Mated to A Rival Alpha-Chapter 47: Were They Acquaintances?

[DRARUN]

"Sire?" one of the high guards asked, the questioning clear in his voice. He wanted to know if everything would be okay since the leader never once stopped his high guards. Jihoon just stared at them, his stoic face making them cower in fear.

He could tell just how much they were worried for him and the situation. There had never been prison breaks in Drarun, mainly because the leaders were too cruel and too rough for anyone to even consider getting out of the cells.

As for the guards, they knew better than to question their leader and hoped that this wasn’t going to warrant their punishment.

The leaders in Drarun were too powerful and sometimes they overused their powers, but the face Jihoon was wearing right now seemed to be a rational one, since the guards were somewhat free with him.

Jihoon wanted to high-five himself for still having the face that could scare people, but that wasn’t the goal today. He wanted to make himself feel better after weeks of dealing with Rania and her craziness, but then he couldn’t, not just yet. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The woman was unpredictable and could probably sell his soul just to make him suffer. He couldn’t lower his guard next to her, and right now, it was a wonder that he was tasked with keeping her safe.

Park Jihoon needed to make sure the high guards didn’t try anything with Kim Rania, mostly for their sake.

The woman was scary as fuck when she was pissed and right now she was still holding back, trying to see if there was someone who was planning on attacking her. She was trying to gauge the threat levels and see if she needed to drop the act because Rania didn’t have anything to lose.

The woman wasn’t scared of losing herself in the process, not to mention the fact that she held so many secrets that could ruin monarchs for so many years. She was powerful in every sense, and undermining her was more dangerous than going against her.

Jihoon didn’t want to get to that point with them right now.

"Go back to your stations. I’ll deal with both of them. They can’t get past me. And maybe you’re right, the stupid werewolf is getting on my nerves. I may have just beat his ass up before morning and blamed it on his usual self-harm," Jihoon said and the high guards just nodded.

They were suspicious of what was happening, but none of them wanted to question their leader Bai, because that would mean disrespect and their leader would take them to the king.

King Nathaniel was dreaded in Drarun by everyone. He was a dictator and at the same time, he cared for his people. It was difficult to know where he stood with Drarun, only that he was going to be with them, for a very long time.

He had no child that could take over for him if he ever died. His reign would end with him but then again, the big bad king couldn’t be killed.

People had tried and failed. Eventually, they had given up trying to battle him. He was a man with nothing to lose, and what could be more dangerous to any race, more than such a man? Then again, maybe he did have something to lose.

Maybe the invincible king had a weakness and was determined to eliminate it, but was that really a part of his plan? Was he capable of doing that when no one even knew what hs weaknesses were? when no one had seen him even get the least bit emotional?

"Yes sire," the guards responded as they walked out, before adding, "good morning leader Bai.’’

With the guards gone, Jihoon let out a deep sigh. He wasn’t sure what he had expected to happen, but a weak prince getting himself poisoned by silver wasn’t just it. He could have died and their families would have paid the price for this man’s daring foolishness.

What the hell was he even thinking anyway? Alpha Jihoon wanted to scold the prince, but he knew the man had just saved their lives. He did that to make a bargain that would cost him more than he was prepared to make.

"Never do that again," Rania spoke, her voice so cruel that even Jihoon felt shivers down his spine.

She had waited till the high guards were away from where they were. She seemed to have something against the werewolf prince in the dungeon, something that pissed her off more than Jihoon had ever pissed her off, which was all-time new.

Jihoon was thrilled to know that he wasn’t the subject of Rania’s anger, but frowned at her reaction to Jungwoo’s help. Normal people always appreciated it whenever they got help. Was that really so hard for Kim Rania to say?

What the hell was he even supposed to make of that?

As much as Jihoon wanted to consider Rania’s craziness, he could tell that there was more to this anger. There was more to the way Rania was addressing the prince. The woman never hated people just for the sake of it and for a moment, Jhoon wanted to know what had happened.

Did they know each other before today?

Had the prince crossed her line before today?

Was there something they were not telling him?

"A thank you would be nice," Jungwoo said, his tone a little lighter than Rania’s, but he was firm and left no room for arguments. But then again, Rania wasn’t one to be scared or even scolded with a firm voice.

She had gone against so many people, most of who were older than her and had been used to undermining young women like her. She had gone through all that and she wasn’t about to back down because of one stupid ass prince who had been caged here for years.

"Tell me something, are you stupid or just plain stupid?" Rania asked as she stepped closer to Jungwoo’s cell. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The prince had deliberately put himself in danger because of her. She didn’t like it and wanted to tell him, but she knew he cared for her.

She could tell that he had known her from the moment she had walked in and it was reassuring to know that despite all that had happened, there was someone who was on her side. However, in the present Obren, being on Rania’s side was dangerous, even for the crown prince.

Rania didn’t want to put him in a tough spot, but weren’t there better ways of communicating whatever this was? Wasn’t there a proper way for them to relay their emotions and thoughts? Damn, they were stubborn as fuck.

"I guess the thanks is not coming anytime, yeah?" Jungwoo said. He could tell the frown on her face wasn’t going away anytime soon.

However, one thing remained constant; she was still as pretty as the last time he had seen her. Sure, she had more scars today that she wore proudly, but she still looked good.

"Oh, you got some nerve. A thank you? A frigging thank you? Watch me thank you when I bash your dumb face in before your father," Rania said angrily.

She wanted to warn the prince, but the man was too busy smiling hopelessly at her to even think of her threats to him. She looked cute when angry and Jeon Jungwoo, the crown prince, wanted to pinch her cheeks and ask her if she was doing okay.

So many years had passed and their bond had stayed, maybe this is what living felt like. Having someone who they could rely on, even in the toughest of spots. But Jihoon would learn that a few days later.

"Rani—" Jihoon and Jungwoo said at the same time, making Rania shut up instantly.

He wasn’t supposed to recognize her, let alone use that name with her.

He wasn’t supposed to remember her. That was never part of the plan. But if she had wanted the plan to stay intact, then she shouldn’t have agreed to come for him. she shouldn’t have let herself waddle through shit just to come to save his life.

Jeon Jungwoo was smiling at Rania’s mischief, while Jihoon was done with her.

The prince understood her, while Jihoon was confused as fuck.

And when she showed her fangs at the prince, Jungwoo just smiled, while Jihoon frowned at her.

"No, you don’t get to do that."