The Alpha King's Claim

Chapter 2 - Big, Bad Wolf

< Serena >

I woke up surprisingly without a pounding headache despite remembering I lost consciousness in the middle of a balcony—the so-called King's balcony no less. I should have hit the ground, gained a concussion or maybe broken my spine, but I felt as healthy as I was before all these hullabaloo started. Either the balcony had seriously soft ground or my fall was cut—I couldn't really remember what happened after I lost consciousness, but either way, it was to my advantage.

All memories of over the last few hours—or minutes? or days? I don't really now—had returned to me like flood the moment my eyes flitted open. My instant comment was, 'Yes, I'm actually inside a fantasy world, how great is that?!" But my sane mind interjected, reminding me that yeah, my head was under threat of dismemberment. That arrogant man who called himself King promised I'd be beheaded in the first light of day.

Quickly, I surveyed myself and the place I was in. I was on a bed with very soft mattress and pillows, wearing a rather silky short dress that was up to the knee. I scrunched up my nose. Clearly, I wasn't on my own bed and in my pajamas, and that meant I wasn't dreaming the events I remembered with those men.

The bed was a four-poster, its thick drapes were spread up to cover the mattress entirely. Darkness enveloped me inside. I had to extend my arm just so I could reach the cloth and check the outside environment.

My heart skipped a beat. It was daylight. Possibly even morning. Meaning, my time was up and I'd likely kiss my head goodbye soon.

A feeling of dread washed over me then.

"Oh no..." I muttered, shaking my head. "No, no, no, no, no! I got to find a way out of this place!"

I scrambled to leave the bed, pushing myself out of the darkness and into the light. When my feet hit the cold, shiny floor that's when I saw two guards standing near an open door on the right, dressed in armors and helmets. They looked seriously like Mobile Legend wannabes with all the dangerous vibe and pointed, heavy-looking spears.

I placed a hand over my mouth to stifle my gasp. Despite their covered faces, I felt their eyes on me, but luckily, they didn't move. Not an inch. Just like those guards in the Buckingham Palace. Good.

Turning around, I looked for another way out of the room. There was a second door on the left, near the bed, so slowly so as not to arouse suspicion, I neared it. Once inside, I groaned, feeling disappointed upon seeing the familiar set-up of a comfort room with glass walls and a huge, steaming pool.

"You'll find the water very comforting on your skin once you dip in the pool. Try it, I insist," a male voice suddenly stated behind me.

I whirled around to see my intruder and there he was, the man whom I remembered to be the King's brother.

"I am Prince Elijah at your service, brother of King Aero of the Kingdom of Phanteon, Royal Adviser to His Majesty and a self-confessed ladies man. May I know your name, Beautiful Maiden?"

Instead of answering him, I furrowed my brows and said, "Pleasantries are useless when you are here to assist me to my doom."

"Doom?" his brow arched up and he looked confused. "What made you think of that?"

I scoffed. What was this man playing at?

"If I recall correctly, your cruel brother sentenced me to death by beheading for stupid reasons."

"Oh, no, don't worry about that," he quickly shook his head. "He was just talking nonsense. Don't take it personally."

"He threatened me," I placed a hand on my chest. "Of course, I'd take it personally."