The Royal Alpha King's Little Damsel

Chapter Three

VALENTINA

**

(Continuation from the previous chapter.)

“Wake up!” I heard a voice and suddenly felt cold. I opened my eyes only to realise that cold water was splashed on me. I shivered and looked up to see Nancy, one of the kitchen maids.

“We must cook, unlike you. Go and rest your eyes somewhere else.” Nancy grumbled. I did not utter a word but got up and took my wet belongings to dry them in the sun. I needed them in the night so I had to make sure they were dry for use.

It was a struggle with the now heavy mat and blanket. I suddenly felt the weight lessen. I whirled to see that Vincent had taken, more like snatched, the blanket from my hands. He gave me a comforting smile. I smiled back at him even through the glare, trying and wanting to avoid him asking about the situation.

“Why is this damp? Don’t tell me, you wet your pants and blanket and now you’re hiding the proof.” He teased me. Vincent and I had played together since we were kids and so we were on good terms.

“No, Vin. I happened to drop a bottle of water on it.” I muttered to him, lying straight through my teeth. I didn’t want to cause a ruckus about anything.

“You still can’t lie well, Val. I suggest you stop it and tell me who did this.” He declared, straight to the point. He saw me through but I still couldn’t tell him the truth. He will not always be there to protect me.

“Don’t. It’s going to make my life difficult if you do anything.” I explained to him with a sad smile. His hands were tied in this matter and he couldn’t do anything.

“I am sorry that I cannot help you. Once I become the Alpha, I will protect you from all this. It is a brother’s promise.” He pledged and I smiled at him. I knew when he’d be the Alpha, he’d put in the effort to take care of me and make sure I was alright.

“I know you will, Vin. Just don’t ever change and be a good human like Alpha Liam. You have a long way ahead.” I encouraged him and smiled at him. We put the mat and the blanket to dry.

“You are just like a sister I never had. I will always protect you, Little Val.” He said to me and ruffled my wet hair. He gave my hair a look and scrunched his eyes at me.

“Hey! That is what Alpha Liam calls me!” I yelled at him. “You are not allowed!” I was about to hit him when he ran in circles. We were both laughing, unaware of the strong smell that came.

“You dare hit my son?” We heard a very familiar voice. Luna Meredith had come and was glaring at me. I gasped, scared of the punishment I would be given ahead. She darted at Vincent, too. He sighed.

“No…No, Luna. I would never hit Vin…I mean, I would never hit future Alpha like that.” I stuttered. I felt fear rush through me.

“Then what are you doing now?” She questioned, throwing daggers at me. I squirmed under her glare. I had no response to give her. I was indeed trying to strike Vincent but we were playing.

“No, Mother. We were just messing around, nothing serious.” Vincent justified. She glared at him. Vincent looked down, submitting to his mother and the Luna of this pack.

“You are not to mess with a no-rank, Vincent.” She warned him and was about to say something else, but Alpha Liam came to the scene. I was internally thankful but didn’t let it show on my face.

“Do not bother the kids playing around. Let them be before they must take their responsibilities. Now, let us go on a lovely date to cheer you up.” Alpha Liam emerged and announced. Luna Meredith rolled her eyes but ended up nodding in agreement.

He reprimanded her for doing what she was doing, subtly, and coaxed her at the same time. She nodded and I saw Alpha wink at me and Vincent. Once they left, we both chuckled.

“No wonder she still won’t let Dad step down even though I’m twenty,” Vincent commented, and I sighed. He still had a little childishness left.

“You know now. But everyone knows when you are twenty-one, you’ll get the title, like it or not.” I asserted to him and he sighed.

“I know. It’s such a huge responsibility that makes me want to run away.” He accepted it in front of me.

It wasn’t like I didn’t know it was stressful to take over a title, but also Alpha Liam had set a high bar for him to reach. He was such a good Alpha who was loved and respected by the pack and also by other packs.

“Don’t worry, Little Vin.” I teased, trying to lighten his mood and started running.

“That is what Alpha Liam calls me. You are not allowed!” He teased me back and started running behind me. We both just laughed, letting small happy moments weave big memories.

**

A Few Months Later…

I was walking or more like jumping towards Vincent’s room. I knew I had to see him and calm him down before he came out of the room. It was a very special day for him.

I knocked on his door and as soon as I heard his permit, I almost barged into the room with a big smile.

“Vincent, time to go out,” I announced as I arrived to get him for the big celebration. I gave him one glance and I knew he was worried and nervous. I hoped it was all the jitters before the big change.

It was his birthday when he was turning twenty-one and was receiving the Alpha title as a souvenir from his parents. An exclusive ceremony was organized for the announcement.

“I’m so anxious, Val.” He admitted what I had read on his face and I gave him a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry much, Vin. You will make Alpha and Luna proud. We all know that you are capable of it.” I encouraged him and he smiled. He gave me a small hug and I returned it gladly. I caressed his back and he let out a deep breath.

“Let’s do this. After today, I can save you.” He declared to me and I smiled. Vincent had always expressed to me the brotherly love I could never possess from someone else in the whole world. I was just so happy that, even in a moment like this, he was thinking about me.

At a point in time, Alpha Liam thought that I would be Vincent’s mate, but that wasn’t the case. The thought had haunted Luna Meredith. When I confirmed that Vincent wasn’t my mate, no one was happier than Luna.

We were both still discovering our mates, anyway.

“You always have been, Vin,” I confessed with a smile as I pulled away from the hug.

“I will be better.” He swore as he caressed my hair.

“Fix this bow, please,” Vincent said, and I fixed his crooked bow, shaking my head with a sigh.

“Grow up, Alpha.” I teased him and he just scoffed. Once I was done with his bow, he glanced at him, satisfied and appeared confident.

“Okay, I’ll be down. Everyone must be waiting.” He said to me and rushed off. I saw the mess that he had left behind so I cleaned it up a bit. Once I felt that it was better than the previous version of it, I stepped out of the room.

I was glancing at my shoes to see some mud on them and was thinking about washing them when I was abruptly halted by a wall out of nowhere. I bucked up to see Tasha and her pose standing. She looked at me and gave me a strong punch in my stomach. I doubled over in the pain. I could feel a bruise forming at that punch.

I gazed at her in confusion, holding my now stinging stomach.

“Don’t you dare try to seduce our Alpha! A no-rank should stay within the limits.” She growled and left without saying anything. I clutched my stomach in pain and just took deep breaths. I couldn’t heal with my wolf’s power so I just had to bear it.

Onyx – Those little minxes of a devil! If only I had a chance to gift them back. If only…

Onyx professed and before I could reply she was gone, and all I felt was silence and detachment from her. I couldn’t understand how she appeared and disappeared like that. She usually made fewer appearances but it felt like she was now struggling for some reason I didn’t know.

I feigned a happy face, letting go of all the things that had happened recently, and walked out to find Samantha. I quickly spotted her but she wasn’t in a proper state of mind, as it seemed. I gave her an unusual look but she kept looking around.

“Sam, are you alright?” I asked her and she gave me a wide-eyed look. Her pupils were dilated and her cheeks were a little flushed.

“I…There is this wonderful scent here.” Her eyes scoured through the crowd and then fell on me. “Can’t you smell it?” She asked, wanting to know the answer, and I shook my head. She looked at me confused, but then my mind clicked.

“Is…Maybe it’s your mate. Try to locate him.” I urged her and she nodded excitedly. She looked around and we both wandered here and there and finally halted.

Her mate was also trying to discover her, it seemed. She was a complete shade of red. He came forward and looked at Samantha in awe. He was a good-looking guy and seemed decent enough.

“Hello, I’m George.” He introduced himself and Samantha looked up at him. The way they were looking at each other was overwhelming.

“I’m Samantha.” She muttered, coyly. I chuckled. She wasn’t usually this shy or subtle, so I kind of chuckled.

“I suggest you both take some time out and converse with each other. I’ll stop disturbing you.” I muttered with a smile and left.

George was from the neighbouring pack. A few other packs had joined for the occasion and I was glad they did because Samantha found her mate. Reality soon hit me that Samantha will be leaving with her mate and I couldn’t stop but feel heartbroken over it. The only friend I had was now leaving me all alone here.

The ceremony was over. Samantha and George talked to the newly appointed Alpha Vincent about shifting to another pack. It was the first decision made by him after being appointed as an Alpha and he seemed happy to do it.

The Alpha of the other pack also accepted Samantha. She went and packed her belongings to move on to the next stage in her life. As her eyes fell on me, she gave me a longing look.

“I wish I could take you with me,” Samantha mumbled and I chuckled.

“And make me your luggage? No, thanks.” I fake scoffed at her. “You have a happy life with George. I hope you make cute pups together.” I teased her and she blushed. We both hugged each other and shed some tears since we had been together since young. But I had to send her off to her new life with a smile.

“I’ll miss you, Sam,” I sobbed as we both pulled away. I decided to be brave about it so I kept a smile on my face.

“I’ll miss you, too, Val.” She admitted and soon her mate was in sight. He carried her bags and she waved at me. And soon she left my vision and I kept glancing in her direction with small tears flowing down my eyes.

“Must’ve felt terrible.” I heard a familiar voice. I perked up to find our new Alpha Vincent standing there with a consoling smile. He looked at me and dabbed my tears with a tissue. I snatched the tissue and wiped it on my own.

“It does. You won’t know, since your friends will bring in their mate and get to stay with you forever.” I grumbled to him and he chuckled at my accusation.

“You’re still a child, Val.” He teased me with evilness glinting in his eyes and I glared at him.

“Oh, come on, Vin…ah!” I felt a sharp pain in my chest, like a needle poking. I looked up to see that he was looking at me, concerned about my sudden reaction.

Onyx – He should be summoned with his title, no matter how close you are. Onyx informed me and just left. I understood the boundary that was now formed between us and felt as if my only brother had also left my side, but I didn’t show it to my face.

“Onyx told me that I couldn’t summon you without your title, Alpha Vincent,” I explained, and he appeared sad knowing that.

“I wished you could.” He professed and I knew how desperately he wanted that to happen, but we weren’t blood bound. Even though I couldn’t feel the rise in his power, I had to oblige to the rules of our species.

“I can’t. It’s against my wolf.” I told him and he sighed.

“I can’t interfere with that, but remember that our relationship won’t be changing because of this,” He asserted, and I smiled.

“I know,” I said, but internally I was just hoping it wouldn’t.

“There is something I have to tell you. You must know that there is a maid space opening since Samantha just left, right?” He questioned and I nodded in confusion.

“Well, guess who gets to take that spot?” He asked and I brightened at him with cheerful eyes. I pointed at myself and he nodded.

“Oh, my God!” I squealed and hugged him. He chuckled and we both pulled away, rather quickly, since there were many eyes on us. I could feel Luna Meredith burning a hole in my body, but I was too happy to be brought down by anything.

“It was your best friend’s last gift. I may not be able to give you a rank, but this is the least I could agree on.” He informed me and I smiled. I wished I had hugged Samantha a few more times for this surprise.

“You also get to stay in the maid's quarters, too.” He informed me and I shook my head in denial.

“I’ll be sleeping in the kitchen. I don’t want to disrespect Luna Meredith’s order. And frankly, I’m quite used to it. I accept the position but not the place.” I told him and he smiled at me, a hint of proudness in his eyes.

“I’m just delighted to know that you’ll only be working in the kitchen and won’t be bothered by all the work.” He let out and I nodded frantically. The kitchen was my solace and a place where I could enjoy my solitude.

“I’m glad, too,” I muttered.