The Alpha Mafia King
Chapter 81

Alonzo all through this while had been keeping his emotions in check. Now, as he navigated his way out of the Grand Palace great hall, disco lights twinkling and bouncing off his Italian leather polished shoes, he could finally allow himself to go over one of the unhappy thoughts he had been suppressing.

The following day was his grandfather’s burial, albeit his mate who should have been there by his side had dumped him for his sheer lack of honesty, amongst other things, worth recollecting, her kidnapping and the child loss.

Everywhere was bubbling with life but Alonzo was feeling downtrodden. He navigated through the corridors, slicing through people’s middle just to avoid bumping into them. Finally, he made it to the door but just as he was about to come out he heard his name.

“Alonzo,” the feminine voice said for the second time and he stopped.

“Rayleigh of the moonlight pack,” Alonzo muttered under his breath, turning slowly.

“Hello there handsome,” Rayleigh said, revealing her flawlessly white set of teeth in a perfect smile. “Where are you off to in such a big hurry?”

“I just wanted to breathe some fresh air.”

“Oh, well, I suppose I could join you then.” Rayleigh fixed her almond-shaped charming eyes on his.

Alonzo looked thoughtful for a few seconds and replied, “Fine, I suppose that wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Once outside the Grand Palace Rayleigh said, “Congratulations on your victory over Callisto, and accept my condolences for your grandfather.”

Alonzo nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”

“You are looking disturbed,” Rayleigh said after observing Alonzo silently as they wandered about the palace’s outer premises.

Alonzo g*****d inwardly. He didn’t want anyone following him around which was why he had gotten rid of his pack mates earlier after the announcement of their new rulers.

“I’ll be fine Rayleigh,” Alonzo casually responded.

They took a bend to the left where a water fountain sprouted continuously and disproportionately. Alonzo thought he had put enough distance between himself and the water sprouting from the fountain but just then the water sprouted in a wider arc and hit him as if he had been shot at with a water gun. His body slightly brushed up against Rayleigh as he balked away from the shooting water and he felt her soft skin.

“It’s just water,” Rayleigh reminded him and he chuckled softly.

“I know but I like to keep myself dry since I don’t have any towel,” Alonzo countered.

“No need for towels, we can get dried in the covers of my hotel bed,” Rayleigh offered naughtily.

“No thanks,” Alonzo said, even though he pictured the scene.

“Aw, someday you are going to wish you took me up on my offer.”

“Maybe.”

“So you still stood by your decision not to be our new ruler’s mate?”

“I did.”

“Why though? It’s such a shame. And now she’s mated to your rival’s son!”

“What is shameful? That I didn’t accept to be her mate or that she got paired up with Antonio?”

Rayleigh halted. “Both of them are.”

Alonzo laughed wryly. “You look baffled either way.”

They continued walking under the shimmering moonlight, taking yet another bend in the vast compound, and this time they were surrounded by orange and tangerine trees. They had both wandered into the Royal orchard.

Rayleigh sighed softly and responded, “What baffles me the most is that I thought you’d bring your significant other to the event but there I caught you whisking away in the middle of the event claiming to be seeking fresh air.”

“Ah, I see, you can’t keep your eyes off me, eh?”

“No, I can’t,” Rayleigh admitted sheepishly. “You are charming,” she added, normalizing her facial expression.

“Thanks for the compliment,” Alonzo said.

“Thanks for the compliment,” Alonzo said.

“So, are you going to talk about what you are going through or what?”

“I don’t think telling you will help me,” Alonzo mumbled sincerely and she g*****d.

“Okay whatever,” Rayleigh said promptly. “If you wouldn’t talk about it then tell me something else.”

“What’s that?”

“Why’s your mate not with you? Doesn’t she know that you rejected royalty for her?”

Alonzo scoffed— so much for trying not to mention anything about the problem with her. Rayleigh had already touched on what the problem was but she had no idea that she had.

“Rayleigh, okay first of all my mate has a name and her name is Alyona. Secondly, she is ill which was why she didn’t make it to the event.”

“Aw poor thing,” Rayleigh said. “I thought something else must’ve happened.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, but you look a tad broken-hearted.”

“Psst! Me broken-hearted? What a joke, right?”

“I’m serious,” Rayleigh said, nudging him a little in his elbow.

“I’m not heartbroken,” Alonzo countered.

“Okay, I hear you. My pack has a healer you know, perhaps she could figure out what sickens your mate.”

“Oh no don’t bother, she’s not a werewolf,” Alonzo revealed, causing Rayleigh to gasp out surprisingly.

“She’s not a werewolf? Well, does she know that you are a werewolf?”

“She does,” Alonzo replied absent-mindedly.

The natural smell of the citric fruits engulfed the air around them. They found a piece of an old log of wood in the middle of the orchard and they decided silently to take the weight off their feet where the log rested.

“So, quick question,” Rayleigh said, as she sat beside Alonzo on the log. “What is the reason you haven’t turned your human mate into a werewolf? Is it because she doesn’t want the bite or what?”

“Yeah, she doesn’t want the bite because she’s scared,” Alonzo continued to prevaricate.

“Oh, humans, I don’t like their lots,” Rayleigh said with a scornful look. “They are always so weak and feeble-minded.”

“Really? You must hate humans!”

“Yeah, I just said so,” Rayleigh said.

Rayleigh was slowly running out of patience with the small talks. She wished she could k**s her crush already. She recalled she had been crushing on Alonzo right from when they had been children. The first time they met was when she had seen Alonzo for the first time with his father in their house during her dad’s birthday. Whereas every male werewolf that had seen her had been swooning for her, Alonzo carried himself around her with an air of nonchalance. She ditched the other guys just for him but he was cold to her then just as he was now.

“Some things never change,” Rayleigh said dreamily.

“What?” Alonzo asked, confused.

Rayleigh m****d. “I was just reminiscing about when I first saw you.”

“What about it?”

“Well, I had a crush on you instantly but you were cold to me just like you are being cold to me now,” Rayleigh explained calmly.

“Sorry,” Alonzo whispered unsurely.

“Don’t apologize to me,” Rayleigh said.

“Right, so-“

Alonzo swallowed the word.

“Now that we are both out here alone, two lonely hearts, maybe we could indulge ourselves in a game of truth or dare.”

“Hmm, I know that one,” Alonzo said, beating his index finger in the air. “No thanks, I’ll pass!”

“Alonzo, come on, after tonight we might not see each other for another decade, so let’s just make tonight count!”

“Well, I suppose that wouldn’t be such a bad thing temptress.”

“Really, so do you agree to play the game?”

“No, I don’t!” Alonzo replied sharply. “I mean it won’t be so bad if we don’t see each other for another decade.”

“Ah, I see, f**k the game,” Rayleigh said and drew closer to Alonzo.

“Rayleigh, uh, what do you think you want to do?” Alonzo asked, recoiling as she brought her lips just inches away from his.

“Just this once Alonzo please touch me just this once!” Rayleigh pleaded with her sexy voice and cute eyes.

Alonzo ran his hand through his hair. “I- I can’t. I have someone who I have actual feelings for, I’m sorry.”

“Well she’s not here now,” Rayleigh whispered seductively as she leaned closer and Alonzo got up immediately.

“Okay, that’s it! I’m heading back inside the palace!”

“Fine! Run along! Eventually, we will have s*x provided neither of us kicks the bucket before that time!”

Alonzo walked back hastily. What had he been thinking of letting himself be alone with Rayleigh? Her intentions with men were never clear. Her reputation for getting laid was second to none. Alonzo couldn’t let himself get involved with a lady like her.

As he returned he noticed that outside the palace was crowdier than earlier and the reason for that was that some of the guests were already starting to leave.

Alonzo saw Bianco and Leonardo walking out of the palace talking to themselves. They must have caught his scent as they both shot a glance at him and he waved. They marched towards him as if all along they had been searching for him.

“Where have you been?” Leonardo asked.

“Leo, put some respect when talking to the boss,” Bianco slapped Leonardo’s head.

“Ouch,” Leonardo responded, baring his teeth and fist playfully.

“It’s fine, Bianco, I take Leonardo as my godson,” Alonzo said coolly.

“Uh, fine,” Bianco said, feeling defeated.

“So where did you go?” Leonardo repeated.

“Leo, I just decided to take a stroll to clear my head,” Alonzo answered.

“Hope it helped?” Leonardo asked, genuinely interested in knowing.

Alonzo shrugged and said, “Yeah, a little.”

“It’s been one hell of a night,” Jerald’s voice announced unexpectedly.

“Huh, where did you go?” Leonardo asked.

“I went to mingle with a chic from another pack,” Jerald answered.

“Ah, it would seem like everyone is taking a cue from the boss,” Piccolo’s baritone voice cuts in.

“Great, are you done frolicking with that royal girlfriend of yours?” Bianco said. “Now, can we go home?”

“I agree with Bianco,” Alonzo said.

“Uh, I suppose we can leave now,” Piccolo said.

“We are leaving without your girlfriend?” Leonardo asked Piccolo in shock.

“Uh, yeah, duh! Did we come with her?” Piccolo fired back.

“But she said she wants to join our pack,” Leonardo continued.

Piccolo g*****d and everyone laughed except for Leonardo who didn’t replace anything amusing.

“She’s royalty! They aren’t exactly allowed to mate outside the pack,” Jerald explained. “She can’t just automatically follow us. She’ll have to renounce her royal status to fully join our pack.”

“Wow,” Leonardo said.

“Guys, my feet are killing me, less talking, start walking,” Bianco said.

“Since when are you one to complain of being tired?” Jerald asked. “You didn’t even fight!”

Alonzo watched the pack mates talk non-stop till they reached the car park. Their voices faded briefly in his mind as he felt a twinge of loneliness. He would have loved nothing more than to end his day in the arms of Alyona.