บท 9: The Unexpected Invite [1]

"Alpha Rania, you have a message from king Seojoon," the messenger said, as he walked into Rania's office, making the two women in there stay calm to hear what the messenger had come to deliver to them.

The messenger was a young man in his late twenties, with long hair and a beautiful mustache that made him look like he was a model on some cover magazine away from Incayon. He had fair skin and his height was acceptable, to Rania.

She eyed the messenger and anyone who didn't know better could think that Rania wanted this man for a mate. However, that wasn't the case. Rania was looking for something else. A hint that this was a possible prank by Jihoon.

Her obsessions with the man were ruling her, but she would never agree to it. She always thought that for them it was about who killed the other first, but right now, she was somewhat hoping that this was one of Jihoon's minions.

"What message do you have for the alpha? Hello, I'm Dalrae, alpha Rania's beta," Dalrae introduced herself, saving the poor messenger from the stares that Rania was giving him. Maybe there was something about the situation that made Rania suspicious.

However, the only way they could know if things were alright was if they heard the message from the messenger instead of Raia scaring him off back to where he had come from.

"Hello beta, my name is Brent, one of the king's royal guards," the warrior said, and Dalrae took a step back. What could be so important that the alpha king wanted his royal guard to deliver a message to the alpha of Incayon?

"Alpha Rania, the king requests your presence at the alpha camp first thing tomorrow. He has not indulged in more information, but he says you will know when you get there. He also insists that you go alone and without any protection.

"His royal highness has directed that your beta, Dalrae, deliver your personal items to the camp on the official opening day. She is to take them to the king's residence at the camp and head back home immediately.

"The king believes that you will prepare accordingly for the alpha camp. That is the message from his highness," Brent said before bowing to Rania and Dalrae.

"By any means do you know why he needs Rania three days before the camp day?" Dalrae asked, her curiosity making it hard for her to be quiet. She didn't get what this meant. If the king wanted Rania, why go through all this trouble?

Why the fuck would he want her to show up days before the camp date?

"No, beta. He didn't say that," Brent said before adding, "I'm timed by an hourglass, and I'm afraid I must take my leave now, alpha Rania. Thank you for your cooperation." And with that, the royal guard got out of Rania's office before running back to the palace.

"Why would he want me there? I have never done anything to get the king's attention, so it just doesn't make any sense y'know," Rania said, sitting back down. That had to be some kind of joke, really.

Since when did the king handpick warriors who went to the alpha camp? And why in all hell would Rania be part of his selection?

"Rania, what did you do this time?" Dalrae asked, worry lacing her voice. She was scared for her friend. Sure, the king was not a maniac, but being summoned like that had to mean something.

Maybe Kim Rania had stumbled upon one of the stupid old customs, but then Rania was always aware of everything around her. She read a lot, because she wanted to be a good alpha, so it just didn't make any sense for her to be summoned by the king.

"Nothing this time, which is why I don't understand. Maybe he wants to offer me a buffet of food, y'know considering that is the only thing I care about more than I do you," Rania sighed.

She couldn't quite find a reason enough for this summoning, but she knew she would show up.

The king and his request were never things to ignore, because anyone who tried that, would be considered an enemy of the kingdom, and while Rania was the queen of crazies, she didn't want to be an enemy of her home.

"But It makes me curious, y'know. Of all the alphas, there are seventeen packs in this kingdom. Of all the packs, why choose me? It's not like I'm the most obedient alpha anyway?

"So why go through all that trouble to get a psychotic alpha to the camp earlier? Doesn't he know I could kill him and not even feel bad about it? Damn what the fuck is not happening?" Rania sighed defeatedly.

She was an overthinker and that made her state even worse because she needed to find solutions. She looked at Dalrae, thinking of her plans to escape the camp and disappear. That was her easiest way out of Incayon.

She would be an alpha in exile and her parents would have to step up and decide on another alpha to take her position. Rania hated Incayon more than she hated her parents, but then she couldn't tell them that.

While she was still contemplating, her father walked into her office, his initial despair long gone and in its place, was a knowing smirk on his face. Whatever this was, it wasn't pretty and Kim Rania didn't need a warlock to tell her that.

"Hello Rania, my ever so sweet little kid," Alpha Kim said, making Rania uneasy.

"What do you want, huh? I'll smash your head in that vase if you come here to insist on me mating with that stupid blockhead. Or maybe you can have him as your second mate, you both deserve each other," Rani said angrily while her father just kept on smiling.

What was it that made the alpha so happy?

"Oh, but Rania, I don't even have to push you to go to the camp anymore, and what's more, I just love that out of all the seventeen alphas in the kingdom, only two royal invites were sent out by the king, and guess who got the second one, my child," alpha Kim said, the despise for his daughter clear in his voice.

"Please don't tell me that I'm going with you, of all the creatures in the kingdom. I'd rather even go with my mother, y'know?" Rania said and the alpha kept on smiling, if anything, he was humming a sweet song.

"Great, he has gone crazy too. Oh, this family." Dalrae sighed.

"Of course, the king knows Incayon can't be left open like that, besides, it wasn't like I was going to go to the camp. Anyway, will you guess, or will you threaten me again?" alpha Kim said to his daughter, before bursting out into laughter.

"Well, get on with it then you old bastard."

"That, I am, my little Rania, but you know who's the beautiful bastard right now, karma. Because Karma just pushed for you and Jihoon to receive the invites. I guess my daughter won't have to die by my hands then.

"It's really a pity, but hey, may the best savage win, yeah? Goodbye, my little Rani. Papa loves you, ha!" alpha Kim said before strutting out of his daughter's office as he had just won the jackpot this time.