73. Please Dont

ALEJANDRO

An hour had passed since everyone had been healed or taken care of. As much as I fucking hated it, Kiara healed everyone without a care who saw her ability and who didn't. I knew Elijah wasn't pleased, but it seemed like me, he probably didn't feel like there was anything we could have fucking done to stop her. Something about Kiara's aura, her strength, and the way she oozed authority seemed to carry itself knowingly.

As I said, she's a fucking queen.

Alpha Jake was sent home after being given the option to hold a funeral for his mate here, but he refused. I sent men with the families of those who had lost someone and the injured that were now mostly healed were given the option to stay and rest or leave.

The Alphas who were unharmed all decided to take their leave. With these attacks, they didn't feel comfortable leaving their packs unwatched. Although we all knew the target was Kiara. This new warning may have hinted at attacks on packs, one thing I had to make sure didn"t happen. Although many wanted to know why the wedding wasn't happening and since when did I care for a fucking mate. Not to mention the rumours that had now blown up about Kiara's potential. I knew those old fuckers were planning shit and had questions they wanted me to answer.

Questions I knew I was going to have to answer to the fucking council members that were remaining here.

Raf and his family were also stopping. The fucking pups seemed to be happy about that. I even saw Rayhan and Raihana smirking about something, and from the fucking look of things, I was sure they had somehow fucking clicked about Kiara… I wasn't sure if they realised I was her mate, but then again, I did fucking say ‘She's mine' like a fucking idiot. They had been close by when I had said that…

And here the fuck we were, Claire and Carla had made tea for everyone and we were gathered in the larger living room in my mansion, a room that I rarely used. I leaned against the wall, dressed in a pair of joggers and a t-shirt, smoking away.

Scarlett was now dressed in black and looking at me like she wanted to fucking kill me. Yeah, she probably did. Luckily for me, I wasn't the only one facing Scarlett's wrath, I saw the glares Elijah was getting. Something I actually enjoyed. He looked fucking pained to be in her bad books. Serves the fucker right…

Rayhan, Raf, Maria, Allen, Kennan, Darien, Serena, a crying Jasmin and Bill were now all here. The door opened and Kiara stepped inside. My heart skipped a fucking beat. She looked fucking gorgeous in her dress, despite the splashes of blood and the few tears mixed in it. She didn't look at me, but I didn't miss the beat of her heart speed up.

Now what? I couldn"t bring myself to mark Jasmin… I knew in that moment on stage, that the only woman I'd ever be able to mark would be Kiara. But… that was all I knew. Would I? Could I? Was it too fucking late? Was I fucking safe for her to be around?

The door shut with a soft click and I heard Scarlett tut her tongue in annoyance. Her glare now trained on her daughter. Kiara simply looked away, crossing her arms.

"Alpha Alejandro, care to explain why we called Alphas from all over the country, only for you to back out? With all due respect." Allen said gravely.

Elijah crossed his arms, since his woman wasn't letting him touch her.

"I want to know too." He added.

"This is no small matter." Kennan remarked.

Jasmin rushed over to me, clasping her hands together.

"Alpha… Please… I don't care what you do on the side. I want you." She whispered.

I did not want this shit in front of everyone. I frowned as I glared at her.

"I told you from the fucking start, don't expect anything from me." I said icily.

"Give us one good reason why you want to call this off." Bill said, patting his sweating brow. Clearly, he had worked himself up as he took deep breaths, trying not to panic.

"Please Alpha." Jasmin begged, her eyes filled with tears. Tears that meant nothing to me.

"I'll tell you the damn reason." Scarlett said, her eyes flashing silver as she stepped forward as all eyes turned to her.

"Red." Elijah said.

"No! Why should I stay quiet? I am so fucking pissed off!" She snapped, her canines elongated.

"Mom. Enough." Kiara's sexy voice came.

Her mother looked at her and I knew they were mind linking. Scarlett pushed Elijah's hands off of her and clenched her fists. Her nostrils flared in anger and I knew for a fucking fact that she was not done…

"I'll tell you why." Jasmin suddenly said.

I growled dangerously, my aura rolling off me in waves. I knew she fucking knew it was because of Kiara, but I didn't want Jasmin to call her out. I don't even know what the fuck we were. She flinched at the power that filled the room and fell silent.

"Uncle found his mate. That's why." Rayhan said with a shit-eating smirk that I wanted to smack right off his fucking face.

A gasp rippled through those who weren't aware of this, and I felt my brothers" gaze burning into me.

"She isn"t his mate!" Jasmin said, glaring at him.

Rafael looked at his son before frowning.

"Can you all just explain what the hell is going on?" He said.

"If you have found your mate, then why not mark her?" Kennan asked.

Allen let out a chuckle, his eyes suddenly widening as he looked at Kiara.

Damn, the fucker was smart…

"A befitting queen! Mark her and let the rightful queen take her place." He said, barely able to contain his excitement.

Well. Fuck. I wasn't expecting him to say that.

"No." I said quietly.

I had no idea what I wanted, what the fuck the future held or if she could ever forgive me. I mean, did I want her to forgive me?

My heart thudded as all eyes turned towards me.

"No? Then I want to know why the hell you're messing with my daughter. Make up your mind about what the hell you want. And Alpha Allen, next time you talk about my daughter as if she's a prize to be claimed, I'll be castrating something of yours and taking it home as my trophy!" Scarlett said icily.

"Red, stop it…" Elijah murmured.

But in this silent room, we all heard. Allen visible paled but his annoyance was also clear. However, he respected Elijah and was the calmest of the trio.

"Do YOU think Kiara should just accept him after all this?" Scarlett challenged, turning to Elijah.

"She can decide for herself." Elijah said firmly, his eyes flashing.

"Kiara… is his mate?" Maria said, I didn't miss the annoyance in her tone. Well, it seemed like she had hoped for some other shit. Too bad.

"So, you have a child mate?" Bill said grumpily.

"She's not a child." I growled.

"Then why didn't you accept her?" Rafael asked softly.

The room went silent, and I wished he hadn"t asked the correct fucking question. I looked away, not physically able to answer that question.

"If you can't answer that, then reject me." Her voice came, as beautiful as a melody yet carrying words as painful as a poisoned knife.

I looked up and our eyes met, my dark ones looking into her gorgeous blue-rimmed green ones. My heart fucking raced as a storm of emotions filled me. The very thought of rejecting her was so fucking painful…

"Fine. Then I'll do it." She said, her eyes flashing purple. I saw the pain in them but even then she held strong.

"Kia, don't be reckless." Elijah said quietly.

"Kiara, please. You are-" Allen began.

Kiara held her hand up, silencing him. Her eyes not leaving mine.

Don't do it… Please don't.

I was fucking begging for something. Yet at the same time… I couldn"t give her anything. Why shouldn't she reject me?

"I, Kiara Westwood of The Desert Storm Pack, rej-"

I was in front of her in a flash, my heart fucking giving me away. My hand clamped over her mouth and I heard the soft gasp that left those plush lips of hers and I shook my head slowly.

Don't. Please fucking don't.