The Alpha King's Claim

Chapter 49

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.

“Thanks,” I said and stared at his big, golden-greenish eyes. Somehow, when he changes to a wolf,

this faculty of his changes color too. Cool. “Why did you bring me here?”

He transformed back to his human form first before answering. I had hoped just like William, he would

be dressed after the transformation, and to my complete relief, he was.

“Look at yourself,” he gave me a once-over before making a disgusted face. “You look like hell.”

Now, that was rude.

I arched my brows and tipped my head to the side.”What do you mean?” I asked. “I look perfectly fine.”

He chuckled darkly and shook his head. “You’re dirty, Serena, and you reek of all kinds of smell. I don’t

want you desecrating the castle’s cleanliness, so I suggest you take a bath in the hot spring first before

entering the castle.”

“Oh…” I murmured and decided to examine myself. My mouth dropped then when I saw his point. I

truly looked like hell, but in my defense, I wasn’t able to take care of myself since this morning.

I sighed and accepted his offer. “Fine, I’ll bathe.”

He turned his back to me and said, “I won’t peek so do your thing now. I don’t want to stay here for

longer than an hour.”

I giggled inside as I stared at his broad back. A month ago, 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. Now, he was being considerate

and that was good news for me and definitely, for Elijah.

Even if it’s just a tiny possibility, I’d like to consider this as the second sign of him gradually changing.

“Although I don’t see the rationale of bathing when I didn’t bring fresh, clean clothes—” I said but was

quickly cut off.

“You’re complaining too much,” he snapped but unbuttoned his shirt he did and tossed it to me. “Use

that temporarily.”

This was my third sign. Dear God, can a woman dare hope for more?

“Thank you,” I said, wanting to hug him, 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 started

undressing.

Soon enough, I was butt-naked inside the pool. His white shirt, I thoughtfully placed on a marble-

looking boulder just within my reach.

Feeling too exposed for my liking, I decided to submerge my body up to my neck, but this side of the

pool was about three feet only, so I had to sit down in order to do that.

The water felt good on my skin. Instantly, I felt rejuvenated from the tiredness of today. I had planned to

soak myself in my bathtub inside my chamber, but this here was also a very welcomed change.

I scrubbed and scrubbed and took my time swimming in the deeper part of the pool while the king

diligently just stood with his back to me. I found it thoughtful of him. What had I actually done in order to

get this kind of queenly treatment?

“Are you sure my dirty state was the only reason why we’re here, Your Majesty?” I asked whilst facing Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

him. Deep inside me, I was grinning like a lunatic. “You weren’t worried about me? On Earth, hot

springs are known to energize an exhausted body, heal weary muscles and calm a stressed mind.”

Silence permeated our surroundings first, and then, he huffed.

“Think whatever you want. Are you done yet?” he said; his eyes glued to the other pockets of hot spring

outside the cave, staying true to his promise that he won’t peek.

“No,” I told him as I swayed my arms underwater. “I still want to enjoy the spring.”

I heard him groan first before actually voicing out his complaint, “As I said, I don’t want to dally, woman.

I still have important things to do in the castle.”

“That’s why I wanted to thank you for bringing me here,” I softly stated. “I…I really appreciate it.” I

paused from swimming and neared the edge of the pocket.

Both my wet hair and the water covered my breasts as I looked up at him, waiting for him to reply,

expecting he’d throw in another sarcastic remark.

“You deserved it. You stepped up and did 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 for that, I am grateful.”

I blinked in shock. And then, blinked again. Was I really hearing it right? Was he actually thanking me?

I couldn’t hold off the fluttering feeling of my chest and together with the heat of the hot spring, my face

flushed. “You’re welcome then.”

For a moment, silence returned. I gazed at the dark sky past the cave and the stars that gave it beauty

and sighed.

“Elijah…told me a lot about you,” I started, taking this chance to delve deeper into his person and

hoped that he would open up.

He shifted his head ever so slightly to the left. From beyond the steam, I saw his long lashes and the

perfect curve of his nose, lips, and chin. Damn it, he was so handsome.

“He did, did he,” he said and awarded me a small smile.

“Yes… He told me how you saved your family and kingdom from 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. You were a good brother figure to him and despite

battling your own problems, you gave your all in taking care of him. Elijah never once felt forsaken.”

He stayed silent, so I continued, hoping that somehow I could reach that side of him that he hid—that

lonely side.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mother. She…she didn’t deserve you,” I carefully stated.

He released a long sigh and in my periphery, I noticed him clench and unclench his hands.

“It seems that Elijah had blabbered too much,” he said.

“He was only trying to help, Your Majesty. I wanted…to understand you more.”

“Understand me more?” His profile changed from calm to a full-blown frown. “Careful, Serena, dig

deeper and you’ll fall. You don’t want that to happen, right? Just to remind you, you are only here

temporarily until we find a way to erase this mark.”

He showed me his wrist mark again. I stared at mine afterward and clenched my teeth.

“Yes, I’m highly aware of that, but—”

“But?” he snapped. His body shifted slightly, turning to the right, dangerously close to fully facing me.

As a reflex, I pressed my body closer to the edge, trying to cover my nakedness, but I knew, if he willed

it so, no amount of water or ground could hinder him from examining me.

“Last time I checked, you wanted so badly to return to your world. Did the kingdom change your mind?

Or did my brother influenced you to stay?” he asked; his voice sharper than a double-edged sword.

I balled my hands into a tight fist and stared straight at him with all the burning fire in my eyes.

“I never said I wanted to stay. What I’m trying to say is, until such time I return to Earth, I wanted to

leave good memories with your kingdom and your kingdom’s people. However, in order to do that, I

have to understand their king—you. I had been to places in your kingdom wherein your people have

the same sentiments, King Aero. They wished you to be happy. They wished you to find love. When I

return to my world, I wanted to make sure that at least one of those is fulfilled. With your current

condition now, I know it would be a long shot, but I know also it would all be worth it in the end.”

“Wise words,” he said, awarding me a smile that was close to a sneer. “And how do you suppose to do

that, Serena?”

I sighed and lowered my lashes to gaze at the green moss that indeed felt like cotton. “I don’t know yet.

I’m still forming my game plan.”

“Hmm, a game plan,” he echoed; his voice turning lower, huskier. “I already told you I always win

right?”

I grinned and raised my head up. “Yes, but unfortunately for you, I am not one to…back…down.”

My words gradually faded when I found him already watching me, fully facing me, scrutinizing my

exposed form without shame. My skin hair erupted. My lips trembled. He stared at me with so much

desire, so much need. I was frozen on the spot.

“I know. Your eyes tell it so. It is so fiery that I couldn’t help but be drawn to it. I couldn’t help…but be

disarmed.”

Heat collected on the pit of my stomach and no, it wasn’t due to the warm water I was in. It definitely

came from within me.

He stepped forward, closer to me. As a response, my eyes rounded.

“What…what are you doing? I’m not done bathing. Look…look away!” I hastened to say. Yes, I was a

bit alarmed. He was looking at me like a wolf’s prey after all, but another part of me was excited about

this development. Another part of me desired what was about to happen…

“Too late,” he whispered, suddenly standing behind me, his mouth close to my ear while his large

hands rested on my waist.