Protect Me, Alpha King
105. Enemies?

Zenith only stared at me for a moment. "You're not going to say something? Will you continue pretending that everything I said was a lie?" I asked.

She glared at me. "Who told you about everything?" Zenith asked. "It's not yet the time to tell you,” she muttered under her breath, but I could hear it.

I stared at the ceiling. "You are impossible. I can't believe you.”

"If I tell you the truth, you will stop me from achieving my plans.”

My brows furrowed. "What plans are you talking about?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "N-nothing."

I inhaled deeply.

How will I continue to wait before he bares the truth?

Tristan and Zenith must be exchanging some words secretly. Perhaps the woman was silently helping the rogue. How else would he enter the palace whenever he wanted unless someone was aiding him from inside?

A shiver ran down my spine.

Will this woman become my friend or my foe? I had to be sure that I would know which side to choose.

"Please don't tell me you are planning a revolt?”

Zenith did not reply.

She was planning a revolution.

My hands felt clammy. Fighting against the kingdom was punishable by death. And the alpha king will never take the punishment lightly, regardless of his relationship with the criminal.

The alpha king was fair and just.

I touched my forehead. "Oh, Moon Goddess.” When I remembered something, I looked at her. "Tell me, Zenith. Are you my sibling or not?" I asked, without stopping myself.

She inhaled a sharp intake of breath.

A yes or a no?

Why? Was it so hard to acknowledge our relationship?

No. It was not.

It was a matter of trust. She did not trust me.

Why would she when all I did was anger her?

"Are we related or not, Zenith?" I asked, growing impatient. "I've been trying to answer that. No. I did have the answer for that." I fished out something from my pocket and pulled out the portrait of Melissa and Robert. "Are they our parents?”

For a moment, Zenith's defenses crumbled as she stared at the portrait. Her eyes watered while her hands trembled as she raised them. However, she stopped mid-air.

"W-where did you get that?"

"The alpha king's record room. Tell me the truth now, Zenith."

She inhaled deeply and, after a moment, masked her emotions and was back to being a bitch.

"I do not know if you are with me or not."

I clenched my fist. "Are we sisters or not?"

She went to the balcony and looked at the overview of the surroundings.

I sauntered towards her and stood opposite her.

She had a far-away look as if she had traveled back in time.

"Seventeen years ago, I left my sister at the river when the slave hunters chased me. Hoping she would never suffer the same fate as me—an orphan and will become a slave.” Her voice was sad and could break someone's heart just by listening. "I was certain Father and Mother before they took their last breath fighting for their beliefs, would also like the same. They made me promise to protect you at all costs. That we should never separate. But I broke the promise.”

Zenith shivered. No. It was not from the cold. But from the painful memories of the past.

"What happened?” I whispered.

"The alpha king's people were able to locate us and kill them. They died protecting Tristan and their children."

"We are their children?" I asked.

"What else do you expect? We could pass as twins.”

"Does the alpha king know about your past? That our parents are rogues who wanted to bring down the kingdom?"

"All he knew was that I was an orphan. Without any family left. And he never questioned me again. Fool. He always believes my lies. He always believed whatever I showed him."

Fool?

Did I hear it right?

"Maxxwell is not a fool. He becomes one when he keeps on loving you.”

She chuckled and stared at her palm. "He is wrapped in my little fingers.”

"What are you planning, Zenith?"

"Isn't it obvious? I plan to destroy this kingdom with the help of the leader of the rogue—Tristan Camp. We will avenge our parents, River, and all the innocent lives the alpha king had taken.”

"It was the alpha king. Maxxwell has nothing to do with it."

Now I understand why Dawn was okay with living in the palace despite what the previous alpha king had done for her pack and mate. Maxxwell had nothing to do with the past.

"All the alpha kings should be killed!"

My heart hammered against my chest at her declaration.

"What the fuck? Why would you do that? You are the alpha king's mate! Why would you even harm him?"

"He did nothing when his people attempted to kill me! He was nowhere to be seen when I came looking for him. When I attempted to reach him using our mind link, he did not reply. He just let them! Above all, he is the alpha king. His title alone is enough to kill him. For our parents. For their pack. For the innocent lives!"

I strolled towards her and closed the distance between us

The reason why she came back was to take revenge. Not because she wanted to be with Maxxwell? "Maxxwell loved you!" I declared. "You do not know how much he suffered when he thought you died. He blamed himself every day because of what happened to him. Maxxwell kept on looking for you. He cried for you."

She snorted. "You want me to believe that? What are you defending him anyway? We are siblings. You should side with me."

I stepped back, repulsed at her. "I would never side with someone who will dare to harm the kingdom who accepted me and saved me from my ruthless pack.”

Her eyes went wide.

"I am your sister, River! We should have each other's back."

I scoffed. "Now you are acknowledging me as your sister. If I did not press it, you would never tell me about it. You have no plans of telling me, right? Did I even matter to you, Zenith? You did not even look for me when you had all the means. We only have each other, yet you pretended as if I did not exist! And do you remember what you did for the past few weeks? If looks could kill, I would be dead by now. You see me as a threat.”

Zenith's breathing labored.

"You are a threat to my goal of destroying this kingdom. You loved the alpha king more than me. Do you think his people will love you? Use your brain, River. They attempted to kill me back then. What is your assurance that they won't do the same to you?"

"That's no longer your concern, big sister." I scoffed. "I will do everything in my power to stop your evil plans. You will never succeed. You and Tristan never will."

"Does the alpha king weigh heavier in your heart compared to me? He will never love you. It is I whom he loves.”

Did she think I did not know that?

"I know. But I will protect him from you."

Zenith pointed her fingers at my chest. "You will tell him about this?"

"I don't know!" I cried and paced back and forth. Everything was too much.

"The least you could do is support me."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You're delusional. I would never defend a traitor of the kingdom,” I spat. Zenith laughed. "Why? Are you still expecting that you will be chosen as the queen if you will save Maxxwell? Do you love the alpha king that much? You're desperate, River."

"Yes! I love him that much! My love is nothing to your feelings. My love for Maxxwell is real. Authentic. Selfless that I am willing to let him go for his happiness. However, after I find out your plans, I will do my best to take him away from you, including the queen position. You do not deserve it. The people needed someone who would never betray and feed them to the rogues.” Zenith's lips quivered. "I thought you would side with me?" she cried.

"I don't want to commit any more sins by siding with you. Let's forget that we are siblings. You were not even with me when I was a child. Technically, we are strangers.”

"Enemies. Sister against sister. Is that what you want to happen between us, River?"

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