Protect Me, Alpha King
94. Warning

I leaned on the doorframe, trying to get hold of my emotions.

In the background, the dining table was once again noisy, as if nothing had happened.

“Where are you going, My Queen?’

It was the alpha king in my mind using our mind link.

I snorted. "Funny. Now, I am your queen. You could not even say that in front of your belovedZenith. Go back to her, Maxxwell. I'm tired for today.’

“Please don't hide from me. I miss you."

My chest tightened at his request. If only there were no Zenith between us, I would be happy tohear those words.

“Stop saying things which you don't mean. I don't like it."

'I meant it, My Queen.

'If you mean it, you will choose me over her.’ Silence. Again. “That's what I am saying, Maxxwell. Youare only good with your words and never with your actions.

'Where are you staying now?"

“Really? You now have the time to ask me after going with Zenith and forgetting my presence forone week? What kind of bastard are you, Maxxwell?"

'I deserved that. A lot had happened.’

I folded my arms in front of my chest.

One servant entered the dining hall with a tray in her hand. She bowed at me and stepped inside.I sucked in a breath, wiped my dress, and went in whatever direction my feet would lead me. Just faraway from Maxxwell's presence.

Staying in the palace while thinking about how happy they were was suffocating and painful.

I want to stay away from this place, but where would I go? If only I had my parents to turn to."You deserved my curses for being a coward, Maxxwell. Decide. If you do not, I will be the one toreject you.’

It was not a threat but more of the truth.

“Reject me? You cannot do that, My Queen?"

Lifting my chin, I said, "Why not? No one can stop me.’

He groaned in the background. “Please don't do this to me."

“Don't also hurt me, Maxxwell," I replied. 'l don't want to be caught between you and Zenith.

The alpha king never begged, but these past few days, I had been listening to his pleas, of hisbegging. And it was not music to my ears. It broke my heart into a million pieces.

'l will settle this.’

'You don't have to,’ I muttered and stopped the mind link...

Instead of going back to my quarters, I decided to step outside, planning on taking a fresh breath ofair.

The atmosphere inside the dining area was suffocating and disappointing at the same time. Thealpha king seemed to have lost his voice, wrapped around Zenith's little fingers.

It was not that I was expecting him to stop me, but still...

Whatever.

Why would I confuse myself even more?

The night was chilly, and the dress I was wearing was not helpful at all. Despite this, this place wasbetter than the dining area. I can stand the cold, but not Zenith.

Perhaps a stroll would calm my mind.

With that in thought, I dragged myself to the courtyard of the palace and yelped when someonesuddenly jumped in front of me.

"Bool"

"Fuck!" I cursed while clutching my chest.

My heart beat wildly while glaring at the culprit. But stopped when I realized who it was.

I stared at him wide-eyed. "You! How did you enter the palace?"

I looked back and forth, looking to see if someone was with us, despite the absence of light andonly the moonlight illuminating the place.

"Yes. It is I," he answered. "I have my ways, River. No one can catch me," he boasted.

"A lie. You were caught once. And if not for me, you would be long dead by now, and the worms arefeasting on your body."

He shivered, picturing my words in his mind.

"I came to see you."

See me?

"What business do I have for you? And what kind of fool are you coming here if you value your life?The alpha king will kill you on sight! I did not save you just for your ass to be killed."

"In which I am forever grateful, River. But I want to talk to you for a moment.” He sat on the bench,picked a flower, and sniffed it.

"We don't have anything to talk about.”

"I brought herbal medicines. That will come in handy in healing others, especially on what mighthappen in the future.”

"Why are you talking about? Don't play mind games with me, Tristan. Go away before someonemight see you."

"Thank you for your concern.”

"I'm not concerned. Don't mistake it for something else.”

Tristan looked at the sky.

"I heard your queen had come back."

I stilled.

“Is that the reason why you came here? Don't hurt that woman anymore, Tristan. Your group haddone worse to her."

He gazed at me, his eyebrows furrowed. "Hurt her?"

"Stop playing innocent with me.”

Even if I hated her, if something happened to her again, the alpha king would be heartbroken allover again.

"I'm not."

"Are you planning something evil? If I were you, I would stop doing it. The alpha king will neverallow anything to happen to her mate. He lost her once, and he will never allow it to be repeated.”Tristan chuckled. “Did I look like I was planning to do something?”

That was already a given.

“You are a rogue. You're always leading a revolt to shake this kingdom. You instill fear in thepeople.”

His face darkened. “Black Heart started it. If he only ruled this kingdom justly, I would never wagewar on him.”

“A war which will never end unless you stop it. Come back to the kingdom. The alpha king wanted apeace treaty. He will forgive you.”

I bit my lower lip.

Why was I doing this when I was not the right person to have a peace talk with the rogue?

“You will never understand us until you are in our situation. Until you walk on our shoes,” he spat.I sighed. "What's the point of coming here, Tristan? If you do not want to be at peace with thekingdom, go now. I don't want anyone to see me talking to a rogue. I don't want to be tried fortreason.”

“I came with a warning.”

"Warning? What kind of warning?”

“Betray the alpha king, and my men will not kill you.”

My eyes narrowed.

Putting my hands on my hips, I said, “Are you blackmailing me? What kind of proposition is that,Tristan?”

“It will be a matter of days before we will attack the palace again.”

I had to warn the alpha king.

“You will never succeed, Tristan. Give up. Fighting against the kingdom will only cost your life. This isnot worth it."

“It is!" he roared. Tristan’s body trembled as his eyes flashed with gold. “And it should also matter toyou.”

Sunflower was already alert, ready to pounce if the situation asked for it.

“What are you saying? I would never buy the alpha king.”

“Never? Even if I tell you your father and mother were once leading the rogues and the alpha kingwas the reason why they got killed?"