The Alpha King and I novel Chapter 1

~ Helena ~

It was a drizzling day in Moon City when I visited Kenneth’s apartment. Kenneth William has been my boyfriend for six months. I brought a picnic basket since I always wanted to go on a picnic date with him. But so far, it hadn’t been fulfilled yet.

From my house to Kenneth’s, I used a bus. It took a half-hour. It was a sunny day when I left my home, but it was drizzling suddenly after arriving at the bus shelter. Fortunately, I brought an umbrella.

I knocked on the door. It took Kenneth a while to open the door. When he opened the door, he wore no shirt on, and his sweat was all over his neck and chest.

“Are you exercising? Have you finished yet?” I opened my purse, took a tissue, and wiped it on Kenneth’s neck. I almost placed the tissue on his chest, but then I blushed.

“Exercise?” Kenneth laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m in the middle of an exercise.”

“Oh, do you want me to return after you have finished?”

“Sure, babe.” Then Kenneth stared at the basket. “Hey, where are we going later?”

I giggled. “It’s a secret! But we’re going for a picnic today. I’m so excited about this since I’ve planned for a week.”

“Picnic? It’s rainy outside. We’ll only get wet. Maybe it’s better for another time, okay?”

I sighed. Kenneth’s rejection instantly ruined my mood, but what he said made sense. Maybe we could go picnic another time. “So, what should we do for our date today?”

“How about this? Let’s meet an hour from now at the Moon Bridge.” Kenneth stared at his wrist. “At 2 p.m, okay?”

“Where will we go from there?”

Kenneth shrugged. “We’ll think somewhere.” Then he pushed me to go. “I must continue my exercise. See you an hour from now.” Then Kenneth closed the door immediately.

My knee-length pink dress was a little damp because of the rain. If I wanted to keep comfortable on my date, I should change my clothes. While the pink dress is my favorite, I had no choice other than to get cold later. So, I opened my umbrella and walked to the bus shelter again.

The bus came fast. Fortunately, I got a seat. Then my mind wandered to Kenneth again. Six months after dating me, Kenneth hadn’t introduced me to his parents or family. In contrast, after dating for a month, I had already brought him to meet with my adoptive mother, Freya Ross.

After four months of dating him, my mother stroked my hair when I complained about that. “Sweetheart, men and women are different in their approach to relationships. Men usually take a lot of time before introducing their partners to their family and parents. But, it doesn’t mean they aren’t serious with you.”

“But mom, I’m wondering if Kenneth has someone else.”

My mother walked to the living room. “No, we still have a plentiful food supply.” When she saw me wearing the white dress, she wrinkled her forehead. “Why do you change your dress? Your pink one is prettier than this one.”

“I know, but the drizzle damped my dress. I have to go now, mom. Talk to you later, okay?” I waved at my mother.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Moon Bridge. See you later!” Then I ran outside. I picked up the umbrella, locked the door, and hurriedly went to the bus shelter again.

Fortunately, the bus came quickly, and I could get a seat. But unfortunately, the rain was heavier now. I bit my lower lip. After the canceled picnic, should we halt this date too? I checked the time; it was almost two p.m. I still had ten minutes.

Though I was born and raised in Moon City, I had never had a date before at the Moon Bridge. So, I was excited to get there. Yet the heavy rain forced me to stroll.

It was five past two p.m. when I arrived at the bridge, five minutes late. I bit my lower lip since Kenneth once told me that he hated to see women who weren’t on time. I immediately ran to the bridge, but I couldn’t find Kenneth so far. So, I called him, “Ken, where are you? I have arrived at the bridge.”

Kenneth didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I heard a woman’s voice. “Who’s this?” the woman asked.