The Alpha King's Claim

Chapter 54

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 54 by desirenovel Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Serena

Once King Aero left, I went for a bath. True that I would have preferred him with me, but of course, I

couldn’t be selfish. The kingdom needed him and as their fake-now-turned-real queen, I got to practice

sharing.

Looking at myself in the mirror afterward, I couldn’t keep myself from sighing. There were lots and I

mean lots of hickeys all over my body proof that what happened to us last night was real. Proof that I

yielded to him and to my desires. Finally.

Making love with him felt so good, so right. So complete. I could never regret giving in to him. He was

more than I could hope for in a lover.

The hickeys too were proof that he submitted to me—a woman—and proof that he could change. I

doubt he’d place the same respect and high regard for the rest of the women in his kingdom, but I was

a promising start. He could change for the better.

In high spirits, I donned in a dress that didn’t scream royalty or wealth. I was planning to do some

manual labor after all and wearing a queenly gown would defeat the purpose. Plus, taking the hickeys

on my arms and neck into consideration, I chose the best one that would hide all of it. It would be

embarrassing to broadcast my sexual life to the people of Phanteon through the love marks no matter

how much they love to hear it.

Rhea was already in the receiving room waiting for me. With two other maids, they prepared breakfast

on my coffee table. We exchanged morning greetings and I got to eating right away, absentmindedly

realizing I was already feeling famished.

“As per the king’s orders, I will accompany you later to the south wing, Serena,” Rhea notified while she

observed me.

I nodded. “Right, thank you, Rhea.”

I gave her a smile but she was too preoccupied to look at my back to even reciprocate the gesture. Her

eyes were wide and full of wonder. I had to turn and check just what got her so mesmerized.

Chuckling, I lifted a finger in the air and one winged insect approached and nestled on the tip.

“They are beautiful right?” I said.

Rhea neared me, her eyes set on the insect’s glittering rainbow-colored wings.

“Yes, they are. Are they native here?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not sure, but I had seen them many times since we returned from Lord

Hale’s mansion.”

“Are they harmless?” She lowered her face and meticulously examined the insect like she as a

professor would normally do.

I took a hold of her hand and pressed it close to my finger. The creature somehow understood my

intention and dutifully transferred to her hand.

“Yes, they are and I find them very calming,” I told her, smiling.

She giggled and made a silly face when the creature climbed up to her elbow with its spindly legs.

“Hmm, with constant gaze, yes, they do give that kind of effect,” she agreed. “These are remarkable

creatures.”

“They are,” I replied and went back to finishing my meal.

Half an hour later, Rhea and I marched up to the castle’s north entrance. William was already outside

waiting for us with two stallions behind him: one black and one brown, all with shiny mane and slender

limbs.

“Your Highness, good morning,” he greeted and bowed.

“Good morning too, William.” I took the reign from his hand and ushered the black horse in a safe

distance for climbing.

“I prepared one for Lady Rhea too,” he informed.

With a thankful smile, Rhea grabbed the reign and positioned herself for mounting. “Thank you,

William,” she said.

We both looked at each other and exchanged nods.

“Try to keep up, Sir Beta,” I cried out, grinning at him. “See you in the south wing.”

“I will try not to disappoint you, Your Highness,” he stated, bending his head.

Once our horses galloped forward, I heard bones crackling from behind, telling me he had shifted to his

wolf form.

When we arrived in the south wing, there were already people lining up, holding with them empty

plates. I spotted a male server at the start of the line, sitting under a makeshift tent with a big casserole

laid on a table.

After disembarking the horse, I neared him whilst waving at the fire victims who were happy to see me.

“Do you need help?” I asked when I was a few feet away from him.

The server blinked twice before answering me. “No, Your Highness. Thank you for the offer but you

mustn’t do any hard labor.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and placed my arms akimbo. “Dear me, I am fit to work, you know. Where

are the other servers? Why are you alone?”

I gestured for Rhea at the same time to create two lines. She understood this and left me.

“They are still preparing for the rest of the food, Your Highness. The servants assigned in the kitchen of

the castle are only a few since the crown prince and the King seldom eat together. And since the other

castle staff was also affected by the fire, we are short on hands here.”

“Then allow me to help you,” I said, awarding him a serene smile. “Don’t worry, King Aero won’t behead

you.”

The man, probably in his fifties, blushed and looked sheepish. “Thank you, Your Highness. You have

helped so much yesterday, we couldn’t possibly ask you to help us today as well. This means a lot to

me and to the people here.”

“You’re welcome,” I muttered, then shifted my gaze to William. “We need all the help we can get. Ask

for those who volunteered yesterday if they still want to help out today and tomorrow. Let the Alphas

meet me by late afternoon too. I want to hear their plans on rebuilding the market.”

“Your will, Your Highness,” William nodded, and off he went, shifting again to his wolf form to deliver my

message.

“Now,” I turned to the first person in the second line—a little boy with doe eyes—and smiled, “let’s get

your breakfast, shall we?”

The boy enthusiastically bobbed his head up and down.

The rest of the morning, I busied myself with setting up the needs of the fire victims. I found a hallway

on a detached building just a few meters away from the victims’ living quarters. I used this as a mess

hall and prepared a buffet table with Rhea’s help.

Thankfully, a lot of the volunteers answered my call and they expressed willingness to continue their

services until all affected by the fire get their new homes. Most of the volunteers were women of

different ages. This warmed me and I hoped this was enough for Aero to see the goodness of our

gender.

By noon, we handed out packs of lunch and ate our meal inside the mess hall. Of course, I did this

after I sent a messenger to Aero. I didn’t get a reply from him and I reckoned it was because he was

busy himself.

Sometime in the afternoon, Rhea patted my shoulder, asking for my attention. I stopped organizing the

relief goods and looked at her with confused brows.

“Hm?”

“What’s up with those insects?” she said, pointing to the ceiling and to the walls near me. “They had

been following you since this morning, Serena.”

“Yes, so I noticed,” I stared, crossing my arms and leaning against the table behind me. “They must be

attracted to my scent? I don’t know.”

“I think there could be a deeper meaning to their attraction to you,” she declared whilst looking at me

like a specimen ready for examination.

I chuckled at her statement. “You’re really playing the part, Professor. Please, I’d be happy to become

your guinea pig if it meant I get to learn why these insects are attracted to me.”

“I’ll see what I can do with the books in the library,” she stated, showing enthusiasm suddenly. “Or if

there would be none, I’m sure Cedric could help me out.”

“Hmm… are you sure it’s the insects you are excited about or the crown prince’s help?” I teased,

jabbing her rib.

She blushed at my remark and looked away.

I wanted to laugh at this and tease her more, but my head immediately gave out a shooting headache.

The exact same pain I felt before.

“Hmmmh!”

Wincing, I touched my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut. Rhea must have noticed this for she

immediately grabbed my shoulder.

“Hey, are you alright?”

I shook my head, still with closed lids. “No, I’m having a headache.”

“You’ve been having those too since we returned from the vampire realm,” she pointed out, worry

roping her voice.

“It’s a side effect of that vampire’s attack on me,” I told her, remembering that bold vampire who wanted

me for revenge. The healers said they had already healed me, but why does this headache keep

coming back?

“I think you should stop now,” she stated. “Relax. Let William and I, and the rest of the team take care

of the distribution.” She guided me to a couch to sit. It was cushioned and it was enough for me to lie

down and steal a short nap.

“Thank you. I’ll take your offer and rest for an hour or so,” I said, looking at her through my wincing

eyes.

“I’ll make sure no one disturbs you and I’ll let the king know through a messenger.”

“No!” I quickly told her, pausing from lying down. “Don’t tell him. I’ll be fine. I just need some rest.”

Honestly, I didn’t want the king to find out about this silly little headache. He’d probably overreact and

get too worried about me and might cancel the meeting with the alphas. I couldn’t have that from

happening.

“Alright, if you insist,” she said, giving me an understanding nod.

When she left, I eased down the couch. With this angle and with tables and boxes of goods in front of

me, I was hidden from view, but the insects, they still managed to find me. They surrounded me,

perching on the couch as if they were my little guardians. It didn’t take me long to lose my

consciousness afterward and it also didn’t take me long to start dreaming.

Dreaming of a long distant past when I was but a teenager and a man who called himself Marius,

introducing me to my adoptive family.