Colliding With My Mate(Book #2)

Chapter 4

*Reid's Pov*

Cara was forever hot and cold. One minute she wanted to put effort into the relationship the next she acted like we were never in one to begin with.

I came back from my morning run to find her sitting incredibly tense in our room. I could only guess that she had another dream that left her scarred. I went over to her.

She hugged me when I came in and rested her head in my shoulder. I combed through her hair with my fingers absentmindedly. She liked it when I played with her hair in general, and I should have made more of an effort to do so back when her hair was short. But then again, she never rested her head on me when her hair was short.

"Reid-" She looked up at me. Seeing that I was alert and attentive, she continued. "If it's not a problem for you, can we go for a walk? I want to talk to you."

I nodded seriously, already fearing the worst."Ok let's go now."

We walked slowly, an arms length apart from each other. We were both in our own heads. I didn't know what she wanted to say to me, part of me feared she wanted to end the relationship. I knew I pushed her to do things sometimes, but it was only because I loved her and wanted to see her happy.

I looked over at her and I noticed tears were in her eyes. What was going on?

"Cara?" I closed the distance between us and pulled her into a hug. She started to cry softly on my shoulder.

"What happened?" I hated to see her cry. "If it's about what I said last night-."

She nodded. "I just don't want to disappoint you."

"Cara you aren't. You aren't trying to get better for me, you're getting better for yourself."

"I know but you've done so much, taken time off your work, came here all just to see me get better, but you're right I'm not doing anything to reciprocate."

"Cara we've only been here for a day. I'm not expecting miracles but you're right. I do want you to try."

I shouldn't have tried to ask her to shift if she wasn't ready and I should have never have said what I did to her yesterday, it wasn't right. As soon as the words came out my mouth I regretted them. Without even touching Cara last night I felt her stiffen. Those words fell on her like a slap.

She refused to look at my face as she wiped the tears from her eyes." I'm not doing a good job at trying." I reached out to touch her but she shrugged me off.

My hands fell to my sides and eventually I folded them. "No it was wrong of me to ask that much of you so soon. Baby steps remember." I spoke softly.

She sighed and ran her hands through her hair."No.No. I should be doing it. I have no problem shifting- it's just I have a problem shifting in front of you."

I felt pain slash over my heart. That was one of the worst things a mate could tell their partner. Something so natural as shifting, Cara wanted to keep from me. I blinked back some of the hurt I was feeling. Cara, seeing the look on my face, put her hand out to touch me.

She was quick to recant."It's nothing you've done. It's just sometimes I think I look as hideous as I feel, and I'm afraid you would think so too. I know the scars aren't there anymore, but sometimes I still feel like they are."

"Fuck Cara." I couldn't help myself. She looked up startled."Don't try to think for me. Cara you are in no way diminished to me. You are just as beautiful as you were three months ago. Scars no scars, you think that's going to change my perception of you? You don't have to shift for me ever again as long as  you stop thinking  I would ever be disgusted by you. In any way."