Page 59 of Her Destined Alpha (Alpha #3)

Rayhan

T he journey to my cousin’s pack was a two-hour drive, and Raihana pleaded that she wanted Delsanra in the back with her.

It was fine as I knew Chris and she were having some issues, which I really needed to get to the bottom of.

It sucked that I couldn’t have my mate close, but she was sitting in the seat behind me and often reached over to give me a kiss or a touch.

Goddess, if she knew how good her touch was.

My mind wandered back to Delsanra in the bathroom. The energy that swirled around her was different. It wasn’t a witch’s ability. I knew the difference, but I didn’t want to mention it to her, not when she was worried already. It got me thinking about something that I wondered about often.

She is darkness, she was born from darkness, the daughter of darkness.

Those comments followed her, but what did they even mean? There was something missing, and I had a feeling that if we found out what the ‘darkness’ referred to, we would get our answer. But how to find the answers? That was the question that I needed to find an answer to.

Right then, Raihana was singing along to Taylor Swift. I loved Ri, I really did, and her voice was gorgeous, but she was loud. When you’re trying to think straight, it wasn’t ideal at all.

“Ri, do you need to sing?” I asked her, brushing a hand down my face as I massaged my jaw.

“I want to. Come on, Delsanra, join in.”

“I don’t think I can sing,” my gorgeous kitten’s soft reply came.

Well, she sure knew how to moan sensually. Just the thought of fucking her made my dick twitch. I pushed the image from my head.

“Well, Rayhan’s quite the singer too, right, Ray?” Raihana asked.

“Not really.”

“He does have a good voice,” Chris added. Seriously, did he need to give his input? I gave him a look, but he simply smirked.

“Then I think I want to hear him sing,” Delsanra said, her fingers on my shoulder from behind the seat, sending a pleasurable shiver through me. “Come on, Ray, sing.”

“No,” I said firmly.

“Fine. Maybe another time,” Delsanra said, sitting back in her seat. I glanced in the rear-view mirror, seeing the gentle smile on her face, but she was disappointed.

“Yeah, another time,” I promised softly. I hated seeing her unhappy.

The car fell silent, and I went back to my thoughts, trying to make sense of my assumptions.

Much later, we had stopped at the hotel suite where Raihana had stated we needed to stop at so she could get Delsanra and her ready.

I kind of felt sorry for Delsanra; first Kiara and then Raihana.

When Raihana had ordered us to put her stuff down on the bed and then commanded us to leave, I hesitated, looking back at Delsanra, who was staring at all the makeup pallets that Raihana was opening, looking lost.

I had barely been able to kiss her goodbye before Raihana ushered me out.

Delsanra told me she would be okay, so I decided to get some work done whilst the girls got ready.

The party would start in about an hour. We would be a little late, but it was fine.

Raihana had lied to Mom, saying we were getting ready and setting off later, simply because she didn’t want to get ready at Grandfather’s place.

My uncle had been killed in the battle of Hecate’s Betrayal, and my cousin Zain took his place soon after, once he had finished his alpha training.

He was twenty-four years old and had found his mate not too long ago.

He was finally marrying her in a lavish series of events.

I chatted with Chris regarding pack matters mainly and a little about the current events before we both decided to get dressed too.

I pulled on the grey three-piece suit, with a grey tie and a black shirt that Raihana had picked out.

She had literally wanted to choose my clothes for occasions for years, and although I didn’t always agree, I would let her as long as she stuck to what I liked.

This time around, I was glad she had because clothes were the last thing on my mind.

I combed my hair back and put it up into a bun. I finished with some cologne before grabbing my keys and phone, ready to see my little kitten.

We had just reached the venue, and I held on to her tightly.

Chris flanked Raihana, and although neither spoke a word to the other, they seemed to be okay with each other, for now.

We had greeted a few people in passing, but my aim was to find my parents, knowing that once Delsanra had met Mom, she would probably feel a lot better.

Once again, she had stolen my breath away.

She looked absolutely ravishing, heck I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the feeling.

She was dressed in a strapless red dress with a large skirt; it emphasised her cleavage, and the bodice was covered with embroidery and beads.

The fabric on the breast area looked like 3D petals.

The dress had a large slit from her left thigh, and the skirt trailed behind her.

Her hair was styled up in a bun with strands of hair framing her face, sprigs of white flowers in her hair, along with a single red rose.

Her make-up was smoky and alluring, with her lips a deep matte red.

She looked like a siren that could charm any man who cast a gaze her way, and many were glancing at her.

Her skin seemed to glow under the lights. She looked completely devourable.

The venue was decorated lavishly with flowers, lights, and sculptures.

There was a fountain on one side of the huge hall.

The water from it ran underneath the glass floors that were lit with underwater colour-changing lights that went from pink to blue to purple.

Circular tables stood along both sides, holding flowers and candles.

Velvet-seated gold chairs surrounded the tables, and far off on the dance floor, a DJ was playing music where many couples were already dancing.

There were a few dancers dancing amongst the guests as well.

“Rayhan!” Mom’s voice called out. I smiled. I figured she’d be the first to spot us.

The group fell silent as all eyes turned on us. The chatter in the room dropped as everyone looked at us. The future Alpha of the Black Storm Pack, one of the strongest in the country, had found his Luna. Everyone would be watching Delsanra…

Mom rushed over. She looked as beautiful as ever in a deep plum gown as she stopped before us. She grabbed my face, kissing my forehead before she turned to Delsanra quickly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Ana… welcome, I’m so happy you’re here.

My! You’re beautiful!” She cupped Delsanra’s face, kissing her forehead softly before pulling her in for a hug.

I could hear Delsanra’s heart thudding, and I prayed to the Goddess that Mom always saw her like this…

because she had been deprived of a mother’s love all her life, and I just wished my mom could fill that hole in her life.

“It’s nice to meet you, Luna,” Delsanra said softly.

“Mom, it’s Mom,” Mom replied firmly, caressing her cheek as she looked at her mark with pride.

“Mom…” Delsanra said hesitantly. She looked down, forcing a smile, but I could see it had thrown her off. I kissed her forehead, tugging her back into my arms, and caressed her waist.

“Rayhan…” Mom said apologetically, turning back to me and hugging me tightly.

“Now that Ana’s here, I’ve become second, huh?” I teased, hugging her tightly.

Her comforting scent reminded me of those nights when I used to wake from a bad dream, and it had been my only comfort.

With time, we grow, and we slowly become distant from our parents.

We find our mates, and they become our life, but to our mothers, we are still the most beloved thing on this earth.

If there was one thing stronger than the bond a woman had with her mate, it was the love she had for her child.

Or that was the case for most mothers anyway.

“Not at all. You are always number one, Ya Hayati,” Mom promised.

“Of course, and I’m just the extra, right?” Raihana chimed in as I turned to see her hugging Dad. He laughed, letting go of her and looked at Delsanra, a smile gracing his face.

“Ana, isn’t it?”

Delsanra

“Yes…” I said softly.

I felt nervous. Rayhan’s parents were sweet and strong, but I was terrified of the rejection I might face.

I knew that his father knew about Raihana, so I hoped he would accept me, but it was clear that the bond Rayhan and his mother had was strong.

I just didn’t want there to be a rift between them. Ever.

“Will you not give this old man a hug?” he teased; his brown eyes filled with warmth.

Was he really the Lycan King’s brother? I could see the slight similarities to the Rogue Alpha. I had only seen him from a distance, but it was only slight. The man before me oozed warmth and comfort.

Rayhan didn’t let go of me, as if asking me if I wanted to go to his father or not. I gave a tiny nod and stepped forward, unsure, and he gave me a hug instead, kissing the top of my head.

“Welcome to the family. I do apologise that we weren’t there when you arrived,” he said gently.

“Oh, it’s fine, we got back late,” I said, moving back.

“I wonder why…” Chris remarked. Making the rest chuckle.

I looked at Rayhan, who looked incredibly handsome and utterly sexy in a suit.

Our eyes met before he pulled me back into his arms, kissing my lips softly.

I closed my eyes for a moment, not even caring that all eyes were on us.

The sparks that coursed through me made everything fade away.

My anxiety, doubt, and worry. His scent and touch made me lightheaded, and I sighed softly as we parted.

“Rayhan, finally, you have come to visit this old man,” a deep voice said. We turned to see the elderly man who had approached us. From his aura, I could tell he was strong.

“Grandfather,” Rayhan said, letting go of me and hugging his grandfather before introducing me.