Protect Me, Alpha King - Chapter 159: Chapter 159

Attacked
"Do you have to go that far?" I asked. "The beta is innocent. The chef is innocent. I am certain there is only a little misunderstanding between the two. Perhaps the way you looked at the people right now is enough to make them say nonsense."
"Your opinion: s not needed in this matter, River."
"Whether you want my opinion or not, I have the right to say whatever I want, Your Highness."
The alpha king growled at me.
I stood my ground.
"Don't be stubborn while I am still nice, River."
"I am also being nice, Your Highness. Do not "
"Now!" he barked.
My heart hammered against my chest as I realized how scary he was now.
Left with no choice but to follow his order, I scampered back inside the kitchen calling the chef.
The staff jumped thinking it was the alpha king who entered but sighed in relief when they saw it was only me.
I craned my neck and looked for the chef. "Where was the chef earlier? His Highness is asking for his presence."
A loud thud followed. My eyes searched for the source and saw the chef in the corner. "W-what happened? D-did I do something wrong, Miss River?"
This was the first time I saw the chef being like this-stuttering.
I softened my expression to somewhat ease his fear. This man always gave me food whenever I came here.
"None so far. All he wanted was to clarify something. You can relax now." The chef paled. "It will be okay," I coaxed. "All will be well."
Tugging him gently, I led him outside.
The alpha king and the beta stopped talking upon seeing us.
"You said the beta knows how to detect poison. Why does he say he doesn't have the ability?"
The chef nervously gulped. "He does not? But I saw him once...My apologies, Beta Gavin. I-I was not in my right mind when I told those words to His Highness. Forgive me if I spouted nonsense."
"Be careful of the words you say next time, chef. You are putting me in a tight spot," Beta Gavin offered.
The chef was sweating profusely. Why did it seem like they were bullying him?
The alpha king faced the beta again. "No one here knows how to detect poison?"
"We have one, actually, Your Highness. One of our women was safely hidden in e of the lands owned
The women's hideout?
My eyes whipped in the alpha king's direction. "I want to meet them."
"I don't think that's a good idea, woman."
previous Alpha William."
"The queen wanted to meet them so you should do the honor. I want to meet the women as well."
"But Your Highness. Their safety will be compromised. Our women are our cherished pack and if something happened to them- "
"Nothing will happen to them under my watch. Tell your alpha I want to meet the women."
"But-"
"No, buts. We will prepare ourselves for the journey. Come on, River," the alpha king ordered.
The beta and the chef bowed at the alpha king.
Out of habit, I went after him, only to realize what the heck I was doing. I was no longer serving him.
I paused and stared at his broad back. Sensing I halted, the alpha king looked back at me.
His brows furrowed. "What are you standing there?"
I stepped back. "I forgot that I need to do something, Your Highness."
Before he could even reply, I ran away from him.
I was catching my breath when I stopped around the corner. No. It was not only a random corner. It was the pack's garden where different gardens bloomed under the glaring sun.
I looked like a fool, really, but being in the company of the alpha king was already too much at the moment.
Gasping, I tried to control my breathing when I thought I was already far from him. I wished he would go back to the palace and give me the peace I wanted to have before he arrived here. It would be better if Sir Elijah was here instead of him.
In the distance, someone coughed.
I stopped when I saw the chef a mere meter from me. He sniffed, grabbed his sleeve, and wiped the tears from his eyes.
He was crying because of what happened earlier?
My heart clenched at the sight of him.
It was the alpha king's fault for throwing shady comments at the poor man.
I better tell him something to console him.
Just as I took a step forward, someone-a figure with a piece of cloth around his face was suddenly in front of him. The chef stumbled and before he could recover, the man pulled a dagger out from his pocket and stabbed the chef in his chest a couple of times without the man having the chance to defend himself.
My blood went cold. My feet rooted to the ground.
It took me a moment before I could move.
I have to help him! I called my wolf but got no response. Damnit! When I needed her the most, Sunflower was no longer there.
The culprit looked around, and our eyes met.
Leaving the chef's side, he ran in my direction, with the intent to kill me.
Cursing, I turned my back only to cry in pain when something hit my back. His dagger.
I maneuvered myself and faced him, then gathered all my strength and kicked him in the groin.
Brushing my hands on my injured back, I felt something hot. Blood.
Dizziness nearly knocked me.
The man was already on his feet and tried to attack me, but I dodged his attacks. The safety of my unborn child made me fight for control.
Must never succumb to the darkness.
The man lifted his dagger once again. Or did he not?
My vision was becoming blurry.
"Hate the scent of blood," I muttered.
I closed my eyes for a moment, not minding the danger. Was this the end of my life?
"Forgive me, my-"
From the background, I heard a guttural growl. I snapped my eyes open.
In an instant, the man's chest was torn open and landed with a thud in front of me. Not yet satisfied, the alpha king shreds the body into tiny pieces.
I forgot to breathe as I continued watching him. He looked like a beast more than a man. There was blood all over his bloody claws. His fangs elongated and his eyes flashed yellow.
His eyes moved in my direction.
He stalked me like I was his prey.
Not wanting to anger him, I lay still even if my back was hurting like a bitch.
"Maxxwell. The enemy is already dead," I whispered softly.
The alpha king growled at me.
"Don't you dare hurt me more, Maxxwell, or I will kick you where it hurts the most?"
I squinted. My breathing labored. I need to heal myself. I could not do that if the alpha king was here. He will know I had the ability to heal.
I moaned when another wave of pain hit me.
Was the wound that deep? Was it coated with poison? I did not think so. If I was poisoned, my body would be burning by now.
"R-River?"
I sighed when he finally recognized me. "It is I, you bastard. Stop growling at me as if I am your enemy. I mean we are enemies. But not as of this moment."
He sniffed the air and smelt blood. The blood of the killer, the chef, and mine as well.
Horror flashed in his eyes when he realized I was bleeding too much.
"Oh, Goddess."
Panic was seen in his eyes.
"I am okay." Breathed in. Out. "If you could just leave me alone?" Then, I can heal myself. Maxxwell glanced at the dead bodies around us. "Yeah. It is your doing. You lost your control."
Damn it. Even talking hurts.
He was silent for a moment and was on my side, supporting me. "Done mind-linking Alpha Raphael. He will settle this mess. Also called the pack doctor to check on you."
"Relax. This is only a shallow wound. I will not die because of this."
"What about our child?"
I stopped and looked at him. "Y-you know my condition?" And you never told me that you know? I wanted to add but stopped myself from doing so.
"I am waiting for when you will be ready to tell me, River. I waited for you to say it yourself, but you did not. If I did not open up about it, would you continue to pretend that you are not pregnant?"
Forgetting his bloody hands, my eyes were fixed on his eyes.
"How?" I said, uttering under my breath.
His expression softened but turned serious when he saw me flinching in pain. He swooped me under my feet, but when I cried in pain, he panicked and released me. "We will talk later. I promise. We need to
stitch the wound."
Maxxwell helped me walk, aiding me.
"Leave me alone!" I uttered weakly.
"No," he answered with a stubborn look. "Never. Not in a million chances. Kill me first."
The darkness was welcoming me.
To forget my mind on the smell of blood, I asked, "How?"
"It took me only one second to confirm it. Your breathing is faster than normal. You have a different aura compared to before. You glowed differently. Your stomach was no longer flat. Those are enough to
conclude you are pregnant."