Protect Me, Alpha King
87. Darkness

Lady Juliana’s face tightened. “Are you threatening me, Alpha Erik?"

Alpha Erik shrugged his shoulders. “It depends on how you understand my statement, milady.”The woman's face curled. “Do it, then. Tell your Father about what happened here, and I will tell himyou secretly met Dog Servant behind his back,” she challenged. “Who do you think will he take aside? You or me?”

The alpha king rubbed his eyes. It was nearing dawn, and we still had not sorted this issue. Fine withme. I already slept a couple of hours, anyway.

"Why don't we settle down, everyone?" the alpha king suggested.

I whipped my head toward Maxxwell's direction. Using our min link, I said, “Settle down? After I sawyou kissing Lady Juliana? No one will sleep unless we solve this issue.’

He stared at me with wide eyes, shocked at my tone. He was the alpha king, and no one below himhad snapped at him except me.

“Do you have something to say, Maxxwell," I asked, using his given name.

The alpha king looked at me with a guilty expression. "River. If you only watched closely, you wouldsee I did not kiss her back," he said, attempting to explain.

His face was flustered while scratching the back of his head, trying to think of ways to get out of thismess.

As much as he looked cute standing like that, he should do better.

I pressed my lips together. “Later, please. You have a lot of explaining to do, Maxxwell," I respondedand focused my attention on the two 'lovers’ beside us.

Alpha King Maxxwell groaned in reply.

"To whom do you learn we are here, Alpha Erik?" Lady Juliana snapped.

"Your personal attendant, of course. Who else? I was also confused about why your attendant wasalone in your quarters. I asked her of your whereabouts and traced your scent here with the alphaking."

"Go away. Your presence is not needed!"

Lady Juliana angrily yanked her wrist away.

"Alpha Erik is your fiancee. How could you treat him like that?"

It was not that I was siding with him, but it angered me when she continued treating others liketrash except for Maxxwell.

"Shut up, Dog Servant! I am not talking to—"

Slap!

The two men stared at me in shock

"I no longer carry the name Dog Servant, Juliana. Why do you keep on mentioning that name?""You. Slapped. Me?" she asked, dumbfounded. "A slave and an omega slapped me?"

I smiled at her sweetly. "Yes. And that is one of the best feelings in the world. Do you want to giveme your other cheeks?"

Face as red as a tomato, she advanced towards me, but before she could harm me, Alpha Erik waspulling her away from me.

"Let me go, asshole! You don't want me to harm your mate, huh? Release me this instant before Imake sure you will regret siding with this slave!” she shrieked.

"Milady! I am siding with the future queen of the kingdom of Vernice. Not my relationship with her!”he shouted.

"Fuck you!"

The alpha king winced at the curse even if it was not directed at him

"Whatever I will do with Dog Servant has nothing to do with you!" she spat. "The marriage wasnothing but an agreement between your Father and mine. I told you perfectly in our first meetingthat I want the alpha king more than ever. Not any pathetic alpha but the alpha king himself."

I sighed.

This woman won't just stop. She looked like someone to whom I snatched some candy.

l inched closer.

The alpha king's hand was suddenly in my arms. His eyes told me I should stop, but I won't. If shedoes not keep on dragging the name Dog Servant, I will show her mercy. But she did not.

Well, I bear grudges.

"I'm afraid that will no longer happen, milady. Do you see? His Majesty and I will prepare for ourwedding when we return to the palace.”

I felt the alpha king's eyes on me, which I did not bother to meet.

This was his fault at the beginning—meeting this woman behind my back. I was merely fixing hismess with another lie. A professional liar. That was what I had become. The alpha king should giveme a certificate for that.

"W-wedding?” Lady Juliana's eyes watered as she stumbled back. Her knees nearly gave out, andAlpha Erik was already on her side.

Despite the support she needed, she drove away his hands.

"Wedding?" she repeated.

I clicked my tongue. "You heard it right. It's not only the two of you who will wed but also us. Ithought we would keep it to ourselves first, but when you keep forcing yourself on my man, Idecided to let it out in public."

I felt something warm on my chest at the thought of me marrying the alpha king and another senseof satisfaction coming from the alpha king as if he approved of my life.

Pleading with her eyes, Lady Juliana said, "Your Majesty. You have to think twice. Do you want thepeople—your people to murder your mate again?"

The alpha king stilled, and his claws slowly started to appear and sunk deep into my skin. Unaware.It drew blood, but I tried to shrug it off, but the stinging persisted.

"No one will harm my mate again!" he roared. “No one!”

The birds sitting on the branches flew in surprise.

Alpha Erik and Lady Juliana stepped backward.

I could sense their fears. Understandable. Especially how he was on the brink of shape-shifting. Toprotect the woman, the alpha put her behind his back and faced the alpha king.

The alpha king placed his hands on my waist while looking down at Alpha Erik. It felt like his angerwas directed at everyone whom he considered a threat. "I will kill all of you who dared to harm mywoman until all your family takes their last breath!”

I flinched at his voice.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I called his name. "Maxxwell. I'm okay. I'm here."

"We should leave, Your Grace. In that state, the alpha king is dangerous. He may hurt us. Let's leave,”Alpha Erik suggested.

My eyebrows drew together.

Even if I wanted to, I could not do it. He was still holding me, and it seemed like it would create abruise.

Leaving with the two will anger him more.

“No. The two of you should go. I can handle this.”

He did not listen anymore. Instead, he put me behind his back as if protecting me against LadyJuliana and Alpha Erik.

“No, you cannot! Don't be stubborn and listen to me, River.”

The alpha king bared his fangs at Alpha Erik. He treated him as a threat.

"Go!"

"But—"

“No more excuses, Alpha Erik. You have to protect Lady Juliana.”

“No. I won't go with you. The alpha king will never harm me.” The other words died in the woman'smouth when Alpha Erik scooped her in his arms and left.

I sighed with relief.

“Maxxwell. You can let me go now.”

He did not listen.

I put my hand on his tensed shoulders and leaned on him. inhaling deeply, I tried to get hisattention to no avail.

Left with no use, I entered his mind and was pushed back by the darkness in his mind.

I saw his wolf growling, his golden eyes promising to kill anyone.

My lips tightened. The need to protect myself resurfaced.

Realization hit me hard. Maxxwell was dangerous! Alpha Erik was correct!

I tried to pull away from his mind, but Sunflower resurfaced.

'If you back out, darkness will swallow Maxxwell until he no longer recognizes any of us. You're theonly one who can bring him to the light, River.’

My insides were shaking. My mouth was dry.

'l cannot do it. Do I look like a savior to you?"

"You are allowing Maxxwell to kill Lady Juliana and Alpha Erik and anyone in this pack? You may hatethem, but if the alpha king returned to his senses, he would regret what he would do."

What can I do, then? I did not know how to appease him.

I was nothing but his attendant. Nothing else.

“Console him that you are safe. As easy as that.’

It was not that simple. A wall so thick and dark was blocking my way. I cannot penetrate him“Maxxwell!” I called. I'm not going to leave you, okay?’

The wolf suddenly looked at me, and his eyes softened.

I looked at the wall in front, and it was slowly crumbling. Using that chance, I pushed myself intoMaxwell's mind.

“Maxwell!

I succeeded in grabbing the beast's attention.

“My Queen,’ he said. He let out a guttural growl and jumped toward me. The wolf stood taller thanme, and I could not help but be amazed at his form. He was sharp looking and beautiful, just likethe alpha king.

He bowed.

“It is my pleasure to finally meet you, My Queen.’

He was huge. And scary.

“What's your name?’

“Denaro, My Queen.’

“Denaro.’ His eyes softened and gave me puppy dog eyes. “Did Maxxwell scare you? Forgive him.The pain of losing our mate once made him react that way. However, I pledge that my loyalty is nowyours, My Queen. We will forever treasure Queen Zenith as part of our past. But allow us to show ushow much you meant to us."

Denaro was better than the alpha king in terms of using his words. He was confident and chose hiswords accurately. A lady's wolf. He can melt any she-wolves heart.

"Your master seemed to be thinking another thing."

He scoffed. “Master? I am his master, My Queen. It is I whom he is serving, not the other wayaround.’

For the first time around his company, I chuckled.

Denaro wore a goofy expression on his face.

'I like you, but not Maxxwell," I said honestly.

'So...will you give us a chance to redeem ourselves? We cannot promise that we will forget QueenZenith. But this is my promise to you, My Queen. We will serve you to the best of our ability andswear our loyalty to you.’

“What if Zenith is alive? Who will you choose, Denaro?’

The wolf did not answer for a moment.