Page 140 of My Forbidden Alpha

“No need to thank me. It was nice meeting you. Elijah here has always been protective of you and never wanted to share anything about you with me. It makes sense now.” He winks at me, making Elijah smirk.

“I don’t trust hormonal men,” he counters.

“And you aren’t one?” Rafael asks just as a young man who I instantly realise is Rafael’s brother approaches with Elijah’s car keys. The Rossi gene is definitely strong.

He’s tall, nearly six feet and although he’s still young and a lot leaner than his brother, I can see the muscles under his clothes. They have the same tan skin and dark hair, but their eyes… they’re different. Completely different. Where Rafael’s are playful and warm, Alejandro’s are cold, dangerous and dark.

His black hair is slicked back, showing off his pierced ears. He’s wearing several necklaces around his neck. His neck and arms are tattooed and, from what I can see, so is his neck, fully, which surprises me, as usually werewolves will leave the place where a mate would mark us empty.

“Done staring? The tank’s full,” he says, his cold eyes flitting from me to Elijah, his low voice sounding rough as he tosses thekeys to Elijah.

“So, this is the devil,” Elijah remarks, looking at the boy. Alejandro raises a black brow.

“Even the devil’s a fucking angel compared to me.” He gives us both a cold glare and walks off after a glance at his brother.

Elijah scoffs. “You definitely have your hands full.”

I watch as Alejandro walks off. He pauses as if sensing me watching him and turns his head sharply. A strand of his black hair falls into his eyes, which are rimmed with very thick lashes, but even then, they look no less dangerous. There’s a burning cold rage that makes my blood run cold; a darkness that makes me step back. And for a chilling fraction of a second, I think I see his eyes change colour, but that can’t be possible. He is only fifteen. He doesn’t have his wolf yet.

Elijah places his hand on my back, and I blink, shaking my head. It must have been a trick of the light. This mark on my neck must be making me delusional.

“You ok, Red?”

I nod up at Elijah, but when I turn back, the boy is gone.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just a moody teen,” Rafael says apologetically.

It sure must be rough looking after a brother like that. I shake my head and sigh.

“Well, I sure feel sorry for his mate, and I thought Elijah here was a handful,” I say, making Rafael chuckle.

“Iama handful,” Elijah remarks, flashing me a smirk that tells me he means something far dirtier.

“I’m sure she’ll handle him well. After all, mates are made to complete us, right?” Rafael says and I nod.

“That’s true…” I murmur.

The topic of mates is becoming a burden to me. I am terrified of finding mine. Elijah’s words from last night echo in my mind.Maybe we are mates?Although I doubt it and I don’t want tohope. It’s hard.

We bid farewell to Rafael, thanking him for everything before we leave the Black Storm Pack and head home, ready to face the music.

The journey homehas been quiet, but not too bad, as Elijah isn’t pushing me to talk. He has been able to make me smile a few times, and I appreciate that although he can tell I am stressed and restless, he is still being so damn patient with me.

I keep touching my neck and whenever he asks me if the pain is getting worse, I simply shake my head. He still placed a few kisses on my neck whenever he got the chance, and although I do not admit it, I appreciate his efforts.

Every possible scenario is replaying in my mind and I honestly don’t know what to think, not knowing what direction this will go in. I’m preparing for the worst, but honestly all the scenarios are pretty much as depressing as the other and I’m already stressed before we even get to the pack territory.

For the first time, I wish the journey didn’t have to end, and that I didn’t have to return home. Reality sets in as we arrive home, casting away any hope that there may be a chance for me and Elijah.

There isn’t. There can’t be. We’re stepsiblings.

We pull up outside of the mansion, my heart sinking further, and when he switches the engine off, he turns to me.

“Ready?”

I nod. “Yeah, just watch yourself and be careful. They can’t know about us,” I murmur as I unbuckle my belt.

“Red, listen.” I glance up to see he’s frowning.

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