Page 60 of Her Destined Alpha (Alpha #3)

I gave a polite nod, and he patted my head. I could tell he was a strict man. His imposing eyes turned on Raihana, who, to my surprise, shrank a little under his gaze.

She looked gorgeous in a fitted green, shimmering, off-shoulder gown that hugged her figure perfectly.

I didn’t know what it was, but there was definitely something between Chris and her.

I could sense it every time they looked at each other, the confusion and annoyance from Raihana along with the guilt and uncertainty from him. I wondered what had happened.

“Raihana, do you not know how to greet your grandfather?” he scolded.

“Oh no, of course I do!” She hurried to her grandfather and gave him a hug. He patted her head with a curt nod.

Rayhan’s cousin, Zain, and his mate, Layla, the soon-to-be wedded couple, approached us, and I was introduced to them too.

Both were polite and formal, but I could tell Rayhan wasn’t too close to his cousin.

They talked a little regarding some work and training, but it was more like a leader-to-leader conversation than cousins.

“So, Rayhan, you will take the position as Alpha soon. How do you feel?” Zain asked.

“Confident,” Rayhan replied, taking two flutes of drinks from a passing waiter. He passed one to me, his hand once again tight around my waist. I looked up at him, admiring his man bun. Was there anything this man couldn’t pull off?

“I hope, unlike your father, you can talk your uncle into doing something about the witches,” Zain said, drinking from his own glass. I tensed, and I heard Raihana’s sharp intake of breath.

“Zain, this is a happy occasion celebrating your upcoming wedding. Surely we don’t need those conversations here,” Alpha Rafael said with a smile on his face.

“Oh, it’s fine, I’m not complaining, and I’m sure Layla isn’t either,” he said, kissing his bride-to-be on the forehead. She looked gorgeous, too, in a deep blush pink gown.

“Not at all. I hate witches just as much,” she replied.

“Well then, I’ll give my input. I’m with Dad on this one,” Rayhan said coldly. The mood shifted, and Maria looked at him in concern.

“Rayhan, it’s almost as if you’re defending them…” she trailed off, confused.

“Okay, enough of this boring conversation about feisty women who can wreak havoc. How about we talk about the menu because it smells great,” Chris remarked, drinking some wine with a smirk on his lips.

“And who is this?” Rayhan’s grandfather asked. It was clear he didn’t like Chris speaking in, but I was glad he had.

“This is my Delta. He is like a son to me,” Alpha Rafael explained, looking his father-in-law firmly in the eye. I could sense the power challenge between them and wondered what exactly that was about. The older man looked coldly at his son-in-law.

“Ah, the one whose parents were slain by witches, too…” he said. Turning to Chris, he waved his hand. “What is your view on witches, son?”

“Depends on the witch. Everything isn’t all black and white, Alpha Amir.

The urge to hate them for what happened to my parents has always been there, but then we have to remember that it wasn’t the entire race that attacked us, it was a handful.

Just like several other alphas and wolves who have turned to the dark side, Alpha Zidane Malone being at the top of that list. We are not all defined by his actions, are we? ”

“Well said, Chris. I just wish not everyone was so narrow-minded,” Rayhan cut in, his eyes flashing green.

“Narrow-minded?” Zain asked, frowning deeply.

I looked at Raihana, whose heart was thudding, and it seemed to ring loud in my ear. The fear that she’d activate her power overtook me, and I pulled away from Rayhan.

“Raihana, shall we go get some desserts?” I asked, taking her hand. All eyes snapped to us, and Alpha Rafael looked apologetic whilst Amir sighed.

“I do apologise, young Luna. You wouldn’t understand. Yes, you girls run along.”

I nodded, squeezing Raihana’s hand, and felt her calm down. I understood the Alpha, I just didn’t know what to say when I hated my kind, too... but as Chris said, we can’t define the entire race by the actions of a few.

“Kitten…”

I blushed. Did he just call me that in front of everyone? I didn’t miss Layla’s and his mom’s smiles.

“Hmm?”

I looked up at my gorgeous man, who filled his suit out oh so perfectly. He tugged me into his arms, and kissed my lips deeply, ignoring his grandfather’s slight cough or the way his cousin and Chris snickered and hooted. I pulled away when he finally let go of me and gave me a wink.

“Don’t wander too far,” he said quietly.

“I won’t,” I replied.

The last thing I heard was Alpha Rafael saying the topic needed to be changed. Chris followed, leaving a few metres’ gap, giving us some space.

“Thanks, D-Ana,” Raihana said, sighing.

“Any time. So really, I do want to go check out those desserts…” I whispered. Raihana laughed, and I felt her heart calming down.

We hurried over to the huge dessert table that held several types of dessert shots, cakes, and Arabian sweets. We helped ourselves, and I had just bitten into a piece of baklava when I heard whispers from nearby.

“She’s a human? Alpha Rayhan deserves so much better.”

“She’s okay… but she looks so fake. What’s with the hair?”

Raihana’s eyes snapped towards the two women and gave them a cold glare. I guessed she didn’t expect that I could already hear them anyway.

“Move along,” she said icily. The girls looked a little unnerved and scurried away.

“I do look weird, right?” I asked. Was the make-up too much?

“Not at all, they just can’t appreciate that you’re utterly hot,” Raihana responded. “Trust me, most of the men here have their eyes on you.” I didn’t want that, and I don’t think she realised that many men had their eyes on her too. I caught Chris giving a few very cold glares.

I ate the piece of sweet slowly, thinking that although I felt beautiful…

I really couldn’t match up with him. I turned, looking towards the direction his family was gathered, only to see Rayhan talking to a few women, all in gorgeous gowns.

My heart clenched painfully, and I turned away.

I felt his gaze on me, and then it was gone.

I turned back around, searching for him.

My heart thudded as I scanned the area, panic setting in when I realised he and the girls were gone. The worst thoughts filled my head when suddenly the lights dimmed, and the music went off. A hushed whisper rippled through the crowd.