Protect Me, Alpha King
38. Coming Clean

Elijah's eyes widened as if he just realized what he just said to me.

Was that information forbidden also? The alpha king never ceases to amaze me with all themysteries and secrets surrounding him and the more I get curious about it.

"Sir Elijah? You suddenly went silent. Is there anything wrong?"

He looked at me as if he was contemplating whether he should say what he should say or not.Then, after long agonizing moments, he uttered, "Nothing, River. A slip of the tongue. Forget aboutwhat I said earlier. However, my stand remains the same. Someone will still accept you even if youare an omega of the pack.”

"Will you accept me as your mate if it is me, Sir Elijah?"

"Undoubtedly. You are an amazing woman, River. Do you know one of my fears? It's about my matereplaceing out what I have been doing all my life. Fucking anyone who wears dresses. And even whoresin the mortal world. She will replace me disgusting for my lack of self-control against women, River.”

I closed the distance between us and touched his broad shoulders. His gaze followed my hand."She will. Undoubtedly,” I announced which earned me a smile from him, making my heart jump.Why was he so handsome that looking at him made me like him more? Except for his womanizingnature, Elijah was the man who possessed the personality I liked for a man

"However, I still believe that no one will accept me, Sir Elijah. My second chance mate did not stepforward and made himself known.”

He caught some strands of my hair and sniffed it before he put it on the corner of my ears.

"You have a fire in your soul just like your hair. Anyone will want you. Remember that.”

"I am afraid I will not believe it not unless you tell me the name of the alpha king who took aservant as his mate."

All I wanted was a name.

His face darkened which I never usually saw from his cheerful aura and sensed danger.

Stepping back, I watched how he controlled his breathing, and it took a couple of minutes before hegot hold of it.

"Sir Elijah. Is it wrong to ask the name of that alpha king? How would I believe that someone willaccept me if you will not tell me the name?" I pressed.

His body shook.

"Enough, River."

“But Sir Elijah..."

"Let's stop before the alpha king replaces out we are talking about something forbidden."

I opened my mouth, but closed it again when he suddenly took off the robe from his body and wasnaked in front of my eyes! One by one he picked his clothes on the floor.

"Don't look at me if you don't want to see me nude. Look, if you want to,” he said and before Icould react, he pulled off the robe and was naked in a blink of an eye.

Look away, River!

I cannot. It seemed like my eyes were glued to his movements while I scanned his body, as if in atrance. He was ripped everywhere I looked and at the back of his body was a tattoo of a womanwith fiery eyes staring back at me as if it had life on its own.

"Who is that woman, Sir Elijah?" I continued to pry.

It was definitely not the woman found in the castle.

"You're still watching me naked?" he asked, surprised. "Are you lusting at me now?"

Lusting my foot, I said in my mind. In my eyes, his body was like that of an infant.

"Yes. And I am seeing your bare bottom staring angrily at me," I retorted, to which he answered witha chuckle.

Naked men were not extraordinary in my eyes anymore. I had seen a lot of them back at HaverstonePack, especially the men in the dungeon. The only man who affected me that much was the alphaking himself.

"That woman...I do not know. She has been in my dream for ten years now." That long? "I tattooedher face so I wouldn't forget.”

"And the women you bedded were not jealous of her?"

"They were. But a little coaxing will make the jealousy disappear, River."

River! This is not the time to get to know more about Elijah! Go back to the reason why you are herenow!

Right. I forgot! Foolish of me! I will uncover the woman's identity after this.

"Sir Elijah, would you help me?"

He stopped slipping his sweatshirt momentarily and moved again. "You are asking too much, River.""I know I am asking too much from you, Sir Elijah. I am nothing but an omega.” I sighed in reliefwhen he was already fully clothed on the lower part of his body. "But if you help me, I can give youa free massage as long as you like."

A free massage, River? Really? Will Elijah take the bait? It would be better if you offer him a womanor volunteered to look for that mysterious woman tattooed on his back.

"How about the new rumors that will resurface? Can you handle it? Isn't the gossip the reason whyeverything got out of hand, River? It was your fault for reacting hastily that's why it resulted in thatway."

My heart sank, hope slowly disappearing. "You won't help me at all, Sir Elijah?"

"I don't want to lie to the alpha king. I vowed to be honest at all times, River. I am forced to honor itor I will be in pain if I do not.”

Once a werewolf vowed about something, he had no choice but to do the vow or he will be in painfor the rest of his life.

Our conversation was cut short when a knock vibrated along the four walls of the room.

I jumped and gulped.

The smell of sandalwood hit my nose. The alpha king! I am a goner now!

The alpha king is here to personally deliver my punishment for disobeying him.

"Face the alpha king, River. He will forgive you for lying if you will say sorry heartily.”

The incessant banging on the door continued as if it was urgent and I had no choice but to open itand was welcomed by the alpha king and the twins. No guards beside them. I did not know if Ishould be happy or not.

But from the calm expression on the alpha king's face, I knew I was in trouble.

Fighting the urge to run, I gave my courtesy bow at the alpha king and said, "Forgive me, YourMajesty for fleeing. I just wanted to have a chat with Sir Elijah.” Which turned out to be futile sincehe would not support my lies. So I would be back in the dungeon now? Still bowing, I added, "Ideserved your punishment, Your Majesty, for not following your command. Forgive me."

"Let me see your face, River." His voice was controlled and cold. And that was the scariest.

After drawing a couple of breaths, I looked up and looked right into his eyes.

"Are you hurt elsewhere? Let me check your body."

My face dropped. What the...

Before I could react, he inspected my body checking for any wounds or bruises which made mefrown.

"Your Majesty? Is there something wrong?" I asked after I recovered from my surprise.

Honestly, I was expecting a slap or physical abuse from him.

"You're okay after jumping from the balcony to the ground. I was amazed how you did not have anybroken bones when you're technically close to a human, River."

"It's because it's not yet her time, Your Majesty," Elijah answered beside me. I opened the door fullyand stepped aside.

"Elijah. Care to explain what happened when the door was closed?"

Elijah beamed. "We only talked, Your Majesty. I was catching up with my woman and River visitedme in my room." I wondered what the alpha king's reaction would be if he found out that thewoman was Nora.

"Clara. Flare. You can go back."

The twins gave me a worried look before they stepped back and left the three of us.

"Let's move to another room, Elijah. You stink of sex,” Alpha King Maxxwell uttered showing hisplain disgust.

Elijah flashed his boyish smile as if he was embarrassed someone found out what he just did, butfollowed the alpha king's nonetheless.

The room the alpha king was referring to was another guest room that was unoccupied for so long.However, there were barely any traces of things from the previous occupant—a woman like a, thesin the wardrobe.

I wondered who was occupying this room.

"River."

Reminded I was still in the presence of the alpha king, I turned my attention to him. Elijah and thealpha king were already seated on a chair while I was the only one left standing.

"Your Majesty."

"Care to explain what you just did when I told you to remain in your room? Why do you continue todefy me? You are testing my patience.”

My heart hammered against my chest as I tried to replace an answer. Knowing Elijah would not backme now, whatever words out of it should be calculated. He would know I was lying and he wouldtell the alpha king about that.

"Just as you had seen, Your Majesty. I came looking for Elijah.”

"Why?"

"I wanted to talk to him."

"Why?"

"Because..."

"You missed him? Your mate?"

Elijah raised his eyebrows while I played with my hands. "He is not my.. mate," I whispered. "I lied.""It is true, Your Majesty. We are not. River was forced to lie because of the rumors circulatingbetween us. But I assure you, nothing happened. I would never covet the alpha king's slave.”

"I am not talking to you, Elijah." He shut his mouth. "Why did you finally come clean, River? I askedyou a couple of times for the truth, yet you kept on denying it."

Because Elijah was here inside and will know my lies. I cannot tell him that, right?

I gave the alpha king my widest smile. "I realized you don't deserve it, Your Majesty. I was alreadythinking about it when I came here in the West Wing but still chatted Sir Elijah.” I hung my head low."I deserve to be punished for lying, Your Majesty. But please don't tell the twins about this. They willbe disappointed in me.”

"Your Majesty. It seems that River is already reflecting on her actions. I don't think the punishment isno longer necessary.”

The alpha king threw Elijah a look. "Why? Because you like her now, Elijah?"