I was baffled, "Kill me? When? Why?"

Reese closed his eyes briefly, "I don't know when, or why, but when she tries, I want you to be able to defend yourself, and end her as well. I can't, she has complete control over me, but not you."

"And... I have the advantage because she knows nothing about me knowing about this information," I added onto his sentence.

Reese gave a sideways smile, "Yes, that too. My ma—I mean... Iris is smart, isn't she?"

I bathed in his praise, and for the first time he called me by my name but grew upset when he didn't call me his mate.

He must of realized his mistake, because he voices, "I cannot call you mine because the pack members cannot know, or else Odette will target you sooner than what we need it to be."

I sighed in relief with his answer, agreeing with the terms.

It explains why he said no affection, everyone would know.

Finally, I asked a question that has been bothering me all this time.

"Why did you defend your pack members when we were at the dinner table? They were insulting and making fun of my pack right in front of us!"

He tilts his head to the moon, the stars twinkling in the dark yet beautiful sky.

"She ordered me to, because it would make you hate me more. It's why she wasn't there for dinner, and I was late to dinner. I ordered my pack members to do it, they aren't happy with themselves for that, but it was an order. They had no choice," he explained.

Relieved, I ask another question, "Why did you help my pack? Father gave me some details, but it doesn't add up."

Reese tilted his head back down to meet my gaze, his eyes soft and warm.

They were no longer cold, and empty.

"Odette commanded me to, so once again, I don't know. She has something up her sleeve, and I don't know what. I'm just a pawn in her dirty game," Reese muttered out roughly, his voice rasp.

I nodded, satisfied with all his answers.

Everything happened for a reason.

Reese suddenly grew quiet, causing me to lean closer to him. He suddenly but hesitatingly hugged me tightly, his face burying into my neck.

He was inhaling my scent, but it felt like I was hallucinating the droplets of water on my shoulder.

I tried to turn my head, but he pleaded softly to me, "Please... don't look at me right now. I don't want you to see me like this. An alpha at his weak state."

I didn't push him away, but respected his wishes.

Still, I needed to get my point across.

"It's not a unmanly thing to do if you cry, Daniel. We may be wolves, and we may battle for dominance, but... we're still part human. There's nothing shameful about that. If it makes you feel better, you can always be yourself and show these sides to me when you feel like you need to. I'll never judge you."

His hold tightened on me, "Thank you..."

For awhile, we stayed that way.

Enjoying the comforts of the mate bond working between us.

Suddenly, I asked, "What made you hug me and finally break, Reese?"

He was silent for a moment, but answered, "The fear of you dying by her hands. I cannot lose you too. If I do, I would go insane. I would—"

"Shhh... everything will be okay. I'll be fine," I assured him.

His tears ceased, but his hold around me never faded.

"I'm sorry... for hurting you, Iris. I'm so sorry..." he whispered.

I stayed silent for a moment, debating on whether or not to forgive him.

He had no choice, didn't he?

He didn't mean anything he said.

I could be spiteful if I had wanted to. Maybe a little resentful but everything he did had a reasoning behind it.

After a few minutes passed, I sighed.

"... I forgive you, Reese. I'm sorry for everything I did and said to you too," I replied, my heart gloating in warmth.

And we stayed that way until the peak of dawn.

—

Reese's POV:

(Days before confrontation with his mate)

I hate myself.

For what I've done to my mate, I don't deserve forgiveness. I've failed everyone I've loved. My parents, my little brother.

Now my mate.

Every morning, I would stand in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at the reflection that had grown more unfamiliar with each passing day. The man staring back at me was a stranger, a hollow shell of the person I once thought I might become. The mirror revealed every flaw, every failure etched into my face like a map of despair.

It hadn't always been this way. There was a time when I had dreams, when the future seemed bright and full of promise. But life, with its relentless cruelty, had stripped those dreams away, one by one, until all that was left was a deep, gnawing emptiness.

My self-loathing was like a thick fog that never lifted. It clouded his every thought, poisoned every interaction. I couldn't look at myself without feeling disgust, couldn't think about my past without being overwhelmed by shame. I was haunted by memories of every mistake, every wrong turn, every opportunity squandered. I felt like a failure, a burden, someone who didn't deserve the love or kindness of others.

I tried to hide it, of course. I plastered on a smile, laughed at the right times, and pretended that everything was fine. But inside, I was crumbling. The weight of my own disappointment in myself was too much to bear.

I began avoiding people, withdrawing into myself, finding solace only in the isolation of my own thoughts, no matter how painful they were.

The nights were the worst. Alone in his dark apartment, the silence would close in around me, and the voices in my head would start their relentless assault. They told me I was worthless, that I was a failure, that I never amount to anything. I would lie awake for hours, my mind racing, replaying every mistake, every moment of weakness, over and over until sleep finally took me

But sleep brought no peace.

My dreams were filled with the same self-hatred that plagued my waking hours. I would wake up in a cold sweat, heart pounding, the echoes of my own voice condemning me still ringing in my ears.

Why am I like this?

Why can't I be stronger?

Curse this ring.

Curse Odette.

***

Every word I said about my mate was a lie. Every negative thing. There was no such thing as a flaw that existed about my mate.

She was beautiful.

Powerful.

I could gaze at her for hours and never grow tired. I've waited all my life for my mate and she's here. Yet I'm destroying our blessed bond that was bestowed upon us by the moon goddess.

My mate will never forgive me, until she told me one day during our meeting.

"I forgive you, Reese. I'm sorry for everything I did and said to you too."

My mind slipped into nothingness. She forgives me?

After everything I've done to her?

How on earth did I ever deserve a mate like her? Regardless of what she said here on out, I would work for her forgiveness.

Until she truly believes I love her with all my heart.