Why My Mate Cries
Chapter 28

ALIYAH’S POV

I could hardly believe that I’d see another pair of eyes, full of contempt, looking at me. I held my breath, afraid that even my breathing would irritate the old lady in front of me.

All I could do was step back as I was too scared. The fragments of the bad memories from the past had played in my head, making me feel like the worst part of my life ever.

“Alica,” Reid growled, and that made the old lady shudder.

“A—Alpha?”

“You were asking who she is?” He practically spat at her. “Did you really just offend my mate?”

He looked at the old lady as if she’d committed a mortal sin. His blue eyes looked so cold and treacherous. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Even I could not handle the danger that suddenly showed up in his presence.

“Reid…” I called for him in my faint voice.

“Oh good Lord!” The old lady cried out loud, and then knelt in front of him. “I apologize, Alpha. It isn’t my intention to speak arrogantly to your mate. Please, forgive me!”

“Insult her again and I’ll never show mercy on you,” he threatened her in a voice that was really savage.

“Y—Yes, Alpha! I am grateful for your mercy. It will never happen again!” She then turned to me, crying. “Please, forgive me, L—Luna…”

I blinked several times, and breathed heavily. Who was I not to forgive her?

“You are forgiven. Please stand up now,” I said to her.

She did stand up, her head lowered as she continued to apologize to us.

“We are here to visit the young wolves. Where are they?” Reid asked.

“They are inside, Alpha. P—Please get in.”

Reid looked at me. “Are you alright?”

I nodded my head, and I mouthed “thank you” to him.

We did enter the house, and I found it awkward after what had just happened outside. However, for the sake of the pack’s tradition and as a respect towards Reid, I reminded myself that I had to be used to this kind of activity.

We arrived in the living room, and seconds later, we heard loud footsteps coming from the stairs. I followed the sound and saw two young pups—a girl and a boy—running down. As soon as they saw me, they began laughing, sticking their tongues out while they screamed their insults at me.

“What an ugly woman!” said the girl, laughing and running around me. “You look like shit!”

I was even more shocked when I heard that the young girl cursed that way, as if it was too normal. Her sibling insulted me too, saying that I was like a skeleton and then pulling my hair. That made me shriek in pain.

The big part of me wanted to cry hearing these offensive statements from the young pups, but I was more concerned for Reid, who looked like he was going to tear the flesh of these pups apart. And so, even though my heart was being wrenched at the moment, I held Reid’s hand to try to calm him.

But I was too late…

“One more insulting word from either of you and I’ll cut your tongues with my own claws!” He growled at them.

It was so loud that I had to cover my ears. My eyes widened at his sudden release of rage. The whole family in the house trembled in great horror. Who wouldn’t be? Reid’s eyes just turned crimson red, and his fangs and claws have grown instantly.

He snarled at them, and that made both the children terrified. After that, he shifted into his wolf form, glanced my way with his teeth gritting, and then dashed out of the house.

“Reid!” I turned to Alicia and her children and gave them a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry…”

I rushed out of the house and followed Reid, who ran into the woods. He was indeed fast in his wolf form, so fast that I had trouble catching up with his pace. He faded into the trail so easily, given how he sprinted like an athlete, and the only thing I could do was follow his giant footmarks on the wet ground.

“Reid, where are you?!” I shouted, and my voice echoed as I wandered in the middle of the forest.

I hiked on the higher part and saw waterfalls. It was breathtaking, and it made me stop for a while, as I wanted to seize its beauty. All my life, I had been wondering what waterfalls really looked like. Now that I was seeing it in front of me, I couldn’t help but be captivated by its natural beauty.

The bushes alongside the falls rustled. I went into an instant panic and was about to hide somewhere safe when a big black wolf came out of it.

“Reid!” I called for the familiar wolf.

His crimson eyes glanced at me. He made a whimpering sound, and then ran towards me.

“I’ve been looking for you,” I said when he stood up in front of me. “Are you alright?”

I could still see the anger in his eyes. I swear my heart felt warm and wrenched at the same time, seeing him get so upset whenever he heard people insulting me. I could hardly believe that he, the Alpha of the Jewel pack, had cared for me.

My hand found its way to his head, and without hesitation, I caressed his coat as I offered him a sincere smile.

“You can calm down now, Reid. I am alright,” I said, trying to soothe him.

“They’ve offended you.” He growled. His voice hurt more than mine.

“I’m fine, really…” I continued caressing his black coat and looked at him straight in the eye, whose emotions had changed from rage to sadness.

“My decisions always lead you to hurt,” he stated and avoided my gaze.

“Hey, don’t think that way. There are some situations that are really beyond our control, and I have to understand that…” I let out a sigh, cupping his cheeks and taking his face to look at me. “Your decisions do not harm me, Reid. It will never be.”

His breathing went ragged. I could feel his wolf’s sorrow and, honestly, it made me sad. I tried to think of anything that could lighten his mood, and I came up with one thing.

I wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but I would still give it a try.

“It’s been a while since the last time I shifted into my wolf form…” I bit my lower l*p as I stared at him carefully. “Maybe your wolf would like to see my wolf personally?”

He made a low growl. “But you’re not fully recovered yet.”

“I know, but my bruises are almost gone. Seeing you in your wolf form makes me want to shift too. Our wolves will surely like to interact here…” I said, and my eyes roamed around the beauty of the woods, and then found his eyes once again. “Please?”

I saw both hesitation and excitement in his eyes. He was pondering what I said for a moment, and all I did was give him a hopeful stare.

“Please? I’ll be fine, I assure you. Charlotte is always in her clinic in case something happens, right?”

Reid was still unconvinced, though I knew he seemed to understand that I wanted to shift so badly, and I could see he wanted it too.

“Fine,” he said, and anger had already faded from his tone.

“Great!” I shrieked in happiness.

I stepped back, still holding the spark in his gaze and feeling the excitement inside my chest.

Without breaking our contact, I pulled something within me with a great force. My body started to transform; bones began to evolve that ripped my clothes off; claws and fangs grew out in one blink of an eye, and I felt the incredible sensation of being able to transform.

It didn’t take that long before I stood on my four legs. Golden dusks poured over me as the aftermath of my shift and in front of me was Reid… gazing at me in great awe.

“Your white wolf is truly fascinating…” he said huskily.

He walked towards me, our eyes still locked, and then, using his head, he caressed my neck.

That, more than anything, made me feel at home.