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[RUKIYA]

"I know, Adolf. And I also know you have your suspicions about me and Awuor. Trust me, I want to prove they are wrong more than anything else. But if they are right Adolf, will that change our friendship?" Rukiya asked Adolf, even though she was still staring at the lake.

It was like she was scared of his answer.

Adolf looked at Rukiya, who was letting her guard down with him, and he knew she needed her friend and not her beta. He could tell that from the way Rukiya was adamant about not looking at him.

Granted, whatever he said wouldn't affect Rukiya's next moves, but she hoped that she would be having someone who cared about her, by her side when she went after Awuor. It was a mission she wouldn't be able to do alone, and she knew she would need her friends more than anything.

"No, Rukiya," Adolf said quietly, as he sat on the ground.

The sun was slowly setting in the distance and he could see the ray marks so similar to the horizon. The lake looked calm, and the water insects seemed to have taken a break today. Hell, even the winds seemed to avoid the waters.

"Okay," Rukiya said after a while. She wasn't sure what she had expected for Adolf, but it wasn't like she could force her choices on her best friend. She wasn't a dictator or an alpha and wasn't going to use her power on the wrong person that meant the world to her.

Sure, it did hurt for a while, knowing that her best friend was having mixed thoughts about her decision, but that was alright because at the end of the day, she would have to confirm it either way.

All she needed to do was to find Awuor, but even Rukiya knew that it would take her a long time.

"Rukiya—" Adolf called out to his best friend, as he raised his arm to get a hold of her. He didn't want her to think that he was having a different opinion, especially after everything, but Adolf just wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting herself into.

"You don't have to—" Rukiya began, but Adolf dragged her gently, as he motioned for her to sit beside him.

They had already been through enough earlier today, and he didn't want to see her heartbroken again. She deserved to be happy and if Awuor was Rukiya's definition of happy, then Adolf was going to make sure that she got her happiness.

"No, Rukiya. As long as you are sure about the mission you want to take on, you can always count on me. I know it will be dangerous, considering the woman is an alpha, but if she is your sanity, then I will be by your side, no matter what happens.

"You never have to worry about whether I will be by your side on some missions. Just remember as long as it's okay with you, I'll follow you over the cliff. You just have to tell me when to jump, and I will jump for you, Rukiya," Adolf said as he looked at his best friend.

"But—" Rukiya began but Adolf cut her short.

"Over the cliff, Rukiya. Always, and until the end," Adolf said and Rukiya just nodded at him. She needed him by her side; hell, without Adolf she wasn't sure she would ever succeed in this particular mission.

That was because Adolf was her voice of reason and without him, she wouldn't be able to think straight. She needed him and she wasn't afraid to tell him, because theirs was a friendship that no amount of gold could buy. They were loyal to each other.

"I have a question though, Rukiya," Adolf asked as he picked up a rock and threw it in the still and quiet lake. Rukiya looked at her best friend, waiting to hear what question Adolf had. She was curious too, because she knew that Adolf somewhat understood Awuor.

"Why her? Is it because you were betrayed too? Or is it because you care for her?" Adolf asked carefully.

This was a crucial topic, especially the betrayal. When Rukiya's father had betrayed their pack, Rukiya had promised herself to never fall victim to a betrayal again.

Adolf was thinking that this time, she was obsessed with Awuor because she refused to believe that her mother had believed in a woman who really deserved the banishment. She knew the story and how Awuor had been framed.

However, Rukiya wanted to know that she was on the side of a woman who was taking them for granted. Sure, Awuor hadn't asked for her help, but Rukiya had seen how helpless Luna Razia had been because of Awuor and Eniola, and she wanted to take that helplessness away.

She wanted to give her mother closure, and what better way to do that than to save her best friend, Eniola's daughter?

"Because she's a fighter and doesn't give up. She knew she wasn't guilty and yet she took the punishment because she wanted to find the truth. She knew the consequences of admittance would be worse, but that would also mean that her pack would lower their guards with her.

"She was aware that she would suffer for a long time, but even then, she was determined to find justice for a mother she was accused of slaying. I like her spirit and the fact that she doesn't mind being out in the wild alone, just to make sure things go right, makes her intriguing.

"She would probably fight me to the death, but I will still help her find out the truth if not for her, then for my mother. I don't want mother to blame herself for everything that happens to Awuor.

"I need my mother to be happy and if the rejected alpha is the key to that, then so be it," Rukiya said proudly, like she didn't just openly admit to Adolf that she liked Awuor in ways more than one.

There was no way she just liked Awuor because she was a fighter. No one ever went to the lengths Rukiya was willing to go for Awuor. It wasn't even about volunteering anymore, because Rukiya had made it part of her daily life.

She was running a pack, and yet at the same time, she, her beta, and her healer were working on uncovering the truth about Awuor Hawi Sicario.

"You like her," Adolf said as he looked at her, the smile on his face making Rukiya look at him like she was hallucinating. Maybe she was, because it was impossible, right?

"Of course, I just said I like her because she's a fighter," Rukiya defended though she knew that wasn't what Adolf was talking about. However, before Adolf could say another word, Hudhayfah showed up.

"Who are you plotting to kill? Should I prepare a grave? Or maybe someone wants to carry a basket of sweets on her new mission?" Hudhayfah said mischievously, and Rukiya couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. They were being unrealistic, but were they?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rukiya said, as a blush crept up her cheeks, making the healer and her beta look at her like something intriguing had just happened.

"What?"

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