asking for an explanation, Alpha Erik,” the alpha king responded, growling. “Out before I kill you now."

"Your Majesty, Alpha Erik was only kind enough to join me,” I uttered, hoping to defend him.

The alpha king clenched his fist.

“Your Grace. His Majesty will never listen. That's my cue to leave.”

Left with no choice, Alpha Erik went straight to the door, bowed at the alpha king, and departed. The alpha king slammed the door shut, making me jump.

I saw a piece of cloth and wiped the table.

"Did you have a great time, River?" the alpha king taunted.

He strolled closer to me, attempting to close the distance between us. I stopped wiping the table, and I held my ground. Alpha Erik and I only talked. Nothing significant happened except for telling me those essential details.

"You did have the best of your time. You were happily talking to him. He was your first love, and he will never die. Then what? Did you beg him to take you back and break his engagement to Lady Juliana?"

I sniffed him.

He was not drunk nor took a sip of any drinks.

Why was he acting like this, as if he was jealous?

The alpha king stood inches from me, his breath fanning against mine.

A shiver ran down my spine when he leaned closer, nearly shoving his face against mine.

Gold flashed in his eyes, his beast wanting control.

I gulped. "As I said, we only talked, Your Majesty."

"Did the two of you kiss behind my back? Did he kiss better than me? Did something happen between you two?" he pressed even more. "I did not know you still wanted to pick your garbage.” "Alpha Erik is a changed man," I defended. “Please don't think ill of him, Your Majesty.”

Bad move. Since the alpha king suddenly growled back at me.

"Now you're defending him."

His body shook from anger, and all I could do was step back.

"I am defending him because we did nothing wrong. I did not betray you, Your Majesty! Betrayal means I sided with him. But no. My loyalty still lies in the crown. In your kingdom."

The alpha king sniffed me. His eyes narrowed when he caught a whiff of the liquor in my system. "Lies! I always tasted the horrible taste of your lies, River," he barked.

He drove me to the cold wall until my back hit the shelves. The alpha king put both of his hands beside me, caging me. His breathing was rugged. He was still trying to fight for control.

"I don't understand you, Your Majesty!"

"You keep on lying, River! Did you think I did not know?" he inquired.

The alpha king's mind was already closed. There was no point in explaining.

"Fine. If you won't listen to me, think what you want to think."

The alpha king's body trembled and in a blink of an eye, he lifted his hand. I thought he would punch me, but it was the wall next to mine.

My heart beat wildly as I saw his bloody hands and books scattered on the floor.

Did he want to punch me?

"You want to hurt me?” I asked, my voice shivering. The alcohol seemed to leave my system. "Well, I did not lie this time!"

He did not respond. I could hear his racing heart as he weighed if he would believe me or not. Shouting will never help right now.

With no options left, I put my forehead against his chest. "Please, believe me, Your Majesty."

He lifted my chin. "You're mine, River," he exclaimed, and before I could react, he dipped his lips against mine.

My eyes widened. If I was not mistaken, this was the first time he initiated the kiss.

The alpha king's hands were around my waist, and as he pulled me closer, goosebumps swarmed every part of my body he touched.

"I like the taste of your lips on mine," he whispered, and before I could reply, he devoured my lips again.

His kisses were rough as if he was punishing me. But if he thought that would scare me, he was wrong. I answered back his kisses as wild as he could, not wanting to be defeated.

My hands traveled toward his jet-black hair and pulled him closer to me without breaking the kiss. I moaned as his hands cupped my butt and lifted me. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

His kisses were addicting, and the wine helped me break my inhibitions. Without the wine, I would not be daring like this. Let tomorrow worry itself. I will think of my actions tomorrow when I get sober.

His hands traced my curves as he nibbled on my lower lips, hands teasing on every edge as I moaned into this kiss.

My mind seemed to explode at the sensation.

"Do you want me to stop, River?” the alpha king asked.

"Do it, Your Majesty, and you will never taste these lips again. Ever.”

I wanted him more than ever.

The alpha king pinned my hand on either side of my head while his body pressed down on mine, touching me where it shouldn't.

Gasping for air, we both pulled away, staring into each other's eyes. He wore the softest expression on his face as if he feared something might happen to me.

“Don’t go back to that bastard, River,” he said. “You belong to me, and I belong to you. I will kill anyone who dared to snatch you away from me.”

My heart melted like butter at his announcement. Too good to be true, and that made me fearful. Such possessiveness was natural among male wolves.

Brushing some strands of his hair, I said, “What about Zenith, Your Majesty?”

His eyes turned blank. “She is already part of my past.”

"What if she is alive, just like what you think?”

It must be the wine that urged me to press him more.

Instead of answering, he showered me with kisses but I turned sideways.

It hurts when he cannot forget Zenith.

“River?”

"You still love her, Your Majesty?” I asked. No reply from him. “Please put me down.”

He sighed and obliged. “I'm sorry, River. I needed more time. I cannot just forget about her.”

I inhaled deeply. “I must go, Your Majesty. I want to sleep now. I'm drunk.”

“River.”

“Talk to me when you already clarify your feelings.”

"Are you asking me to choose between you and Zenith?” he asked.

I faced him, and gave him a forced smile. “Yes, you are right. Because even if she is dead, you cannot love someone else. Yes, you said you like me. But it stopped there, Your Majesty. When you give me your heart, I want it whole.”

He yanked a handful of his hair, frustrated. "Why can't you understand?"

"No. Why can't you understand my situation, Your Majesty? Do you know how many times I silently whispered that you forgot about Zenith? Countless times."

"Did you really have to be that honest?"

"I'm mainly sorry that somewhere along the way, I started to think that someone might choose me for who I am without begging him to do it for me.”

Alpha King Maxxwell held his hand in the air as if he wanted to touch me but stopped mid-air. "I'm sorry. I just can't stop loving Zenith."

"If only you could give me half the love you have for Zenith," I said one last time and left him at the library.