The Alpha King and I

~ Ethan ~

I sighed. It hurt me to hear Helena sobbing. So I pulled Helena into my lap and hugged her. "Poor girl. You don't need such a wimp beside you. Trust me! You'll be better without him." I patted her back. "You're such a beautiful girl. Any man will be lucky to have you."

Helena then stared at me while still crying. "Including you?"

"Not me."

Then she sobbed again. "Even my savior rejected me."

"It's just …."

"What?" She glanced at me again.

"Forget it! You'll be better without me either. Trust me!"

"No! You saved me. Then you talked sweetly with me. Then, you finally wanted to help me tend my wound." She smiled in the middle of her tears. "You're a good man. But you don't want me."

"It's not true!"

"Really?" She widened her eyes. "So you want me. But then, why do you push me away?"

"I wish I could explain it to you."

"Try me. I'll listen."

I scratched my head. It was so frustrating in this situation. "I wish I could have you. There's nothing I want rather than to have my mate beside me."

"Mate? What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Forget it."

"Mate? What do you mean by mate?" Helena stared at me with her big blue eyes. "I don't understand why you repeatedly send on and off signals. Is it because you don't like me? Is it because I'm too skinny for your liking?"

"No, you're perfect."

She blushed and smiled a little. But then, she frowned. "But you don't want me. Tell me why? At least, I need to know. If it's something I can change—"

I interjected immediately, "I have told you. In my eyes, you're perfect."

"Then why?"

"Oh, for goodness sake, leave it, Helena! Okay?"

"No, it's not okay! How can I be okay when anyone rejects me?" Helena sobbed again. "No, not anyone but you. I feel it. I feel something I can't explain inside. But now, it hurts so much!"

"Gosh!" I pulled her into my embrace. Then I stroked her hair. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. I wish it could be different." I sighed. "There's nothing I want more than meeting my mate and spending the rest of my life with her."

Helena sniffed; her eyes showed a deep confusion. "Mate? What do you mean?"

I sighed, refusing to reply her questions. "But I can't, and I can't tell you why. It's better this way for you. If you know more, you'll be hurt more." Then I kissed her hair. "The last thing I want is to hurt you."

"You have already hurt me. The question is, why don't you tell me the reason?"

I took a deep breath. "We can go on and on and on, but I'll not tell you anyway." Then I took Helena's feet. "Let me give balm to your feet and your waist. After that, you should rest."

She was finally quiet and let me take care of her. She winced when I touched her feet. "Does it hurt badly?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry. I'll be more gentle."

I placed some balm on Helena's feet and started rubbing a little.

"Argh!"

"Hold the pain. You'll feel better later."

I touched the feet and rubbed them again. "At least, no bone fractures. It may be only sprained muscles. You'll be alright after resting for a few hours." Then I massaged Helena's feet more.

Helena bit her lower lip.

After a while, I glanced at her. "Open your dress."

"Why?" She blushed.

"Because I need to give the balm to your waist. Also, your dress is wet. It will make you ill to keep wearing it."

"Oh, I thought—"

"Trust me, having you for myself is crossing my mind too. But I'm not a barbarian like that. You are hurt right now. So, if I want to take you for myself, it must be when you are healthy."

Helena's face, ears, and neck were all red. "You're teasing me."

"No, I'm not. I'm merely stating the fact."

Helena sighed. She peeled her wet bolero and placed it on the table next to the bed. Helena tried to reach her zip on the back, but then, she let out a frustrated voice.

"Helena? What's wrong?"

Helena sighed. She turned her body, so her back faced me now. "Could you help me with the zip? My arms feel weak. It's difficult for me to open it."

I lowered the zip slowly. I gulped when I looked at how glowing and soft Helena's white skin on my hands. It was a huge temptation to have her, so I took a deep breath to calm myself. But unfortunately, it was a big mistake. Her sweet rose fragrance immediately filled my nose, and the wolf inside me wanted to grab and have Helena instantly.

With all the remaining self-control I had, I clenched my teeth. Then, finally, I finished opening the zip completely. "Done! Undress now. You can wrap yourself with a blanket while I dry your clothes."

Helena undressed and turned her back so I could only look at her bare body from behind. I took her dress, walked outside the room, and gave the dress to my maid.

Afterward, I returned to my room. Helena had already covered herself with the blanket. Then I approached her and touched her waist.

She squealed. "Aw!"

"Does it hurt so bad?"

"Yes." She grimaced and bit her lower lip.

"Poor girl." Then I peeled the blanket, caressed Helena's waist, and kissed it tenderly.

"E-Ethan, what are you doing?"

"Easing your pain."

"It's ticklish when you kiss my waist."

"Ah, you're sensitive on your waist. I see." I grinned. This piece of information was important.

"What?"

"Nothing." I smiled. Then I started rubbing the balm on Helena's waist. After finishing with the back waist, I said, "Turn your body."

"Uh, can you just reach my waist from behind?"

"I need to check if there are any bruises."

Helena gulped, then she turned her body with a crimson face. I glanced at her body and took a deep breath. Helena looked like an angel—a tempting angel. Her body, though skinny, was in good shape. I gulped again since I wanted to feel her body.

"You're flawless." My voice was hoarse. "You're perfect. Do you realize that?"

Helena's face was getting redder. "But it's useless if you don't want me either," she muttered and didn't want to look at my eyes.