Big girls don't cry

Aleida’s POV

Okay, so... This constant void is starting to piss me off. Why the hell am I stuck inside my own mind?! Ugh! It’s so dull here, and I have absolutely nothing to do. I scroll through my memories day in and day out without understanding them. The only thing that gives me some kind of comfort is the memories I have with my parents. Above all, a special memory deeply confuses me...

❖❣❖Memory begins❖❣❖

I’m out in the back playing in the trees at the edge of the forest. The sun is shining, the birds chirp, and my mother has made me a flower wreath. She put it on my head and gave me a big smile; her white teeth sparkled in the sunshine; she put me on her lap and gave me a glass of icy lemonade.

“You’re an extraordinary little girl, Aleida. There is a lot of evil in our world, and therefore I would like to remind you that you should always act with consideration. The key to inner peace is love and communion. You will one day lead your own pack. Then remember these words, they will have more meaning to you than you think,” she said and started humming “Amazing Grace” while rocking me back and forth between her arms.

I drank happily from my straw; a butterfly sat down on my white thin summer dress, and I giggled at it. I looked up at my mother, who kept smiling at me and humming. I shone up when my dad walked around the house towards us. I jumped down from my mother’s lap and ran up to him as quickly as my short little legs could carry me. He crouched, smiled, and opened up his arms, prepared to receive me. My tiny body flew into his. He lifted me and spun me around; I giggled.

“Look, mommy, look, I’m flying!” I shouted to her, laughing.

“I see you, baby girl. You’re so good, my love!” she shouted back, smiling.

“Come on, baby, go play by yourself for a little bit, and daddy’s going to go talk to mommy, okay?”

“Okay, daddy.”

I sat in the grass and played with my doll, Macy, while hearing that they talked with serious voices. Dad looked at me anxiously, and mom had unshed tears in her eyes. I stood up on unsteady legs and walked up to my mother.

“Don’t cry, mommy, you must be happy,” I said anxiously and looked at her with my big eyes.

My words made her tears flow, and she took me in her arms. She cried loudly against my shoulder, held me hard against her chest and sobbed. Dad’s behind me, keeping us all together. He looked like he was ready to fight to protect us. A lonely tear fell on his chin when he looked down at me.

“Never forget that you will do great things, Aleida. No matter what happens, we love you, and it will never change. Never forget where you come from, but most importantly, never forget who you are,” my mom said, still sobbing.

❖❣❖End of memory❖❣❖

I don’t know what will make me return to that memory voluntarily, given that it begins very beautiful but ends in tragedy. That memory somehow attracts me. I can’t let it go, somewhere it feels like I need to remember it. I wonder why my mother and father were so sad... Had I done something wrong? The unfortunate part is that I’ll never have the opportunity to ask them. Regardless, I feel that now it’s time to wake up. My memory reminds me of my dream since they died, I have to wake up, now!

Miliano’s POV

I’m sitting as usual in her room, with her hand in mine. She doesn’t look as pale today. Now it almost seems as if she’s sleeping a regular sleep and will wake up. It’s wishful thinking. Even though her wounds have healed and the doctors haven’t given her more sleeping pills, she hasn’t woken up. We know this could happen, even though it stings inside my chest. My angel might become an angel for real. They measured her brain activity earlier, and the machine showed that the brain was going overdrive. I could feel the panic rising within me when I was told; however, Gina explained that this was something positive and something we would be happy for. It meant that if she were to wake up, she wouldn’t be brain dead. Gina even explained that she would be confused at first when, or somewhat, if she wakes up. Given her recent reaction, her mind hasn’t had time to process the trauma she suffered because she hasn’t been conscious. My mate can be aggressive and scared or the exact opposite. Nothing is evident in this situation. The only thing that goes without saying is that I will help her through it. I already know that she is the woman of my life; she is my mate as the moon goddess herself explicitly chosen for me. I made a promise to myself; a commitment that every day work hard to earn her, I’m not enough. Deep down, I know she deserves more in a mate than I am. Nothing can stand in my way; I will make her love me, I can do that... Right?

Of course you can, Milo.

But how? I’m just one man.

You’re not alone; we’re a team, remember?

Yeah, you’re right, man.

Besides, if you fuck it up, maybe you can let me out to play. I promise that I can make mates wolf purr like a kitten. Now, concentrate on our mate. She needs us as much as we need her. We can’t live without her now.

I know, I know...

I bend over to kiss her softly on her forehead. When my lips meet her skin, she lifts her head and headbutts me. I fly back and land on the floor. What the hell just happened?

Aleida’s POV

With a roar, I headbutt the person who is obviously far too close to my personal space. Who the hell does he think he is?! He slowly rises and smiles gently at me. He takes a step forward towards me, and I growl high. That growl that comes out of me is a warning growl, that means if he gets too close, then I will attack him.

“Back the fuck off if your life is dear to you!” I yell at him.

A man and a doctor come inside the room. I react directly when I see the man approaching me with quick steps picking up a scalpel lying on the table next to me and throw it at him. It flies into the wall, and he’s stuck. The shirt is stuck between his body and the wall. All three look at me amazingly. You didn’t think so, did you? I’m thinking smugly to myself. They start moving towards me, and I growl again in a warning at them. They keep their distance and just stand there quietly.

“Well? What the hell do you want?” I ask, angry.

“What’s your name, baby girl?” asks the man who I headbutted earlier.

“What’s in it for you?” I ask suspiciously, and he laughs at me.

“Well, for starters, I want to know the name of the beautiful creature before me who broke my nose with her head,” he says, smiling, and I look down to avoid his eyes.

“If we start telling us our names, can we hear yours?” asks the other man which I nod at.

“My name is Killian and I’m the beta,” the handsome stranger begins.

“I’m the packdoctor, Gina,” the woman says and smiles; I look up at the man next to me with anticipation.

“And I’m Miliano, the alpha,” he says and I freeze at his words, flying off the bed while shielding my head and hide in the corner of the room.

“Oh my...” Gina says.

“Hey, beautiful, there’s no need to be afraid. I promise you that you’re safe,” Miliano says.

I don’t dare to look at any of them. This is obviously not my pack, which means that they can do whatever they want with me. A she-wolf who runs into someone else’s territory without their permission becomes their property per see.

“Please, can’t you speak to us?”

“I’m sorry, alpha, but I can’t,” I answer quietly, and he bends down to my level at the floor.

“Please don’t call me alpha; I prefer my nickname Milo better. Can you do that, sweetheart?”

“Milo,” I whisper, and he smiles.

“Now, you know all of our names, but we still don’t know yours.”

“I’m Aleida.”

“Nice to meet you, Aleida; that’s a beautiful name, you know. Do you have a last name?” he asks, and I hesitate.

“Mendez.”

“That name reminds me of someone, but who...”

“Which pack am I in?” I ask.

“You are in the Winter moon pack, darling,” he answers and I freeze up again; I know exactly who these people are, now I remember. I stand up fast and glare at them.

“Who are you, really?” Killian asks.

“My name is Aleida Mendez, from the Rose Moon pack, and your pack killed my family,” I growl.