King Alejandro: The Return of Her Cold-Hearted Alpha
Chapter 66

RAYHAN

I turned sharply to see Dante standing there, reaching over he quietly shut the door. 4 "What do you mean she's going to sacrifice herself?" I asked sharply. He looked down the hallway before motioning at me to follow him. Why did he act like a twenty-year-old rather than his age? This boy... but I was far more worried about what he had just said outside Mom's room. 1 A thousand thoughts crossed my mind as he opened my bedroom door, making Raihana look at us questioningly. "You can leave." Dante said to her, making her frown. "And what are you doing here?" She asked. "I came to see Delsanra." He replied haughtily. Walking around the bed, he looked down at her. Side by side, it was clear that the veins on Delsanra's skin were a lot worse. The asshat bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead, making Raihana smirk "Ah, the cousins are fighting over a girl." She teased. "We aren't. She's mine." I said, crossing my arms. I wanted to ask what he meant, but it was obvious he wasn't planning on telling me until Raihana was gone. "You can go." She stood up and stretched, "Sure, keep an eye on her..." She said, concern crossing her face.

"I will."

She gave a nod before she left the room. I turned to Dante, who was standing there stroking MY kitten's hair. 1

"Oi, stop touching her. What did you mean earlier?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow before crossing his arms. "I meant that Mama Mari is the one who will deliver the final blow to the Djinn, and she will die doing so."

What?

My head was spinning as I stared at him, trying to collect my emotions and thoughts that were storming through my mind.

"I don't get it, what do you mean?" I said running my hand through my hair.

He frowned seriously, as he looked down at Delsanra. "The price of killing a Djinn... The one who uses the virgin blade will die unless they are of the Same kind, djinns, devils, and demons are all of the same family. Unless you are one, the wielder will die..." He said quietly.

"Does Uncle know this?" I asked sharply.

From what I knew, Uncle was going to go in for the final attack...

"Yes, and so does your mom, she wants to return to Uncle Rafael." He said quietly. His frown was deep, and all traces of cockiness were gone.

Mom was ready to die...

The tension between Uncle and Mom now made sense.

For Uncle to agree, Mom must have convinced him somehow...

I know as the years have passed, her missing Dad and feeling alone has grown. I would see her awake at night, sometimes walking around the mansion gardens. She was always staring off into space, and the amount of time she spent in Dad's favourite spots was unnerving.

But had she really come to that point where there was nothing worth living for?

Was I being selfish that it stung to know we weren't enough?

Was I being selfish to want her to live?

Was I wrong for feeling angry that she didn't talk to me about it or about this decision?

I looked at Delsanra lying in the bed. She didn't have the love of her parents, didn't she deserve some more time with Mom?

"Rayhan." Dante's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I could feel my aura swirling around me, my eyes blazing as that storm within me only continued to grow into something that was getting out of control. Rage began overpowering all sense of logic. How dare they not tell me! Both her and Uncle. I had a right to know. "Rayhan." Dante glared at me, and I glared back. "Hear me out.

"What more do you want to say?" I growled.

"Well, nothing if you don't want to hear it." He shot back, frowning at me.

I exhaled sharply.

"Don't test me, Dante, I am pissed off."

"I know, and I wouldn't have told you if I didn't have a plan." He stated, walking around the bed. He sat on the other side of the bed, leaning against the headboard as if he owned the damn thing, but making sure not to disturb Ahren, who was asleep in the centre of the bed. Mom Had Sienna for the night. 2

"What plan?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

He looked up at the ceiling, then sighed.

"You must stop her."

I frowned, "What?"

Was he telling me to stop her from going tomorrow?

"You know, if I stop her, we will still lose someone?" "It isn't her time yet. She can't go." 5

Although I wanted to ask him what he meant, I knew he wouldn't be able to tell me. From the way he was speaking, it was as if he was telling me the most he could. However, yeah, I agree

entirely that she can't go.

"Explain."

"Her time has not yet come, before I explain further, I need you to promise you will do whatever I ask."

I raised an eyebrow. "You want me to listen to a pup? You might ruin everything; you know this battle is crucial for everyone's sake."

He glared at me. "I am not a pup. I know it is important, but if you promise me that you will do as I say... then I'll promise you..." He turned to look over at Delsanra, and his eyes filled with sadness before he looked back at me. "Then I promise I'll let her go. I will try to get rid of my feelings." Seriously, was he trying to bargain with my own mate? I crossed my arms, frowning.

"She's my mate, kid."

"I know, but when I grow up, you know I can steal her." He added arrogantly, making me glare at him, but then his eyes softened. "But I'm promising you all I can. Do you think I want to do this? I like her, she's so pretty and kind...":

He sounded like a child again with a crush on a pretty girl that he knew he'll never have, but I realised what he was trying to do, to show me that he really needed my help. He was giving up the only thing that would work on me by promising me that he'd back off from Delsanra. "She is." I said quietly. He nodded and I felt bad for him. "What do you want me to do?"

"You promise to do whatever I ask?"

I wasn't sure if trusting him blindly was smart, but it was the only option I had right now. If this was the only way to help Mom, then so be it.

"Fine." I promised,

He nodded. "Then call Leo on a withheld number because we will need his help."

"Walt what? Lo? Seriously Dante, he won't listen."

"He also likes to break rules, he will agree. I will talk to him. Seriously, you two need to grow up" frowned, picking up my phone and holding it out to me. ?

I took it reluctantly. What the hell was he planning? Well, I wouldn't be doing the talking, Leo would hang up before I even managed to say anything.

I had his number, but I wasn't sure he had mine because if he did, he would have it blocked. I dialled the number, making sure my caller ID was hidden, and held the phone out to Dante. He took it, putting it on speaker, Ahren stirred but stayed asleep. "Who the f**k is this?" Leo's cold voice came. "Get out." He added to someone. I raised my eyebrows when I heard a girl.

F**k boy.

"It's Dante."

"What do you want, kid?"

"I want you to do something that would piss Dad off, will you help me?"

Silence.

"Depends. I'm not a f*****g fool to promise some shit without even knowing what it is." "Well, it's about the mission tomorrow. The thing is, the one who kills the djinn." "Will die. Yeah, I know, and?" How did he know that? Did everyone but me know? It didn't help my irritation. "Then do you know who is going to do it?" Dante asked, watching me. "Maria." Leo replied. So, everyone did f*****g know.

"Yes, but the thing is, she can't die... So we need to make a plan-".

"We?" Leo asked sharply.

Damn, even Dante paused, clearly not having realised what he had just implied. "Yeah, us cousins..."

Leo was silent

"I'm not doing this shit." Leo said icily after a moment. "If Rayhan's there, tell him to go suck a d**k"

Dante scrunched his nose, I was tempted to speak and tell him to watch his damn mouth around a kid at least

"Please" Dante said quietly. "I will owe you a favour in return, anything you wish."

That seemed to get him thinking, but I wasn't sure if it was a safe thing to promise. I didn't Trust 140

"Swear I. That when I ask for whatever I do, you will not deny me it."

"Fine When the Ume comes and you ask for a favour, I swear by oath that I will honour whatever you ask for I swear on. Azura" Dante smiled slightly.

I frowned, I didn't get it. He and Azura argued a lot, but he would never make a false oath on her life.

"Who?"

"Azura, my sweet but annoying aunt, or whatever you wish to call it. My family has been through much for me to swear on them." Dante said, but I could tell from that sly hint of smile that he was up to something. 3 I was actually worried for Azura at this point...! He never called Azura sweet, what was he up to? "Fine, whatever, but I will hold you to that, even if it's years from now, Dante. An Alpha always honours his words." "I know. So will you help?" "Fine."

"Good. It involves Rayhan..."

"Can we somehow have him kill the djinn and die in the process? I wouldn't mind that." I frowned, but Dante sighed. "No, because Delsanra needs him." He replied. Wow, was that my worth? 2 "At least you acknowledge she needs me." I remarked sarcastically. I glared at Dante, who simply smirked. "You know, if he's out of the picture, you get to keep her." Leo implied.

"That's true..." Dante agreed arrogantly.

"Can you two cut it out?" I growled. "So the bastard is there." Leo said coldly. "Yes, because I need you both to do this together. I can't explain it fully, but I really need you both to pay attention." Dante said, closing his eyes. We both stayed quiet, and I knew whatever Dante was going to ask for would probably impact Leo's final stance on this.

I knew that there was no way I could stop Mom, and I was holding on to whatever Dante had planned because, like he said, it was not Mom's time to go yet. I knew it was selfish, but I couldn't lose her. 1

"Mama Maria, or Dad, will be carrying the blade... I don't know, but when you see Mama Maria going for the Djinn, I need you both to work together to get the blade from her. Leo, I think it will have to be you, because Rayhan won't be able to risk hurting her." "I don't get why her dying is a problem." Leo added, making my eyes flash.

"Listen to me." Dante said, I could tell he was feeling exhausted already. He may act alright

but he was weak. "You need to pass the dagger to Rayhan by all means necessary... Rayhan you will need to stop Dad, he's weakened due to the poison, you can take him." "That's fine, but then what?" I asked. I heard Leo scoff. "What? Can't you go and kill the djinn yourself?" "No. The one who will kill the djinn will be there." Dante said. 9

"Who?" I asked, it was inevitable someone was going to die.

"I can't say... but at the last moment, when all hope will feel like it's lost, he will come and you will know he is the one to do it. Trust your instincts and give him the dagger." 21

We both fell silent, letting Dante's words sink in. It all sounded fine, but this was messed up on an entire new level. Not only was I listening to a smart, all-knowing pup, but to work alongside the one man who hated me more than anything... and above that, telling me to give the dagger to someone who I didn't even know by following my instincts? This could go wrong on so many levels... "You both just need to do exactly as I said, no matter who tries to stop you. Look for the man in black, you must get him the dagger." 2 "Won't he die?" I asked quietly. "Or worse yet, what if this bastard misses?" Leo added.

"He won't. Do you both promise?" Dante pushed.

"Fine." I said.

It was obvious Dante knew what he was going on about, but his promise regarding Del and the way he knew what was happening made me think this plan would work

"Fine, but I don't care what happens to that bastard who's there with you. I'll give him the f*****g dagger, then I'm done." Leo said icily. 2 "Thank you." Dante replied with a small smile. "Goodbye, Leo." Leo hung up without saying anything else, and I looked at Dante, who was now looking at Delsanra and Ahren.

"Are we doing the right thing?" I asked, "You know messing this up could cost us a lot..."

"I know, but it won't get messed up. I mean you two won't, you can do it."

Our eyes met, and I sighed.

I would put my faith in him, because I really had no other option...

"Then tomorrow the day has come "Dante sald, leaning back as he began playing with Ahren's hair

"Yeah" I replied We both stayed silent, the weight of the upcoming battle weighing heavily on our mindst

This plan could help save a life or destroy thousands more. It was a double-edged blade, and I

was siding with the one that was risking far more, on the words of a powerful child and with my only ally being the one man who hated me more than anything. How badly could things go wrong?

MARIA

Four days had passed since the meeting and we were getting ever closer to the blood count, which meant the time to leave would be soon...

It had been four days since Kiara had lost control and was now being kept unconscious. Seeing her lying there on a bed of silver with chains holding her down was painful.

I had wanted to talk to her before I left, one final time... to ask her to take care of my grandchildren... to take the place of that grandmother figure for them that I no longer would be able to fulfil... but I didn't have the luxury to bid her goodbye.

I now stood outside Raihana's bedroom, hesitating. I had told her I had wanted a word, so she was expecting me, but I was feeling a little uncertain. Scared even. I swallowed hard trying to be strong. How do I tell my daughter that I wasn't coming back? "Aunty Maria, come in." Chris said opening the door and flashing me a smirk.

I smiled, and entered their bedroom, my heart pounding, which made Chris look at me suspiciously.

"You alright?" He asked. "Of course I am." I replied smoothly, walking over to the travel cot where Tatum was fast asleep My little prince... "Mom." Raihana said coming out of the adjoining bathroom in a silk nightgown. "Could you close the door please, Chris?" I asked, as he was still standing there. He closed it slowly, exchanging looks with Raihana who came over to me and felt my forehead. "Your heart's racing, Mom."

She murmured concerned. I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her down beside me. "I wanted to talk to you both about something." I started, taking her hands. "Promise me you both will hear me out before saying anything and what I speak of stays in this room." "I promise." Raihana said, brushing it off. "No Raihana, take an oath on Tatum."

"Mom... You're asking for an oath, what is going on?" "You won't know until you take the oath." I said pointedly. She rolled her eyes as Chris smirked. "I take an oath on RÍ. You have my word, I won't repeat anything to anyone." He said, placing a hand on his heart. "I swear on Tatum's life." Raihana said, shaking her head. "Happy?" "Yes." I said quietly, looking at my son-in-law. 'I will need him to be here for Raihana...

"Mom? Hello? You can tell us; you are acting really weird." She felt my forehead again, looking confused. Here it goes. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a moment, giving Raihana's hand a gentle squeeze. "It's about the upcoming battle." I said softly. "Oh mom, I wish you didn't have to go. Don't worry, you will be ok, Uncle Al won't let anything happen to you." Raihana said, smiling at me.

I nodded.

"I know he won't, but... there is a price to pay for taking a demon's life." I began, my heart thundering as Raihana's smile vanished, replaced with a frown. "A life. The one who stabs him with the dagger will die." "Shit! Is Uncle planning." "I said, hear me out, ya habibti!"

I scolded as Chris stood there, watching me sharply with his piercing eyes. "Ok but uncle can't-" "He was planning to, but the kids are still so young, Kiara is so young, they have their entire life ahead." I explained, and Raihana nodded. "And well... I want to return to him." I finished softly, and for the first time, I looked into her eyes.

She frowned, trying to understand before her eyes widened, her heart thundering as she stared at me, realisation burning in her brown orbs. "F**k." Chris muttered. Her eyes began filling with tears and I knew I needed to say what I had to before I couldn't hold myself together any longer. "Every day that passes feels like a burden upon my soul. Life is... empty." I felt guilty, I was their mother, I was meant to continue going for them. "I'm sorry, I know you must think I'm such a coward for leaving all of you. I truly miss him." She shook her head, her lips trembling as she squeezed my hand tightly. "You and Rayhan have your lives before you, your mates, your children, and I think I can leave you now." I cupped her face as her lip quivered and for a moment it felt like a fifteen-year-old Raihana was before me.

"May I return to my mate?" ! Those were the words that broke the dam on her tears, and she lowered her head. "You will leave us? What about our little baby? He or she will never get to meet you." She whispered, placing her free hand on her stomach. "My children won't have any grandparents."

"I know, ya habibti, but Alejandro cannot do this or anyone else, it isn't fair. I want to go... and this is my chance. You will never be alone. You will have Alejandro, Kiara, Delsanra, Rayhan-" "Does Rayhan know?!" She asked, brushing her tears away angrily. "No, and I don't plan to tell him. I am leaving a small video for him and for Kiara." I said softly, brushing her tears away as she shook her head.

"Goddess, there has to be another way!" She cried in frustration. "Baby." Chris said, as she stood up, he pulled her into his arms forcefully. "She said, she's tired." "She can't go!" Raihana snapped, despite the tears running down her cheeks. "No!"

Her loud shout disturbed Tatum, I stood up as he started crying and took him from the cot. Hugging him tightly, my own tears threatening to fall, I turned away.

I will not show my weakness...

"Please Raihana, living without your mate is like living when your inside is empty." "And what of us?! Don't we make you happy? Come live with us if you feel alone at home! Please, Mom, don't do this!" She sobbed. She came over, grabbing my shoulders as I rocked the child in my arms.

"You all do, but I cannot explain it... Tell me Raihana, can you imagine life without Chris?" I asked quietly. She looked over my shoulder, her eyes filling with pain. "A life where your other half is gone? Waking every day with the absence of his smile, touch, and presence? Everywhere I walk, I see memories that we once shared... I need him, Raihana. Please don't make this harder for me. Let me go."

"Mom..." She hugged me, the little prince between us staring up at us as he watched us curiously.

Our foreheads were pressed together and a few tears escaped me despite my greatest effort, making Tatum giggle as he clapped, staring up at us. "How did Uncle even agree?" She whispered, between her sobs. "He saw my pain." I replied, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "He didn't want to, but I begged him."

"Rayhan is going to kill." She said, shaking her head. "And that is why I want you to make sure he sees this video." I reached into the pocket of my skirt and held out a small drive. "Make sure he sees it."

She nodded, before a fresh wave of tears consumed her. Chris took Tatum from my arms, and I hugged my child, knowing that these moments were coming to an end and the sheer weight that I would no longer have my children in my arms hit me hard. There was indeed a price for everything...

I left their room an hour later and made my way to Delsanra's room. Rayhan was gone for the night, and I was going to spend the night watching over her. She was no longer able to get up from bed, and she spent most of the time sleeping. The curse was taking its toll and we all feared what would happen without Kiara to help ease it a little, even Raihana's healing spells did nothing to ease her pain. The Omega, Clara, smiled at me when I entered, holding a sleeping Ahren in her arms. "Was he not asleep?" I asked quietly. "He wanted his mother." She replied, looking older than ever. This Djinn was taking its toll on the entire pack

"Pass him to me and get some rest yourself." I told her with a gentle smile.

"Shall I take Sienna?"

"No, I will have them." I replied, going over to the bed where Sienna was already asleep next to her mother. "Ok ma'am, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call." She whispered before leaving the room. I looked at the child in my arms and walking over to the bed I slipped in on the end, placing him down by his sister and laying down next to him. "I'll miss you all." I whispered. Was I selfish to leave them? Would Rayhan hate me?

I stroked the children's curls and for a moment I remembered when Rayhan and Raihana were little pups. Rafael would come home late, but he'd always go to kiss them, and if they woke up, he'd just bring them to our room. I'd scold him for ruining their routine. I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down my cheeks now that I was alone. I looked over at the second daughter I was blessed with. No matter how hurtful the things I said when I first realised that she was a witch were, she still forgave me. She was the best mate I could ever wish for, for Rayhan.

"Mama Mari, what's wrong?" Her weak voice came.

I looked away, wiping my tears, I hadn't realised she had woken up.

"I just... nothing,"

"I know it's not nothing. Talk to me." She whispered, her eyelids opening slightly.

Our eyes met, and I smiled softly, despite the tears in my eyes.

"I can't have you telling Rayhan." I whispered.

"L... What is it?" She asked, worry crossing her face.

I shook my head, I loved her but... what if she told Rayhan?

"Just know that I love you and you ARE going to get better soon." "Thank you." She smiled despite the pain she was in. "I love you too. You are the mother I always wished to have."

I nodded.

"I'm glad, I too was blessed by the gods to have gotten another daughter as perfect and strong as you."

I reached over and caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes before she opened them again, and this time they were full of sadness.

"Didn't you say I'll be ok? Why does this sound like a farewell?" She whispered.

She tried to smile, and I simply shook my head.

"I'm just having a moment. You will be ok. Absolutely."

She nodded and we fell silent, I wasn't sure if she fell asleep but just as troubled sleep was overcoming me, I heard her speak.

"Mama Mari... This isn't farewell, is it?"

But I didn't have the heart to reply...