MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 137: Weeping For A Strange Man

Chapter 137: Weeping For A Strange Man

Reana covered her face with her palms, her body shaking with the force of her sobs, her chest heaving with each ragged breath. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to escape the weight of her feelings.

The dream still lingered in her mind, the red-haired man’s words echoing in her ears like a haunting melody. She felt a deep ache in her chest, a sense of longing that seemed to pierce her very soul.

As she sat there, weeping, Reana felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. "Reana? What’s wrong?"

She said nothing, only turning and burying her face on Ryder’s bare chest as her crying increased.

Ryder was stunned. When was the last time he saw her cry like this?

It was in their first lifetime, after her family was killed by monsters. It was the second time he saw her. The day he knew she was his mate.

"Ryder, my heart hurts." She whispered, her voice muffled by his chest. "I feel his pain." She continued, her arms wrapping tightly around him. "He was so broken, so lost. And, and..."

"Shh..." Ryder whispered softly, one arm wrapped around her naked body, holding her tightly against his chest while his other hand calmly brushed her hair back, soothing her. "It’s okay. It was only a dream."

Her head rattled against his chest, "It doesn’t feel like it. It feels too real. He was hurting so much, Ryder. I, I feel I broke him."

His expression softened as he looked down at her. She clung to him, refusing to even look at him. "Do you want to talk about it?" He whispered.

She didn’t reply.

Ryder waited patiently, his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. He could feel her tension, her uncertainty. He didn’t push her to talk, didn’t try to pry the details out of her. Instead, he simply held her, letting her know that he was there for her, that he would listen when she was ready.

The silence between them was comfortable, a warm and soothing blanket that wrapped around them both. Ryder could feel Reana’s erratic heartbeat slowly calming down after a while.

He remained calm, his hand moving up and down her back, as if soothing away the tension.

He didn’t rush her, didn’t try to fill the silence with words.

After what felt like an eternity, Reana finally spoke up. Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but Ryder heard her clearly.

"I don’t know if I can explain it," she said, her words muffled by his chest. "It just feels so real. Like I’m still there, still feeling his pain."

Ryder’s expression softened even further. "Who is he?"

She shook her head, "I don’t know," she began. "He had long, red hair that cascaded down his back. He was pleading with someone, a man, who looked just like me..."

Ryder stiffened, his eyes shook, lips trembled slightly as his hold on her subconsciously tightened.

That was him. That was her. That was their past life!

Was she regaining her memories through dreams? His brows creased slightly. Does this mean well for their relationship in this life or not? What game was the Moon goddess playing this time?

"...Ryder?" she whispered.

He snapped out of his thoughts, "I’m here, my love."

She slowly pushed away from chest, her teary eyes pinning his clear blue eyes in place. Her lips moved. She wanted to say something, but didn’t know what.

Ryder saw her struggle to speak. He smiled and lifted his thumb to wipe her tears. "Crying doesn’t suit you, My Luna." He leaned in, kissing her eyes. "Your pack members would think I bullied you," he chuckled softly, trying to lift the heavy atmosphere.

Reana’s eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into him, drawing strength and comfort from him.

And that was when a surge of guilt and shame hit her. She’d been crying about another man, right in Ryder’s arms.

She bit her bottom lip, her eyelids drooped in defeat. Even though Ryder wasn’t her mate. Thinking, crying, and talking about another man in his arms was disrespectful and inconsiderate. Yet..

"Are you not mad?" she suddenly asked, staring up at him.

"About what?" his gaze shifted to hers, staring into the depth of her green eyes. "What should I be mad about?"

"I was crying over another man." She replied matter-of-factly.

Ryder’s lips broke into a smile. "Wouldn’t you think me insane, a lunatic if I got mad over a dream? Over something you cannot control?"

The word, ’insane’ brought back memories – the conversation between the red-haired stranger and her look-alike. And suddenly, she didn’t like the sound of that word anymore.

"You’re not insane. Don’t call yourself insane. I don’t like it."

Ryder froze. Slowly, warmth from his inside, spreading through his body and seedling on his cheeks. His face turned pink with shyness – like some teenager who’s long tone crush just wrote a love letter to.

"You don’t think I’m insane?" He asked, his eyes shining with expectations.

This single word from her had destroyed him and driven him into an irredeemable villain in their previous life. Everytime he did something she didn’t like, she’d call him insane or a lunatic that shouldn’t exist.

Reana frowned. "Why should I think of you in that manner?"

He stiffened. Right, she had no reason to think of him that way...for now.

Clearing his throat, he switched. "I killed Hale and claimed you were mine. That doesn’t sound like what a normal person would do. Don’t you agree?"

She stayed silent, searching for the right word that wasn’t as heartless as ’insane’.

After a while, she cupped his face, her eyes searching his, as she replied. "You have many secrets," she began. "You give me a strange feeling. You’re strange but not insane."

Then something shifted in her eyes and she took her hands back. "While we’re at it, I want to know what you are. What makes you strange, why you won’t shift into your wolf, and why you said those things about lifetimes and waiting centuries for me..."