Chapter 31

AURORA

“I hope I didn’t catch you off guard by asking you here,” Lana said as we sat in the grand library.

It was later that night, and Lana had brought me to this room for the private chat she’d wanted.

I won’t lie, I was a bit on edge, but I tried to shake it off. Lana was nothing like my mother. I was sure she wouldn’t lash out at me or cause me harm.

“No worries. I understand why you’d want to talk to me alone, especially since Rin chose me as his beta so unexpectedly,” I reassured her.

“That’s part of why I wanted to talk,” Lana admitted. She folded her hands in her lap, looking somewhat weary. “I won’t lie, there’s been a lot to process with all this. Rin coming back with you was a surprise. I was a bit upset with Emelio for not telling Jekia or me about it, and Rayne too. I do support Rin, especially with you by his side to keep him grounded, but the recent threats and potential rivalry between him and Rayne have me on edge.”

I wanted to apologize, but I held back. Lana was here to discuss Rin and Rayne, not to blame me.

“I overheard something about that earlier. Do you really think they might fight over me?” I asked her.

“I can’t say for sure, but Jekia and I always knew it was a possibility when one of them decided to claim a woman. I don’t fully understand the dynamics of alphas, but I remember the silent rivalry that broke out when I first arrived. I didn’t realize it wasn’t just because I was an omega. Even if they’re close friends or family, two different alphas can try to win a woman over,” Lana explained.

“So, is that how Rin came to be? Because his father tried to take you from Jekia, even if it was just for a bit?” I asked.

Lana let out a long sigh. “It’s a bit of a story, but I’ll be honest with you since it’s just us. Vishu knows some of it too, but Jekia and I decided not to tell our children everything until they were older. The truth is, I was always meant to come here, and I think you were too.”

“How can someone be destined to come here? Is it because we’re chosen before we’re born by some Higher Power?”

“Maybe. That’s not for us to know, but I can share my story with you,” Lana replied. “I wasn’t lying when I said I grew up in a completely different time than you. I was born hundreds of years before you. I think it was 1547, but it could’ve been a few years earlier or later. I didn’t know much growing up, except for my age.”

I stared at her, shocked. “1547? But you look…,” I began.

“Just like you,” Lana finished. “It’s one of the perks of being in this world and forever connected to Jekia as his wife and omega. But before I came here, another made contact with me when I was a child. He was Rin’s father, the silver fox named Sage.”

~Sage~.

I remembered hearing his name when I first met Rin. And then there was that dream I’d had. The woman in it had mentioned a fox as one of the contenders for the throne here, and that he had been born silver, which was highly unusual.

“So, you’re saying that Sage contacted you when you were a little girl? But I don’t remember anything like that happening to me,” I told her.

“I didn’t remember it for a long time either, so don’t rule it out,” Lana cautioned. She let out another long sigh. “But back to my story, from what I gathered, Sage recognized what I would become, and though he initially intended for me to be his when I grew up, he decided it would be better for me to go to Jekia. I can’t tell you exactly why, but in the end, Sage couldn’t truly let me go. He made a deal with Jekia shortly after I arrived here. He would protect me when Jekia couldn’t, but in return, he wanted access to my bed.”

“I hate to say it, but it sounds a lot like what Rin told me when we first met. He admitted that he tricked me into sleeping with him by saying I needed to so I could become his beta and he could take care of me. I did it because I wanted to, but I guess it wasn’t much better,” I confessed.

Lana shook her head. “While it’s true that foxes can either sleep with a woman or give them a foxfire ring to claim them, it does sound like what Sage did with me. Foxes have a reputation in the Veil, especially when they’re young, for being very sexual creatures. We’re sure that Rin, being half human, has tempered this part of him, but I have no doubt that many of his fox instincts and urges are still there. That’s why it’s both exciting and worrying that he suddenly ran off and then returned with a woman he’s calling his beta. It’s not about you, and we’re not blaming him. Our main concern is why he’s doing things this way.”

I was starting to get the picture.

“You’re worried that Rin made a rash decision because he wanted to satisfy his sexual urges,” I concluded.

“Yes, but I don’t fully believe that’s all there is to it. Even if Rin started with those intentions, I believe he’s come to care deeply for you,” Lana told me.

“He must care about me, right? He wouldn’t let me be more independent if he didn’t, or give me this ring,” I said, glancing at the ring on my finger. “But what does this have to do with Rayne? Do you really think he’ll start a feud with Rin and try to snatch me away? I mean, I’ve heard whispers that he might try if Rin wasn’t treating me right, but I didn’t think Rayne would seriously consider it.”

Lana looked uncertain. “Usually, Rayne is the more level-headed of the two, but I can’t ignore what Emelio told Jekia and me. Rayne is attracted to you. Honestly, I think you might be like me, and that’s what drew Rin to you and caught Rayne’s eye,” she confessed.

“You think I might be an omega?” I asked for clarification.

“It’s possible, or you might just be a strong beta, like Jekia and Sage initially thought I was. Emelio told me that omegas are so rare that I’m the only one they’ve ever known. I was considered dormant until I came into my own. But even a strong beta can cause conflict among powerful alphas who want her affection and undivided attention. That’s what Emelio said happened when I arrived here. Jekia and Sage were the strongest alphas around, and they were both drawn to what I was and what I was becoming. It’s like an instinct, including for procreation,” Lana explained.

This was not what I wanted to hear, but I kept my cool as we continued our conversation.

“So, you think that’s what’s happening with Rin and Rayne? Rin claimed me, but Rayne still wants to see if he can take me away from Rin because it’s his instinct?” I asked.

“Unfortunately,” Lana confirmed. She sat up a bit straighter. “But remember, the final decision is yours. Rin and Rayne know this. They can compete until you make your choice, but they can’t force you into anything.”

“That’s why you wanted to talk to me. You wanted to make sure I knew I could stand up to them,” I realized.

Lana smiled, giving my hand a squeeze. “I know you can. You’re stronger than you think. Remember, while they may be smart and physically stronger, you hold the power in your relationships with them, whatever they may turn out to be.”

“But I thought being with Rin meant I had chosen him. It doesn’t?” I asked.

“In a way, yes and no. Choosing to sleep with Rin does mean you chose him, just like he chose you, but that’s more about pleasure. Your true choice lies in your heart. When you can say you truly love Rin and he can say he truly loves you, then you’ll truly be one,” she explained.

“I guess,” I conceded. But before we ended our conversation, there was one more thing I wanted to ask her. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but is that why you kept sleeping with Sage even though you were supposed to be with Jekia? Because you didn’t know you loved Jekia right away? How did you realize you loved him?”

A sad smile crossed Lana’s face. “It took me a while, but in the end, I realized I cared for Sage, but I truly love Jekia. There’s no one else I could ever love as much, or want to call my husband and alpha.”

Her words stayed with me as I headed to the room I was sharing with Rin. Everything felt so heavy now. I’d been so sure that Rin was the one I’d always be with, even if it was just for convenience or a bit of his.

I also thought I’d keep Rayne as a good friend because he was Rin’s brother, his twin no less. That’s how relationships were supposed to work in my world. But this world played by different rules, especially when it came to this alpha and beta stuff.

Damn, this world was more complicated than I could’ve ever imagined.

I finally reached the door of my room, letting out a long sigh before I turned the knob and opened it. To my surprise, the room was empty. I stepped in and closed the door, looking around for any sign of Rin, but found none.

“Rin?!” I called out.

That’s when I noticed the open window. I walked over and leaned out, scanning the courtyard for Rin, but saw no sign of him.

That was strange. Where could Rin have gone this late? It was already past eleven.

I sighed in frustration and sat on the edge of the round bed. What was all this? Rin was so intent on watching over me and making sure I was okay, and now he was gone.

But at least this gave me some time to think over everything Lana had told me.

It made sense that Rin had come into the world. Even if Lana loved Jekia, her attraction to Sage must’ve been intense. As for me, I couldn’t say I felt an intense attraction to Rayne. Yes, he was as handsome as his brother, but I didn’t know him well, and I couldn’t say I wanted to sleep with him.

Or could I?

Once the thought entered my mind, I couldn’t shake it. I knew how amazing it felt to have sex with Rin. Would it be the same with Rayne?

I shook my head quickly, scolding myself for even entertaining such thoughts. Rin was the one I wanted. Maybe I couldn’t say I loved him yet, but I knew I wanted to be with him.

The sound of something hopping up to the window yanked me back to reality. I looked over to see Rin climbing in. A wave of relief washed over me and I rushed over to hug him.

He was back. I wouldn’t have to be alone.

Rin stiffened a bit, as if I’d caught him off guard. “What’s this? Did something happen?” he asked.

“No. I just wasn’t sure if you’d come back tonight, and I didn’t want to be alone,” I admitted, not letting go of him.

That seemed to put him at ease, and he hugged me back gently.

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t leave you alone all night. I just needed some time to think and wanted to talk to Rayne. I’m back now.”

“Is he okay? He didn’t join us for dinner,” I remembered, finally pulling back to look at him.

“He’s okay.” Rin sighed, looking a bit frustrated as he ran a hand through his hair. “I think my brother’s dealing with a lot of mixed feelings right now, and I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. We’re both alphas, so it makes sense that he’d be interested in you too, even if he’s trying to keep his distance.”

~You’ve got to be kidding me~, I thought. ~Lana was right. Rayne is attracted to me too.~

“I understand, and I don’t see Rayne the way I see you, but I do want us to be friends. It would be sad if we can’t because of what I am,” I said, wringing my hands and looking at the floor.

Rin didn’t seem as worried as I thought he’d be. “No one’s saying you can’t be friends with him, and my father’s right; there’s not much I can do or say right now. Yes, I claimed you as mine and gave you my ring, but until you’re sure you’re choosing me, Rayne can still step in if he wants to. If you decide to spend some time with him, I can’t object,” he conceded.

That didn’t sit well with me. It felt too much like Rin was losing hope.