King Alejandro: The Return of Her Cold-Hearted Alpha
Chapter 51

MARIA

"So, we'll follow secretly and keep hidden away." Marcel was saying, the bedroom door was open as I finished getting ready for the evening. I had chosen a strapless lace beige dress that reached just below my knees, curled my hair, and slipped on a pair of matching beige heels. I wasn't wearing any jewellery, and as I applied my makeup, making sure to cover up my mate mark, my mind once again went to my love. My wolf's whimper in my mind squeezed at my heart, but what could I do? There was nothing that could take away the pain of the fact that he had died protecting me. I should have died that day, not him.

I closed my eyes, holding the lipstick in my fingers tightly. It took me a moment for that anguish to calm within me, and exhaling softly, I continued to apply my make-up.

"Yeah, we have a locator on Aunty, we just need to be careful." Liam agreed with Marcel.

I had messaged the man, who I learned was named Carlos, and he was going to meet me at the corner. I had told him, that my 'husband and stepson' were going to be going out for the night and I wouldn't mind him showing me around. Of course, he had jumped at the offer.

I just hoped we got answers, I was carrying my bag with a few items that may come in use. However, I also had some weapons on me. Down the back of my dress I had hidden two thin blades, and the few pins I had used in my hair to hold my curls to the side were dipped in poison.

I walked out into the sitting room of our suite, only for Marcel and Liam to stop talking. "Wow, you look gorgeous, Aunty." Liam smiled. "And very young." Marcel added, scratching his beard. "I hope this man behaves."

"I assure you; you don't need to worry. No one gets to misbehave with me." I replied with a small smile.

"Passive-aggressive, I like it." Liam winked at me.

"Not at all, just stating facts. I'll be reporting to Raven on your behaviour." I threatened jokingly, making him grin. Well, if anyone did cross the line I don't forgive easily. "Does Alejandro know what you're doing?" Marcel asked. "I'm not a child. Now you two should get going." I glanced at the clock on the wall and they both stood up.

-

An hour later, I was laughing along with Carlos. It wasn't hard to pretend, I had been raised to be a good host and play the part. Those teachings came in use many times over the years, I poured him another glass of wine that was set on the table before us. I had been able to slip in

the extra drug to get him to open up when he had gone to get us some food. We were outside at a restaurant, music was playing loudly, and I was relieved that I couldn't sense any other werewolves around. I had a feeling Carlos brought me here on purpose, so none of his pack saw us. Well, that worked for me.

I rested my elbow on the table, reaching over and smiled sweetly as I brushed back one of his brown curls.

"You have beautiful eyes." I commented, knowing Liam and Marcel were close by somewhere. hidden away, listening and probably watching this.

"You think so? I don't think they are anything compared to yours." He said huskily, sitting forward.

He was a handsome man, and much younger than I, which was horrifying. "Thank you." I smiled seductively, brushing my fingers through my thick curls. "So, Malika... Isn't it? That's a beautiful name..." The drug was taking effect... perfect. "Do you think so?" I asked, placing my hand on his thigh. He tensed, his eyes blazing blue, and I almost smirked. He was so far gone he didn't even have control over his wolf. Forcing myself to run my hand up his thigh, I leaned closer. "So, tell me, what is your rank in the Fuego De Ceniza Pack?" I whispered. His eyes widened, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

"What? How do you..." I ran my hand closer up his thigh and he blinked his eyes, becoming slightly hooded again.

"Shush... Now tell me what are you? A warrior? Maybe a Delta?" I whispered.

"Uh... I'm a guard, you know... I'm like meant to be a guard for the Alpha's family, but you know, most of them are abroad. So it's kind of been quiet." He sighed. "I don't know how this pack is going to survive if our Alpha doesn't come back." "Where has he gone?" I asked, removing my hand from his thigh and instead running it up and down his arm slowly. "To get revenge, you know we have been wronged." "Oh no... How?"

He frowned, peering at me, so I took his hand, placing a kiss on his knuckles. I needed to wash my mouth out after this... He relaxed and shook his head, grabbing his glass.

"You know years ago, our Alpha had just one daughter. We are a small island, yet when a powerful pack's Alpha claimed her as his fated mate, we were ecstatic. She would go abroad and live a life of happiness as the Luna of the Luna Morte Pack. But no, no her life was going to be cut short. You know, she was going give birth but she was murdered by an enemy pack due to the two packs having conflict..."

I frowned. So this woman, from the Escarra pack, was mated to the brother of the woman

stolen and claimed by DeAngelo... Why did it feel like the Rossi family, or more so DeAngelo Rossi, may be in the wrong and the cause of all of this?

"Then what happened?"

"Our Alpha lost it, he was hellbent on revenge. His daughter was the jewel of his eye. How can we let her death go? He went to Italy. They say he made a deal with the devil for power... and you know... he won. He wiped out the entire Rossi line, save one. The one he couldn't kill. They say the devil tricked him... he didn't give him the full revenge he wanted... He could not kill one of the Rossi's, until the time is right... You know... That's where our Alpha has gone... They say... I shouldn't be saying this... I don't even..." "You can trust me, all I want is to hear you talk, your voice is so charming..." I ran my finger up his arm and he shuddered, making me internally cringe. Gods and goddesses, do forgive me.

"Even we aren't meant to speak of it, I heard by mistake, but they say..." He looked around, as if checking if we were alone or not. "They say Santiago Escarra made a deal with the actual devil himself, A Djinn. That he managed to summon one and the Djinn asked for a price in return for granting him power... If the price is not paid, the Escarra line will die.

Time is running out, our Alpha is dying. They say the devil has possessed him, that he is paying for his ancestor's crimes. Alpha Sebastian once said he will break the curse for his son, but now, now they say he has lost his mind.

He is unrecognisable. The Djinns powers have burned him from inside, that even his face is unrecognisable." My stomach twisted as I listened to what the man before me was saying. If this was true... This Crimson King was a puppet for the Djinn, who was hell-bent on getting what he wanted. "What is it that the Djinn wants?" I asked, my heart pounding as I stared into his eyes. "The blood of the beast." He whispered, so low I could barely hear, I leaned in. His eyes looked haunted, sending chills down my own spine despite the warm weather.

"The Lycan King." I murmured.

Carlos chuckled.

"The Lycan? No, what will he do with his blood? It's the blood of the most powerful being on this...earth..." He slumped forward onto the table, knocking over the glasses of wine, spilling my untouched one. I stood up quickly, not wanting the liquid to spill onto me, my heart thudding as the words he spoke echoed in my mind. Deep down I had a feeling I knew who he meant... Glancing around, I quickly snuck away, seeing Marcel and Liam step out of the shadows. "That was... interesting." Marcel muttered. "Well played, you really can pull the charm." "Don't ever mention this to anyone. Ever." I said, casting him a cold warning look. Maybe I needed to get Raihana to remove this memory from their mind.

Goddess, I never wanted anyone to see me doing that.

"Noted." Liam smiled slightly. "I'm sure Rayhan wouldn't want to know his mom was flirting

I glanced at him sharply, and he shut up.

"What did he say at the end?" Marcel remarked, frowning.

"You didn't hear?" I asked sharply.

They shook their heads, and I frowned.

"Let's get out of here, I'll fill you in." I replied. I'm sure I knew who it was and if I'm right then Dante was the one in danger. Right now Kiara and Alejandro were in Italy. I needed to let Rayhan know. Immediately.