Why My Mate Cries
Chapter 35

REID’S POV

I have never feared anyone ever since I became the Alpha of the Jewel Pack at my young age. My being was moulded by my past experiences so that I came to the point where I could no longer feel dread in times of battle or when facing circumstances in life.

I became the hardest rock.

I fear no one. I imprinted in my mind that people should be the ones fearing me, not the other way around, for I am the Alpha.

However, my principles changed when I met Aliyah, my mate.

All those rules I made? I broke them when she came into my life.

She was my weakness. It had been a long time since the last time I felt a great amount of fear inside my chest, and I only became too aware of it the moment her voice turned cold.

Her eyes were radiating something like disappointment, and that made me stiffen for a brief moment.

“Do what you need to do, Charlotte.”

My chest went into an instant panic when she stopped looking at me. It felt as though I had come back to my senses and my wolf was breaking my bones inside, cursing me for hurting Aliyah’s feelings.

F**k… I was struck by a great deal of guilt.

Charlotte turned to me angrily. With her teeth gritting, she mind linked me.

‘See what you have done? You just made her feel worse, Reid…’

I pressed my lips together and it formed a thin line. As I breathed hard, I could smell my mate’s pain, and I hated it…

But I hated myself even more.

“I’m sorry about that, Aliyah,” Charlotte called her attention. “Are you ready?”

“Go on, Charlotte. Take as much b***d as you need,” she said coldly, giving her shaking arm to Charlotte without even glancing our way.

“I promise it would only take a minute,” Charlotte assured her.

Aliyah was still silent. Charlotte looked at me one last time, and she shook her head in disappointment. She then put surgical gloves on her hands and grabbed a syringe from the side table where she had all her medical equipment. She cleaned Aliyah’s arm using alcohol.

I was staring down at Aliyah, smelling her fear, disappointment, and anxiety all at the same time, and it struck me that I was the one causing her to feel all of that.

Charlotte was about to start extracting b***d from her, but then I stopped her hands immediately.

“What the hell, Reid?” Charlotte frowned at me as she stood up. “Why did you stop me?”

“I need to talk to her first. Can you give us a minute?” I asked her as I breathed heavily.

She folded her arms against her chest and looked at me, seemingly pissed off at what I did.

“You should’ve let me extract some b***d from her first, so you two can talk more.”

“It’s an order, Charlotte.” I gave her a hard look. “Or do you want me to make you leave?”

“Geez, now you realize how you upset your girl?”

Charlotte shook her head, rolled her eyes, and went out of the room.

I could feel the cold atmosphere engulfing the entire room afterward. Even though we were just the only ones here, Aliyah was still not looking at me, and it wrenched my insides hard.

“Aliyah,” I called for her. I sat beside her on the bed, held her hand and squeezed it. “Look at me, please.”

“Charlotte is right. You should’ve let us finish,” she said, still avoiding my gaze.

“Look, I—I’m sorry…” Guilt washed over me like cold water. Biting my lower l*p, I knew I had to say something or I would regret this situation forever. “Please, forgive me.”

“I guess I am just upset because I don’t understand why you are so mad at me.” She finally glanced at me, and goddammit, I wanted to hit myself for seeing her teary eyes. “You acted so off the whole afternoon, Reid. You were right here with me, but I can’t feel you, and I thought I had to understand where you are coming from because maybe it’s part of being the mate of the Alpha; to understand things and be alright with them, and now, this is what’s happening.”

Her tears fell down. I swallowed hard as I watched her break down in front of me. The way she spoke turned me so soft.

I was such an idiot.

“You know what? I can’t believe that you are forcing me to obey you…” she said, her voice almost like a whisper. “I’m not your pawn here, Reid.”

Her words hit the right spot inside my chest. I stilled as I looked at her. I didn’t realize it until she said so. She had the right to be upset with me.

Emotions welled up inside me. I felt bad that I hurt her feelings because I didn’t explain myself in a proper way. I wasn’t able to keep my emotions under control. That’s why I ended up snapping out of her.

“Tell me exactly what I need to do for you to forgive me,” I muttered in shame. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t in my right mind the whole time. I should’ve thought this through better.”

Her lips quivered. She just looked at me with her tears falling from her eyes. I held her hand tightly. I couldn’t bear to see her like this… and it was my fault.

“Please, Aliyah.” I kissed the back of her hand as I stared at her, pleading.

“I—I hope you will tell me if there is something bothering you, Reid.” She let out a gasp and continued with her trembling voice. “I d—don’t like it when you acted off earlier. I thought I might have done something wrong.”

“Oh, no. You didn’t do anything wrong, Aliyah,” I said, and then I held her chin. “I assure you that.”

“You were irritated when I asked about your parents.”

I breathed hard. “I apologize. I—I haven’t talked about them for ages. I just felt unprepared.”

She snorted. “You should’ve told me then.”

“I know.” I sighed in defeat. “I’m sorry.”

“We’re partners, Reid,” she said, and that made me gasp. “You don’t have to keep it to yourself. “I will understand everything for as long as you will tell me all of it… and I only wouldn’t if you didn’t share things with me.”

Her gaze dropped to my hand that was holding hers. I was stunned by how brave she had become when it came to opening up her feelings to me. The truth in every word she said made me so happy, and I’d do anything to make up for what happened.

“God, I love you so much.” I whispered. I tucked the strands of her hair behind her ear and leaned down to press my lips against her forehead. “I will make it up to you. I promise, little wolf. I am terribly sorry…”

She wrapped her hand around my waist, closed her eyes, and buried her head in my chest.

“I live for you, Reid…” she uttered softly, and that gave me strength.