Protect Me, Alpha King
95. Truths or Lies?

My eyes went wide as Tristan's words finally sunk into my mind.

"Don’t use your hatred against the kingdom and recruit me to the same.”

My eyes watered at the thought of my parents being murdered.

However, I had to remember that those words came from a rogue.

"You are lying," I moaned. Rogues were known to be manipulative and liars. They will do anything, including hurting everyone and hindering their goals. "Who told you I was looking for my parents?" There had to be some lies.

I refused to be caught in his manipulation.

"Do you see your strong resemblance with the queen? Queen Zenith."

I felt the hairs on my arms stand. "That is merely a coincidence. Each of us has someone we resemble even if we don't have any relationship.”

Tristan clicked his tongue. "Did you notice Queen Zenith never commented on your face?" he pressed.

"It...it was because she was unaware of it," I shot back.

Plus, she was busy trying to catch up with the alpha long and forgot about my looks. At least, that was what I was trying to believe.

"She was. She knows what happened during her absence.”

I shook my head. "Are you indirectly telling me that the Zenith inside the palace is a traitor against this kingdom?" And if that was true, I pitied the alpha king. "If you will only tell an untruth, you have to do better than that. Zenith and Maxxwell are fated mates. The alpha king did nothing to her."

He grinned. "You will believe me later on.”

Lifting my chin, I said, "Try me.”

"You were left in the river, thus your name. It was the queen, Zenith, who brought you with her when you were a baby. The slave hunters were chasing her.”

My heart beat fast, and my breathing was heavy.

The story matched those Alpha Erik's words.

Still... Tristan was a rogue.

"I don't trust you. Do you want to kill the alpha king so much that you are willing to tell any lies? I'm sorry, but I would never take part in hating and killing the alpha king. Do it yourself. Don't make me a tool."

"Zenith knows you were the child by just looking at you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Shut up. 1 am not interested.”

Tristan shrugged off his shoulders. "Your parents will stand from their graves when they hear your words. They were my parents. Though not in blood."

"I said I am not interested.”

As if not hearing me, Tristan continued. "They were also slaves of the former alpha king and experienced a lot of injustice. When they could no longer bear the abuses, they ran away, and the three of us made our presence like that of Death. We settled in the forest, living simply while the couple cared for their newborn child. And to protect the other runaway slaves, your parents created the group, vowing to protect each other against anyone who will hurt them again.”

Tristan had a far-away look on his face. His mind was already traveling back to the past.

His lips lifted into the corner and vanished just like how it appeared faster than lighting.

"However, the former alpha king does not forget. Sixteen years later, before he stepped down on his throne, he had given a decree saying all those runaway slaves should be punished and die.”

"Lies! How dare you ruin my parents’ memories?!" I spat as I pointed my trembling hands toward him. "Anyone could claim those two were my parents. No one can verify your words.”

"Zenith will."

My knees went weak, and I sat on the bench. "Stop it. Go! I don't want to hear any more from your lying mouth!”

I motioned to the gate leading outside.

"You have to join us, River. You will make your deceased parents proud if you avenge their death.” "Fuck you! I regretted saving you!"

"That's fine. You are in denial. That's understandable because you are the fated mate of the alpha king. You do not want to betray him."

Glaring at him, I hissed, "How much do you know?"

"The what?"

"About my parents? If you really are telling the truth.”

He turned his back towards me.

"I was also a child when the former alpha king brought me. I was an orphan, but your parents were my mother and father. She was carrying Zenith in her womb when your father decided to run away with her. They asked me if I wanted to go with them and I told them I wanted to. They were the only ones who did good and showed kindness toward me. Everything was well after sixteen years. We thought the alpha king had already forgotten what we did, but one time, he ordered a group of warriors and carried out a decree that all rogues should be killed on sight.”

"Is that the truth?" I mumbled, still in disbelief that after everything, the rogue I met at the dungeon might be the key to knowing my past.

"I vow it. This kingdom owed the two of you something—your parents’ lives."

I inhaled sharply. "Do you have further proof?”

"At the alpha king's library. Behind the secret door are all the records of all the slaves inside the palace. Look for Melissa and Robert Dove and my name, Tristan Camp.”

I stood. "What will I do to you when you lie to me?"

He pulled out something from his hip. The sharp objects glinted under the moonlight.

"You can pierce my chest using that dagger without me resisting. That proves how much I wanted you to be with us by our side.”

Accepting his dagger, I inspected it and raised it above my head. "If you are using their names just to lie to me, I will torture you to death, and you will regret approaching me."

Tristan smiled weakly. "You can. If you find the truth and you have already decided which side to take, call me."

"How?"

"Zenith."

"That woman is head over heels for the alpha king. She will never betray him. Besides, does she even know about this?"

He gave me a knowing smile. "It's for you to know. I'm out of here. Do it fast, River. You do not have all the time in the world." Then, he shifted into his wolf form and ran into the darkness.

"River."

I spun around and saw Dawn watching the direction where Tristan leaped into.

"You heard everything?" I asked.

Dawn nodded at me. "Everything."

I paled.

"Why do you have contact with a rogue? If the alpha king knew about that, he would punish you."

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