Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate
Chapter 177: The Broken Him

Chapter 177: The Broken Him

"I can’t even look at her. How will I forgive her?" Faris asked his best friend, tormented by the situation he had been plunged in. The contours of his face had been set in stone.

"First, you need to forgive yourself; if you can’t do that, how will you move forward? The guilt you are carrying is like termites, it will eat you from the inside."

Ranon knew how soft-hearted his friend was. He cared for everyone, and this was going to break him in the worst possible ways.

"I don’t see that happening any time soon." Faris emptied his wineskin and leaned back against the wall with his eyes closed and arms crossed. His legs were propped up.

Ranon stayed with him providing the support his friend needed in such moments.

***

Haylia decided to speak with Aiko in private. So she asked the young girl to take a walk with her near the oasis.

Aiko was nervous, but Haylia was Faris’s mother, and she needed to make a good impression after the damage her betrayal had caused.

"We have not revealed that you are Faris’s mate or your involvement in Ara’s death. The decision lies entirely with Faris, so rest assured no one will harm you," Haylia tightly said, pinning the girl with a hard look. She was trying to read her and see if this girl was going to cause more trouble for her son.

Aiko had her fingers intertwined as she slowly nodded but kept her head high.

"I appreciate that, thank you for accepting me and my family."

"You are my son’s mate so I had no choice. But, Ara was a very loving and kind girl. Your actions led to her being taken away from us. It has devastated my son since they grew up side by side and had been lovers for a while." Haylia didn’t hold back, she wanted Aiko to know the whole truth so she wouldn’t be in the dark about Faris and Ara.

It hurt, it hurt, right in Aiko’s heart whenever Faris and Ara:s relationship was mentioned. Although the poor girl was gone, the fucking mate bond didn’t care.

She quietly said, ignoring the thrashing pain in her chest.

"I know my actions have caused irreparable damage, but my intentions were never malicious. I was forced into this, and from this moment onwards, I will try to make amends."

Haylia adjusted the colourful bangles on her arms and answered.

"It would be advisable to give Faris time. Let him open up to you and not force him. I don’t want my son to break more than he already has. He might appear tough but he is very soft in the heart. Don’t hurt him more," Haylia instructed as both of them stared into the calm blue water of the oasis.

The temperature difference between Volsra and Dusartine was quite vast but Aiko was enjoying not freezing to death for once. She could roam around in lighter garments.

"I won’t. I would also appreciate it if you would task me and my family with something so we can pull our weight and not be a burden."

"From tomorrow, I will assign you the tasks you and your family can assist with," Haylia said with finality and decided to head towards the stone houses. She needed to speak with the Elders and provide them with the latest updates.

Aiko offered an awkward smile as the older but very composed woman walked away. She carried this grace about her which prompted others to respect her.

Aiko stood there for a while, staring into the clean water which housed many colourful stones. The surface slowly rippled because of the fast wind.

She then decided to find Faris and speak with him. She had to try to win his heart, slowly. It wasn’t going to be easy but she was a persistent girl.

Asking a pack member she learnt about his whereabouts. Approaching the chamber she slowly knocked on the door. Ranon went to answer it and found it was Aiko.

The reluctance in her eyes was deeply visible so he offered a small smile to ease her.

"I–I wanted to speak to Faris. Can I?" she requested.

"Yes, he is inside. Not in the best of state but he will listen to you." Ranon threw open the door so Aiko could enter while he exited it, closing it behind him, giving them privacy.

Aiko awkwardly stood near the closed door and lifted her eyes to glance at her mate.

With his back pressed against the wall, his eyes were closed. The sharpness of his jaw was caught perfectly in the soft glow of the flickering fire in the torch mounted on the wall.

He seemed to be lost in a world of his own, drinking away his worries.

His right hand casually dangled a brown wineskin between his pointer finger and thumb. It rested on his bent knee, and she could see the lean muscles of his thigh as his chiton had hitched up, revealing his toned legs to her.

His scent was in the fresh notes which reminded Aiko of the green damp forests. The forests she couldn’t get enough of, the forests she wished to lose her way in.

Sensually breezy with hints of oak moss and cedar. So rich, it made her mouth water. She had to swallow hard before clearing her throat.

His eyes slowly opened, and without turning his head, he quietly asked.

"Do you need anything?"

It bothered her that he didn’t glance in her direction but she gulped that feeling down.

"I was hoping we could talk," she revealed her intentions.

"About what? Because if you are here to ask me where we stand—I simply don’t know. I am just trying to forget everything with alcohol and find some peace." Hearing his broken voice coated in regrets and sorrows, Aiko couldn’t help but take a few steps closer.

The more she drew nearer, the more tense his body became. A few drops of sweat trickled out on his forehead and dribbled down. His heart rate turned into a racing leopard.

"I–I only wanted to get to know you a bit." Aiko couldn’t help but stare at what a fine specimen her mate was.

Bold and handsome.

Strong and yet gentle.

A broken smile broke out on his face sculpted in deep sorrows. His eyes finally wavered towards her.

"You are a very unlucky woman, Aiko. I wish we had crossed paths much earlier and you had found the wholesome version of me. But this one." He pointed towards himself with his left hand, "Is the broken version. Sorry to disappoint you."

Her heart sank at the deep-seated grief in his voice and tears swimming in his eyes. She slumped down on the floor in front of him.