Mated to A Rival Alpha-Chapter 126: The First of Unexpected Apologies

[DALRAE]

"You’re back," Jungwoo greeted, snapping Dalrae out of her trance.

"And I see you still have no manners as usual. What do you want this time? To prosecute me for kicking your ass in front of the council?" Dalrae asked coldly as she stared at the prince before her.

Looking at Jungwoo here with her, Dalrae wondered if things would get better or it would just get worse.

She was tempted to tell Jungwoo that she had seen his sister, but she had a feeling that that wasn’t what Jungwoo expected and more than anything, she had a feeling that Yanna would want that too.

Telling Jungwoo about Yanna would be like shooting the man in the foot, but then why was Dalrae hesitant about it then?

Why wouldn’t she rip the bandaid here with the man when it was the easiest way to hurt him terribly?

What else was she waiting for?

"I come in peace, this time, Lim Lim," Jungwoo said as he walked towards his best friend. He knew how hard this was for both of them and he also knew that it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

They had been apart for so many years and the first time they had been reunited, they had to face another division.

"Ah yeah, of course, you do. What do you want, your royal highness?" Dalrae said bitterly as she looked at her best friend too.

She felt like this wasn’t how things should have been, but then it wasn’t like they were in control of what their future held for them. They had been through so many hells and the longer they tried to pretend they weren’t affected by Rania’s leaving, the more they got hurt.

"I’m sorry—" Jungwoo said, his head hanging low in shame when he stopped walking towards Dalrae.

"I don’t need your apologies," Dalrae insisted and Jungwoo let out a whimper.

"You can leave if you have nothing more to say, your highness," Dalrae added as she headed to walk out of her office, but Jungwoo was faster. He rushed and locked the door, before he turned on the light in the room.

He had come here with one purpose and he wasn’t going to leave until he had figured out a way to deal with all of this.

"No, Lim Lim. I’m not leaving. Not like this," Jungwoo said, the worry in his eyes making Dalrae raise a brow at him. What the hell was the werewolf prince up to anyway? Besides, it wasn’t like they had anything to talk about this time, right?

After all, life itself was a bitch to the both of them and the longer they tried to hide it, the longer it would take a toll on them.

"I see you want me to swing you across the room again. Trust me, I will. Now get out of my way. If you want to stay in this goddamn office, then feel free to stay here, but you and I have nothing to talk about," Dalrae said angrily as she tried to open the door, but Jungwoo’s weight was stopping her.

Of course, they both knew that the door wasn’t the only thing stopping them, but Dalrae had had enough frustrations for the day. She didn’t feel like being in the same room with the man who had condemned Rania.

But then again, had Jungwoo really condemned Rania, or had Rania done that to herself?

The longer Dalrae thought about her best friend, the longer she was sure she didn’t know what was going on in Rani’s head.She was crazy and at the same time, she was love and light. It wasn’t even helping their case anymore.

"Please... Listen to me. Even if you don’t want to talk to me, I understand, but just this once, Lim Lim, please listen to me," Jungwoo said weakly and that got Dalrae’s attention. She hadn’t imagined that the same hog head prince would be here pleading with her to listen.

However, what was therefore Dalrae to listen to?

Their friendship as they knew it was over the moment Rania had left Obren and the realm. Technically they had nothing to work through and the sooner Jungwoo faced that, the sooner they would be able to work around running their pack and the kingdom itself.

"You have five minutes," Dalrae huffed angrily before she went on to sit on the couch that Rani always sat on whenever she came to visit Dalrae. This whole office was so empty without Rania and Dalrae felt the pain in her heart increasing with every breath that she took.

She hated it, but what else could she do when Rani had told her to take care of their unthankful people?

"Thank you," Jungwoo said and Darlae just rolled her eyes at him, as if to tell him that his timer was already on, and if he wasn’t careful, he would be losing time with his useless statements.

"I came here because of the festival. We both know that we could have sent a messenger, but I also came here to apologize. I know what I did and how everything turned out, wasn’t exactly how any of us would have wanted our friendship to turn out, but it did.

"I should have been more rational and tried to think rationally. Maybe my apology is pointless but for two months I’ve tried to think of a better way to face you and Rani, to make things right, even if nothing could be right this time. I can’t lose the both of you, Lim Lim.

"I admit I was not in the right state of mind, but Rani pushed the buttons so well. She made it seem like she had no remorse and that everything is her fault. Maybe I acted on impulse because I had wanted my father to see me differently.

"But I’ve been miserable, Dalrae. I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t even know where Rani is. I know it wasn’t fair to throw our friendship away because of a woman I had never met, and for that, I will always regret it.

"I’m sorry, I really am," Jungwoo said and Dalrae felt her heart hurting for him.

Of course, she knew Rania and how well the woman could press the buttons of everyone. Hell, Dalrae was still reeling from the fact that Kim Rania hadn’t really killed Yanna and yet had willingly taken the fall for it despite knowing that the woman was alive.

It was crazy what Rania had done and frankly, it was hard trying to understand what Rania did and why she did it.

Right now, Dalrae could see that Jungwoo had taken a lot of time practicing his apology but was Dalrae really the target audience for the apology or Dalrae was just the woman who happened to be there when Jungwoo wanted to let out what was in his head?

Rania was still away from home and everyone in Obren was still joyful about Rani’s banishment. That in itself was a cruel reminder that someone’s life had been changed for the worst.

"Say something,’’ Jungwoo pleaded with Dalrae and the woman just let out a sigh.

"You came to tell me about the festival, no? What is it about the damn festival that you had to come and tell me on your own, your royal highness?"