Page 138 of My Forbidden Alpha

I am not looking forward to the drama that I know is going to inevitably go down.

Rafael smirks. “Sure thing. I’ve got the paperwork ready. Are you going to tell your dad about this entire mark thing?”

“Gonna have to, my stepmother’s mark vanished,” I say, feeling a little resentful, although I know it isn’t Jessica’s fault. But in a way, I wish she had done more for her daughters.

Rafael nods. “I know it’s not going to be easy for you. I mean, stepsiblings? But I’ve known you for years and you’ve never treated a girl as good as you treat her. You only show your charm to get into a woman’s pants,” he says, looking at me, a smirk crossing his lips. “Unless, of course, she is just a booty call. You got others on the side?” A low growl escapes me, my eyes flashing dark cobalt.

“She isn’t a fucking booty call.”

“My point exactly,” Rafael says, gulping down the rest of his hot drink. “I think you two could be mates, though. Regardless of what her messed up dad’s done, you’ll make it through it. There are less than two months until the Blood Moon. I’m sure it’ll bring good news for you both.

I really hope it does. For once I am praying for a mate, for her to be my mate. Not because I will leave her if she isn’t, but because I want to remove that mark for her. To claim her as my own.

“What about you, haven’t met your mate yet? Didn’t your pack elders force you to attend every Blood Moon gathering since you turned eighteen?”

“Yeah, and until this last one, none bore fruition.”

“Wait, so you have?”

“Yeah, I have,” Rafael admits, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck.

“Oh yeah? So why aren’t you marked then? Don’t tell me she doesn’t want your sorry ass.”

“Actually, she does, but it’s complicated.”

“How exactly? I mean, it can’t be more complicated than my situation,” I remark humourlessly.

He smirks. “Well, it seems a mission right now, too. But she’s sexy as fuck, the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, but her family has certain conservative views. According to them, we need to get married before we can mate,” he grumbles, and a cocky smirk crosses my face.

“Shame, seems like your in-laws-to-be have already got you under their thumb,” I say arrogantly. Rafael sighs.

“Yeah, soon-to-be. I need to prove I’m worthy of her first, but it’s worth it if it means I get my princess in the end,” he says dreamily.

“So, what does she look like?” I ask, wondering who has been paired with my Italian friend. “My bets are on a dark-hairedbeauty with large eyes.”

He chuckles. “Yep, large grey eyes, gorgeous thick lashes, and she has these plump kissable lips, thick black hair… I’m assuming anyway, she wore a head covering, but she’s gorgeous,” he says, making my smirk only grow.

“So basically, you’ve not seen much. Damn, you got to wait, huh?” I tease.

“I don’t mind waiting, she’ll be worth it,” Rafael says, although his displeased pout says otherwise. “Well, get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sure thing. Thanks for the drink. If you fail as Alpha and decide to pass the title to Alejandro, at least you can become a barista. You make a neat hot chocolate.” Rafael gives me a frown.

“Yeah, trust me, Alejandro would love that,” he says.

“Speaking of, how’s he doing?” I ask.

Something flashes in his eyes, and he looks over at me.

“He’s alright… he’s doing alright… we’re going to be alright.”

He’s telling himself. Not me.

I don’t know what exactly his brother’s issue is, but Rafael has been put through the wringer thanks to that little shit. I just hope he realises it someday. But somehow, it’s also something Rafael never opens up about. Although I know he considers me his friend, he still has his secrets, especially when it comes to his little brother.

“You know, Rafael, you can talk to me too. I don’t know what’s going on with Alejandro, but you know I’m here, right? Sometimes a problem shared is a problem solved.”

He smiles and nods. “Yeah, I know. Everything is good. He just has some anger issues, but we’re going to deal with it.”

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