Page 28 of Her Destined Alpha (Alpha #3)

Delsanra

T he party was in full swing, with teens ranging from fifteen to nineteen in attendance.

All the staff were in red and black, just like Rayhan and me, to match the theme.

The diner had been decorated in reds, blacks, and gold, with balloons, streamers, a dessert table and table coverings.

Horace’s wife had popped in before we got here to make sure everything was in order.

I had gotten a lot of compliments, which I found really awkward; I wasn’t used to them, but the one who looked the best here was Rayhan.

He wore ripped black jeans, black boots, and a red button-down shirt with a few buttons left open and his sleeves rolled up.

His hair was tied back, and every girl here was swooning over him.

I couldn’t blame them. Jane couldn’t keep her eyes off him either and had tried flirting with him several times, but he would refuse her and cut the conversation short.

He was avoiding the females smoothly, and I wasn’t sure if it was because half of them were underage or what happened yesterday.

Just the thought embarrassed me. Every now and then, he’d look at me and give me a small smile or wink.

I also didn’t miss that the only woman he seemed to be eyeing up was me, something that made my stomach flutter like crazy.

It was time for the cake to be cut, and the group had gathered around the birthday girl, who was the only one in white and red. She didn’t look like her father at all; she was a pretty young girl, but she also didn’t seem at all bothered that her father was in the hospital.

“Take a break,” Gwen mouthed to me.

I nodded, glancing at Rayhan, who was taking his phone out of his pocket as he headed outside. I didn’t know why I thought he’d come to me… I shook my head. What did I think of myself?

I headed to the bathroom to look at myself. My cheeks were a little red from running around, but my lipstick was still on. I touched my lips softly, remembering how he had applied it with such precision and tenderness…

Rayhan has done so much for me... if only he wasn’t a werewolf…

But what if he was one of my own? They, too, were monsters. What difference would that have made? The thing was, those monsters like Endora and the ones who had taken me captive had been far worse. They had taken beating and abuse to a much higher level than my own family.

Whenever I felt some happiness, those memories would return. I wished I could get past them, but knowing they were out there…

Their chilling words were clear in my mind. When I had escaped and they had chased me, the leader warned me that they would come for me, and when they did… I shuddered at the memory. His threat lingered in my mind as I looked at my reflection.

The world was full of monsters, but Rayhan wasn’t one. Even if I couldn’t accept him in the way he wanted, I couldn’t call him a monster.

I was about to step out of the bathroom when the sound of giggling girls approaching made me pause. I didn’t really want to face them.

“Oh hey, Rayhan.”

Wait, Rayhan was outside? I hesitated. Should I step out? Not after what happened yesterday. I didn’t want to come off as weird and jealous… especially as I had no right upon him.

He didn’t reply, and I was sure he probably just gave them that killer smile of his.

“You being here was just the icing on the cake for me. The best birthday present ever.” Gag . I rolled my eyes.

“I’m sorry, girls, but I’m taken. Not to mention I’m twenty-one, so if you will excuse me, I’m just waiting for my kitten to step out of the lady’s room.”

“Oh… you have a girlfriend, and she’s here?” The accusing voice of the birthday girl didn’t sound so pleasant anymore. I guess she is her father’s daughter. The door opened, and I pretended to fix my hair.

“I’m going to get her fired,” she muttered to her friends. “So, it’s her…”

“She’s ugly…” another one muttered, loud enough for me to hear. I turned away from the mirror. I couldn’t cope with the way they were all leering at me. Cornered… sneered at... it was all so familiar. All species contain monsters.

“Kitten?”

I gasped when Rayhan’s sharp voice brought me out of my thoughts. My heart was thudding, and the sound of the tap one of the girls opened was loud in my ears. The birthday girl pursed her lips as Rayhan motioned for me. I muttered an ‘excuse me’ and walked towards him, to safety…

His hand went to my waist, and for once I didn’t mind as he pulled me close.

His warmth and scent comforted and calmed the raging storm inside of me.

I didn’t miss the frown towards the girls before he pulled me close.

My nose grazed his chest through the opening of his shirt just as the door shut with a thud.

In the dim light of the small hallway, I looked up at him. That sharp look was gone, and his eyes softened. He cupped my cheek, the pad of his thumb caressing it.

“Don’t let anyone get to you,” he said quietly.

You’re getting to me…

“Hey, are you-” Donovan stopped in his tracks, smirking when he saw us. “Aww, and you, baby girl, were denying that he was your man!” I pulled away, my cheeks flushing as I glared at Donovan. I had told him that, but no one really believed me.

“Don’t assume things; not everything is as you think,” I said firmly. “Excuse me.”

I hurried past him and into the hustle and bustle. Ignoring that I was meant to be taking a break, I began clearing up the empty dishes.

The half of the diner that had been converted into a dance floor was getting full as some of the guests had already begun dancing. Others were just standing around chatting, drinking, or holding desserts.

I glanced at the time. Two hours left, and then we could get out of here.

“There’s plenty of food left. Make sure you eat,” Gwen told me. “And get your hot man to eat, too!”

“I will!” I called back.

“Really?” Rayhan’s voice came in my ear, making me jump.

“Hell! You scared me,” I said, elbowing him lightly in the stomach. He chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh yeah? Guess I really am impressive,” he teased with a wink as I pushed open the door to the back. I rolled my eyes, placing the dishes down. It seemed Macy had stepped out for her break too. She must be so tired from all the preps she had done.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just too loud out there to he-” I was cut off when he suddenly grabbed me around the waist and began tickling me there.

“Rayhan!” I gasped, unable to stop the laugh that left my lips, a sound that was foreign even to me.

For a brief moment, my heart pounded, and I forgot he was tickling me.

My focus was lost in his touch, the way his leg touched my ass. .. the way-

“Kitten?” he asked. His smirk vanished, replaced by concern. I chuckled breathlessly.

“Oh, I will get revenge!”

Turning, I began to tickle him, or tried to. I could feel his abs beneath my fingers, and I just wanted to caress them.

He chuckled, but it was clear it was not my tickling that had made him.

“You’re not ticklish… that’s no fun,” I said unhappily, trying to get my breath back.

“Shame,” he said cockily, leaning back against the wall as he looked down at me.

“There are plenty of ways of getting revenge, Alpha Rayhan…” I threatened lightly. But my mind was blank; all I could think about was the look that had filled those grey eyes of his.

“Alpha, huh?” he asked huskily, now leaning down.

“I didn’t say that…” I had…

“Say it again,” he murmured. His command was absolute, and something about the tone sent a rush of pleasure to my core.

Commanding yet warm and comforting. Even if I refused, I knew there wouldn’t be a consequence…

not a painful one anyway. He took hold of my elbow, turning us so that I was the one against the wall.

I gasped when my back hit the bricks gently as he let go, placing his hands on the wall next to my waist and head.

My heart was pounding as I looked into his eyes that held that hunger and something more… something that was making my stomach knot. The urge to see what would happen if I said it.

“Say it, Kitten,” he murmured, leaning closer.

My gaze flickered to his lips, and I licked my own, drawing his attention to them.

His eyes flashed and darkened in carnal desire.

Our hearts were racing, and his chest brushed mine.

I brought my hands up, placing them on his chest as I stared into his eyes.

“Alpha Ray-” I stopped when the lights flickered, and my stomach twisted. I grabbed his shirt, fear enveloping me. The surge of magic that filtered into the air made my blood run cold.

“What is it?” he asked, glancing at the lights that were suddenly stable again.

“They’re here,” I whispered.

“Already? I thought you said we had time?” he asked, looking around.

“They’re close. We need to get out of here!

” I panicked. He didn’t question me and took my hand, pulling me towards the back entrance.

“Rayhan, you should go! I don’t want you caught up in this!

” We stepped into the rain that was pouring down in torrents.

The bitter cold stung me, and I was instantly drenched.

Neither of us had stopped to grab our jackets.

“Shit…” he muttered. I knew he had caught their scent as he broke into a run, pulling me along. “Listen, Delsanra, I’m going to hold them off. Take my phone. The passcode is 3275. I want you to call Chris, he will help you. Head back to the penthouse. Keep yourself hidden. I will-”

“They’ll kill you! There’s more than one, Rayhan!” I cried, panic consuming me. What was he thinking?

“I should be able to hold them off. Don’t worry about-”

“Are you for real? Are you telling me-” A flash of lightning in the sky made me stop. That was not a natural bolt of lightning... The magic laced in the sky was clear. “There’s no time... please, Rayhan, go,” I begged. I needed him safe.

Something told me I wouldn’t be able to run. The Coven had clearly sent some of their strongest, and not just lone witches like before.

“Rayhan!” I shouted, stopping in my tracks and pulling free. He turned and looked at me. The rain had already soaked us both. “Listen to me,” I pleaded, cupping his face.

I didn’t know what we were... but I did know he was someone who cared, and because of that, I would not let him die because of me, just as Lilly and Alfred had. He meant so much more to me, and no matter what, I didn’t want him to lose his life.

I knew what I had to do… cast a spell of obedience… one of the ones I was lucky enough to know. I took a deep breath and whispered the incantation. A painful tug in my chest ripped through me as I drew upon my powers. I stared into his eyes, watching them widen in surprise as he looked at me.

“Go. Leave me here, and don’t look back,” I commanded. His following words took me by surprise.

“Not happening,” he said firmly, stunning me into silence. I couldn’t reply as he began running, pulling me along.

The only thought that rushed through my mind was that the spell hadn’t worked, although I had cast it properly, and I had felt the tug inside me. How was that possible?