Page 71 of Her Destined Alpha (Alpha #3)

Raihana

O ur eyes met, but despite his racing heart, he didn’t speak, a frown on his face as he took in my words.

“I got to go,” he murmured before turning and hurrying down the stairs.

I sighed, deciding to shower as I was covered in blood and dirt. Once I had showered, I looked in the mirror whilst towelling my hair, thinking over the voice in my head.

As I thought of it, in my dreams, it was similar… like it wasn’t me, but it was. That wasn’t just my powers going out of control. I used a spell in that state...

My stomach twisted as I remembered Delsanra’s words over Endora’s link to me. My entire body felt cold at the thought that maybe she was already influencing me without me even realising.

I shook my head, sighing heavily. I quickly pulled on a pair of silk shorts and a cami before wrapping my matching rich teal coloured robe around myself and left my room. I padded down the hall back to where Chris was.

I opened the door slowly and slid inside, shutting it behind me. I walked over to the bed, looking down at his pale face. Even though he looked as handsome as ever, he was pasty. A real-life Hercules…

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. I moved the blanket back, looking at his body that was injury-free. It had been a powerful spell… because even then, I still felt weakened. Delsanra’s words before she fainted rang in my head.

“You’re strong enough to do this.”

I knew if I hadn’t been… he would have died.

I looked away. The pain at the very thought hurt…

but at the same time, I had to remember that we were nothing.

I brushed my fingers down his jaw. I knew I cared for him…

despite how angry he made me… the fact that he rejected me…

but still, there was something inside of me that pulled me towards him.

Why was the urge to forget all his irritating qualities and forgive him so strong? Even before he almost died…

I brushed my fingers through his hair, that day flashing through my mind as I felt my stomach flutter. His touch… the feel of his plush lips against mine… I bit my lip just as his eyes suddenly opened, and he shot up, making me tumble back and off the bed in alarm until I landed on my ass.

“Ouch!”

He looked around, his heart thudding as his eyes snapped down to me on the ground. I glared back, blushing at how humiliating it all was as I got to my feet, rubbing my ass.

“Was that payback?” I asked, looking into those piercing green eyes that, for a moment earlier, I thought I might never see again…

“I think I would have liked it if I was the one dunking you on your sexy ass on purpose. Besides, there’s plenty of meat on that booty to cushion that fall,” he said with one of his cocky smirks.

But for once, I didn’t care that he was being his usual egotistical jerk self, I was just glad he was awake…

and well... The urge to hug him was strong, but I stayed rooted to my spot.

“Why did you do it?” I blurted out as I stood there staring at him. He raised an eyebrow.

“Do elaborate. Although I’m as smart as I am sexy, I have done a lot in life.

What do you mean exactly?” he asked, placing his arms behind his head as he lay back down.

My eyes trailed over his chest and abs as I bit my lip.

“Eyes up here, Princess.” I glared at him, my mind going back to my question.

“Stepped in front of Rayhan. He’s an alpha… he heals faster…” I said quietly.

His cocky smirk vanished. He frowned, his sexy jaw ticked, and those lips pursed as he looked away for a moment.

“Because if you did end up killing someone, it’s better it’s someone you hate rather than someone you love.” His words sent a sharp sting of pain through me. I glared at him. How dare he?

My chest heaved as I stepped closer to the bed, and to both our surprise, I slapped him across the face.

“What was that for?” he growled, sitting up again.

“For being such a jerk! I don’t hate you!” I cried in frustration. How dare he?! I raised my fist, ready to hit him again.

“Oh yeah? Then what? Did you fall in love with me, Princess?” he asked mockingly, catching my wrist as he pulled me closer. His words made my eyes fly open. My heart was pounding as I stared into his eyes. His smug look vanished as he held my gaze.

“Don’t get too full of yourself, handsome,” I replied, my voice coming out softer than it was meant to. His scent intoxicated me, and his gaze dipped to my lips.

“Am I getting full of myself, Princess? Or am I just reading you like an open book?” he murmured. His hand was still wrapped around my wrist.

“Don’t play with my emotions, Chris…” I said quietly, tugging out of his hold. The pain in my chest was suffocating me.

“Sorry,” he said quietly, looking away.

And just like that… the room fell into a tense silence. I didn’t know what he and I were… but we were oceans apart. Just two people who should never be in the same room together.

I turned away from him, my heart beating rapidly. From then on, I was going to avoid him before I fell so hard that he would break me completely.

“Anyway, glad you’re fine. Good night, Chris,” I said, making sure my voice was as unbothered as always.

“Thank you. For saving my life, Raihana.” His words were soft and didn’t hold any of their usual smugness.

“You’re welcome.”

And thank you… because you thought I’d feel worse if I hurt my brother…

I left the room, not able to stay any longer, closing it softly behind me.

Goodbye, Chris.

Yes, I would see him again, but I couldn’t do the tug of war between us, not anymore. I would protect my heart for my mate before the playboy in the room behind me destroyed it completely…

I returned to my room. Sitting on my bed, I stared at the moon shining outside. Mom’s words flitted through my mind, and the painful tug inside returned. I wrapped my arms around my knees, tucking them up against my chest.

Me being a witch had made Mom forget that, above all, I was her daughter…

Rayhan

“… and that’s how Delsanra protected us,” Dad finished.

Uncle Al was on video call, smoking away as he stood on one of his balconies. Lola’s dad, Beta Jack, was there too, along with Lola.

Dad had given some of the men orders on the repairs. For the time being, they had just gotten the electricity sorted.

We had just finished filling Beta Jack, Uncle Al, and Lola in on stuff.

Although Lola knew enough, Beta Jack seemed stunned but didn’t react negatively.

I had mentioned Delsanra first. After all, she had once again protected us.

Uncle Al just listened quietly, a frown on his face. Beta Jack sat back, pale.

“So, our future Luna and our Princess are both witches…”

“Yes,” Dad confirmed from where he was perched on the edge of his desk.

“This will be a lot for the pack to take in,” Beta Jack said quietly.

“I know, but I don’t think anyone will react as badly as Maria… I didn’t think she would react this badly myself... however, I will deal with her,” Dad replied, sighing heavily.

“She’s not so far from her fucking mother-in-law, then, if she’s turning on her own fucking kids. Maybe remind her of that shit,” Uncle Al said coldly.

“She needs time…” Dad replied slightly defensively. I knew he knew Mom was in the wrong, but she was still his mate.

“Oh yeah? Do you really fucking think time is going to change her fucking opinion? No matter how much fucking time passes, she still fucking hates me. But that’s fucking valid. I’m just saying… she’s a stubborn one, and this is her fucking daughter.” Dad remained silent, but I knew Uncle was right.

“Mom’s negativity can affect Raihana, as we saw,” I said. “And if her emotions go out of control…”

“Send her to my pack, I’ll take care of her,” Uncle offered suddenly. Dad looked up and nodded. I could tell he was grateful.

“You hate witches, too, right?” he asked his younger brother.

“Yeah, those fucking shits who attacked us. If I’m fine with Delsanra, then I’m fucking fine with my niece. Send her down, Kiara gets bored at home alone anyway.” I smiled slightly. Got to love the way Uncle Al cared but pretended not to give a shit.

“Nice to see how damn sweet you are, Uncle. Don’t make it a habit, though. It doesn’t suit you,” I mocked.

“Good point. Want me to fucking come down and rough up that pretty boy face of yours?” he shot back, smirking coldly.

“Damn, are you that jealous of my good looks, Uncle? Or is it the fact that you’re thirty-six and counting, so beginning to lack on the Rossi charm?” I smirked. He raised an eyebrow.

“I fucking created the hot gene.”

“Can you two stop it?” Dad sighed. I could tell he was mentally drained.

I sat back, feeling a little better knowing that Raihana was going to be in safe hands. I also knew it eased Dad’s worries.

“What are we going to do, Rafael?” Beta Jack asked quietly.

“Is there anything I can do?” Lola asked from where she stood behind my seat.

“Okay, so this is the plan for now. Those who witnessed it have been ordered to stay quiet; I will have a word with them tomorrow myself. As for the rumours, let them be. I will address them soon enough… Rayhan, you were going to go to Marcel’s pack anyway; move it forward.

Take Delsanra and go. On the way, you can drop Raihana at Al’s pack. ” I nodded.

“You’re going there? Did you talk to him?” Uncle Al asked, his eyes glinting.

“I did… I told him about Delsanra, too.” He nodded.

“I know this is about your mate... but he’s been through shit too, as have his pack. Take that into account,” he said, taking a drag on his cigarette. My eyes flashed as I looked at him.

“If it was Kiara? Would you say the same thing?” I asked. His jaw ticked, and a tense silence fell between us.

“All I’m saying is just think before you fucking act- I didn’t say don’t get justice for her.”

“Yeah. I’m going to do what I need to do,” I said quietly, standing up. “Anyway, I’m off to bed.”

“Have a think on his words, Rayhan, for me,” Dad said gently.

I gave Lola a one-armed hug before walking out. I was not going to listen to anyone, not after the shit my mate’s gone through. Even if it fucked things up... if only they had felt her pain… seen what she had suffered…

The memory I saw came to the forefront of my mind. Like I said, if I had to fight the world for her, I would. I headed to the kitchen and took a glass drink bottle from the fridge before walking up to my bedroom.

I looked at her sleeping in bed and knew she had transformed. I could tell from the way that something extra was added to her scent. I had actually wanted to ask Dad if he had felt the change, but I didn’t want to hear something similar to what Raihana had said. Yeah, no fucking way…

I walked over to the bed. Leaning down, I kissed her cherry-coloured lips, relishing in the pleasure of the contact before forcing myself back.

I ignored the way my dick throbbed. My eyes raked over her body.

She was clad only in the shirt I had pulled over her before I had changed her earlier.

It clung to her curves perfectly, and although I was tempted to play with her, I covered her up and got into bed, picking up the laptop I had on the side of my drawer.

Flipping it open, I switched it on as I bit the metal cap off the bottle.

After taking a swig, I placed it down and opened a web page, typing in one simple sentence: ‘List of supernatural beings.’

The internet wasn’t going to give me the correct answer, but it would give me ideas. One thing I knew for sure was that my little kitten was something else. But the question was, what?

I didn’t give up. Even when I saw Delsanra return to her normal state in her sleep or the way she curled up against me, I continued to search.

Three hours later, I had gone through countless links, websites, lore, myths… legends. Just like werewolves, vampires, wendigos etc., there were so many versions out there, but behind each story, there was a source of truth.

I had finally rounded it down to one option. I stared at the computer screen, fighting sleep as I stared at the words on the screen… was it what Delsanra was? I mean, it would make sense considering she was called ‘the daughter of darkness’. But was it even possible?

I cleared my search history and shut my laptop down. Was it necessary to even know? I remembered the fire in the bathroom. It was not her witch powers, just like her extremely sharp hearing.

I laid down, pulled her into my arms, and inhaled her scent. Soothing calmness washed over me, and I smiled slightly. The effect my snowflake had on me was beyond amazing. I was glad I had her. Despite the painful hard-ons I was constantly inflicted with, she was still my perfect little kitten.