Berta’s POV
“Mother, things have changed a bit, haven’t they?” Sky asked as I laughed softly.
“No, everything is still the same,” I answered with a smile, then laughed loudly when he frowned with a low sigh.
Did he want me to praise him or lie?
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Lorin whispered to me silently.
“To be honest, although most of the things are the same here, I must admit that there are a few impressive things that are different,” I said as he smiled with an expression that was asking me to point out the impressive things.
“You know, like the training field. Who could have guessed there would be a big building next to it, with very clean bathrooms, toilets, and gym equipment?” I said as he smiled widely.
“I was the one who came up with that idea. You see, our warriors usually want to take a bath after training, and some want to train more but with gym equipment. That’s why I had to come up with a plan,” he answered while we walked into the pack house.
“I’m so happy to see how you have helped this pack thrive. I am sure you take after me,” I said, then brushed my hand gently through his hair.
I frowned and stood in my tracks when the scent of tears filled my nose.
And that’s when I heard it: Glen’s crying voice.
I found myself running into the living room as Sky followed behind.
My heart instantly ached at the sight of him kneeling on the ground, crying.
I furiously walked to Clyde and slapped him hard across the cheek.
He closed his eyes as a trail of blood rolled from his nose.
“You are the worst mate ever, Clyde! I wish I could …”
“Mother!” Glen called loudly in a husky tone, cutting me off.
“No, son, I want to hear it. You wish you could do what, Berta?” he asked when he opened his eyes.
In his eyes, I couldn’t see any anger but rather sadness and pain.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself to say it all.
“I wish …”
“Damn it, Berta, stop!” Glen screamed furiously.
I looked at him with widened eyes and astonishment.
I thought we were past the phase of him calling me by my name! Was he upset with me for slapping Clyde?
“Son, apologize to your mother for calling her by her name in such a disrespectful manner, now,” Clyde said coldly.
Glen was never one to be given orders when he was upset, so his words were definitely going to be ignored.
I was surprised when he lowered his head.
“I am so sorry, Mother; I didn’t mean to yell at you or sound disrespectful. I just hated how you treated Dad a few seconds ago,” he said as I stood frozen in place and in shock.
“It’s okay, son; I am not angry in any way. I actually feel like I deserved much more than a slap for putting her in so much pain in the past,” Clyde answered.
“Dad, I get that what you did in the past was bad, but today you did nothing wrong,” he replied and then got to his feet with a smile.
I watched as he walked past me and stood in front of Clyde.
“Dad, I will even work harder to keep you proud of me,” he said, and for the first time, I saw a genuine proud reaction on Clyde’s face.
He smiled back at him and then nodded.
“Um… Sorry to ask this, but… what the fuck is going on here?” Sky exclaimed.
“Nothing,” Glen answered as he turned to face us with a smile.
“Seriously, what the hell is going on?” he asked again.
Glen moved to his side and grabbed his hand, dragging him out of the room.
I brushed my hand through my hair and turned to face Clyde.
He had a warm smile on his face as if everything that had happened hadn’t happened.
“I’m sorry; as you can see, I am drinking. I might have said something foolish because I was tipsy and made our pup cry,” he said as I slowly moved closer to him.
He didn’t know Glen like I did. He not only listened to him, but he looked happier than he had ever been with me in all the years.
Also, our kind were so tolerant of alcohol, so he wasn’t drunk at all.
When Glen said those words to him, I could hear sincerity and respect, which showed how much he looked up to him.
When I came back to the pack and he spoke to him, I thought it was all an act at first, but now I realize how it wasn’t.
Glen was happy to have him by his side, and that was all that mattered to me.
I looked around, trying to see if I could find a cloth I could use to wipe away the trail of blood on his nose. When I saw nothing, I tore a small piece of cloth from my dress and moved it to his nose.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
“Berta, I was wrong. You don’t have to apologize to me for doing something right. You protecting our pup is something I respect and love to see,” he answered.
I dropped my hand and took a step back.
“Clyde, what exactly are you trying to do?” I asked seriously.
“Nothing. I won’t act all high and mighty, asking you for something I messed up. I was at fault back then… I still am. I was actually very stupid and unreasonable,” he said as I frowned deeply.
Did I ever think that such a day would come? Never. The anger I felt all those years for him was real. But now that I was facing him, I hoped things would have turned out differently.
“Excuse me,” I whispered softly, and I was about to turn when he grabbed my hand.
“Berta, I lied,” he said as I looked him in the eyes.
“It’s an impossible dream, but I wish I could make you stay, even if it’s not as my mate,” he said as I pulled my hand away.
“I am sorry, but I am here for Glen and to see Sky only,” I said with a glare, then turned and walked to the door, feeling sad.
“Don’t look back, Berta,” Lorin warned.
I wanted to just walk out, but I found myself disobeying her and looking back. Clyde was rubbing his eyes, facing slightly to the side as if hiding the tears that were threatening to fall.
I blinked back my forming tears and forced myself to walk out of the room.
The Clyde I knew and was mated to loved me, but there was never a day he showed such weakness or shed tears, no matter how hard things were.
“Stop,” Lorin growled when tears ran down my cheeks in the passage.
We were still mated, and I could feel his pain as if it were my own. It made me feel like I had failed him when he was the one who had failed me first.