Protect Me, Alpha King
53. Fire Burning

In an instant, I closed the distance between us and put both of my hands on the hemline of the alpha king's hemline of his shirt while painting a smile on my lips.

Alpha King Maxxwell did not like my smile, and his suspicions grew.

Oops.

I wiped my smile.

Raising his eyebrows, he looked at me using his penetrating eyes, which I returned with the same intensity.

"You're planning something, River. Whatever that is, you drop it. I have no time to play with your games."

That was the alpha king. Nothing slipped under his nose.

I beamed at him, pretending he did not catch me. "I don't understand what you are talking about, Your Majesty. I'm just helping you take a bath. Nothing else.”

He narrowed his gaze at me. "You smiled sweetly, but something's telling me you have an evil plan.” "Evil? I don't have evil plans, Your Majesty,” I retorted with an innocent look on my face. "May 1?" I asked before I took off his jacket, followed by his undershirt, and set them aside.

I stopped when I saw his chest, my brows meeting in a straight line.

"You're wounded," I muttered under my breath. Another slash was on his chest. Small. The blood has already dried. But I knew it hurt. A lot. That was why he was walking slower than usual. He suffered a lot by returning to his chamber, but I did not hear anything from him. "I thought the alpha king was invisible,” I added. "This hurt a lot, Your Majesty. The pack doctor will do a nice job of healing this.”

Using my fingertips, I traced his wounds and the cuts all over his chest. Surprisingly, he let me. And was carefully watching me.

"One rogue slipped, and before I saw it, he was able to use his knife and cut my skin. Bastard. Isagani informed me that a group of rogue bandits could penetrate the territory, and we went to the location. They ambushed us. Fight broke. They lost. Yada. Yada."

My hand stopped on his nipples. "Where is that rogue, Your Majesty?"

His eyes glinted. "Dead. Like his comrades," he spat. "They will have their reunion at the Underworld."

A shiver ran down my spine as images of what might happen flashed in my memories. Blood. All I saw was endless blood. My head spun, and I asked for the alpha king's support.

"You okay? Go back, River. Let me handle this.” There was a hint of worry in his voice.

Not until you mark me, Maxxwell. So you better gather yourself together, River.

Forgetting the blood, I drew a breath and looked at the alpha king again.

"I'm okay, Your Majesty. It's just that I am never fond of the sight of blood. It makes my stomach upset. But everything is okay now. I promise.”

"Don’t overdo yourself."

"For a slave like me, it seemed you are concerned about my well-being, Your Majesty, which I should be doing for you. You are the one who is wounded. Not me."

"I still wanted you to be useful. If you are no longer benefiting me, 1 will toss you around as if you are a piece of rug, River."

I clenched my fist on both sides. Fudge.

Don't let it affect you. Do not ruin your plan.

"I understand, Your Majesty.” Inhaling deeply, I said, "About your wounds, Your Majesty. Do you want me to call the pack doctor and ask him to check on you?"

He shook his head. "The people will only get worried.”

"They will not know, Your Majesty.”

"They will know. The servants will talk. They seemed to know everything happening in the four walls of the palace,” he said softly.

So it was up to me again. I will be the one who will heal him during his sleep.

I did not want him to be weak. He had to be strong. Tristan's herbal medicine will be put to good use now.

"The servants are all-knowing," I joked. "Nothing slipped them."

The alpha king bent and attempted to take off his pants. But he grunted. It must have caused him a lot of discomforts. He did not have the strength to do it.

I gulped, and before I could think what I was doing, I helped him remove it from his body, including his underwear.

Buck naked, the alpha king faced me while I felt the sudden rise of my body temperature.

Do not look down there. I repeat. Do not look, or you will regret it.

"You can go now, River," he said.

"Why are you always driving me away, Your Majesty? Do I look that bad right now that you want me out of your sight?" I asked, pretending to be hurt about it.

"I want you to sleep now.”

"That's the least of my concern, Your Majesty. I want to serve you. Let me do it since the past few days, I am not doing well."

He sighed in the end, losing the strength to argue with me. He turned his back, and his scars glared back at me. Too many scars. It must have hurt a lot.

Poor, Maxxwell.

The alpha king stepped on the tub. I quickly averted my gaze when I saw his butt. He was brazen. Damn.

The alpha king moaned when his body hit the warm water. "This is paradise, River. I changed my mind. You can stay here.”

Good. That's what I wanted to hear from him.

Sensing he was already decent, I faced him and grinned.

"Do you want me to gather flowers and put them in your bath, Your Majesty? I know a lot of flowers are good for the skin. Rosehip is useful for anti-aging and anti-scar."

The alpha king smiled bitterly. "No amount of rosehip would remove my scars, River."

He had a point. He carried a lot of battle scars on his body, and it was plenty.

I could not help but wonder how he could withhold the pain.

"How about marigold extract for skin healing, Your Majesty? Or sunflowers for skin moisturizer?" And speaking of sunflowers, I was reminded of the necklace Elijah had given me, carefully tacked on my neck.

Before selling it, I would flaunt it to my packmates at Haverstone Pack. They will think the alpha king adored me even if he did not.

"I'm all good, River."

He submerged his whole body in the water and stayed there for quite some time. I thought he would never resurface, but he did after roughly two minutes.

Grabbing his shampoo, I put some ample quantity and, without his permission, put it at the crown of his hair.

"You don't have to do this."

I stopped mid-air. "Why, Your Majesty? Don't you want me to do my job as your attendant and slave? I want to do it, Your Majesty. Please allow me. If you do not, I would think you are playing favoritism.”

"I smell fishy around you, River,” he said again, which I only answered with a smile.

"You think too much, Your Majesty. I'm only putting some shampoo in your hair."

I slightly massaged his scalp, and after a few seconds, bubbles formed. "Tell me whatever you want, Your Majesty. I will give it to you."

"River. You tempt me so much," he said casually. "Do not play with fire if you do not know how to add firewood."

I leaned towards his ears and whispered, "I learned already, Your Majesty. I know how to keep the fire burning.”

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