Protect Me, Alpha King novel Chapter 56

The alpha king's bite on my shoulder blade was burning, and then it was replaced by pleasure as if he had just penetrated me. Our minds were suddenly interconnected, feeling each other's emotions. Desire. Passion. I didn't even know if it was coming from me or not. Everything felt surreal. Then, I saw a black wolf staring back at me and howling. Was it the alpha king’s wolf? The scenery changed, and I saw myself with the alpha king. No. It was not me. The woman had no curls on her hair. It was the opposite. Zenith? Did I see the flashback of the alpha king’s memory?

I shuddered in his arms while he supported my weight.

Giving his final touch, the alpha king licked the wound and pulled away.

"Congratulations, River. Now, you carry my mark and scent for the rest of your life. And like I said, aside from power, you will also gain enemies. My enemies, they will be after your life. And I cannot protect you at all times. This is the consequence that my mark bearer will face."

Feeling lightheaded from what I just saw earlier, I answered, "I don't need protection, Your Majesty. I can do that on my own."

He sighed and flicked my forehead. "Stubborn as always. That will be the cause of your death.”

“Ouch. That hurts, Your Majesty.”

“You can leave now."

My mouth gaped open. That was it? I was expecting something more…."You will not take me?" I managed to ask in the end.

Smirking, he asked, "Is that how badly you wanted me, River?"

I played with my hands. "I thought you wanted my body in exchange."

"I don't want to take advantage of you. Go before I can stop myself."

I did not listen to him. The stubborn side of me wanted to know the reason. "Why did you mark me, Your Majesty?"

"It's what you want."

"I don't believe it. I don't believe you are treating me as a charity case because I was desperate for your mark."

He cocked an eyebrow. "You wanted to know the reason?"

"Yes." Marking someone who was not even your mate was not as easy as that. The beast would fight him if I were not his. It would fight him. But during the marking, the wolf never took over him, which means...realization hit me hard. Don’t tell me what I was thinking was correct.

He scoffed. "Now you get it now. Yes, River. You are my second chance mate. Welcome to my chaotic life. A life of gloomy fools."

Second chance mate?

My world spun, not believing everything. That was impossible. How did it happen? I was not even aware of that.

It could be possible since you did not have your wolf to tell you that the alpha king is your mate.

"You've known about this, Your Majesty?" I inquired.

"Of course. The moment I saw you. The moment I stepped on Haverstone Pack. The moment the Mating Ceremony started. Shocking, isn't it?" he said, full of sarcasm.

That was why he approved of my demands back then. The reason why he marked me. It also explained why I felt hurt at the mention of his woman's name. Was it because of the bond between us?

What kind of prank did the Moon Goddess play?

"What about Zenith?"

I was certain he would continue looking for Zenith.

That woman. I was starting to hate her. Why did she still hold the alpha king's heart? Well…it was not like I wanted the alpha king to love me. All I wanted was for him to be free from Zenith's memories.

"I only know about it today."

"Impossible. How could you not know? You're a werewolf, right?"

“Clara. The alpha king may have masked his scent. He usually did not when he wanted to be undetected.”

Flare had a point. He did that during the Mating Ceremony.

"Wolfless. No one will say the alpha mate is my mate. Until he told me so."

The twins covered their mouths. "Why would the alpha king do that? Keeping it a secret from you? Finding your significant other—a mate would be the best thing that could ever happen to us.”

“Maybe the alpha king still loved Zenith,” Flare said. “No offense, River. But I am only telling the truth now.”

“That’s terrible. So, River would be begging for the alpha king’s love?” Clara looked at me teary-eyed. “Fight for the alpha king’s love, River. I want you to be the Luna. The queen of this palace.”

“The people will never approve of me,” I retorted. “Well, it’s not like I am asking for their approval and the alpha king’s love anyway.” All I wanted was power—nothing else.

The twins raised their hands. “We will support you. We will not allow that history to repeat itself.” Sadness flashed in their eyes. “We were also the reason why Zenith died, River.”