The morning that followed did come a little too fast for Rania's liking, and it was a tad too harsh. However, while she wanted to complain about it, Rania knew it was pointless.
Nothing she would do would change the reality that she was expected at the royal palace before midday. She had never been there, but she never expected that her first time would be in such circumstances.
The previous night, she and Dalrae had fallen asleep in her office and hadn't exactly gotten good sleep, which could explain why today, Rania looked like a zombie. However, she didn't care anymore.
"Rania, please pack up. Carry clothing and food," Dalrae insisted and Rania, as usual, was in a whole different world.
She was watching Dalrae scold her with a smile on her face. She could see how determined her best friend was, to ensure Rania felt comfortable. In times like these, Rania wished her parents even cared a little bit about her.
She wished her mother would be worried for her, or even want to help her pack. Maybe her mother could have brought her food, and ensured she had enough to survive on during her trip to wherever.
She wanted to see her mother and father argue about what socks would keep her warm, or what bag was more decent for her to carry with her to the ever so coveted royal palace. However, Rania wasn't lucky enough to have those.
Her parents aren't dead but they treated her like she didn't exist. They were like enemies sharing a space, just because they had to survive. Other than that, they never had a reason to be together.
It hurt her every time, but Rania wouldn't say it out loud, which could also explain why she appreciated Dalrae so much. Her best friend was like a sister and a mother to her. Dalrae loved her so much that you'd think they were attached to the bones.
The two girls had always loved their spot in the world but more than anything, they had come to make peace with the fact that they only had themselves to depend on in Incayon. It was quite sad, but how long would they have to cry over a reality they had no control over?
"Socks, Rania," Dalrae said, as she spanked Rania out of her absentminded state. The latter already knew what would follow the spanking, and so she sat on the bed, waiting for Dalrae to give her one last dose for the next few days.
"Whatever happens, take care of yourself. And trust no one. I know the path will have you and Jihoon, but don't trust him, Rania. He may be the enemy, of course, he is your enemy, but still, don't trust him.
"Also trust your gut. If you feel something is wrong or a direction is odd, don't wait to be eaten alive for you to use your common sense alright? Stay alert, and eat healthily. If the mission is what we both think it is, then the road there is full of fruits.
"Whatever chance you get, eat the fruits, but Rania, wash them first, alright. I wish there was a way we could communicate, but since there's none, I'll just stay here and pray for your safe return, my love.
"Take care while out there, and remember, you are loved by me. If Jihoon tries to convince you otherwise, which I very well know he will try, ignore him and focus on your goals, alright?" Dalrae said as she finished packing Rania's things.
Between the two of them, it was impossible to tell who was older, however, they had both agreed that age was just a number, considering werewolves lived longer lives. They didn't want to spend their lives counting the years and centuries.
It wouldn't do them any good.
"Sometimes it hurts, but sometimes, everything just seems to stop, y'know," Rania said quietly to Dalrae. So much had happened and even then, she hadn't gotten the chance to absorb the fact that she had been chosen to go on a mission for the king.
Maybe she was just being a coward or maybe her father had talked about Park Jihoon just to make Rania uneasy, but what if it wasn't a ploy?
What if it was all true?
****
Rania wasn't scared for herself, no, she was scared that she would lose her control with Jihoon around. She was worried for the first time that she could be a liability. That was too expensive and she couldn't afford to be that, not on this special mission.
Who was to tell whether their packs would get the benefits if they succeeded in whatever they were to go do out there?
"And what I need you to do, is to never let him get to you, alright?" Dalrae reminded Rania for the hundredth time. She knew how things could escalate if Jihoon was also coming along.
She had been there to see Rania through the worst of states and right now, it was safe to say Dalrae was skeptical about whatever mission needed Rania and Jihoon on the same side. It was not something she could consider sane, not even once.
"It's crazy, how all these years we've been plotting to murder each other and yet now we're about to go on a mission together, what could go wrong, right?" Rania said, before walking into the showers.
Maybe that would help her have a clear mind, before fucking up anything that she shouldn't have. This had to be some sort of a test, because it was impossible that there weren't any other people who could do this for the king.
Time was going by so fast and she needed to get going. She had already accepted how everything was and nothing would make it better, at least not anytime soon anyway.
Thirty minutes later, Kim Rania was ready to leave Incayon. She was skeptical, and happy at the same time because she was finally getting the break she had always wished for, from her people and family.
'Will I really be okay?' Rania asked herself as she made her way out.
She was finally going to be free from all their prejudices against her. She didn't care that she was about to walk into hell on foot. What mattered was that she wouldn't be in Incayon anymore, that alone made her want to jump in the air with happiness.
As Dalrae escorted Rania to the borders, she kept insisting on Rania choosing herself and being careful. She had assessed her best friend more times than she would care to admit, but then she was just worried that Rania would lash out at the bastard alpha.
They just couldn't afford that.
"Don't worry Dalrae, even if he starts it, I'll make sure to put an end to this madness," Rania said.
She was certain that nothing would be easy, but right now, she didn't really care about that. For the first time, she was bothered that her parents hadn't even cared to check on her before she left. Her parents had gone about their duties, and so had their people.
It was almost like Rania was just another statistic that they didn't need to worry about. She was just the girl they would always need when they were in trouble and when there was no trouble, they did not need her.
For years she had been dispensable and while Rania wished she could contest that, she knew it was the truth. So, when she reached the borders, she took a final look at what had been 'home' to her. She studied them, all happy without a care in the world.
She then looked at Dalrae, as if to tell her best friend that that was without a doubt, the last time they would be seeing each other. She didn't care what happened to her at this point, but one thing Rania was certain of, she never wanted to go back home.
After all, it was never her home. That was just a place she had been born and bred in. A place that had ruined her instead of showing her love. This was the place that had taken everything from her, but then it was the last time they did.
It was the last time she let them.
"Goodbye, Dalrae," Rania pulled her best friend into a hug before parting ways, her resolution clear in her mind. She wasn't going to change for anyone, not this time.