128. Together As A Family

KIARA

"Oh, he is adorable." Maria said as she carried Dante, planting a kiss on his forehead.

I smiled.

"Thank you."

Although they had all seen him before and we had been here for the last five hours, everyone was still gushing over him.

The men had gone out for a few hours and had returned in time for dinner.

We were all in the luxurious lounge of the Rossi mansion. Only when I came here did I realise how wealthy the Rossi's were; even Alejandro"s luxury mansion did not exude the same level of elegance.

Leo was sitting on one of the large sofas enjoying himself playing on Rayhan's Xbox, and Raihana had told him he could take it back home too, stating that Rayhan no longer needed it. Speaking of Rayhan, he had video-called earlier and I had managed to say hi to Liam too. Alejandro hadn't really talked to Rayhan. Even when Rayhan had found out he was awake, he had kind of ignored him, but today they'd had a conversation and I was glad it broke some of the ice between them. Well, from Alejandro's side anyway.

Looking at Leo, I could tell that he looked healthier than he had back in the caverns. He had even started school and apparently was doing well. He had first been home-schooled for three months, then sent to school. I hoped he got the life he deserved. His brown hair was cut stylishly and his eyes seemed to hold more life than before.

"Yeah, enjoy having him. He's all Raf's tonight." Alejandro remarked.

Maria simply gave a small, polite smile.

"We will enjoy having him." She said quietly.

I hoped she realised Alejandro was not as bad or as scary as she thought. She had at least told him she was glad he had woken up.

I had also never asked Alejandro exactly what went down between him and Selene, although he had in passing mentioned meeting her. It seemed like it wasn't something he wanted to discuss and I respected that. Besides, if he was hiding something, I'd know. This was just something he needed time with.

"You shouldn't have made so many dishes." I said, rubbing my tummy.

I had indeed eaten far too much.

"It's the first time you're coming to ours as my sister-in-law." Maria stated with a small smile.

"That's not fair. You're already classing them as married, when your dad didn't even let me have you until we actually got married." Rafael grumbled.

"Gross Dad!" Raihana exclaimed, cringing.

I smiled in amusement.

"Well, that was my dad's choice, and they are marked, so it's the same thing." Maria retorted, kissing her mate's cheek.

Rafael actually looked gutted.

"Do you know how hard it was…?"

"We really don't want to know the fuck about what was hard and not." Alejandro remarked.

Marcel smirked.

"No idea how you were born first…" He remarked as Rafael faked a hurt look.

"I agree with that one." Alejandro agreed.

"Leave him alone." I scolded.

Poor Rafael looked like a puppy who had been kept from his special treat. Well, in a way, he had… I suppressed a giggle at that.

"How did you two meet anyway?" Marcel asked.

I knew he had been rather reluctant to come, but Rafael had been very proactive in making a bond with him. He was the one who got Leo set up in school as well.

"Mating ball." Rafael said, looking at Maria with dreamy eyes.

"Dad! You"re getting gross!" Raihana said.

"I don't get why kids think it"s fucking fine to call the parents cringy when they are disgusting little fuckers themselves." Alejandro remarked, taking a few gulps from his can of fizzy.

"Actually Uncle, I'm a good girl." She replied defensively.

"I don't believe it." Alejandro said stubbornly.

"Well, believe what you want. Do you know that all the men in this pack are awful?"

"Men? Raihana you're sixteen, you shouldn"t even be thinking of the men." Rafael replied, narrowing his eyes.

Well... I sure thought of Alejandro despite him being sixteen years older...

"Dad, you should be worried about Rayhan, not me." She complained, coming and sitting next to Alejandro. "Right Uncle? Boys are worse, right?"

"Yeah, agreed. You got that right, he's definitely a boy, not a man." He mocked as Raihana snickered at her brother"s expense, high fiving her uncle. The poor guy wasn't even here to defend himself.

I shook my head, smiling slightly. It was clear Raihana and Alejandro had a bond that was getting stronger. I liked that, unknowingly, he was letting people in.

Alejandro put his arm around me and kissed me softly.

‘What's on your mind?'

‘You.' I replied, kissing him back.

My heart was pounding as sparks rushed through me, and I had to bite back the moan that threatened to escape.

‘What's wrong, Amore Mio?' His voice came through the link as he pulled me close, his hand raking down my back.

Oh, goddess, I couldn't wait till tonight…

‘Nothing at all.' I replied, sounding breathless.

He smirked against my lips, moving back as he licked his lips slowly.

All I wanted was that tongue all over me... Even though we could barely keep our hands off each other, Dante didn't make it easy for us to simply relax and let loose.

-

It was a short while later, Leo and Raihana had left, leaving just the adults in the room. Rafael had a game of cards on the table and the three brothers were playing as Maria had placed drinks for them. Both of us were not drinking as we sat beside our mates and I fed Dante under a shawl.

Despite me wanting to spend the night with Alejandro, I was going to miss Dante. It would be the first night he'd be away from me, although Maria had assured me it would be ok.

"This is something Alejandro and I wanted to give you." Rafael said, leaning under the table and taking out a file.

I looked up as he passed Marcel the file. The man frowned as he took it and flipped it open.

"I can't accept that." He said, placing the file down and sliding it back towards Rafael.

"Seriously, don't be fucking stubborn." Alejandro growled.

"He's right, you are our brother and this belongs to you too."

"It doesn't. Your dad… didn't even know about me, so I don't have a right to anything that belonged to him."

"He thought you were dead." Alejandro said, frowning deeply.

I knew he would always feel guilty for killing his father, something that had been spurred and brought on by Endora. A woman who had ripped this family apart, but now watching them all together bonding over a game of cards, trying to give their brother his rights. It made my heart warm at the picture, I wish I could take a picture of this moment, three brothers simply enjoying each other"s company…

"And he would never have allowed you to be taken away from us." Rafael said, softly. "Marcel, you're our brother, this is yours and Leo's rights. Don't take what he deserves away from him."

Marcel grunted in disapproval.

"I don"t get why you are even trying. Do you realise we"ll never be recognised as a pack? In fact, I'm confused as to why you didn't try to get me to join your pack, but then again… someone needs to watch the rogues."

"You know that shit ain"t the reason." Alejandro replied, frowning. "If it's to keep those fuckers in line, I have many ways. You"re already their leader, a leader in your own fucking right; we Rossi"s are Alphas and having our own packs makes perfect sense. Now shut the fuck up and accept that shit, or Raf you can just put it on Leo's name."

Maria blinked at every time he swore but I simply smiled. Past his crude language, he didn't say anything wrong. Moreover, I was proud of him for being selfless and being such a perfect king. I watched him play another round, the way his angle jaw looked so good… His trimmed beard, those kissable lips… His earring glinting in his ear… He had bulked out again. Since waking up, he was back to training and was really busy with pack business and financial work, but he was still always there for us. I often woke up at night and he'd be making Dante settle down.

He was really hands-on, although he said he wouldn't change any diapers. I mean, he did try, until Dante almost pissed on him and he had sprung across the room saying he did it on purpose. I really wanted to say it was coincidental, but he always seemed to feel sick on Alejandro too…

But the scene had been funny, someone who didn't run from wolfsbane, poisons, enemies or danger, but he had run away from a baby and a stream of wee…

So, I excused him from diaper duties, but I knew one thing for sure: These two were really going to be something together.

"Did you hear about the witch who was killed up north?" Rafael asked suddenly.

The mood suddenly became dark and Maria tensed. Her brother had died in the battle against Endora, leaving his pack without an Alpha. Her father had taken over again until her nephew returned from Alpha training in a few months.

The battle was dubbed The Battle of Hecate's Betrayal. I found it extreme, considering we couldn't blame the goddess of witchcraft for the misdeeds of a few of her kind, but it was what people were saying and there wasn't much we could do to stop them.

"That ain"t going to make shit any better." Alejandro remarked.

I felt uncertain, wondering what the future held. The feeling of something more approaching flashed through me for a split second, but then it was gone.

"It won't, but witches deserve it." Maria said quietly.

I could feel her pain. I had lost many too, so I understood.

"Mari…" Rafael said, wrapping his arms around her.

She shook her head, "This was their own fault. If the coven had kept their kind in check, this wouldn't have happened. We reap what we sow, Karma will surely play its part and deal vengeance upon them." She stood up and came over, her eyes softening as she looked at Dante, who I had just finished feeding and had fallen asleep. "Shall I take him?"

I nodded, kissing his juicy cheeks a few times. I knew he'd be safe, but it was still a little hard to part with him. I gave him one final cuddle and Alejandro raised an eyebrow.

‘He'll be fine.' He said through the link, and I nodded. I knew he would.

"Well, I'll let you boys carry on for a bit." I said, standing up.

I wanted to dress up a little for him tonight.

‘See you soon…' Alejandro said. I could sense the carnal lust that was radiating from him and through the bond. I could feel his eyes on me as I left the room.

‘Do not come, until I tell you to.' I replied.

‘That's my line.' His husky reply came.

Well, bring it on, because tonight…I was going to let him ravage me as he wished…

-----

I looked in the mirror, satisfied with what I was wearing. I had chosen a tiny lacy black lingerie set, with stockings and garters. I had covered my body in shimmer. Applying smoky heavy eye make-up and deep red lipstick. My nails were painted red and I had curled my hair. My heart was pounding because since he had been back this would be the first time that I had planned something. I took a deep breath looking myself over. I had always felt confident in myself, but with Alejandro and the way he looked at me, my confidence was sky-high. I looked over my tattoos that went nicely with the look, my breasts that were spilling out of the lingerie that I knew would be torn to shreds before the night even begun, examining my wider hips, brushing my fingers over my mate mark. This was the woman I was meant to be.

I turned away and looked at my phone, sighing softly. I had texted Raven for a bit, whilst I set up some candles a short while ago. She acted like she was doing ok, but I knew that wasn't the case. She even said she had to go as her dad was calling. I was worried for her, even when she came to visit Dante. She was acting ok, but it scared me because she was somehow hiding her emotions where even I couldn't sense them properly.

(FLASHBACK)

"…going to buy you a mockingbird and if that mockingbird doesn't sing…" Raven trailed off, as Dante fell asleep in her arms. She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with emotions.

"He is so cute, gosh, he's the baby version of chocolate and marshmallows." She whispered, bringing him over to me.

I kissed him softly as I took him and settled him into his crib, pulling Raven down next to me on my bed.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"Perfect." She said with a confident smile. "Do you really think something like that would put me down?"

My heart pulled painfully at her words. She wrapped her arms around me.

"Can you stop stressing about me? Look, you need to emit positive energy for little Dante."

I wish I could, but it hurts that my brother just left without even saying goodbye to her… that I slept with her other mate. I felt like a horrible friend, I really did… but I also knew she would never blame me. No matter what, I was on her side. I"d be there for her, now and forever.

(END OF FLASHBACK)

I pushed the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to delve into that. I looked around the room. It was lovely; with a huge round bed, lush carpet, and the lighting was perfect. We were in the outhouse at the back of the mansion. Rafael had joked that it might be for the best. Although I had been so embarrassed, Alejandro had shamelessly smirked and said he agreed that it was a good idea. He had mind-linked me a few times, but I had told him to be patient.

I was a little worried about my baby and messaged Maria, who told me he was still fast asleep and not to worry. That she was like another mother to me and to rest assured that Dante would be ok. Deciding to try to believe that. I finished the room with some petals on the bed and put on some soft music. Satisfied, I mind linked Alejandro.

With a smile, I went and sat on the bed, crossing my legs one over the other, as I waited for him…