Protect Me, Alpha King - Chapter 146: Chapter 146
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I Told Him
"You still love him, do you?" Alpha Raphael asked. "I can see it in your eyes. It softens when you hear his name."
"More like it became daggers that wanted to kill him," I retorted. "If I love him or not does not matter anymore. All I want is to focus on my child. Nothing else."
His eyes darted at my tummy. "Your heartbeat is fast."
"It's because I have a child with me. Silly."
I was also thankful I had no morning sickness or anything like that. Never sensitive to some food. It felt like I was not even pregnant, to begin with. If not for the heartbeat I felt, I would think I was not pregnant. "Can you handle it?"
"The what?" He was unusually chatty now, which he did not usually do. He liked lying on the bed rather than getting busy tending to his alpha affairs. The same reason why the beta kept nagging at him served him right.
"The pain. The labor. The responsibilities. Being a woman is difficult."
Rolling my eyes, I answered, "I'm glad you know it is difficult to become a woman. So why not empathize with us and stop being a womanizer?"
Alpha Raphael gave me a throaty grin. "They could not resist my charms."
Sighing, I asked, "Master. Do you have any orders? I want to breathe a breath of fresh air."
His expression became serious.
Oh, great. Something was telling me what Alpha Raphael would say next was not my liking.
"The Mating Ceremony will be a week from now. I want you to oversee the whole preparations since you are my slave."
The Mating Ceremony? It was different depending on each pack. But the same set of visitors-the alphas of the neighboring packs and the alpha king. Which means....
I paled.
There would be a high chance the alpha king would be coming, just like at the Haverstone Pack. The same way we had met. "I-I can't...."
Sweat started to form on my forehead. My breathing labored. Oh, Moon Goddess. My nightmares had begun to come true.
"You should. And during the Mating Ceremony, you will be there," he insisted.
Shaking, I stood, nearly stumbled, and went towards the window. Was I prepared to meet him or not? Especially if I was carrying a child with me. What if my child would also be treated as a traitor? Or what if he snatched my child from me?
I can't afford that to happen. I must protect my child at all costs.
"Woman...our traditions dictate that even if you are mated to someone, you must join the celebration. If not, a punishment will be given since it means you disrespect the ceremony."
Alpha Raphael rested his hand on my shoulder, but I stepped away.
Throwing my gaze over my shoulder, I muttered, "I can't promise that, Master Raphael. I don't care if you will punish me or not. Ask me anything, as long as it does not involve joining the ceremony."
I squeezed my eyes shut when I remembered my sister's dead body. Hatred resurfaced in my heart.
Alpha Raphel edged closer to me. Disappointment crossed his handsome face. "You think I hurt pregnant women? Really, woman? You think I am that kind of bastard?"
Disregarding his previous statement, I inquired, "Who else would be there?"
"Every unmated she-wolf. Our pack is different, given the absence of females. We must invite every female available. Unmated. Do you know our goal?"
The alpha had informed me once that one of the reasons why there were no women was that they were with their mates and settled on the human world, while those who refused to stay in the pack died due to mysterious reasons.
"Procreation."
He nodded. "The number one goal. Our population is dwindling. If we do not do the Mating Ceremony religiously, the pack will be wiped out."
"That's why you're transferring the responsibility on my shoulder?"
"One of the reasons why I bought you."
"Will I die if I continue living here?"
Alpha Raphael scratched the back of his neck.
I had been staying in the pack, but so far, nothing felt different in my body. Not even any kind of sickness. However, if my health were compromised, as well as my child, I would have no choice but to go to the human world and test my luck there.
Finding jobs would be easy, I think, since all through my life, I had been working different jobs.
"I am not sure. But risking your life for uncertainties is not worth it. The alpha king might kill me."
He won't. He might celebrate.
"I am afraid I cannot join the celebration."
"You don't have a choice, River." He smiled at me. "That's an order from your master. Be with me. Wear your fake smiles. Lie with a straight face. I do not care as long as you are there. The ceremony will be boring without you."
How sweet of him. Note the sarcasm.
He stood on one of his feet.
"And then what, Master Raphael? What will happen if you find your mate? Given what is happening in the pack of women dying, will you compromise her safety?"
"I will not meet her," he answered with conviction.
Lifting my brows, I demanded, "How sure are you?"
He shrugged and responded, "I asked the Moon Goddess a long time ago never to give me one. I don't need a woman with me. If I have a mate, she will stop me from traveling. She will prevent me from going to places I want to explore."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You're just staying away from responsibilities."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "That's settled then."
"No!"
Alpha Raphael shook his head. "You cannot say no to an alpha. Besides, I want to show the alpha king our loyalty to the kingdom. Not to the rogues."
I bit the inside of my cheeks. "What would happen to me?"
"He won't hurt you. I vow it."
A vow was not enough for me.
"He will hurt me, okay? He thought I deceived him." I paced back and forth while biting my lips. "He will kill me. He will hurt the baby."
"No, River. That's not the alpha king. You listen to me."
"Stop touching me!" I snarled.
Alpha Raphael held his hand in the air in surrender. "I am not touching you, okay? What I am saying is sooner or later, you are bound to face the alpha king again. He will know you are carrying his child. There are no secrets to be hidden in the alpha king. Nothing. He will constantly look for you."
Tears started to come out of my eyes. My chest felt heavy all of a sudden. "Maxxwell will not find me. He won't unless you tell me. Will you tell him?"
Alpha Raphael did not answer.
"I cannot promise you. He has the right to know. He can protect you better. Think about it, woman. Do not let your hatred win your heart forever."
"I am cutting that right." Protectively, I clutched my stomach and stayed away from the man. "It's not your obligation to tell him, okay? Please, I am begging you, Master Raphael. Do not tell the alpha king of my whereabouts."
"As I said, I cannot promise you."
My heart clenched. "Your loyalty will not save you. Fine. If you want me to oversee the Mating Ceremony, I will do it. But if something happens to my child and me, you will be the one to blame."
Alpha Raphael opened and closed his mouth but shut it again.
"I'm planning on stepping down as an alpha. If you want to start again with your life, you can join me."
My eyes widened at his declaration. "Stepping down?" I questioned.
It was unnatural for an alpha to step down without any valid reasons. Some wolves wanted the position badly that they were willing to kill anyone who got in their way, yet this man was throwing it away? "Yes. I do not want anything to confine me. Life is too short to imprison me in this pack."
"Is it really? Or are you only running away from your responsibilities?"
Alpha Raphael chuckled. "Running away? No. I want to have fun. There is no fun in leading the pack."
"Your father will have an outburst. He will not like it."
"That's why you will not tell him. I will tell him first."
I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Why are you telling me this? And why are you nice to me? I am your slave. You should give me lots of work even if I am pregnant." He was different from Alpha Wade and the alpha king. "Or maybe you like me."
Alpha Raphael stifled a laugh. "Like you and let the alpha king kill me? Oh, please, woman. I don't want to get killed faster than that."
"So why?"
"You want to know the answer?"
"Who wouldn't? I have nothing to offer. I have no use in your pack."
"Father threatened me. Said I should be good to you, or he will kick my ass. That's the real reason. In addition, I want to act like his good son so that he will allow me to step down."
"Beta Gavin will not like your decision."
"At first, but he will accept it as time goes on. So, I am leaving the task of managing the Ceremony to you, even at short notice."
The Riverside Pack was getting busier and reminded me of the time when Zenith was overseeing the Proclamation Ceremony. Her smile and excitement reminded me of the rainbows in the sky.
I could not help but feel worried and sad simultaneously, which I knew was terrible for the baby.
The other servants of the pack were helping me organize everything from the decorations to the invitations. Good to know that the servants were compliant and easy to work with.
Alpha Raphael was also getting busier, whatever the reason was. I rarely saw him, which was fine with me. His Father and the beta continued asking me about the alpha, but the only answer I gave was, "I don't know."
They would shake their heads and go wherever direction they would.
"Miss River. The flowers were all arranged," one of the servants informed. He was not white-haired like the rest of the pack, which only meant one thing. He was a slave that was bought from the auction house. The original occupants of Riverside Pack were all white-haired.
I instructed them to cut the flowers since the pack was booming.
Wiping the sweat out of my forehead, I nodded. "Any problems so far? The food? The decorations? The invitations?"
I wonder if the alpha king has received the invitations by now? Will he come? Or not?
"Woman."
The servant and I both looked at the source of the voice and saw Alpha Raphael walking toward us. The servant excused himself and went out of sight.
Facing the alpha, I declared, "You know my name, Master Raphael. Please don't always say, woman."
He grinned. "I brought you your clothes."
And that was the only time I saw what was in his hands-a dress enclosed in plastic.
"Haven't we talked about this, Master Raphael? I am not joining the celebration. I just cannot." I did not wish to see the alpha king.
"You have to wear something. The invitation has been delivered to the alpha king. It's affirmative. He will join the Mating Ceremony."
"What? You did not...."
"Yes, I did-"
"You did what?"
"I told him you are here. You are hiding in our pack."
My palm landed on his cheeks.
"You still love him, do you?" Alpha Raphael asked. "I can see it in your eyes. It softens when you hear his name."
"More like it became daggers that wanted to kill him," I retorted. "If I love him or not does not matter anymore. All I want is to focus on my child. Nothing else."
His eyes darted at my tummy. "Your heartbeat is fast."
"It's because I have a child with me. Silly."
I was also thankful I had no morning sickness or anything like that. Never sensitive to some food. It felt like I was not even pregnant, to begin with. If not for the heartbeat I felt, I would think I was not pregnant. "Can you handle it?"
"The what?" He was unusually chatty now, which he did not usually do. He liked lying on the bed rather than getting busy tending to his alpha affairs. The same reason why the beta kept nagging at him served him right.
"The pain. The labor. The responsibilities. Being a woman is difficult."
Rolling my eyes, I answered, "I'm glad you know it is difficult to become a woman. So why not empathize with us and stop being a womanizer?"
Alpha Raphael gave me a throaty grin. "They could not resist my charms."
Sighing, I asked, "Master. Do you have any orders? I want to breathe a breath of fresh air."
His expression became serious.
Oh, great. Something was telling me what Alpha Raphael would say next was not my liking.
"The Mating Ceremony will be a week from now. I want you to oversee the whole preparations since you are my slave."
The Mating Ceremony? It was different depending on each pack. But the same set of visitors-the alphas of the neighboring packs and the alpha king. Which means....
I paled.
There would be a high chance the alpha king would be coming, just like at the Haverstone Pack. The same way we had met. "I-I can't...."
Sweat started to form on my forehead. My breathing labored. Oh, Moon Goddess. My nightmares had begun to come true.
"You should. And during the Mating Ceremony, you will be there," he insisted.
Shaking, I stood, nearly stumbled, and went towards the window. Was I prepared to meet him or not? Especially if I was carrying a child with me. What if my child would also be treated as a traitor? Or what if he snatched my child from me?
I can't afford that to happen. I must protect my child at all costs.
"Woman...our traditions dictate that even if you are mated to someone, you must join the celebration. If not, a punishment will be given since it means you disrespect the ceremony."
Alpha Raphael rested his hand on my shoulder, but I stepped away.
Throwing my gaze over my shoulder, I muttered, "I can't promise that, Master Raphael. I don't care if you will punish me or not. Ask me anything, as long as it does not involve joining the ceremony."
I squeezed my eyes shut when I remembered my sister's dead body. Hatred resurfaced in my heart.
Alpha Raphel edged closer to me. Disappointment crossed his handsome face. "You think I hurt pregnant women? Really, woman? You think I am that kind of bastard?"
Disregarding his previous statement, I inquired, "Who else would be there?"
"Every unmated she-wolf. Our pack is different, given the absence of females. We must invite every female available. Unmated. Do you know our goal?"
The alpha had informed me once that one of the reasons why there were no women was that they were with their mates and settled on the human world, while those who refused to stay in the pack died due to mysterious reasons.
"Procreation."
He nodded. "The number one goal. Our population is dwindling. If we do not do the Mating Ceremony religiously, the pack will be wiped out."
"That's why you're transferring the responsibility on my shoulder?"
"One of the reasons why I bought you."
"Will I die if I continue living here?"
Alpha Raphael scratched the back of his neck.
I had been staying in the pack, but so far, nothing felt different in my body. Not even any kind of sickness. However, if my health were compromised, as well as my child, I would have no choice but to go to the human world and test my luck there.
Finding jobs would be easy, I think, since all through my life, I had been working different jobs.
"I am not sure. But risking your life for uncertainties is not worth it. The alpha king might kill me."
He won't. He might celebrate.
"I am afraid I cannot join the celebration."
"You don't have a choice, River." He smiled at me. "That's an order from your master. Be with me. Wear your fake smiles. Lie with a straight face. I do not care as long as you are there. The ceremony will be boring without you."
How sweet of him. Note the sarcasm.
He stood on one of his feet.
"And then what, Master Raphael? What will happen if you find your mate? Given what is happening in the pack of women dying, will you compromise her safety?"
"I will not meet her," he answered with conviction.
Lifting my brows, I demanded, "How sure are you?"
He shrugged and responded, "I asked the Moon Goddess a long time ago never to give me one. I don't need a woman with me. If I have a mate, she will stop me from traveling. She will prevent me from going to places I want to explore."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You're just staying away from responsibilities."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "That's settled then."
"No!"
Alpha Raphael shook his head. "You cannot say no to an alpha. Besides, I want to show the alpha king our loyalty to the kingdom. Not to the rogues."
I bit the inside of my cheeks. "What would happen to me?"
"He won't hurt you. I vow it."
A vow was not enough for me.
"He will hurt me, okay? He thought I deceived him." I paced back and forth while biting my lips. "He will kill me. He will hurt the baby."
"No, River. That's not the alpha king. You listen to me."
"Stop touching me!" I snarled.
Alpha Raphael held his hand in the air in surrender. "I am not touching you, okay? What I am saying is sooner or later, you are bound to face the alpha king again. He will know you are carrying his child. There are no secrets to be hidden in the alpha king. Nothing. He will constantly look for you."
Tears started to come out of my eyes. My chest felt heavy all of a sudden. "Maxxwell will not find me. He won't unless you tell me. Will you tell him?"
Alpha Raphael did not answer.
"I cannot promise you. He has the right to know. He can protect you better. Think about it, woman. Do not let your hatred win your heart forever."
"I am cutting that right." Protectively, I clutched my stomach and stayed away from the man. "It's not your obligation to tell him, okay? Please, I am begging you, Master Raphael. Do not tell the alpha king of my whereabouts."
"As I said, I cannot promise you."
My heart clenched. "Your loyalty will not save you. Fine. If you want me to oversee the Mating Ceremony, I will do it. But if something happens to my child and me, you will be the one to blame."
Alpha Raphael opened and closed his mouth but shut it again.
"I'm planning on stepping down as an alpha. If you want to start again with your life, you can join me."
My eyes widened at his declaration. "Stepping down?" I questioned.
It was unnatural for an alpha to step down without any valid reasons. Some wolves wanted the position badly that they were willing to kill anyone who got in their way, yet this man was throwing it away? "Yes. I do not want anything to confine me. Life is too short to imprison me in this pack."
"Is it really? Or are you only running away from your responsibilities?"
Alpha Raphael chuckled. "Running away? No. I want to have fun. There is no fun in leading the pack."
"Your father will have an outburst. He will not like it."
"That's why you will not tell him. I will tell him first."
I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Why are you telling me this? And why are you nice to me? I am your slave. You should give me lots of work even if I am pregnant." He was different from Alpha Wade and the alpha king. "Or maybe you like me."
Alpha Raphael stifled a laugh. "Like you and let the alpha king kill me? Oh, please, woman. I don't want to get killed faster than that."
"So why?"
"You want to know the answer?"
"Who wouldn't? I have nothing to offer. I have no use in your pack."
"Father threatened me. Said I should be good to you, or he will kick my ass. That's the real reason. In addition, I want to act like his good son so that he will allow me to step down."
"Beta Gavin will not like your decision."
"At first, but he will accept it as time goes on. So, I am leaving the task of managing the Ceremony to you, even at short notice."
The Riverside Pack was getting busier and reminded me of the time when Zenith was overseeing the Proclamation Ceremony. Her smile and excitement reminded me of the rainbows in the sky.
I could not help but feel worried and sad simultaneously, which I knew was terrible for the baby.
The other servants of the pack were helping me organize everything from the decorations to the invitations. Good to know that the servants were compliant and easy to work with.
Alpha Raphael was also getting busier, whatever the reason was. I rarely saw him, which was fine with me. His Father and the beta continued asking me about the alpha, but the only answer I gave was, "I don't know."
They would shake their heads and go wherever direction they would.
"Miss River. The flowers were all arranged," one of the servants informed. He was not white-haired like the rest of the pack, which only meant one thing. He was a slave that was bought from the auction house. The original occupants of Riverside Pack were all white-haired.
I instructed them to cut the flowers since the pack was booming.
Wiping the sweat out of my forehead, I nodded. "Any problems so far? The food? The decorations? The invitations?"
I wonder if the alpha king has received the invitations by now? Will he come? Or not?
"Woman."
The servant and I both looked at the source of the voice and saw Alpha Raphael walking toward us. The servant excused himself and went out of sight.
Facing the alpha, I declared, "You know my name, Master Raphael. Please don't always say, woman."
He grinned. "I brought you your clothes."
And that was the only time I saw what was in his hands-a dress enclosed in plastic.
"Haven't we talked about this, Master Raphael? I am not joining the celebration. I just cannot." I did not wish to see the alpha king.
"You have to wear something. The invitation has been delivered to the alpha king. It's affirmative. He will join the Mating Ceremony."
"What? You did not...."
"Yes, I did-"
"You did what?"
"I told him you are here. You are hiding in our pack."
My palm landed on his cheeks.
End of Protect Me, Alpha King Chapter 146. Continue reading Chapter 147 or return to Protect Me, Alpha King book page.