The Unexpected Revelation

[JIHOON]

"Is that all you have to offer after being unconscious for three fucking days? After risking your life more than once just because you wanted to prove you were stronger?

"Sometimes I wonder if you have brains, but allow me to ask one more time, Kim Rania. Are you dumb or you were just born plain stupid? Goodness!" Jihoon asked and Rania rolled her eyes at him.

Of course, he had expected that, but something else shocked the young Calindra alpha. He had never been one to get into arguments about health unless he was with his warriors, or with his beta.

He had never cared for anyone outside of his pack or family, save for the royal family and right now he was pressed about what Rania did with her life. Was this normal or had he finally begun to lose his mind too?

Great, now that she had strength, she could roll her eyes after being saved.

Jihoon was frustrated and wished Han Seong was still here to see how thankful this daughter of Kim was. She needed lessons on courtesy, but then again, Obren had turned her into what he was seeing today.

He couldn't blame the woman, but still couldn't she at least learn something for her best friend?

"Where's Paloma," Rania asked and Jihoon scoffed.

"You gotta be kidding, right?" Jihoon asked. Maybe he needed to punch Rania and force her back to sleep. She was better off asleep and he frankly missed the silence that came with her slowed breaths.

He had had the time to check her wounds and during that time, he had seen different scars, but one particular one had caught his eye. The scar on her upper arm, which had vampire fangs, was interesting to Jihoon.

What the hell had happened to Rania?

Which vampire would even want her dead?

Well, everyone sometimes wanted Rania dead, but a vampire? That was absurd and insane and once again, Jihoon had added his findings to the list of things that he would never ask Rania and was beginning to get comfortable having no knowledge of.

"Jeez, what crawled in your panties, if you even have any?" Rania asked like she didn't know what had happened.

Kim Rania was being rude to the one person who had helped her.

She was being cruel, but then affections were something that would never see light between the two of them. She didn't want Jihoon to think that he had power over her, because he didn't. So it was pointless trying to create an emotional standpoint here anyway.

"Where can I begin? You have delayed us by three whole days just because you wanted to fucking prove yourself to the rogues," Jihoon angrily said as Rania looked around.

She was not acknowledging his help, so it was only right that they clicked the reset button with her. This woman was a true piece of work and frustrating as fuck. What the fuck was ever going on in her mind anyway?

"I didn't carry you if that's what you're thinking," Jihoon added quickly. However, it was obvious that all this had been done by him. He had cared for her and made requests that he didn't even need to.

He had been compelled to save her, when he could have let her die and he would have peace and quiet. Since they had gotten on this mission, Park Jihoon hadn't had the chance to lead a normal life, all thanks to the woman who acted like some barbarian for the South.

"Why didn't you leave?" Rania asked, her voice quiet and unsure. She didn't know why else she could have asked Jihoon the question, but it seemed like her current state would do the job just fine while she tried to reconnect with her body.

Damn, everything hurt, but she wasn't going to show it, even though Jihoon already knew that.

"Unlike you, I don't like arguing with King Seojoon. I'd rather send your spineless back to him and complete the mission on my own. Which by the way, we are late for, since you decided to challenge the damn rogue queen" Jihoon reminded Rania because she seemed to need the reminder.

The woman was acting like she hadn't been the very reason they had been in this state in the first place

"Yeah, yeah, you've been singing that since forever. Can't you come up with a different stanza? Late for the mission, like I told you to care for me," Rania said scornfully and Jihoon just openly stared at the woman in front of him.

She had lost her brains and clearly, her links to reality. Whatever she was doing right now was intentional and Jihoon knew she was provoking him.

However, Jihoon was still was worried about her health, so he walked out of the cave, leaving the woman with so many questions and no one to answer for her.

It was better that he left her there, because she was making him lose control, and he couldn't do that, not here and definitely not with Kim Rania.

'Three days? Damnit Rania' Rania scolded herself as she tried to get up. Her body still hurt, but with all the care she had obviously been receiving, she would be better soon. She wasn't sure how long that would be, but she knew she needed to heal soon.

The longer she delayed the mission, the longer it would take for her to get back to Incayon, and that would be more time for the rebellious wolves to do shit with Dalrae. She missed Dalrae so much and was desperate to go back, but the stupid mission was standing in the way.

'Shit, the alpha camp is already over,' Rania said, realizing dawning her beautiful features. Life was treating her harshly, but she hoped that King Seojoon kept his promise, because if he didn't, then Rania would bring back the head of their child.

"Fuck," she cursed again, when she felt a tinge of pain on her back. She truly screwed up and risked the mission.

"If you're out there, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking," Rania apologize sincerely to Jihoon.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Get some sleep. We are already l— get some sleep okay?" Jihoon said

"Okay. Thank you," Rania said before going back to rest.

In the few days that followed she had managed to get herself back in line and was stronger. She however felt bad for dragging their mission. So in return, she had something for Jihoon. Something that could make him want to kill her.

"Hey, thank you for caring for me," Rania said, her voice sounding so strange to her ears. They were currently on their horses again and were headed towards Drarun. It would take them longer, but she was ready this time.

"I don't do charities."

"I know. Which is why I don't want to owe you anything. I'll tell you why I killed Yanna," Rania said and Jihoon stopped his horse. He had never gotten this close to knowing why the vengeful woman had murdered his mate, and right now she was offering it herself?

It sounded like some sort of trick and Jihoon wanted to convince himself that Rania was doing this out of spite. However she was way too genuine, her voice sounded different from all the other times.

"She betrayed you, and I couldn't take it," Rania said when Jihoon didn't say anything and the Calindra alpha let out an angry scoff. She was seriously not saying that she had saved Jihoon from heartbreak, now, was she?

Because she had broken his heart the moment she killed Yanna.

"Find another excuse. You're wasting my time," Jihoon said as he continued to saddle. They had a lot to do in very little time and honestly, he had no time to deal with Rania's theatrics right now.

He may have given her an ear yesterday, but today, all he wanted was to get this over with, and go back home. He missed his parents and his people. He wondered how they were doing, and hoped that his beta was taking good care of them.

"I'm serious, I swear on Dalrae," Rania added and Jihoon slowed down for her to catch up

"Why? Why did you have to kill her? Why not tell me to my face she betrayed me and then I'd have to deal with her myself?" Jihoon asked the most obvious question. Surely Rania didn't think he was crazy to believe her right

"Because you wouldn't do anything to her even if you found out," Rania said, the conviction in her voice making Jihoon even regret asking Rania that question. Everything about this woman was a mystery, it was a miracle how she managed through the times.

"Oh yeah? How the fuck do you know that?"

"Because you didn't tell anyone that she was Nathaniel and Eunbi's bastard child," Rania said coldly, her voice unreadable, and this time, Jihoon stopped his horse and turned to look at Rania.

Well, talk of unexpected truths.