Chapter 4

Reid’s Point of View

I woke up from a nightmare where my mate suffered a terrible beating. With a ragged breath, I blinked several times and massaged the bridge of my nose.

I got up from the couch and went to the side of the bed. She was still sleeping. It had been twenty-four hours since I took her in and she hadn’t woken up yet. It worried me so much, but Charlotte assured me that she was fine and only needed some time to rest.

I exhaled in frustration. I still couldn’t believe that I’d found her in a situation like this. I couldn’t wait for her to wake up and tell me what she experienced before she crossed the borders for me to avenge what happened to her.

"I don’t understand why you’re keeping a rogue here at your house, Reid," Klaus commented when I left the room. He was sitting on the couch with his arms crossed.

He’d been keeping an eye ever since I took my mate here, given that he was suspicious of her. As the loyal Beta of the pack, he was committed to making me and the entire community safe.

"You can leave, Klaus. I can handle the situation," I replied, and walked to the kitchen to drink water.

"You clearly know that she’s a stranger. You shouldn’t trust her."

I clenched my jaw and stared him in the eyes. "Watch your mouth, Klaus. She’s my mate. And do you think a woman who’s badly injured can do something against me?"

His eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"Don’t make me repeat myself," I warned him before I huffed in frustration. "Keep it to yourself. I’ll tell the others later."

"What do you plan to do next?"

I jerked my head to the left as I eyed him. "Make everyone who wronged her suffer."

Klaus smirked, and then shook his head. "It looks like the Alpha will declare a war soon…"

"They asked for it, Klaus. They hurt my mate."

***

My mate had woken up the next day. She went into an instant panic as soon as our eyes met. She shielded herself using the blanket, her forehead creased and her body trembling, while she looked at me as if I was an enemy.

I was relieved to see that she finally woke up, but her reaction towards me made me realize that she’d had a traumatic experience in the past. Even the mere presence of someone like me and noise caused her to panic.

"Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you," I told her carefully.

Even though I wanted to pull her into a hug, I fought the urge to do so. I stared intently into her eyes. She did the same, looking at me as if she was trying to find the good soul in me.

"Who are you?" her innocent voice asked.

"I introduced myself to you the night you crossed the borders. My name is Reid. I am the Alpha of the Jewel pack."

"Jewel pack?" Her eyes roamed around. The confusion in her eyes became visible. "Impossible. H…How did I end up here?"

"You fainted in the forest due to exhaustion. I brought you here. Your wounds were treated by our pack doctor. They should heal within a week," I explained.

I could hear the loud beating of her heart even if I was a few steps away from her. She was clearly frightened, but her anxiety finally slowed down after I explained what happened.

"You… you helped me? Why?" she asked.

Because you’re my mate…

"You crossed the borders and fainted on my territory. It means you’re under my responsibility," I answered, and swallowed hard. "I guarantee that you’re safe here with me. No one’s going to hurt you on my land."

I noticed how she gasped, and it was followed by hot tears forming on both sides of her eyes. It seemed to me that she wasn’t used to such assurance, perhaps because of what she had experienced in the past, which I was dying to know. However, I wouldn’t dare ask her right now. Not yet.

I heard the loud rumble of her stomach. She hadn’t eaten anything as she was asleep the whole time. Her cheeks flushed in shame, and then she lowered her head to avoid my gaze.

"I bet you’re famished. I’ll prepare food for you. Just stay here and take a rest, alright?" I said it as if I was talking to a child, trying to get her trust.

She nodded her head and took a glimpse of me before she hid herself under the covers. That made me smile a bit.

This innocent girl is my mate. All mine...

I went out of the house and bought some ingredients and meat. I was so consumed by my worries about her for the past few days that I didn’t think about the food I served her when she gained consciousness.

I quickened my pace and went home. I couldn’t hide my happiness as I cooked her delicious soup and dishes. I prepared them in a tray with a glass of water and the meds Charlotte had advised me to give her to boost her immune system.

I knocked on the door before I pushed it open. She was leaning against the headboard of the bed, and her fingers were intertwined when her gaze was directed at me.

Her stare made my inner wolf react like crazy. I cleared my throat and kept my emotions under control as I walked towards her. I put the tray on the side table.

"You must eat to regain your strength. Take your meds after," I told her softly.

"I don’t…" she paused, seemingly trying to gather her thoughts. "I don’t understand why you’re helping me."

I gaped at her, shocked by her statement. I then cleared my throat and said, "I am an Alpha. I offer help to whoever needs it regardless of where they come from."

Tears started to stream down her face. My chest tightened at seeing her cry. She sobbed and wiped her tears away.

"T…Thank you, Alpha," she said. Her voice cracked a bit.

"Please don’t cry, you’re still recovering." I sighed, torn between wanting to embrace her and tell her that we’re mates or to keep all these emotions secret. "Eat your food and take a rest. There are new clothes in the cabinet in case you want to take a bath. Don’t push yourself though, your wounds are still healing."

She nodded in response.

"Just stay here, alright? I will leave the house for a moment to discuss something with my pack."

She licked her lower lip and stared at me intently before she spoke, "T…Thanks."

I offered her a thin smile and then left the room with a heavy heart.

***

I decided to gather all the members in the higher positions in our private chamber. Klaus, Sage, their mates, the pack doctor, and the other warriors were seated at a long table while I stood up on the center platform.

I declared as I looked at them intently, "I'd like to tell everyone that I've already found my mate."

Everyone was shocked, except Klaus, who had known about the situation first.

"Congratulations, Alpha! You finally found your Luna!" Alice, Sage’s mate and a member of the warriors, exclaimed in delight.

Others congratulated me too, and all I did was nod in response.

"You’re referring to the woman I treated?" Charlotte asked curiously.

"That’s right. She’s my mate and she’ll be staying at my house."

"I guess it’s time to prepare for the wedding and proclamation once she recovers," Klaus suggested, and most of the people agreed.

"Agreed. We’ve been waiting for this day to come, Alpha," Sage added.

I inhaled sharply and shook my head.

"That’s not my priority right now. I don’t want to pressure my mate given that she went through a lot before she arrived here. I want to take everything slow and live with her. When the right time comes, I tell her myself that we’re mates," I explained.

Everyone nodded their heads.

"For now, please keep this as a secret for her safety as well."