Why My Mate Cries
Chapter 55

ALIYAH’S POV

I shivered, walking into our home while my eyes surveyed the living room. The sound of something liquid pouring into a glass got my attention. When I glanced at the kitchen, there I saw Reid, who was drinking his brandy like it was only water.

Pain went through me as I watched him trying to keep his emotions under control, but deep within, a big part of him was breaking. Perhaps the invitation to the annual assembly opened some wounds that have hardly healed even after so many years. I totally understood that even though time couldn’t heal the broken part of him, the wounds may close, but the scars would never fade away.

It was just right there, waiting for the perfect time to trigger him and make him feel the searing pain of how his parents died.

If only I had another choice… I would never convince him to do something that would bring back all the pain he once felt.

But I had no option. As the Luna of this pack, I had to decide what would be best for the lives of our people.

“Reid…”

He was about to drink another glass of his liquor, but he stopped midway and gazed at me. His brows were furrowed. Wrath could be seen in his eyes, and I knew behind it was his pain he was only enduring.

“Klaus told me everything,” I added.

“No, Aliyah. We will never attend such a bullshit assembly.” His voice was firm and cold, and it sent shivers down my spine. He then finished another glass of brandy and avoided my gaze.

“W—What about the threat, Reid? Our pack would be in danger if we didn’t attend.”

“They are just threatening us!”

“We can’t just assume, Reid. Hundreds of lives will be taken away if they start a war against us.”

“And so, we will fight!” He growled at me.

He was fuming mad, and I could feel my heart pounding aggressively while I watched him in this state. My lips trembled at the thought of witnessing a new war any time after the assembly. I envisioned b***d and loud cries of agony. It was unbearable that my hand moved to hold my abdomen… I was scared that something bad might happen to our child if a war broke out, and so I had to be firm about what I thought was right.

“They will only outnumber us, Reid. Think of the lives of our innocent people.” I sucked in a breath and bit my lower l*p. “I know that this will be so difficult for you and I understand where you’re coming from, but… this matter isn’t just about us. It’s for the entire pack, Reid. It’s for their precious lives. We need to protect them. We need to protect the future of our child…”

I could see how Reid trembled in anger. He slammed his hand on the countertop table. I was so startled by it that I ended up in tears. However, a minute later, he walked towards me, embraced and soothed me.

“I’m sorry…” he uttered. His voice sounded pained and vulnerable. “I’m sorry, Aliyah…”

I engulfed him in a tight hug as I sobbed. “P—Please reconsider it.”

He became silent for a brief moment. I felt him bury his head in my shoulder, and then he whimpered in frustration.

“Fine,” he replied, as he huffed out. “Just this once…”

“I promise. Just this once, Reid…”

***

The day we needed to go for the annual assembly had finally come. Klaus, Sage, some elders, Liana, and Alice were coming with us too. Reid was completely half-hearted regarding the situation, but we had to go no matter what.

The annual assembly would be held near the East Coast, which was a two-hour drive from our territory. As it was explained to me by Liana, there was a private land there that was bought by the wealthiest pack that co-hosted the assembly, and we’d be staying there for three days.

We used two Wrangler jeeps on our way there, and during the drive I was totally quiet. I couldn’t figure out why my body couldn’t relax for a bit. My mind was filled with thoughts and worries as to what would happen in the assembly once we got there.

Reid was the one driving the black Wrangler, and he was silent all the time too. Though I wanted to speak with him, I held back as I knew things had become difficult for him.

After more than two hours, we finally arrived at our destination. The men started taking our luggage bags from the jeeps while I, Liana, and Alice started checking out the place. There were a lot of cars parked outside the metal gate that towered over us. It seemed that there were a lot of pack who attended the assembly. That alone made me feel mixed emotions.

I could hear the waves of the ocean coming from our direction. I couldn’t help but admire the view, as it was the first time I’d seen an actual beach. The cold, salty breeze blew my hair, and as it brushed against my skin, I prayed in my mind that the assembly would end alright.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen for the next three days, but I hope it will be just pure fun,” Alice said.

I turned to her and smiled. “Let’s hope for the best.”

“It should turn out fine since we already attended this time around,” Klaus commented, wrapping his arm around Liana’s shoulder.

Reid was still silent, but he held my hand and intertwined our fingers. That’s when I realized that he was nervous. His hand was sweating and so cold. However, his expression remained blank.

“Are you alright?” I asked, and I squeezed his hand tight.

His breathing went ragged. He then nodded and said, “I have to be.”

“Let’s just put up with it for three days, hmm?” I told him.

He stared down at me in defeat. “I have no choice, Al.”

Once we were all good, we finally went inside the private land where the assembly would be held. Falling in line along with the other packs, I couldn’t help but survey the whole area. It was like a private forest that was being taken care of accordingly. Pine trees, and even all the green plants, could be seen in every corner. As I craned my neck to check where we would be heading, I saw some huge tents not far away from us. I was surprised that there were more shifters who attended than I thought.

My heart raced fast. My anti-social side had awakened as I was becoming too overwhelmed. If not for Reid, who held my hand tight, I wouldn’t be able to think straight.

“I can smell how scared you are,” he uttered softly as we walked.

“There are a lot of people here.”

“That’s how burdensome this shit can be, Aliyah.”

“I know, but we still—” I wasn’t able to finish my words when I felt someone with a hard body bump my shoulder.

That made me get closer to Reid, to the point that my body was pressed against his. When I looked at the man who bumped me, I stiffened in my place.

He looked familiar…