The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

~ ENRIQUE ~

I had been on my way to get Kataleya when I had felt the snapping of a pack-link, signalling someone had either died or left the pack and I had alerted and commanded every pack member be accounted for, child, adult, and those not on the island. When one of your pack members dies, it takes a part of you too. I feel as if I failed them, that I was not able to protect them.

When that had come up, I told Jose to take Kataleya to the house until I returned.

"Alpha, until we get some answers, would you like to stop at my place? Madre has made some Arozz Con Dulce. Let's wait there for a while, it's close to the waters, anyway." 2

Hmm, he really is a fool... he has done nothing but piss me off lately, and he's taking me to see his madre?

"Yes, let's go. I wouldn't mind seeing Tía Maribella. It's been a while."

"She will be happy to see you, too," he answers as I change direction and head towards his home.

Fool, you are done for now, and I will enjoy this.

Once we park up, he gets out jovially and I c**k a brow. "Why are you so excited?"

"Madre has been asking when you will visit for a while, so she will be happy. Besides, she's been a little annoyed with me. I didn't do something she told me last week..." He clears his throat as he opens the gate and steps inside. "Madre! I brought the Alpha to visit you!" he adds, smiling as if he just hit the jackpot.

I really did make a fool my delta and soon he will realise bringing me here will be my jackpot.

'Did you really think bringing me here was smart? You do realise I am going to tell her about all your fuck ups?' I remark, slipping my hand into my pocket.

Carlos freezes just as we hear an excited scream of Tía Maribella and her footsteps as she hurries down the hall.

I smile as she opens the door to the house, her small round frame filling the doorway. She's wearing an apron and her eyes are sparkling with excitement as she hurries down the steps. Her dark hair filled with wisps of grey, her warm brown eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Mijo! It's such an honour to have you here, Alpha Enrique! Oh my, Carlos, you did one thing right! Come, come inside!" she gushes happily as she cups my face.

This is the reason I made the fool my delta. Tía Maribella was someone who always made sure I had home-cooked food on my table, and during training every single day as a child.

"Tía Maribella, I missed you," I say quietly as I smile at her before hugging her warmly.

"Oh, mijo, I missed you too."

The nostalgia I feel when I'm around her is always intense, one of the reasons coming here is hard. She reminds me of my childhood that was mostly filled with darkness and bitterness... A reminder of how her meals that I devoured were the only warmth I felt when everything else felt cold... Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on . Visit to read the complete chapters for free. I remember her begging Hugo to allow her to make food for me, instead of hiring a chef, and he had agreed. Not only would she come with hot meals, but stories of her day. Sometimes I would walk away or demand I don't want to hear them, but secretly I didn't mind them.

It was nice to sometimes have someone who pushed their way in. Someone who asked me about my studies other than Hugo, someone to compliment me on the things that as an alpha was expected of me, anyway. But she would act like it was something impressive. For her to be proud of me made me feel... happy.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

I release her as I offer her another smile. "I heard you had something tasty cooking today?" I ask.

"Ah, of course! But if I knew you were coming, I would have made more. This fool didn't even tell me! Now, Carlos, you could have mind-linked!"

"Madre! I thought you'd be happy with the surprise!" he protests as I smirk. "Well, no, I could have made more!" she replies.

"Well, Tía, we can't blame Carlos. Not thinking is a talent of his. Lately, he's been making a lot of mistakes, have you not Carlos?" I say as he pales, and I can't help but smirk victoriously. "We-well-"

"What?" Tía Maribella's voice takes on a sinister edge as we step inside, but seeing Carlos close to getting beaten with a sandal, well... I'm all for it. But first I will have some dessert before me.

"Well, I can fill you in over some Arozz Con Dulce?" I suggest.

"Of course!"

'Enrique, are you really going to tell her?' he asks nervously through the mind-link.

I look at him and nod as Tía Maribella forces me into a seat and Carlos looks glummer than ever as he sits beside me. 'Of course I am you pendejo, how many times will you mess up? Besides, I'm bored. I need some entertainment.'

He turns sharply, about to protest, when a lovely bowl of Arozz Con Dulce is placed in front of both of us.

"Now, what was it about Carlos making many mistakes?" she asks

standing there, hands on hips as Carlos gulps loudly, reaching for his spoon only for Tía Maribella to slam her hand on the table, making him stop. "Not yet, Carlos."

"Well, where do I start? He has been causing me a lot of stress by making stupid decisions. He lost someone he was supposed to be watching over. A very important person, Goddess knows how long she was missing. Then he had people disturbing me early in the morning in my quarters without even asking me if it was alright to send them up. He also-"

"Carlos! What am I hearing you fool?!" She hurries around the table, grabbing his ear. "What have I told you about being responsible?"

"Madre, I didn't think-!"

"Think?! What has the Goddess given you a brain for? By the gods, save me! Think! You should always be thinking!" She swats him over his head, and I turn back to my dessert.

Now this isn't too bad a way to start the morning... I take a bite enjoying the taste, it's tasty... I do prefer Kataleya's a little more, but Tía Maribella's desserts are a close second. And she has her own place in my collection of approved people. I'm sure Kataleya would also like her.

I smile at the woman who is shouting at her son.

"Oh mijo, is it alright, does it taste ok?" she asks me, stopping mid-rant.

I nod. "Yes, it's delicious." I continue eating as she nods and returns to shouting at Carlos. "Carry on, don't mind me."

"Enrique, help me! I'm sorry!"

I ignore him, wondering what Kataleya was probably doing. After what went down between us last night... I wonder what she is thinking. Has she realised she should give up on me? "ENRIQUE!"

"He's alpha to you! Carlos! Tell me, mijo, where have I failed in your upbringing, you fool!" She smacks him again and it's funny to see a short woman beat up a big muscular man. 3

I mask a chuckle with a cough. "You have not failed, Tía, despite his foolish judgement, he has a good heart, thanks to you. I hope he learns to use his common sense though, but please don't get worked up. Come join me, I won't be here long. There is work pending."

"Oh... of course, I'm sorry! Carlos, I will deal with you later," she growls, and I smirk smugly at him.

"You..." he mutters. 'Pendejo!'

I snicker at that, and maybe that's another reason I keep him as delta, he's someone I consider a friend even if he is a fool.

'You're the pendejo. I don't think there's a more foolish person on the island aside from you,' I counter as I smile across at Tía Maribella.

'I wish Madre saw the real you.' He sulks as he looks at the spoon beside his plate, almost as if fearing his Madre will smack him again.

"Eat up, Alpha Enrique already said you have work to do. What are you waiting for?" she asks him, and he quickly picks up his spoon.

I smirk smugly as I glance over at him. "Yes, please don't disappoint me any further."

He simply gives me a dirty look as he starts eating.

'Any update on who might be unaccounted for?' I ask through the mind- link.

'There's a few people we are still trying to get in touch with,' Gabriela answers.

We might have found something, Alpha." Juan, one of my top-ranked warrior's voice suddenly cuts in.

'A man and woman's body have been found on the shore, Alpha. Seems they were swimming together and were attacked.'

I clench my jaw when a sudden thought enters my mind. 'What about the divers? Are they all accounted for?'

'We're trying to contact everyone, Alpha.' Juan is the one who had been watching over the divers last night.

'You should be in contact with your men at all times. Account for them all now! I'm on my way,' I snarl.

'Yes, Alpha!"

I look across at Tía Maribella. "I'm afraid I must head out. The pack members are still unaccounted for, but we may have found a lead. Come on, Carlos," I say, standing up.

He takes a quick spoonful as he stands up.

"Oh, I'm sorry you couldn't stay for long. You didn't even finish your Arozz Con Dulce!"

"Next time," I promise, before placing a hand on her cheek for a second.

She nods. "It was a pleasure having you, even if it wasn't for long," she says.

"Far from pleasurable," Carlos mutters very quietly. He's lucky his madre did not hear.

We step outside, and I look over at him with a smirk. Now that was fun.