The River of Tears

There were stares and glares as we walked inside the packhouse. Some wolves were growling but instantly stopped after my mates gave them a look.

"Alphas, what is the meaning of this?" a squad captain asked.

"Queen Roslyn and her fellow werecats are going to stay here for the time being," Aaron said. "As you all know, they have been attacked. Their home was destroyed."

"But she tried to run away with you before!" the squad captain said that made my eyes widen. "You almost abandoned your duties just for her."

Stephen growled and the squad captain lowered his head, "I-I'm sorry Alpha."

"We should not dwell with the memories of the past," Aaron said. "Roslyn will stay here until they can stand on their own. That's your alpha's orders!"

His voice roared throughout the packhouse. I held his arm but he shrugged it off, looking at me with an annoyed expression. My heart fell along with my hand.

He had never been like this before.

"Aaron," Stephen hissed.

Aaron's face instantly softened after seeing the tear slipping from my eye. I wiped it off and smiled. "It's okay. I-I need some air."

"Baby," Aaron called out but I shook my head.

"I'm okay," I said and ran outside, shifting as I did so. Breathing out, I dashed into the forest. The sun was slowly coming out from the horizon, splashing colors of the twilight into the dark skies.

'Baby!' my mates called out but I was already far away. The pain similar to rejection lingered, making it harder for me to breathe, but I still pushed through. I forced my paws to take me as far as possible.

Klint couldn't even speak. He was curled up in the corner of my consciousness, mewling in pain.

'Let's take a rest,' I told him and shifted back to my human form.

I stopped beside a small river. The water was murky and cold. Like it had already experienced enough heartbreaks in his past and couldn't see the brighter side of the world anymore. I stood by the dark flowing water and stared at it.

I know I'm overacting and it must be the pregnancy.

What am I thinking? Maybe my mates are worried sick.

Or maybe they're happy that I'm finally gone.

No!

They can be with whoever they want.

No. I know they want me.

Are you sure?

No– I mean, yes. I am their mate.

You're just their mate.

They love me.

The argument in my thoughts instantly stopped when a pair of gentle arms wrapped around me. The heat they provide was enough for me to feel the comfort I needed. But the tears I kept holding back finally came through.

"I'm sorry, baby," Aaron said. "That was stupid of me. I shouldn't have done that."

"Damn right you shouldn't have," Stephen hissed. "But it's Noir's fault. Babe, it's a big misunderstanding."

"W-What do you mean?" I sobbed.

"Roslyn had a mate named Zion. Zion was my childhood friend. He was a wolf and was going to be an alpha in a neighboring pack. They met when Zion and his father had a meeting with the werecats and there he met Roslyn. Of course, the cats were against it. Roslyn was the princess of the werecheetahs back then and her father did not want Zion to be mated to her."

"Because interracial mates have less chance of bearing a child," I filled and Aaron nodded.

"Zion wanted to run away with Roslyn. But the night they wanted to, they were betrayed by Roslyn's best friend, Khumalo. When Zion was caught by the werecats, they executed him. Zion's pack fell after the loss of their alpha's air and Roslyn was heartbroken, trapped inside the pridehouse," Aaron finished. "Zion was a great man. That's why I was so worked up about it. Before Stephen, he was my best friend."

"So, you don't have any special feelings for Roslyn?" I asked.

Aaron snorted and flicked his finger on my forehead. "Why would I catch feelings for another person when all I could think of is my mate?"

"I second that," Stephen added. They kissed my temples down to my cheeks. "Don't let anyone or anything think that we don't love you because all we could think of is you."

"So cheesy," I remarked that earned me a soft laugh from them. "I'm hungry."

"Let's go back," Aaron said. "They must be losing their minds right now."

"Yeah," I whispered. "We should."

For some reason, my eyes gazed back at the river. It wasn't murky anymore. The water was clear and I could feel the warmth of its waters.

Weird.

"That's the River of Tears," Stephen said. "Legends said that if the river sympathizes with a heart that is hurt, the water turns murky and cold."

"It was murky and cold a while ago," I said.

"Hmm," Aaron hummed. "But it doesn't really work on overacting pregnant people."

I punched his stomach hard. He coughed at the pain but chuckled. "Baby~"

"No!" I sternly said and ran.

We were laughing like idiots as they chased after me inside the house.

What was I even thinking?

My mates love me and I feel the same way.

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