GIVEN TO THE TWIN ALPHA KINGS - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Delaney
"The stories of your red wolf must have travelled across borders," Kai spoke, his voice firm, yet with an edge in it. My wolf had gone eerily quiet on the mention of the wolf, as if dreading something.
I shifted on the SUV seat, chewing on my bottom lip. "It's just an image of a wolf painted in red, doesn't mean it refers to me." I didn't know who I was trying to convince, Alpha Kai or me.
"So you are saying that the drawing, the killing and the message on the body are pure coincidence?" Ronan asked.
"Lucy's death was a coincidence," I retorted, my voice sharp. Yes, I had accepted them as my mates, my wolf was at ease, elated even, but my human side was still hesitant.
His jaw hardened while Kai closed his eyes tightly and briefly. "That was different," Ronan responded, taking in a loud deep breath.
"Think about it, Delaney," Nyra chimed in, sensing the growing tension in the SUV. She turned slightly so that she was looking at me from the passenger seat.
I was seated between Ronan and Kai in the backseat, with Nyra seated in the passenger seat up front. She insisted on coming with me to the capital, saying that she would make sure that I would be okay. I had tried telling her that she had college and her family, but she still stood her ground.
"Two days after you shift into a red wolf at the capital, the only known red wolf, to be precise, a body shows up with a message in an unknown language and a drawing of a red wolf. Do you really think that it was all by chance?" Nyra asked.
"I don't want to think about it, okay?" I bit off, then sighed almost immediately after.
"I'm sorry, Nye, it's just that..." I mumbled, lowering my gaze to my lap.
"I understand, just remember that I am here for you, no matter what," she assured, a brief smile coating her beautiful face.
Kai pressed his hand on mine, then gave it a little squeeze. "We will figure out what the message is," he stated, scooting closer to me.
"How will we do that when we don't even know what sort of language has been used?" Ronan enquired, raising a brow at his brother. He seemed on edge, more than Kai, which seemed unusual because he was the unserious twin.
"Have you tried contacting Maribel?" The two alpha kings exchanged glances when I asked, raising questions in my mind.
Kai cleared his throat, turning to face the zooming trees through the window. "We haven't been able to get messages to her through the mind-link."
"Then call her. If she doesn't pick up, then call Elias," I suggested, lifting my shoulders. Ronan fished out his phone hesitantly, his thumb hovering over the call button once he clicked on Elias's contact. Eventually he called and put on the loudspeaker.
"Can you get Gigi on the phone? Been trying to mind-link her, but my messages aren't getting through." Ronan relayed to Elias via the phone when he picked up, tapping his fingers on his thigh.
I missed hearing Maribel's voice, the warmth that it brought and the sense of a grandmother her presence carried.
"She doesn't want to talk to you, that's why she is resisting you and Alpha Kai's mind-link," Elias answered, no ounce of emotion in his voice.
"So she is still mad," Ronan stated, making me turn to look at him.
"This isn't something she would want to keep quiet about, though. We need her help," Kai said, rubbing his thumb on the back of my hand.
"You know, Maribel, if she makes up her mind, not even you, the alpha kings, can get her to change. You hurt her g—" Elias stopped talking, a single cough that sounded forced and fake following.
"Look, she made it clear to you that unless you make things right with Delaney, you shouldn't bother talking to her." I pulled my head back at Elias's words.
"So Maribel is deliberately ignoring you because of me?" I asked the alpha kings, a warmth bubbling in my chest.
"No wonder you two exchanged weird glances when I suggested you call her." It felt good to know that she still cared enough to ignore them.
"Delaney?" Elias's tone changed, lightening up.
"The one and only," I replied, dragging the last word in a melodious tone.
He laughed, the sound echoing in the SUV, enough to make my insides flutter. "I never expected to—"
"You will have your moment with Delaney once we get to the capital. I will send an image to you after this call; make sure you show it to Maribel to try and figure out what the message on the note means. I am sure she will rethink her decision about ignoring us," Ronan explained, then ended the call.
"That was rude," I pointed out as he sent the image the Beta had shared. I had avoided looking at it, because it felt like studying it would reveal that the message concerned my wolf. So that would mean that the werewolf who was murdered to deliver the message died because of me, and I wasn't ready for that.
"Well, your reunion with Elias is not urgent like the mystery around the dead body, is it?" Ronan snapped at me, turning his head towards the window, just like his brother.
I placed my hand on Ronan's shoulder and turned him to face me, a bitter chuckle leaving my mouth. "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, tilting my head.
"You were not elated when we came to your place earlier today like you were a few minutes ago while conversing with Elias," he accused, his eyes darting in the SUV.
"Are you accusing me of something again?" I raised my brows, shaking my head.
"I don't know what is really going through your mind, but you best remember that I will not stand any more of your accusations," I warned, shutting my wolf up when she whined.
Ronan opened his mouth to speak, but Kai beat him to it. "One more silly word from you might ruin what we have managed to establish with Delaney. So shut the fuck up."
It was the first time Kai was chastising him, and I found it quite weird and fun since they were basically twins.
"And if I don't shut up?" Ronan challenged, his demeanour shifting suddenly.
"Don't let the death of one of your fuck mates trick you into thinking that you can talk to Delaney however you want," Alpha Kai spat out, a gasp leaving Nyra's lips while I sat upright, trying to make sense of Kai's words.
"What are you saying?" I asked Kai, my tone clipped.
He kept quiet for a moment and then replied, glaring at his brother, who had hung his head. "Ask Ronan; he is in a better position to explain."