20. BADLY HURT
Some hours later…
Reginald stood at the window of the room he was given and watched how important guests began to troop in until his family arrived.
Alpha Ernouf and Luna Philomena were there to welcome them. Happiness filled the air as everyone reunited.
Reginald's eyes went straight to his former gamma and his left eye twitched at how she smiled beautifully. He watched her every movement and saw how her hands were all over his stepbrother and so was his stepbrother's.
Looking at them expressing their feelings in public did something terrible to his heart.
With difficulty, he took a step away from the window and closed his eyes in order to calm his emotions.
His hands turned to fists as the urge came on him to hit something to vent out his anger.
"Alpha," someone called his name softly but he remained rooted to the spot he stood on as he waited for the person to say what he wanted to say.
"Your mother and the others have arrived."
"So what do you want me to do? Go to them?" Reginald asked Spencer with his back still turned to him.
Spencer who stood by the door sighed before entering the room and gently closed the door behind them.
"I know you're hurt and we didn't have much time to talk about it but I think it's time to move forward, Alpha." Spencer paused briefly before continuing.
"You told me you found her and she ran away. Isn't that something to hold onto? At least you have a mate and she's around somewhere." Spencer tried to reason with Reginald.
"She made you forget about Amelia…at least that's what the mate pull doe…"
Spencer stopped when Reginald turned to face him with a disturbed look.
"That's the thing Spencer. The first time I met her, all I wanted was her body and nothing more. Her presence doesn't erase the thought of Amelia, that's how strong I love her." Reginald explained and a frown settled on Spencer's face because no one could choose another person over their mate.
"How is that even possible?" Spencer asked as he closed the distance between them.
Reginald's deep ocean blue eyes held Spencer's light brown ones as they stared in silence.
"True love wins against all odds Spencer."
Spencer's eyes widened because he never took Reginald to be a type to care for romance and 'LOVE' over 'MATE'.
"Since you're willing to give up your mate for Amelia then just know that you'll only be hurting yourself. The mate pull is quite strong." He advised him.
Reginald shook his head slowly as a sad smile graced his lips.
"Imagine having a mate who doesn't feel the same pull as you Spencer? A mate who picks her lover over you…imagine a mate who could easily move on after you die. The worst part is if she turns out to be human. Humans always choose love over anything no matter what, that's why this mate thing doesn't feel real to me. The love I have for Amelia is real."
Silence fell after that and Spencer understood what his Alpha meant. It made sense.
He wanted love…
"What if your mate feels the pull as well Alpha?" Spencer thoughtfully asked.
"Then I'll be very lucky Spencer and I'll try to shower her with all my love."
*
"Where is Reginald?"
Valeria asked Philomena as they walked together.
Philomena was thrilled to finally see Valeria after such a very long time.
"In his room."
"Is he alright?" Valeria decided to ask because she didn't feel right. It was like something was telling her to go to him but she didn't know how to, especially when he didn't want to have a lengthy conversation with her.
"Yes, why?" Philomena had a frown on her face as she asked.
"I just have a feeling I should check up on him and see how he's doing." Valeria explained and Philomena gave it a thought before asking,
"Are you two ok now?"
That question made Valeria's chest tighten in pain because they weren't ok and she was beginning to lose hope.
"He's in his usual room if you want to talk to him, Valeria."
"Thank you Philomena. When I'm done talking with him, I'll come see you." Valeria thanked her.
"We have plenty of time Valeria, take your time."
Philomena gave her a warm smile and Valeria returned it before following another path.
As she walked on in silence, Philomena watched her until she was out of sight.
Valeria walked with elegance and power, and whoever she met bowed to her in respect.
She wore a long peach gown and her black hair was let down. Her ocean blue eyes held mystery to everyone who beheld her and her brown skin was gloriously smooth and glowed.
Amongst her two sons, only Aaron got a little touch of her skin color. He was lighter brown in color, making him almost blend with the fair skinned people.
She took a staircase in the corridor which had a curve at the top.
Facing her son wasn't quite easy and she hoped he would talk to her.
When she reached the top of the staircase, she walked along the passage with many wide windows on her left. On her right was a long line of concrete baluster rail one could lean against and stare down at people.
She walked ahead on the tiled floor with her flat shoes barely making a noise.
It took her a while before she came to Reginald's room.
Her heart raced as she stood before the door with an unsure look.
Just as she was about to knock, the door came open and her eyes met Spencer who had a look of surprise to see her.
"Luna Valeria." He did a little bow and made way for her.
"Thank you Spencer." She thanked and he smiled with a nod before leaving the room for them. Shutting the door gently behind him.
Reginald's eyes were on his mother as he waited for her to speak. His eyes held pain in them and she noticed how dull his face looked.
Her lips parted to speak but he beat her to it.
"I'm fine mother, there's no need to worry about me." He spoke in a dismissive tone and it pricked her heart.
The only time she had ever had a mother to son talk was when he was a very little boy, around five.
"Please Reginald, I'm tired of being shut out of your life. I need you." She pleaded and her eyes glistened with tears. She missed her son greatly and all she wanted was for him to confide in her.
"You have Aaron and Everand so I don't see why you need me." He bluntly said and her mood turned sour.
The distance between them was five steps away and she wanted to cover the distance so badly, she wanted to reach out to him and comfort him because she knew he was hurting.
"I have them but I don't have you Reginald."
What she said reached the deepest part of his heart and his left hand trembled.
"What is the point in having me when you didn't care to stay back mother? I was the one that needed you more than any other person but you left…" his voice broke as the rim of his eyes became red in anger.
Valeria quickly turned her face away as a tear fell from her left eye. She didn't know she hurt him this much…this badly.
After her husband's death, Valeria decided to be with Everand because she was his soulmate and she needed closure with someone.
Reginald was still a little boy then but he was very smart. She had told him they had to go away from the pack with Everand and his parents but Reginald had refused because of how much he missed and loved his father.
When he found out she was living just to start a new life with Everand, he became angry and refused to go.
Valeria was torn between everything and she knew if she stayed in the pack, she would die of heartbreak and loneliness. Allen's death weighed her down and she was looking for an escape.
With a heavy heart, after much persuading of her son to join her, she decided to leave him in Connery and Philomena's care.
Reginald had cried so much as he called his mother to come back but she didn't.
They told him she would be back after some months, they told him she wanted to just clear her head and take a break from everything.
So, poor Reginald decided to wait for his mother. Every night he cried himself to sleep when she never came and Philomena was always there to console him.
Months passed and it went to a year.
When she didn't show up, Reginald fell into serious depression and heartbreak. He loved his mother and after his father's death she was the only one he needed to lean on.
The love he had for his mother was greater than his life and she left him…abandoning him when he needed her the most was very heartbreaking and till this very day, he never really recovered from what she did to him.