7 DAYS TO PROVE MY INNOCENCE TO THE ALPHA KING

Alpha King Ethan's POV

"She's so hot." Fynn commented. His eyes were stuck on Valerie's dancing body, "She's really a good dancer."

Something stirred within me as I watched my beta's lustful eyes on Valerie. "You have a wife, Fynn. Take your eyes off her."

Fynn huffed, "Sarah will understand. She always does."

"You know that's not proper, right? She's not just your wife but the mother of your precious daughter. She deserves some respect."

Fynn eyed me. "Fine. I'm looking away."

I sipped my wine, watching the eyes of other men drool over the bodies of the strippers on stage.

I couldn't deny how well the strippers danced. They understood their job. But Valerie's body moves were exceptional. Enchanting. She stole the stares of most of the men in the room. I saw the hunger in their eyes for her. They wanted her.

I clenched my jaw.

How dare they want her? I struggled to suppress the urge to storm the stage and drag her out with me, to make them know she belonged to me.

"What's wrong, Ethan? You seem annoyed." Fynn asked, his eyes studied me.

"Nothing." I answered plainly.

He chuckled. "Don't tell me you're seduced by her too."

"Shut up."

"Okay." He sipped from his wine glass.

I noticed how Valerie's seductive gaze has remained on one man since she got on stage.

"Who is he?" I mumbled to myself, looking at the man.

"Who?" Fynn asked, looking behind him.

"Him. There." I said and Fynn followed my eyes.

"Oh, that's the new Mayor."

My gaze shifted to Fynn. "Mayor?"

"Mmhmm." He nodded and continued, "Hugh Grant, he's the youngest Mayor since the origin of New York City."

"He should be in the VIP room, not here." I said, looking at the man.

"Maybe he loves it here. Who wouldn't love the view of all these pretty girls dancing at once." Fynn muttered and turned to look at Valerie again.

"Take your eyes off her, Fynn."

"Shit." He turned to me, his eyes full of annoyance. "But she's way out of your league. You can't have her."

I frowned. "I didn't say I wanted her."

Fynn rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Huh, where did they go?" He asked, looking around.

I looked quickly at the stage and it was empty. The girls were strolling out of stage to meet the men. I looked around quickly for Valerie and couldn't find her.

"Damn it! Where is she?" I asked and stood up.

Fynn followed.

"Find the girl." I mindlinked my guards and they got busy looking around.

Fynn joined them while I remained in the hall. Just in case, she returned.

Time ticked fast, seconds ran into minutes and I heard nothing from Fynn or my guards.

"Any sight of her?" I asked in the mindlink.

"Not yet, Your Majesty."

I forced myself to take a deep breath to calm myself. Valerie better not do anything stupid. Else...

I stilled as another thought flashed in my mind.

Could she be in danger?

The Mayor.

He could be the one she came to meet here. And if he's working for her master, then...

"Check the rooms. The VIP's, make sure you scout the entire building for her and do it quickly. She might be in danger." I ordered in the mindlink.

"Got it, Your Majesty." Fynn responded in the mindlink.

I felt the wetness in my palms as my hands fisted. I was growing impatient. The time on my phone screen told me ten minutes had passed since my last mindlink with Fynn.

Killer stirred within me, his unease collided with mine. Something was wrong. Valerie might be in danger.

I stood up, making up my mind to look for her myself when the mindlink opened.

"Your Majesty, we found her. But..."

"What?" I asked quickly.

"She's unconscious. She was almost raped."

"Where are you guys?"

"Room 102."

I ended the mindlink and rushed to the room. I met my guards standing around the bed where she laid. Her mask was off her face and her make-up was ruined. Her body was covered with white sheet.

My jaw grinded.

"Who did this?" I asked.

"The Mayor." Fynn answered.

"And you let him leave?"

"Your Majesty, he's a politician. We can't do anything to him here and at this time with this much crowd around."

I looked over my shoulder, releasing my aura. My beta and guards bowed their heads to me. They knew they'd offended me by letting the Mayor leave.

"Your Majesty, we will bring the Mayor to you another time." Fynn said.

"Get out. All of you." They left quickly and I went to Valerie. Her neck was red and sore. There were small injuries on her neck caused by finger nails.

The Mayor didn't just try to rape her. He tried to strangle her to death.

Why?

Damn it!

I pulled the sheet away from her body. She was naked. I covered her back immediately.

I growled.

How dare the Mayor?

Killer whined inside me.

"She's not safe. They will come for her." He whispered in my mind.

"Let them come." I snarled.

Valerie belongs to me now. Any one after her would have to pass through me to get to her.

I scooped her into my arms and left some dollar bills on the bed as a payment for the white sheet.

After an hour drive we got to the castle and I asked Liz, the woman who reported Valerie as a spy, to bath Valerie. She was the only one I could trust with Valerie since I couldn't bathe or take care of her myself.

When she finished, I helped her lay Valerie on my bed. I didn't miss the shocking look on Liz's face all through the process. She found it strange that I showed this much concern for a servant girl.

She had questions but I stopped her.

"Ask me some other time, Liz."

She gave me a warm smile and nodded. "It's okay." She patted my shoulder, "Have some rest. I will leave now."

"Thank you." I muttered and she left.

I looked at Valerie. She was a sleeping beauty. I covered her properly with my white duvet before strolling into the bathroom to wash my face. I finished and walked into my closet where I changed into my wine-colored nightrobe.

I was shocked to see a masked man dressed in black standing next to my bed.

An assassin.

I charged at him but he was faster and jumped out my window.

"A man jumped out of my room window now. Find him." I ordered my guards in the mindlink and in the next second the castle alarm blew off.

I ran back to Valerie who was bleeding profusely on my bed. A knife was stuck to her chest.