The house was quiet when she entered. It seemed they had already eaten dinner.
She spotted a light on in the kitchen and she went there. It was just Luna Rosa.
"Hey mother" she greeted.
Luna Rosa looked up from the paperwork in front of her.
"Oh my darling, you are back?" she asked.
"Yes, i am, why are you still up?" Rina asked.
"I ... uh ...am planning for the regional meeting"
"Oh! About that, I already discussed with my friends about the plans and they are all on board to help me out. I just need to discuss budgeting with Rafaele" Rina told her.
Luna Rosa looked surprised. "Are you sure dear? I didn't want to disturb you about it, you already have enough on your plate."
"Mother, I promised you I would handle everything and I won't break my promise."
Luna Rosa stood up, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Oh my darling come here." she opened her arms for a hug.
Rina walked closer to her and hugged her.
Luna Rosa stroked her hair affectionately. She had thought grief had taken over her beloved daughter. But she could see that she had thought wrong, Rita was strong and would overcome this.
"I am sorry I made you all scared" Rina apologized.
"shhh, you have nothing to be sorry for"
They separated and Luna Rosa patted her cheek lovingly.
"What do you want to eat? I will make something for you"
"I already ate with the girls"
"They seem like nice people, because you used to spend so much time with them in the past, a part of me resented them. But at the end of the day, they are good people"
Rina smileed, "I will let them know that and they also loved your cooking too" she informed her.
"When next they come, I will give them more of my cooking" Luna Rosa laughed.
"Goodnight mother"
"Goodnight my darling" Luna Rosa smiled.
Rina went to the bedroom. Rafaele was sitting up in bed but he had fallen asleep.
It seemed he was waiting up for her but had fallen asleep.
She smiled and arranged the blanket around him.
She went to the bathroom and took a shower before changing into her night gown.
As she fastened the tiny ropes of the outfit. She wondered why all of Rita's clothes had to be sheer and flimsy.
When she entered the room, Rafaele was awake.
"Hey" he said.
"Hi"
"Did you have fun?"
Rina nodded, "Thanks for reaching out to them for me"
Rafaele stood up and walked closer to her, he put his hands on her shoulders.
"Rita, you don't need to thank me. I would do anything for you to make you happy."
"You would?"
"Yes, because you are my mate and I love you."
Rina felt sick inside, but she wasn't his mate. She was just a deceptive person.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"come on let's go to bed." he told her.
"Can I ask you for a favor?" she asked..
"anything, I will even give you the moon"
She hit him lightly, "don't be silly"
He chuckled, "What do you want?"
"Can you stop calling me Rita?" she asked.
His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Rita makes me think of Rina and I feel sad" she explained.
"So what do you want me to call you instead?" he asked.
"Riri" she told him.
"okay then, Riri, it is."
"Thank you" she whispered.
He bent down and carried her up in his arms before spinning her around.
Rina giggled as she was spun around.
"Let's go to bed Riri" he told her.
Rafaele laid her gently on the bed, arranged the blanket on her, he kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight Riri" he whispered.
"Good night Rafaele"
Rina closed her eyes as she slowly slept. Maybe if Rafaele stopped calling her Rita, the guilt she felt would be reduced and she wouldn't lose her sanity.
.....
The next morning, Rina woke up early. As she left the bed to freshen up, Rafaele stirred and woke up.
"Where are you going Riri?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
Rina was filled with emotions, it was just last night she had asked him to call her Riri and he already remembered.
She smiled, "I am going on a run"
He stood up, "let's go together"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Okay" Rina agreed.
They went down silently so they wouldn't wake up the house.
And they went on the run. The entire pack was still asleep and apart from the sentries who were on guard, everywhere was quiet.
After running, they sat on the grass and watched the sun rise.
"I feel like such a bad daughter" Rina told Rafaele.
"What do you mean?"
"My parents have been here, they are also grieving their daughter too and I made everything about me. I was selfish"
Rafaele tilted her chin to look at him.
"Riri, you don't have to feel ashamed of your grief. Your parents understood your pain and they know you have been going through a lot. They understand"
"Thank you Rafaele, you just know the right things to say." Rina smiled at him.
He tweaked her nose. "maybe it's because I have the right mate by my side"
Rina smiled uneasily. Asking Rafaele not to call her his mate would sound suspicious so she could only smile and keep quiet.
"Should we head back home?" he asked.
Rina nodded.
He stood up and reached out to help her stand up.
Once she was up, he bent down.
Rina was confused, "why are you bending?"
He looked back and smiled, "get on my back, I will carry you back home"
"there is no need for that Rafaele" Rina objected.
"come on, humor me." he told her.
Rina smiled and got on his back and they headed back to the pack house.
As Rina rode on Rafaele's back, she wondered if he had ever carried Rita this way before. Immediately she chided herself for even thinking about that.
Regardless, a smile remained on her face all the way home.