Protect Me, Alpha King - Chapter 109: Chapter 109

The Heir and the Concubine
Alpha King Maxxwell
Denounce.
A royal would be stripped from her position by two circumstances. First, the king wanted it. Second. The Council and Elders had voted for it.
I was even astounded by Denaro's choice of words. That was a severe order from him, and the way he said it told me he was serious about it.
'Zenith is our queen,' I told him, while my gaze was fixated on Zenith. Her face was scarlet red.
'She is your queen. But not mine. River is my mate. She will forever be my queen. Heed my request, Maxxwell. Denounce Zenith,' he pressed again. 'Do it for your sake.'
Why did his words change? When Zenith returned, Denaro was set on proclaiming her again as the queen. However, his tune changed. Why? 1
What did Denaro know that I did not?
Even if I asked him, he wouldn't answer me. That was the truth.
"I don't hate her, Your Majesty. Why would I?" Zenith said, bringing me back to the present. Staring angrily at my hand on her wrist, she added, "Could you please let go of my hand?"
I straightened and let go of her hand. "Your actions speak differently, Zenith. Until I change my mind, I forbid you from entering my chamber until River gets better."
Her eyes bulged. "What? That's preposterous! I am your queen! Whatever you own is mine also." Her eyes glinted. "Wait. Did you change your mind, Maxxwell? All because of that woman? Do you think I will kill her if I keep entering this chamber? I was not the one who poisoned her. It was someone else. I am not the enemy here."
It was not about the threat to River's life. It was more than that. I wanted to savor us alone. Even if for a moment. 1
"You think I will betray you?" she continued when I did not talk.
"That's not it. I will later find out who attacked her. If that person plans to destroy the kingdom, I will ensure he will regret that he was born. That includes you, Zenith. Do not ever dare betray me." 1 Zenith stared at me in disbelief and pointed to herself. "You are branding me as a traitor? How much did that bitch poison your mind, huh? I would be the last one who would betray you, Maxxwell! I crawled myself to be back in your arms. I fought the rogues and nearly got killed after they imprisoned me."
Until now, we hadn't talked about what happened to her when she went missing. Her mouth would always close when I attempted to ask her about it.
"I believe you."
She shook her head. "Do you? Or do you not? You doubt me, Maxxwell. That's a punch in my gut."
My brows furrowed. "That's not my intention, Zenith."
I tried to touch her, but she slapped my hand away. 2
"Because of that woman, you already changed, Maxxwell. You're not the same person I fell in love with! All because of that bitch! I hate her! I hate River! I hope she will die!"
I gritted my teeth and said, "Don't say those words."
River Williams
The heated exchanges between the two individuals awakened me. And when I opened my eyes, I saw the alpha king's tensed back while facing Zenith.
They were arguing because of me. And maybe it was my near-death experience that I was becoming extra sensitive now.
It took a lot of effort to make my tears retreat to my eyes. The two love birds did not know I heard them. I thought after I was poisoned, Zenith would warm up to me and show I was also important to her. That
she could temporarily forget her goal to destroy this kingdom.
But I was wrong.
Perhaps, I didn't matter to her.
That I was only a tool for her revenge.
Did she want me dead? Do I have to die to make her love and accept me?
Sorry, but I could not yet give that to her.
"Enough!" the alpha king chastised, his voice sounding like thunder echoing across the four rooms of his chamber. "You are heartless, Zenith. If you observed I had changed, how about you?"
Lifting her chin, she asked, "I did not care if I changed for the worse as long as you prove that you are true to your words. Continue my proclamation ceremony, Maxxwell. I will allow no one to stop that momentous day from happening. Not even your beloved River."
"I would always have the final say, Zenith. Remember that."
The alpha king turned his back on Zenith. It was too late to pretend I did not eavesdrop on their conversation.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment.
I thought he would scold me for listening to them, but instead, his expression softened upon seeing me.
"River." In an instant, he was on my side. "Zenith, call the pack doctor. Tell him River is now awake."
"What? Do I look like your servant? You call the twins and Dawn. Those three were like the woman's attendant." "You were my attendant before I claimed you as my mate, Zenith. Hurry. Fetch the pack doctor."
Zenith looked at me and narrowed her gaze. "I am your queen now."
"And I am your king. You will still follow my orders. You are below me."
She inhaled a couple of times while putting her fist on the back.
I tried to sit and flinched. It hurts. But not the same pain level back then. Later, if my body can, I will heal myself if I am alone.
"No need, Maxxwell. I am fine now. Thank you very much."
"See? She's fine now. She can transfer to the other room, Maxxwell."
"No. I had to be sure and asked the pack doctor personally. Go, Zenith, before I lose my patience and declare your proclamation rescheduled until further notice."
She whipped her head to his location. "You cannot do that!" she cried. "Everyone is already preparing themselves for the ceremony. They had ordered their clothes. You shouldn't do that, Maxxwell."
Giving her a bored look, Maxxwell retorted, "Do you want me to try?"
The two had a staring contest. Nevertheless, Zenith gave up in the end.
"Fine! I'll go. But the proclamation will continue just like what I had said." Zenith slammed the door behind us with a loud thud, leaving me with the alpha king.
"You're arguing," I commented when silence passed between us. I did not want to make more awkward by continuing the silence. "I heard almost everything. Please, understand her."
'Understand? How could you say that? Why are you defending that bitch, River? She is our enemy! She wanted to destroy this kingdom. We should never allow her!' Sunflower growled, glaring at me.
Like me, she was also weak from being poisoned.
'She’s my sister.'
'She may be your sister, but that is not enough reason to tolerate her. Oh, come on, River. You are smarter than that. Our loyalty is in the kingdom. In our mate. Not to that traitor.'
'Shut up, Sun. Let me think for a while."
'I hate you,' she said and retreated.
"Am I hearing it? That you are taking Zenith's side?"
"Yes." And I wanted you to know that she tried to betray you and destroy your kingdom, I wanted to add, but I could not have the courage to say that.
Then when?
"Are you afraid of her, River? Don't be. Tell me if she is threatening you."
Maxxwell helped me sit comfortably. "What are you planning to do if she did, Maxxwell?"
He did not answer for a moment.
"See? Even now, the mere thought of Zenith is enough to make you tongue-tied. You still loved her. Very much. I wonder where I am located in your heart, Maxxwell?" Lifting my hand, I put it around his chest
and listened to the fast beating of his heart. "Your heart tells me I have no space in here." I smiled bitterly. "But that's okay."
After saving the kingdom, I will disappear and remove every trace of me in this place. I will tell the record keeper to erase every record of mine as if I did not exist.
"River," the alpha king said with a pained look.
"You don't have to say anything, Maxxwell." Suppose you are only forced to.
Wait.
When did I sound pathetic like this? For all I remember, I had already stopped believing in love.
"Please go. Leave me alone for a second."
"No. You are still weak. I nearly lost you. I won't allow it again."
"I won't, okay? I'm fine."
"If you insist. But I want to say something."
I played with my hands under the sheets. "What is it?"
"Please accept to become my concubine. And after I have an heir with Zenith, I will divorce her and choose you as my queen. Can you wait that long, River?"