Protect Me, Alpha King
51. Tristan

I jumped and shrieked simultaneously while glaring at the newcomer—Nobody. Did he lure me intothis alley for what purpose?

“Do you want to kill me, huh?” I asked while clutching my chest, beating frantically.

He put his hands in the air as if he was silently surrendering while his eyes twinkled in mischief."Why are you acting as if we are friends, huh?" I asked again.

From where I was standing, I could still hear the people selling their fabrics and herbal medicines."I am not, River," he answered as if he was pouting.

Nobody (as he told me) was better compared to his state before we separated. He lookedhandsome.

He is an enemy of the alpha king. Why do you waste your time on him?

Even if he was the alpha king's enemy did not mean my enemy also.

He chuckled, not minding my erratic heartbeat. “Scaredy-cat.”

“Why are you here? You are a rogue. The alpha king is looking for you. After what you did to thedungeon.”

"I came by to say my greetings. And to give you this." He pulled out a bundle of herbal medicines. "Isaw it in the marketplace and suddenly remembered you. Then found you coming out from thatjewelry store where nobles frequently entered.”

I licked my lower lips. It was the set of medicine I was looking at earlier, which I wanted to buy butstopped myself from doing so.

"Greetings? Are you my lover?"

"Lover?" He stifled a laugh but laughed throughout. "That's a wild imagination you got there, River.Come here and get this from me."

The medicines were calling me. It would be a waste if I did not get it. I could use it whenever I hadto heal someone. But still...he was an enemy of the kingdom. He acted as if he did not kill a lot ofinnocent people.

I scanned my surroundings. This was the darkest and most secluded part of the marketplace. Thisman sure did think before drawing me here.

"Are you scared I might hurt you?" He smirked. "I may be the villain of your lover's life, but I won'thurt you. I vow it," he said casually. "Come here, River."

We were mere meters away from each other. If he wanted to, he could close the distance betweenus and give it to himself. But no. He wanted me to stroll towards him as if he wanted to see if Itrusted him or not.

"You don't want this?" he asked and shook the bundle. "Too bad. I spent a fortune on this one, River.Everything here is expensive. It will be a waste if I throw them away.”

I kept my silence.

Losing his patience, the rogue went to a nearby garbage and was on the brink of throwing themedicinal herbs when I strolled towards him and grabbed it away.

"You shouldn't throw them. They can save a life," I muttered.

His expression turned softer and more satisfied. "That's what I want you to do—save someone's life.Just like what you did for me and how you healed your lover.”

How come he knows about me healing the alpha king? No one knew about that. Was there a traitorinside the palace?

Glaring, I muttered, "No need to bring the past. And who are you referring to? I don't have a lover.”He shrugged his broad shoulders. "Who else? Black Heart. He is your lover.”

I gasped and looked at him in disbelief.

I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Lover? Delusional. I don't have plans of being an addition tohis harem. Go away now. I am telling you that because of these herbs you gave me. If the alpha kingsees you, he will kill you on the spot.”

He pretended to hug himself. “I'm scared.”

I gritted my teeth. How could this rogue infiltrate the palace, given the tight security?

“Stop making fun of him. He is the alpha king. The ruler of the kingdom.”

His frown deepened. "Hmmm. I never thought you were now speaking on his behalf. Why? You likehim that much?” He encircled me, observing me while I remained immobile. “Why do you like BlackHeart, River? He is incapable of loving anyone except his mate. Ah. What was the name of thatwoman? Zenith?"

I stilled and looked at him. “You know Zenith?"

He shrugged his shoulders. " I saw her."

"When?"

"A long time ago. When Black Heart brought her to the forest, something happened between them.You already know that something, River."

A night of passion.

How...romantic.

"You watched them doing that kind of thing? Have you no shame?" I asked, horrified. "You shouldhave left them alone.”

The thought of Zenith and the alpha king sharing a passionate night while the moon hovered overthem felt like...a bite in my chest.

Why did I feel hurt when I imagined the two of them together? Did I already like the alpha king?

I inwardly did a mental shake. I refused to like him. Period.

How about you, River? Haven't you listened to Elijah and the alpha king's private moment?

"It was unintentional. Don't waste your time lecturing me, woman. I am a rogue, and I am allergic todoing proper etiquette,” the rogue said, bringing me back to the present.

"Intentional foot. You want to kill him that time."

He stopped and leaned closer to me as if he was inspecting me.

He clicked his tongue. "Now. I remember. You look like that woman. Perhaps that is the reason whyhe is interested in you. Imagine seeing your dead mate's face after a long time and thinking it washer who was raised from the dead.”

"l look like her?"

I did not know that. The alpha king did not tell me.

He gave me a pointed look. "Oh. Is that supposed to be a secret of Black Heart? Sorry. I wasn'tinformed he hid it away from you.”

The alpha king always hides something from me. Even that precious knowledge. Did it also meanthat whenever he looked at me, he was seeing Zenith?

Damn it! I refused to be someone's shadow! Maybe the reason why he quickly accepted myproposal was that I resembled her mate's face.

Why are you angry, River? Maybe you can use that to your advantage so he can mark you now.

A smile formed on my way. Let's see about that.

I straightened and made my expression blank.

“Why are you here again, rogue?”

“I told you earlier. You're not listening. I wanted to see my savior again. I owe you my life, healer.You are a great asset to Black Heart. Did he know you can heal?” I did not answer. "You should keepit a secret. Black Heart will only exploit you.”

I did not have any plans to tell him that.

I turned my back to him. "Go away. Thank you for the gift."

He sighed and fixed his clothes. "Tristan. That's my name. You should know the one who gave youthose herbs.”

I looked up. "Why did you tell me your name? I might tell the alpha king of your visit. He might askhis people to look for you and kill you on sight.”

"You can tell Black Heart. I do not care. I am already inside his palace. I can come and go. But theywon't catch me. I'm slippery as a snake.”

I wondered where their entrance was. Asking him about that was futile. He wouldn't answer me, bythe way.

"It will only take a matter of time before the alpha king captures you. If that happens, let's pretendwe do not know each other, okay?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

"What a cunning woman." He turned his back. "We will be seeing each other soon."

"I hope not. Let's not see each other. You will be the cause of my death.”

"River!" We both looked to the source of the voice. "River!"

Tristan curled his lips. "Your master is calling you. Go now."

"You're not bossing me around, okay? We are not that close.”

He chuckled. "You amuse me, woman."

Elijah's voice was getting closer.

"Where will you go now, Tristan?"

The corner of his lips lifted. "Why? Do you want to run away with me? I can do that for you. I oweyou my life."

Running away? What a tempting offer. "Sorry, but no thanks. Go now. I don't want Elijah to knowthat we just talked.”

"He will not know."

"River!" It was followed by a clippety-clop of a horse's hooves and, after a while, saw Elijah draggingLeah with him.

Sweat coated his forehead. "Where have you been, woman? I got worried when I did not replace you.”He looked around. "Why are you here? Don't you know it is dangerous to go alone in the alley?There are reports that the rogues sometimes blend into the crowd and kidnap women."

"I thought I saw a member of Haverstone Pack, but it turned out I was mistaken." I smiled nervously."Maybe they are only rumors, Elijah."

"They are not. Be wary of them, River. Especially their leader. Tristan. He will get your trust and thenbetray you in the end.”

After Elijah bought everything he had (which I still did not know), we returned to the palace, stillriding Leah. The latter continued trying to throw me off her back. Thankfully, Elijah reprimanded her.Elijah got off first and snaked his arms around my waist, and lifted me off as if I weighed nothing.He carefully put me on the ground. "Thank you so much, Elijah. I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it. It's my pleasure to help you, River. After all, you are the alpha king's personalattendant.”

I did not know the connection between the two, but I shut my mouth.

I played with my hands, undecided on how I would tell him what was running through my mind. Butin the end, I said, "Thank you for defending me. It was unnecessary, but you still did it."

He gave me his bright smile, which he usually gave to his women. I was not saying I was already partof his harem. "As I said, don't mention it, River. Oh. Before I forget, I want to give you something.”He fished out something in his pocket and brought out a necklace. Its pendant was decorated witha sunflower.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "What's the meaning of that, Elijah?"

"I'm giving this to you. Turn around, River.”

I glanced around. We had an audience, and they were whispering.

Gritting my teeth, I said, "The servants are watching us. They would talk, Elijah. And it will reach thealpha king's ears. He will get furious that I spent my afternoon idling around while he was doingsomething.”

I did not care if they would spread rumors about me, but involving this man was out of thequestion.

"Let them talk. And if the alpha king says something, I will tell him I brought you to run someerrand.”

He unclasped the lock and put the necklace around my neck. The cold seemed strange against mybare skin. This was the first piece of jewelry I owned and the first time someone gave it to me."Beautiful. It fits you, River. And the message of that necklace—bringing happiness to His Majestyafter her death.”

Zenith's death?

Happiness? Impossible. All I gave was headaches to the alpha king.

I shook my head.

"You are wrong, Elijah. All I did was bring headaches to Alpha King Maxxwell. He always gets furious,and I never saw him smile genuinely. Thanks for giving me this one.”

The gold was heavy, and if the worst-case scenario happened, I could sell it to a dealer and maybestart my life in the human world. I wondered how much would I sell it for?

Elijah beamed at me. "My pleasure.”

Looking away, I felt guilty at the thought of selling this earlier. Damn. Why isn't this man acting likea jerk so that I could hate him?