Page 16 of Her Destined Alpha (Alpha #3)

Rayhan

I smirked as I looked at the menu of a restaurant nearby.

“What are you doing, oh Mighty Alpha?” Chris asked, slumping onto the couch opposite.

I raised an eyebrow at him. Damn, Lola had done a number on him. His cheek was still bruised, although it was fading. It meant she had broken something bad for it not to be healed by now. Well, he had deserved it.

“This mighty alpha has found the way into his kitten’s heart.”

“Oh?” Chris said, curiously leaning forward. “Diamonds, pink stuff, wait I know, shopping?” Okay, I loved the dude, but he was really going to get killed by Lola.

“You know, there’s a lot more to women than materialistic stuff. Don’t let Lola hear you being a prick again,” I advised.

“I know, but what is it? I really don’t get women.”

“Really? I would never have guessed,” I remarked.

“Alright then, tell me, what’s the way to our Luna’s heart?”

“Food.” I smirked confidently.

I had seen how she had looked at the tray.

If only she’d look at me like that. I almost pouted at that, but I had to be realistic.

As much as I wanted to go alpha mode and claim her as mine, she didn’t deserve that, nor was it the right way.

She was like a cracked ornament made of glass, one that might break if I handled her roughly.

“Shame your sex appeal isn’t working. You know, I know my food better than you do. Give me the phone, let me order some good food.” Chris took my phone and I let him, lost in thought.

I couldn’t leave her alone, and Mom kept texting to ask when I was returning.

Liam had gone on to some extra training; I knew he was just avoiding going home, but I was meant to go back; that was the plan.

I had told Mom that too, but I needed to think of everything.

I couldn’t keep Chris here either. As dumb as he could be, he was an excellent Delta, and it was his job, something he needed to return to.

Lola and Rose would have to go back at some point.

.. but I couldn’t go, not until I had won her over.

I needed to make sure she trusted me because I knew back home not everyone would be ready to accept her, and that would be another hurdle.

“Sizzling lamb chops, grilled chicken tikka, steak fries with peri spice! Oh, and we can’t forget the spicy rice…. maybe some pitta in-”

“Chris,” I cut him off, frowning thoughtfully.

“Yeah?” he asked, suddenly serious as he carried on adding items to the basket.

“You and the girls will need to head back, but I need to tell Mom and Dad a reason I’m not coming back... I’m not ready to tell them about her yet,” I said. He frowned.

“Say you’ve gone for the extra training.

I can set up a fake email and make it look official enough.

If your dad wants proof, I mean, ask Liam for the form, and I’ll just edit it.

And we can get Rose to break the news; she’s a smart one and probably the smoothest of us three.

Don’t worry, Ray, do what you need to do here.

Those two Amazonians and I will handle it all,” he said confidently.

“Thanks.”

“Raihana’s looking cute.” He smirked, holding my phone up.

I snatched it from him to see she had tagged me in her social media post, and she was just pouting.

Why did girls do that? Three years had passed since I left, and each time I returned for the holidays, I swore she was changing.

I didn’t think it was a good thing. She looked more like a woman than a girl.

“Don’t call her cute, man.”

“Why not? I always did.”

“Yeah, she’s an adult now, so…”

“She’s still our little princess...” he said, snatching the phone before frowning. “You’re right, she’s actually grown a lot…”

“Chris,” I growled. Just then, the girls came into the lounge area.

“Is he being a sexist pig again?” Lola asked.

“No! I was just saying, Raihana’s grown-” Lola threw a cushion at him with all her strength, and he let out a complaintive moan.

“No fair, Lola, I was complimenting the Alpha Princess!”

“You talking about women is banned,” Lola growled, yanking his ear and making him howl in pain. It sucks to be Chris.

“On another note, she’s sweet,” Rose told me, motioning to the bedroom as she tugged Lola away from Chris.

“Glad you can see that,” I replied with a smirk. Just thinking of her sitting there and eyeing the food made me smile. She really was a cute little kitten…

“Okay, lover boy, before getting ahead of yourself, you definitely need to do a lot of work,” Lola remarked.

“Yeah, and I need you guys to head back one of these days.”

“Are you sure she’ll be okay to be here alone with you?” Rose asked, uncertain.

“Yeah, because she already wants to leave,” Lola added. My stomach twisted at that. I couldn’t hold her there without her consent.

“I’ll talk to her,” I said, standing up. The girls hesitated but said nothing. I knew they were probably worried, but I wasn’t a fool.

I knocked on the bedroom door. Her scent hit me, making me close my eyes and inhale deeply before opening it.

She was sitting on the bed, her head resting on the headboard.

She looked so small on that huge bed, but also just so damn beautiful…

like a snowflake. She turned away from the window, and her blue eyes met mine.

Even though we were worlds apart, there was a connection.

Her heart raced, and I was sure it wasn’t out of fear.

My gaze fell to her rising and falling chest. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and I tried my best not to look at the way my top clung to her breasts. It was hard. She was my mate, and I wanted to do a lot more than see her naked.

Okay. Get your head on straight.

“So, the girls said you want to leave?”

“Is that something you even need to ask? I was leaving town, as you probably figured… I still intend to go.”

“I get that, but hear me out?”

“Why? So you can force me to stay?”

“I won’t force you to do anything, Kitten, not unless you want me to. I just want to put forward my point of view,” I said, taking a seat on the bed opposite her, our knees inches apart. It was the closest I could allow myself to get to her, hoping she didn’t move away.

It was hard to have your mate before you, with strong emotions that were drawing me to her. There was no way I could explain the surge of emotions I felt when she was close. I looked down, my gaze falling to her legs that were folded under her.

“You have two minutes,” she said, crossing her arms.

Don’t do that, Kitten… I looked at the wall behind her head, trying not to look at her breasts. Damn, I was becoming a pervert. Was it my fault that they seemed like the perfect size to grab completely? Fuck, clear your head, Rayhan.

“One minute and forty seconds…”

Oh shit.

“Ok, look. You’re on the run, trying to stay safe, right?

Well, how about instead of running, you stay here in this town?

Go to work or do whatever you want. I’ll make sure no one finds you, but please…

just give me two weeks… two weeks to prove that I’m not your enemy, Delsanra.

” Her heart thudded as our eyes met. I saw the conflict in them.

“Why? Don’t you realise that-” I placed a finger on her lips, making her take a sharp breath.

“I know, seeing me is hard, right? I know... I’m sorry that I remind you of those bastards,” I said, the pain of what I had witnessed still hurt so flipping much. I would be tracking them down and killing them.

She moved her head away, so I retracted my hand. At least she didn’t wipe her lips in disgust again.

“Just please give me this chance?” She frowned, and I sighed.

“Okay, how about this. In return, I’ll treat you to food from all the best places to eat in the city? Every day,” I said. Her frown faltered, and I saw her look down. Damn, I was right... my little kitty cat loved her food.

“I can buy my own food.”

“I know you can. The thing is, us wolves love food, so I know all the best places. I know you like to stay low key; I can collect the food and bring it straight here. You can save your money for when you leave.”

“Wait, here?” she asked sharply.

“Yeah, you can have your own room here, just so we can spend a little time together. You’re a witch, so you can sense if I’m lying. You know I won’t hurt you,” I said softly as I reached over and caressed her cheek.

Her heart was pounding as she struggled to come to a decision before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pushing my hand away. My gaze dipped to her lips, but it was the words she spoke that captured my attention.

“Fine, two weeks. If I don’t change my opinion, you walk away.”

My heart raced at her words, but I knew it was all I had… I had to do it to win her over in that time.

“You have yourself a deal, Kitten.” I held my hand out, and she frowned before rolling her eyes and taking it. Sparks shot through us, and our hearts beat as one. The strength of the bond surged through me. Her heart was thundering, but the emotions in her eyes were ones I couldn’t make out.

We both knew that those two weeks were going to be important… and I swore by Selene herself that I would show my kitten that there was so much more to life than running. That there was someone who would never let harm come to her and someone who wanted to give her every happiness that he could.

I will prove to you that you were meant to be mine…