Protect Me, Alpha King - Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Not Fickle
River
After surveying the inside of the pack house, we were able to count all the dead bodies. A total of sixteen bodies were either brutally killed or poisoned. No survivors so far. It was still a question of where they could be.
Together with the alpha king, we stepped outside, only to see Alpha Raphael, who was back in his human form, but buck naked as a baby, slowly moving the bodies and piling them on the ground. For proper
burial.
Maxxwell tried to cover my eyes so that I could not see the alpha's nakedness, but it was already too late. Besides, seeing his naked body was the last thing I was concerned about.
Slapping Maxxwell's hand away, and not minding Alpha Raphael's current state, I rushed to his side. "M-Master Raphael. Did you find any survivors?"
He shook his head.
I clenched my fist.
"I-if that's the case, we have to go back and return to Riverside Pack to inform your father about this."
It seemed like he did not hear my voice. At all. He looked like a robot.
Alpha Raphael gently put the woman's body on the ground and turned his back and retrieved another body inside the packhouse.
Maxxwell was already beside me.
I was about to go after Alpha Raphael when Maxxwell said, "Let him be. There were times when we wanted to be alone. That is already enough."
My hands squeezed into a fist. "Leave him be? Your Highness. We need reinforcements. The people need to know what has happened!"
"We need to give him some time. Afterward, we will say what we should say."
Pulling my hair, I glanced at the sky. "You are being extra sensitive today, Maxxwell."
"Be thankful for it."
After a couple of minutes, Alpha Raphael was again bringing another lifeless body of a white-haired woman and carefully put it on the ground.
The alpha king glanced at me, waiting for me to say something, but in the end, I did not want to become an insensitive bitch who did not even consider someone's feelings.
"There are survivors," Alpha Raphael weakly said after a long agonizing silence.
Oh, goddess. Finally. I thought he would forever treat us as if we did not even exist.
Then, his jaw clenched. "This pack house is housing more than thirty women. The others are not here. I-I..." He gulped. "I wanted to think of something positive. That they may be alive."
As much as I did not want to sound like a villain, I blurted, "How did you know if you are still fine, Master Raphael? They could be held captives or worse, they might be sold to the auction house. Henderson is not the only one who owned an auction house. This is scattered all throughout the kingdom."
"I have a list of all of them. If it is needed to inspect each of—"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I will be the one who will find them. They are my responsibility," Alpha Raphael interjected.
A low growl erupted from the alpha king's throat, not liking the interruption. It was considered disrespectful to the crown. Not wanting Alpha Raphael to be in any more trouble, I held the alpha king's hands and
squeezed them tight before I let go.
He glared but did not say anything.
I sighed in relief.
"Master Raphael, we can ask for His Highness's help. He has a lot of warriors to-"
"I. Will. Be. The. One. To. Bring. Them. Back."
"But."
Maxxwell's hands were suddenly on my shoulders, stopping me from saying anything.
I heaved a sigh. "What do you plan to do next?"
"Find out the reason behind this. The killer. I will crush him to death. He will die a painful death that he will regret being born in this world." His body shook. "The women. I will save them. I vow it."
"Do you have a lead?" Maxxwell asked. "Tracing them will take some time."
"I have my ways, Your Highness. I found something from one of our women."
My heart jumped in anticipation. "May I know what that is, Master Raphael?"
"I'm afraid I will not tell you."
I bit my lower lip and said, "Oh. I-I understand."
"Woman. We part ways from here. I am giving you back to His Highness. Go with him."
"What? Why?"
Instead of answering my questions, he said, "Go back with the alpha king," he repeated. "Our pack is no longer safe, woman."
My eyes bulged then stomped my feet in disapproval. "You are not the one who will"
"I have the right. I bought you," he snapped, cutting off my words. "You listen to me when all I want to do is protect you, woman."
The alpha king growled beside me, not liking how he talked to me.
Tears swam in my eyes. "I told you a couple of times, I do not want to go back." I already loved staying at Riverside Pack. "Riverside Pack is now my home. I loved it there."
Alpha Raphael pointed at the bodies on the ground, his fingers shaking. "Do you want to be like them? Do you want to die?" Tears simmered in his eyes and he did not bother to wipe them anymore. "I want to
keep you...safe. My mind goes mad whenever I imagine my people scared, calling for my help, but I was not able to respond to them. It is my fault. I forgot about them. I always think they are safe here, woman. I
do not want to have another death. Please...."
"Master."
"Do you know what I want to do right now? My blood is calling me to kill anyone on sight. But the women...they needed me."
I froze at the honesty of his words. Who would never listen to that? Guilt consumed me.
Now that he was trying to be accountable for his decisions, I was stopping him from doing that.
I glanced at the alpha king, and he was watching me with hopeful eyes.
To make me decide, Alpha Raphael added, "If I solve this mess, you can go back to Riverside Pack. With your baby. I will help you take care of her."
I smiled. That was the best shot I will have. "I will go with His Highness." Reaching out his hand I added, "I know you can solve this. I will be waiting."
After talking to Alpha Raphael, Maxxwell went back not to the Riverside Pack, but straight to the palace. We left Alpha Raphael in the safe house when the beta and his people arrived. Like us, they were also
surprised at the mass murders of their people.
I just hoped Alpha Raphael could overcome this great challenge in his leadership which greatly affected him internally.
"I'm elated you finally decided to go with me, River," Maxxwell said, with all smiles, yanking me back to the present.
"I wish to share your happiness, Maxxwell." My lips pressed into a thin line. "You owe it to Master Raphael," I replied, which he did not like at all based on the hard lines on his face.
His expression turned sullen. "How long will you keep on worshiping your master?" he said with sarcasm.
I scoffed. "Worship? I never worship any people."
"Patronize, then," he corrected. "You treated him as if he was your hero who saved you."
"He did save me from those bastards who wanted to turn me into their sex slave when I was auctioned. And you know whose fault it was, right?"
Guilt crossed his handsome face before he vanished. "I don't want you singing all praises about him. Denaro is always growling at me to do something."
"Will you stop being jealous as if you have the right? We are through, Maxxwell. We are done."
He made a slow growl under his throat. "Every time you tell me that is like a stab in my chest. Mind as well kill me as your punishment for killing your sister, River if that is the only way for you to forgive me."
"Do I look like a murderer? We are not cut in the same fabric, Maxxwell." 1
I looked away and edged closer to the door, then threw my gaze on the window outside. The fresh air was like a whisper in my air, slightly calming my racing heart.
"Don't challenge me, Maxxwell," I mumbled.
The alpha king heaved a sigh. "I don't mind dying as long as it is under your hands. I am deeply tired from everything, River. The only thing that makes me go is our child and you. If the two of you are not here...I
don't know what I will do. What I am capable of."
"Stop saying that. You cannot die if your people still believe in you."
Will I cry if he died?
My heart tightened at the thought. Perhaps.
We passed on a seaside cliff and the salty scent of seawater hit my nose.
On the other side was a village full of humans who were eyeing us as if we were some kind of strangers in their native land.
"I am happy you still cared about me."
"I am not. Don't be delusional. I am worried about those innocent people who relied on the kingdom." 1
A child was waving at our carriage, and I waved back.
"You don't have to be nice to them."
Glancing over my shoulders, I replied, "You don't have to be a jerk, too. At least the humans are living peacefully in this village."
I settled back on my chair. "I'm tired, Maxxwell. I will have my nap."
"I will wake you up when you arrive."
"Did your people already know I am returning to the palace? Temporarily?"
I will go back to Riverside Pack when everything is settled. That will also be the place I will let my child grow. The place was ideal.
"You will stay there for good, River. I want my child to be with me. At all times."
"Not a chance, Maxxwell. My child will stay with me. The palace is the last place I want her to be."
The two of us had a staring contest and it was he who first let go. "I will do everything to change your mind."
"That won't happen anymore, Maxxwell. My heart is not fickle. I will stick to my decision and even if you cried in blood, it will remain the same."
The alpha king moved and without expecting it, he kneeled in front of me.
"What are you doing? An alpha king never begged. He never kneels in front of anyone. He is proud. If someone sees you right now, their opinions will change about you. Get up. Even if your knees get wounded, I
will still never forget you pushed my sister to her death."