The Alpha King's Claim

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 49 by desirenovel

Serena

I kept my cool. I kept myself as accommodating as I could despite all the people surrounding me asking for my advice, for my supervision, and for simply my presence. With their king and prince both absent, they needed another royal to guide them and despite me being fake, I was the closest fit for the position.

As a result, I received many praises from the victims and the Alphas alike the entire course of the day. I appreciated it, but what I really cared about was their happy faces and the light of hope in their eyes.

I got those when the king and I delivered the last batch of fire victims to their quarters. They were my validation that I did my job right as a queen.

Now, with me alone with the king—riding him even—I finally had ample time to think how grateful I was with his presence.

Honestly speaking, I never expected for him to help me or even to return so early from his meeting. I thought the meeting would span for days or that he would take his time there. Surely, he preferred to deal with faes than to deal with his wife. However, he was here and had willingly helped me even. That alone touched a string in my heart.

The fact that he also let me ride his wolf confounded me. I had not thought that this could actually happen during my stay here. As a member of the opposite sex, he had always given me a cold shoulder. He never showed his kind side. His words were either rude or frank. So, what changed? Why did he let me ride him? I honestly wanted to know the reason, but until then, I’d like to boldly think he was slowly warming up to me.

During our travel back to the north wing, I remained silent and just enjoyed the feel of his magnificent wolf: the silky, smooth fur, the strength and tautness of its muscles, and the calm rise and fall of its massive chest. Fear was nonexistent. All I felt towards him was pure admiration.

When we arrived at the north entrance, I released a long sigh. Truth be told, I didn’t want this moment to end, but like all other good things, it had an expiration date.

I planned to thank him once I get my foot on the ground, but then out-of-the-blue, King Aero stood up. I hastily grabbed his fur and shouted at him in response.

“Wait, Your Majesty! Do you want me to fall down?”

Instead of answering, he started to run and run, aiming for the castle gate.

“Where are you taking me?!” I gasped, my head spinning as to why he was doing this. His speed increased and I was left tightly holding onto his neck the whole ride.

It was a cold night, but luckily, his body heat warmed me just right. The wind played with my long hair as he continued onward. I took this opportunity to view the lands that he passed. First was the town of Cirelles in its sleepy state. There were some lights on the streets, but generally, the whole town was dark. The same went to the next lands we passed: a second town, fields and fields, and yeah, more fields. Then, we passed hills, jumped over rocks and trees, and gorges. Then, suddenly, he stopped.

Sensing this, I looked up and found we were in a valley surrounded by mist. But no, I take that back. Not mist, but steam. Actual steam rising from what looked like small pockets of water. It was everywhere. In different sizes and different shapes. Some interconnected turning into small waterfalls and some were solitary.

Hot springs? my mind asked. There were hot springs in Phanteon too? With this revelation, I couldn’t keep myself from grinning. I had been to hot springs on Earth too and all of them left me and my adopted family good memories.

King Aero neared a spot with a cavernous ceiling and side to side rocky walls. Inside, it boasted a pool big enough for ten people to bathe and with its own mini waterfall. I wasn’t sure he chose this because it offered some privacy, but it relieved me.

The water was so clear I could literally see its crystallized floor—a floor that seemed to glow with neon purple. The ground around it had flat rocks and smooth pebbles. Some parts were covered with moss appearing like cotton, and some were covered with shimmering white sand.

He stooped low and allowed me to climbed down.

a

like William, he

me a once-over before making a disgusted face. “You look

Now, that was rude.

the side.”What

of smell. I don’t want you

to examine myself. My mouth dropped then when I saw his point. I truly looked like hell, but

accepted his

and said, “I won’t peek so do your thing now. I don’t want to stay here for longer than

he cared less of my privacy in that pool of his in the manor and even went as far as to strip himself in my front.

to consider this as the second

the rationale of bathing when I didn’t bring fresh, clean clothes—” I said but was quickly

too much,” he snapped but unbuttoned his shirt

my third sign. Dear God, can a woman dare hope for

touch his deliciously-sculpted traps and deltoids and those tempting back dimples, but refrained, albeit with struggle. Instead, I just bit my bottom lip as I

the pool. His white shirt, I thoughtfully placed on a marble-looking boulder just within my

my neck, but this side of the pool was about three feet only, so I had to

skin. Instantly, I felt rejuvenated from the tiredness of today. I had planned to soak myself in

his back to me. I found it thoughtful

Deep inside me, I was grinning like a lunatic. “You weren’t worried about

our surroundings first, and

Are you done yet?” he said; his eyes glued to the other pockets of hot spring outside the cave, staying true to his

him as I swayed my arms underwater. “I still want

first before actually voicing out his complaint, “As I said, I don’t want to

thank you for bringing me here,” I softly stated. “I…I really appreciate it.” I paused from

covered my breasts as I looked up at him,

your duty perfectly,” my mouth dropped when I heard his gentle reply. “My kingdom needed a luna figure, Serena. They needed a feminine presence. You gave it to them and

Was I

together with the heat of the hot spring, my face

dark sky past the cave

chance to delve deeper into his person and hoped

long lashes and the perfect curve of his nose, lips, and chin.

did he,” he said and awarded me a small

total ruin, how you gave your people hope, and how you changed their lives for the better,” I continued; my hands clasping against my chest. “He also told me about how you were just a kid.