Chapter 37

Howl In The Night With tears brimming in my eyes, I had left the penthouse with some of the books I had with me. I hadn’t bought most of the dresses in the closet with my money and only a few old ones there were really mine, but I still had plenty at home, so I decided not to go through with the trouble of packing. I didn’t even have the strength to.

I hadn’t seen anyone downstairs when I left and I’m actually glad about that. I couldn’t answer any questions in my dazed state.

I feel so heartbroken by Reagan’s action that the anger hasn’t even started to sink in yet. I was like a walking zombie when I got home. But thankfully, my parents weren’t home, or they would have thrown a fit once they saw the state I’m in. I found the house key under the mat like they always kept it and walked in, straight up to my room so I could flop on my bed and begin to ball my eyes out.

My pillow becomes soaked in a few seconds as sobs rack my body. I feel weak and pathetic like I had when Brad had rejected me over a year ago. It’s the worst feeling ever, and I just wanted it to go away. My mate, who is supposed to be consoling me, is the reason why I feel this way. He hadn’t even stopped me from leaving, which is alarming considering he usually would go to extreme lengths to keep me with him.

So what happened?

Janet. She had happened. I feel so stupid for letting her make me tear us apart. If I hadn’t tried to prove her wrong, then none of this would have happened. I would still be with Reagan and not doubting him all of a sudden. I had let her make me break our trust.

I don’t know how many hours passed with me moping in misery before I started to feel resentment. I resent Brad for turning me into this insecure girl who thinks nobody wants her. I resent Janet for causing me to be doubtful of myself and my mate. And I resent Reagan for not doing much to prove them all wrong.

I must’ve missed the moment that my mum came home, because eventually she finds me sitting on the bed with my fists clenched beside me. I glare at the wall as if wanting it to crumble under my stare.

“Honey?” I hear her sweet voice filled with concern. I turn to see her at the door, holding the doorknob with her eyebrows furrowed in worry. She waltzes in further, coming to sit beside me with her eyes focused on me, trying to figure out what was wrong.

She’s supposed to be in Hawaii with Dad as one of the gifts Reagan had given them, but they had rejected that too. Sometimes I think them crazy for acting so damn humble all the time.

I broke into tears in her arms. I cried tears I should have when Brad had rejected me. I had gone through all that by myself, trying to act tough and not alert anyone else. When instead, I should have opened up to her And without asking what was wrong, she hugged me, stroking my hair as she whispers soothing words into my ear. I cried so hard into her chest, and she held me all through. When I was done, she wipes my cheeks and sends me a welcoming smile.

1/6 “I haven’t seen you in weeks, and this is how you come to visit us?” I let out a light chuckle, hiding my face. She cups my chin and makes me look back at her. “Wanna talk about it now or after dinner?”

“After dinner,” I reply.

My dad isn’t back till later in the evening, but by then, I already had composed myself and my emotions. I didn’t want him to worry as he tends to quickly turn to his overprotective mode when he senses something is wrong. Plus, I couldn’t tell him Reagan refused to mark me when I asked him to. He might take it the wrong way and think Reagan has discarded me, and that would get him furious. But my mum would understand better. Dad was excited to see me back home, though, even if slightly worried, suspecting something was wrong since Reagan wasn’t with me. I reassured him, though, that I just came to visit them for a while before going back...hopefully.

So after dinner, and after my dad fell asleep, my mum and I went to my room. I then told her bits of all that happened since the arrival of Janet. She listened attentively, not interrupting me and I felt relieved to finally be able to talk about it to someone else. It felt like half of the weight on my shoulders have been lifted off.

I was slightly uncomfortable talking about private issues going on between my mate and me, but since it was my mother, I was a bit okay with it. She’s the one who explained to me the mate bond and mating process when I was little. So I hope she had useful advice for me.

“I don’t get it. How the hell does he know I’m not ready?!” My mum’s eyes narrow at me then when I used a swear word. “Sorry,” I mutter.

Her smile comes back on, taking my hand as she stares at me. “But are you ready?”

Her question takes me off guard, causing me to snap my eyes to her in confusion.

“What?”

She sighs before asking once more, “Are you ready for Reagan to mark you because you want him to, or because you want to prove this Janet wrong?”

I’m stunned into silence by her question for a bit as I reflect over her words. The first time I had asked Reagan to mark me was when I was a horny b***hdue to my heat. And next was when Janet had planted the seed of doubt into my mind about him not ever going to mark me. I had wanted to see the look of defeat on her face when I proudly wore his mark, and that’s why I had asked him to mark me. But both of those times, I didn’t really want him to mark me because I wanted him to wholeheartedly. It was because something or someone else had pushed me to do it.

“I’m guessing that’s a no from your silence.” My mum states when I continue to avoid eye contact with her. “A bit of advice, Ellie.

Always trust your mate, no matter what. I may not like that Prince with how he had forcefully taken you, but I do know he will take good care of you. I can see it in his eyes. He’s smitten by you.”

I blush at her words, my heart fluttering in affection as I felt giddy all over. Deep down in my heart, no I blush at her words, my heart fluttering in affection as I felt giddy all over. Deep down in my heart, no matter how angry or doubtfull am, I know Reagan would do anything to keep me. Sometimes I’m just too stupid to remember that.

My mum cups my cheeks with both her hands as she stares into my eyes. “You’re going to face a lot of challenges being mated to him. But you can’t let that tear you away from him. You guys have to stick together to get through anything and never go on separate ways. Always remember that.” She sternly advises, and I nod before she releases me.

“Now, you’ve obviously had a long day. Get some rest and think about what I said. Okay?”

“Okay.” I nod as I begin to lay back on my bed, and she helps me pull up the covers. But before she leaves, I call her.

“Mum? Thank you.”

She smiles before switching off the light and walks out. I roll on my side with my eyes staring at the window where the curtains are pulled over. The moon’s bright glow shines through the tiny gaps between it, and I suddenly miss shifting into my wolf. She was still in transition to a Lycan, so I can’t shift just yet. And I’m dying with the curiosity of how she would look as a Lycan. I’m still stunned I’m turning into a beast as powerful as that.

I feel a tug at my heart as I stare at the empty side of the bed beside me. It’s so weird sleeping in my former room after all this while, and alone. I’ve been sleeping with Reagan for a long time now, cuddling with him every night. It feels so lonely now, and my heart is calling out to him.

I remember my mum’s words with a sigh. Yes, she is right, but I’m still not going back to that penthouse. I remember how Reagan hadn’t even tried to stop me when I announced I was leaving. And he should have noticed I had left, but he still hasn’t come looking for me. And that just saddens me all the more. There’s no way I will be going back just like that, my pride won’t let me. I will only go back when he comes for me, but until then, I’ll be here.

It’s hard to find sleep right now with my mind reeling with various thoughts and my wolf asking for her mate. She keeps whining in my head for him. I sigh as I stand up, giving up on sleeping anytime soon.

But then, my phone’s ring tone blares off, and I hurry to look for it. My heart is beating fast in my chest as I hope the call is from my mate. Maybe he wants to beg for me to come back.

I check the caller’s ID and the hopeful smile wipes off my face as I see another name flash on my screen. It was my aunt, Diana.

With a sign, I pick up the call.

“Hey, aunt Diana.”

Silence. I don’t hear anything for a few seconds, causing me to furrow my eyebrows in confusion. I was going to speak once more when I heard her.

“Ellie.” Something seems off with her tone, causing me to sit up straight in my bed. “We need to...”

“Where is she?!” I hear a growl next, and it seems the phone has been snatched from my aunt’s hand.

The voice sounds familiar, but I can’t place my finger where I had heard it from.

“Uh...who’s this, and what’s going on?” I cautiously ask, hoping my aunt was okay.

“It’s Jace, Alpha of Red Moon Pack.” He announces, but my worry doesn’t decrease as he sounds really pissed.

“Oh, hi Jacey...”

“I said, where is she, Ellie?” I’m beginning to understand the reason for this call, but I decide to play dumb as I still wasn’t sure.

How could he even have found out? Besides, I wasn’t going to throw my friend under the bus like that.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking. And I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

He growls in answer once more, and I’m sure he’s in the phase of shifting into his wolf.

Then I heard it, a deep dark chuckle that made chills run down my spine. It was weird since I’ve never heard Jace like this before. He’s always so cool and collected, having those boyish charms that girls would swoon for. But now, he sounds like some deranged alpha male wolf that everyone should be wary 아..

“I knew something was wrong the moment I first saw her that night when you both came here. But you both had masked your scent, so it was hard to tell. She knows now, doesn’t she?” He chuckles once more as I remain quiet. I know now there’s nothing I can say that will change anything.

“Tell her I give her one week to come here on her own, or else I’m coming for her. And trust me, she won’t like it if I do.” Then there was silence. I thought he had cut it, but when I looked at my phone’s screen, I see the call’s still on.

“Ellie?” It was my aunt this time.

“Aunt Diana, how did he know?” I ask the question right away, not beating about the bush. I was overly curious as to how he did, considering we’re no longer there.

“How did he...wait a minute, you both knew he’s her mate, and you didn’t say anything?!” She hisses now, the anger evident in her tone.

“T’ll explain later. Just tell me all that happened.” I lean back into my bed, exhausted with all the drama of today. I hear her exhale, probably to calm herself before answering.

“Remember that shirt I had collected from your friend?” She asks. “Well, I wore it to a party at the packhouse, and suddenly, Jace...pounced on me like I’m some fresh meat, sniffing all over me. He and Kale then got into a huge fight, and he had messed Kale up pretty bad. I’ve never seen him gone berserk like that. He has never been able to take out Kale before since he’s the one training him. But right now, my mate is in the pack’s hospital!” She lets out in rage, and I feel slightly guilty for that.

She exhales once more, “Anyway, it turns out it’s the shirt that attracted him, and when I told him the owner, he asked me to call her. But it’s just your number I’ve got.”

I listen attentively to her, already understanding all that happened. It was almost like what had happened between Reagan and me, but mine had been a scarf. So after apologizing to aunt Diana numerous times, I hang up the phone before tossing it on the bed beside me.

I would have called Lana tonight and explain all that happened, but it was already late. And she has been looking so weak and pale lately, I don’t want to disturb her. Tomorrow though, I’ll let the cat out of the bag.

Thear a loud howl then from outside that causes my heart’s rhythm to increase. It was filled with longing, and I didn’t have to think much to know who the owner was. It was calling out to me, and I wish! was out there running free in the wild with him.