The Taming Of Alpha Rafael

Chapter 7

As I walked into the dining set, my heart sank at the sight of Gracie and Rafael sitting together. I didn't know the reason as the conflicts were mounting.

Was it the fact that Gracie and Rafael were getting too close, or that Kantos had just returned, know where I and Gracie were and had asked for a meeting?

I couldn't bear to show Rafael the letter, how I wished he could help but he's in no condition to help with his leg. And to tell Gracie that her father was back after five years was a no.

I folded it tightly and I discreetly slipped it into my back pocket, determined to keep its contents hidden.

I forced a smile as I approached them, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. "Hey, guys," I said, my voice laced with a touch of false cheerfulness.

“You should try this out,” Rafael said and waved me to join them.

“I, it's…”

“Are you okay?” Rafael asked.

“I am.”

“No, you've seen something, or heard something,” Rafael said with his eyes set at me.

"Yeah, something that will require me to use your car. I have to be somewhere.”

“Where?” Rafael asked.

“Can I use your car?”

“You can. I see you don't want to involve me,” he said and continued with his food.

“I will join you after I finish this, alright?" With that excuse, I quickly made my way to my room, the weight of the letter growing heavier with each step.

I have to go see him. It's not like I was eager but I have to before he does anything rash.

I haven't seen him in years but I know how rash he was when it comes down to decision making. I don't want him at the Salvatore mansion, it will be a disaster to see all I've tried to keep coming out.

Inside my room, I closed the door softly behind me, giving myself a moment to collect my thoughts.

I stood in front of the mirror, looking at my reflection, trying to regain some composure. As I brushed my teeth, my mind wandered back to the letter. How did he know where I live? Has he been tailing?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when Gracie walked into the room. The sound of her small voice calling out to me snapped me out of my reverie.

"Mommy, why are you crying?" she asked, her innocent eyes filled with concern.

Only then did I know that tears were falling. I quickly wiped away the tears that had escaped down my cheeks, desperately trying to put on a brave face.

But Gracie saw through my facade. She always did. I couldn't hide anything from her.

Kneeling to her level, I pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh, sweetie," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Mommy's just having a tough day. It's nothing for you to worry about."

But Gracie's wise beyond her years. She looked up at me, her big blue eyes searching for answers.

"Don't worry, Mommy," she said, her voice filled with an unwavering confidence. "The Boogeyman will not get me. Rafael will protect me."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. She was right about the bogeyman, but not the one Rafael promised to keep her from. Well, she might be right.

I held Gracie even tighter, burying my face in her silky hair, using the embrace as a shield to hide my tears. "You're right, sweetheart," I whispered, my voice heavy with emotion. "Rafael will protect you. He'll always keep you safe. I'll be right back.”

As I spoke those words and stepped out, a sense of gratitude washed over me. A gratitude towards a gesture I haven't accepted totally.

Gracie's unwavering faith in Rafael reminded me that I wasn't alone in this, that I had someone by my side who would stand up for us against whatever challenges life threw our way. But this, I have to fight alone.

I walked past the dining and watched Gracie join Rafael at the dining again. He looked at me for a while and pressed his lips together. He surely knew that there was something.

He threw me the key and when I picked it up, I marveled at how things were racing. Did I just ask him for his car key? He was supposed to be my boss. Where does the familiarity come from?

***

I stood in the elegant reception area, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity. As I scanned the room, I noticed a figure approaching - a figure that sent a shiver down my spine.

It was Kantos, a man I had known in a different time, someone who used to be kind and endearing. Yet, something had changed.

Back in the time capsule, I had a soft remembrance of how we once were, a thing that turned out to be unreal.

He stood before me and was now bigger, thicker, with a fierce look that hinted at the darkness that had consumed him.

I mustered up the courage to approach him, unable to resist inquiring about his presence. "What do you want?"

He wasn't supposed to show up. We weren't supposed to meet, ever!

Kantos glanced at me, his eyes sweeping from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. A sly smirk formed on his lips. "You look sweeter," he said, attempting to reach out and touch me.

I slapped his hand away, my anger fueling my words. "What do you want?" I repeated, unwilling to let him intimidate me as I knew him to be good at it.

“How is Rafael Salvatore holding up? I was told he's one-legged,” he said and laughed.

“What do you mean?”

“You sleep in the mansion that belongs to the p***y mafia. An alpha who has bedded a thousand women. That's what I mean,” he said and stared at my chest. “They look bigger. And your hips, sumptuous and yummy,” he said and licked his lips, making a sound.

“I work for him. How could you think like that?"

“Exactly. Well, it's a form of work too,” he added.

“You cow-hearted…” I wanted to lash at him but he cut in.

“I should have stormed the mansion. But I want to speak with you first. You know, this is an alpha versus alpha thing,” he declared.

Now I could see that Kantos knew Rafael. Maybe Rafael knew him too, that I don't know. All I know is that Kantos is capable of all trauma.

"What do you want?"

As Kantos strolled out of the hotel, his arrogance evident in every step, he turned to face me. "A night with you," he said.

"What? No! We had a deal, didn't we? You let me keep her and we stay away from you and you'll leave us alone."

“That reminds me,” he said as he went while I followed like a sheep to the slaughter. “How's she? How's Gladys?"

Kantos had struck a nerve, talking about the most precious thing in my life. Now, we moved outside, away from prying eyes.

"No, her name isn't even Gladys," I retorted, tears welling up in my eyes. "You don't know her name. She's not yours."

The tears were a mix of my weakness, my vulnerability, and my hatred for him. How could he forget her name? How?

Kantos' expression hardened, revealing his true intentions. "I am her father," he declared with a venomous tone. "I want to see my daughter."

My grip on composure was slipping. My daughter was all I had. "No. She is not yours. Ever! Not yours to claim.”

“I am not claiming her,” he said in that voice of old, a voice that depicted his anger just like the day he rejected me. “I am taking her.”

“She's all I have.”

A cruel smile played on Kantos' lips as he revealed his ultimatum. "That's why you'll do what I want. A night with you, I mean tomorrow, in this same place or I will come into the Salvatore house, introduce myself and take my daughter."

Tears streamed down my face as my heart shattered. I was caught in a despairing dilemma. Should I sacrifice my well-being to protect my child? The gravity of the situation overwhelmed me.

Without another word, Kantos climbed into his car and abruptly drove off, leaving me standing alone on the pavement, consumed by fear and uncertainty.

“Oh God!” I exclaimed. “What do I do?”