4_trouble

Killian

How can I improve my patience and learn to conceal my emotions after serving as Serena's bodyguard for 10 years? It has become necessary for me to suppress my feelings, as it is not permitted for a Zeta like myself to display emotions. My father often reminds me that I will inherit his estate and become the leader of the soldiers in the crimson bloodpack. Therefore, it is crucial for me to develop the ability to hide my emotions.

I must admit, there were moments when I struggled to maintain my composure. This was mainly due to the constant need to protect Serena, who can be quite stubborn. Despite my repeated warnings, she would insist on leaving the mansion grounds.

Taking a deep breath, I contemplated whether it would be more fulfilling to be in a war zone rather than serving as a guard for an irritating princess like Serena. However, before I could gather my thoughts, a bolt of lightning narrowly missed me and struck the princess directly.

My eyes widened in shock as I witnessed Serena collapsing to the ground. Without hesitation, I rushed to her side.

"Princess!" I exclaimed, noticing a wound on her right arm near the shoulder. Her blood had a distinct royal hue, indicating her lineage from the first clan. While the blood of those from the second clan near the first clan was not the same, it had an almost orange-red color. Serena's eyes were closed, and she appeared to be in pain.

"Serena!" I called out, my voice filled with concern, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"What was that expression on your face, Killian?" she asked, noticing my fear.

I clenched my teeth. Serena always reacted this way whenever she got hurt.

In her younger days, she had a habit of running around, and as her protector, it was my responsibility to follow her. However, despite her tough exterior, she was quite clumsy and would frequently injure herself. Each time she got hurt, her father would place the blame on me, holding me accountable for her minor wounds. Yet, she remained oblivious to this fact. Perhaps that's why she continued to act recklessly. I doubted she would stop, even if she became aware of the consequences. It seemed she took pleasure in witnessing my suffering.

That's why my anger towards her grew day by day. But in this particular moment, all my anger had vanished. I wasn't sure if it was due to my racing heartbeat or some other reason entirely.

Just as I was about to lift her up, I heard footsteps approaching from all directions. Swiftly, I wrapped a scarf around both of us, concealing our faces. If they recognized us as high-ranking members of the group, the rogue individuals among them would undoubtedly kill us on the spot. And the princess... Only a select few Redblood clans were aware of her true identity. I couldn't fathom what would happen if that person discovered it. Fortunately, Serena was dressed in a royal blue gown, which helped to conceal any bloodstains. I also draped her in her cloak, even though I knew her wounds would heal within a few hours. Still, I wanted to keep them covered.

I had to remain alert. Serena was by my side, and I had to remember that.

But how could I protect her when our assailants were a gang of vindictive villains?

Among them were individuals seeking justice, people who had lost family members in the war. There were also those who rejected assistance from their leader and instead blamed the Alpha.

“Finally, we apprehended a wealthy individual. I assume your family would be willing to offer a substantial sum of money to secure your release.”

I unsheathed my blade and positioned myself in front of Serena, who lay unconscious on the floor.

To my surprise, a group of criminals surrounded the entire area.

I couldn't help but wonder how they managed to bypass our borders. I had assumed that we had stationed numerous soldiers at every corner of our perimeter.

"Don't come any closer!" I shouted. The older gentleman, with his long gray hair tied back in a ponytail, moved up and down with each step. However, one of the attackers brandished his gun. I deflected his sword strike and retaliated with a swing of my own sword.

The blade of my sword came dangerously close to severing the opponent's neck. I quickened my pace, but another one of the villains appeared out of nowhere.

"You're quite skilled for a young man like yourself," the old man commented.

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, pointing my sword at him. I knew at that moment that they were renegades, but I wanted to divert their attention to buy some time. By now, I was certain that the other soldier had discovered his fallen comrade and was defending the area.

Cease your fighting if you wish for this precious little life to survive.

I turned around and noticed a man pointing his sword at Serena.

With a smug expression on his face, I could tell he wasn't bluffing. If Serena were to be harmed, the alpha would be furious and these individuals might pose an even greater threat to her. My entire family would be at risk. However, if we were to accompany them, there might be a slim chance of escaping with them.

Still, I knew my odds were slim. I approached Serena.

"We will go with you, but do not lay a hand on her. Allow me to carry her. Otherwise, I will fight until my last breath," I explained, feigning readiness for a fight. Of course, it was all a bluff. I wasn't foolish enough to let them harm Serena in any way.

"Hurry up, we don't have all day, young man," the older gentleman urged. I wanted to proceed cautiously, but I suspected they wouldn't allow it. They might even try to take Serena from my arms, which I wouldn't allow.

After walking for about an hour, we arrived at a halt in front of a massive mountain. This mountain was notorious for being a treacherous place, teeming with dangerous animals. It was one of the reasons why our village was slowly depleting its food supply.

I wasn't sure what we were supposed to do in a place like this. Would they allow us to hunt and gather wild animals for sustenance?

Someone greeted us at the base of the mountain. They were dressed in animal skins, their features completely concealed by black paint, and their eyes sent shivers down my spine as they scrutinized us. My heart raced with panic.

We were in grave danger.