Why My Mate Cries
Chapter 12

ALIYAH’S POV

My dream made me pant, featuring me running through the deep part of the forest and chasing after a familiar white wolf. I ran… and followed it, but it disappeared into the thin air. All I did was catch my breath. Sweats formed on my forehead as my eyes looked around the darkness of the forest.

Then, all of a sudden, the sound of the bushes rustling got my attention. My forehead creased as I turned my gaze in its direction, until I saw a big black-coated wolf that came out of it. Its crimson red eyes radiated dominance and power, l**t and need.

My breath hitched. The mating pull washed over me like cold water. No matter how I tried to resist it and run, my body seemed to be overtaken by the base desire of the bond. I slowly walked towards the wolf, feeling the need to slide my fingers into its shiny jetblack coat.

“Mate,” I whispered, my heart pounding violently inside my chest.

The wolf howled, and I could feel my gut twisting as the mating pull became stronger.

A loud whimper made me forcibly open my eyes. Panting, I looked around and realized that I was on my bed. My head throbbed for a second, and when I was trying to think clearly, I recalled what had just occurred back in the kitchen downstairs.

Reid…

A warm feeling simmered in my stomach, and I couldn’t help but tear up as I recalled how the mating pull helped me figure out that there was something deeper that bound me to him.

He was my mate, the very reason why I felt the spark the first time we touched; that’s why I had been feeling the intense desire for him and the reason why my heart couldn’t seem to calm down for a bit whenever he was around.

The sound of the door opening made me sit up in bed. There I saw Reid holding a tray with a glass of water and soup on it. Our gazes met, and the warmth I felt inside my stomach just doubled.

“You’re awake,” he remarked, walking towards me and putting the tray down on the side table. He then sat on the side of the bed, still staring at me. “Do you feel better now?”

“Yes,” I answered quietly.

Then silence filled the room. Many thoughts whirled around my head. I still couldn’t process the realization I had experienced. However, Reid’s presence made it clearer that everything wasn’t just a dream. We were mates… Even though I didn’t understand the Moon Goddess’s plan for me, it somehow made me happy that he was the man she chose for me.

But at the same time, I felt sorry…

I felt terribly sorry that a rogue and nobody like me became his mate.

“What are you thinking?” he asked. His voice was careful and low.

“I—I’m still trying to process the truth that we’re mates,” I replied, stuttering over the words.

Reid’s brow furrowed, but then he nodded slowly. “I know it’s too much to process, and I understand.”

“Were you aware that I was your mate all this time?”

I sat up a little straighter, and took a deep breath. With the effect of the mating bond, I had a hard time thinking because Reid was so close to me.

His jaw clenched before he answered. “I am. I found out you’re my mate since the first time I saw you, Aliyah.”

“And you didn’t tell me.”

“Trust me, I had my reasons.”

I shook my head. I knew I should be happy now that I had found my mate, and it was none other than him who showed me kindness and made me feel special. However, I was also too aware that he didn’t deserve someone like me.

“I don’t know why the Moon Goddess came up with this fate, but I am so sorry that you’re dragged into this mess. You deserve a woman with high value, not a nobody who has issues with family and a not appealing appearance,” I said as my heart was wrenched by the fact I voiced out.

“I don’t like you downplaying yourself.” A low growl escaped his mouth as his eyes narrowed. I shuddered and drew in a breath. His stare grew darker, so I lowered my head to avoid it.

“I–I’m only stating a fact.”

“No, you’re not,” he continued.

“Reid,” I said softly, unable to hide my sadness as I said his name. “I’m truly sorry…”

He held my hand. A bolt of desire suddenly went through me; a spark that only made me miserable at the moment.

“You have no idea how beautiful you are, Aliyah.” He let out a sigh as he caressed my hand. “Your past doesn’t make you less special, and I don’t feel unlucky that I was mated to you. In fact, I feel the other way around.”

He intertwined our fingers, and such a move made my heart jump inside my chest. All of a sudden, I felt so happy, like the sadness had faded away and all I could think about was us…

“I didn’t know what contentment felt like until you came,” he added, his eyes flashing with satisfaction. “So if you think I regret this fate, then I tell you I’m not.”

“So it’s fine with you that we are mates?” I asked, tears starting to form on both sides of my eyes.

“More than what you can imagine…” He guided my hand all the way to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

“Then why didn’t you tell me from the start?”

He pursed his lips and then continued, “That’s because I didn’t want to stress you out. You’ve been through a lot of hardships, Aliyah. I want you to heal from it first. I want you to fully recover, to feel better in your new surroundings, to be comfortable with me. I don’t want to rush things. I can wait until you’re ready…”

I blinked several times, trying to process everything he said, and when it sank in my head, my heart felt the enormous tenderness and affection towards Reid. It was astonishing to learn that someone like him had cared for me the first time we met.

I thought I would never feel this kind of feeling, but no, the Moon Goddess proved me wrong.

“But ever since you touched me, it has been really hard to control my feelings towards you…” he added and smiled a bit. “It made me go insane. I wanted more of you, Aliyah. But I knew I had to wait.”

“Are you sure about this, Reid?” I whispered. “You still have your chance to run away.”

He frowned. “Why would I?”

I bit my lower l*p, and could no longer collect the right words to say to him. His other hand caressed my cheek, which made me breathless.

“You are my mate, Aliyah. That’s the only thing that matters to me. Nothing could ever change that.”

“Tell me this isn’t a dream, because if it was, I don’t think I would want to wake up..”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with joy and contentment.

“Embrace the reality, mate. We’re bound by the moon,” he said, and pulled me in for a warm hug.