Mated to A Rival Alpha-Chapter 76: Betrayal or Relief?

[RANIA]

’A package from Paloma?’ Rania asked herself when she heard the messenger.

Rania looked at the door between her and Dalrae and wondered if Dalrae would want to know what was in the package. Maybe she needed to read it first and then share it with her. She could only hope that the contents were not what Rania was thinking, because then, it would be too soon.

A little too soon.

Rania got up from her seat, before she walked to the door, gently squatting before she picked up the envelope that had contents she was hoping she wouldn’t be regretting.

Rania considered throwing the package in the trash, but she knew it had to be important for the woman she had banished from Incayon to let her know this herself.

’Maybe I’m just overthinking,’ Rania said as she looked at the envelope, scared of what was in it. She however knew that there was a lot going on and that was to come, so the sooner she dealt with this, the sooner she would prep Dalrae for being the next Incayin alpha.

That was because when Rania’s trial began, it would be dangerous to even mention her name. It would also affect the alliance with the other packs.

Sure Incayon was a madhouse, but Incayon was also the home that Rania had grown up in. She loved it here with all the hate and spite she had been getting from her people.

"Click," came the sudden sound of the opposite door opening.

Rania was so close to opening the envelope but hearing the lock tuning had forced her to postpone her plans so she sat and patiently waited to see whether her best friend would talk to her.

Dalrae walked through the doors, and she looked terrible. Rania peeped through the open door and what she saw broke her heart.

Dalrae’s office was trashed and all because of her.

She wanted to say something, but she had figured that nothing she said to Dalrae would ever calm her down so this time, she would wait for Dalrae to speak. Maybe that would help the both of them get over the tension that had been between them in the past week.

Hell, it had been a long ass week.

Rania watched as her best friend walked into her office before taking the seat next to her, not even saying a word. She looked so disheveled and messy that Rania wanted to fix her up, but Rani was scared.

That hadn’t been her intention. She had always protected Dalrae from heartbreaks and had wanted her to be happy, but it seemed like a hard task as the days passed.

"Open it," Dalrae said after ten minutes of silence and them breathing in each other. They were a weird set of friends, but maybe that was also why they understood each other perfectly.

Rania looked at Dalrae, again, unsure of what was in there. She didn’t want Dalrae to doubt her, so silently praying to the goddess, Rania picked up the envelope and slowly opened it.

She was hoping that dalrae would give up the questioning and silent treatment, but her best friend was staring at her, waiting for her to open the damn envelope and when Rania did, she was still staring.

"What’s in it?" Dalrae asked, once Rania got out the letter that was inside. She was scared of unfolding the letter, because there were very high chances that it contained contents that dalrae wasn’t ready to know, at least not yet.

Oh, how Rania wished the envelope would disappear, but with Dalrae watching her keenly, she knew she had no choice. Before Dalrae could tell her to read it, Rania figured she would, because it was something she had to do anyway.

****

[Paloma’s letter]

"Dear Rani, I know we agreed I’d send a letter if that day came, but I’m afraid I had to break it soon. The contents of this letter are not what you are thinking, so relax. However, we have a problem.

"Word has it that the little bitch was Nathaniel’s daughter, and that he may show up. You know how the rules work, Rani and you more than anyone knows that Nathaniel will consider coming to us rogues for the task.

"I just wanted to let you know that I will accept his offer if he comes. I know I shouldn’t, but if I don’t, you will still want me to accept it, so yes, I will accept it. Just do me one favor Rani," Rania read out loud and paused, cursing under her breath.

Of course, Paloma would always want Rania to do her a favor. Rania looked at Dalrae who was staring at her, waiting for Rania to skip the next bit.

"The next part is just her signing off," Rania fumbled out, but Dalrae grabbed the letter from her hands, before continuing to read the letter that Rania wished Paloma ever sent.

"Just do me one favor, Rani. If the world comes for you, don’t push Dalrae away. That girl deserves the truth after all this time, and if you can’t tell her the truth just yet, don’t push her away. She cares, and she doesn’t see you like a burden, just like I don’t.

"We love you, and we would really love to see you fight them back finally. I don’t know what your plans are, but Rani, stay safe, and once again, don’t push Dalrae away. She loves you. Stay safe, my sweet lily flower. And see you on the battlefield, love.

"We all do care. Paloma," Dalrae finished reading, the questions in her eyes making Rania squirm. She never wanted to get to that point with Dalrae, but what other option was there anyway?

****

"Talk," Dalrae said and Rania considered her options. With dalrae’s side of the door open, Rania could just jump in and run away out of Incayon even for a few days. But then that would also fuel Dalrae’s anger, not to mention that she would have the warriors out there looking for Rania.

Maybe she would seek refuge in her parents’ house, but her parents never really got along with her, so it was a useless fate. Rania’s options were growing thinner and for a split second, she considered the worst option there ever was between her and dalrae.

The alpha command.

She could just command Dalrae to not ask questions and the beta wouldn’t ask any more questions, but that would also ruin her relationship with Dalrae. She didn’t want that. She loved the woman too much to lose her over a damn letter.

"And don’t think of running Rani, because I’ll always be there to catch you," Dalrae said, her tone warning Rania but at the same time, her words contained some assurance that no matter what happened to Rani, draw would always there for hr.

"I wasn’t planning on running. The vampires are going to use the rogues to come after me. I hope Paloma asks for a greater gift," Rania said and Dalrae rolled her eyes at Rania.

"Okay fine. I wasn’t going to tell you this today, but Dalrae, I sent a request to the palace and it was approved already.

"My trial could begin in a week’s time or two, not three weeks, as scheduled earlier," Rania said and that was all it took for an angry Dalrae to shift into her wolf and leave the office through the windows, leaving a frustrated Rania behind.