I sat silently listening to everything he said, letting it sink in. He didn't look at me or add anything else. Reid just sat there gazing out the window trapped in his memories. Reaching over, I grabbed his hand. Reid ripped his hand out of my grip, and a growl escaped his lips, making me flinch and pull my hand back. We had pulled up outside the Pack house. Opening the door, Reid walked inside, slamming the car door behind him, leaving me sitting in the car. I felt terrible not because he rejected me but because he had his own secrets, his own pain. A pain I couldn't take from him. Feeling through the bond, I could feel how hard he struggles with himself being around me, but at the same time, I could feel how much he rejects those feelings, pushing them aside for me. I felt guilty. I know I didn't kill his family, but that didn't make me feel any less guilty knowing that my kind were the ones to cause his heartbreak and knowing I was also making him break the promise he made to his father.
After a few minutes lost in my own thoughts, Zane came over, opening the door. He waited for me to get out. "Let him calm down. He doesn't mean to push you away."
"I know," I said, hopping out of the car. Zane looked at me, worriedly. "I'm fine, Zane. Reid is the one that needs you, not me." Zane nodded his head, following his Alpha.
Walking into the Pack house, I find Lily, who is in the kitchen talking to Wendy excitedly about the upcoming celebrations. Looking at Lily, it made me think of what Reid said about losing a mate. How it sends a wolf crazy. Alpha David lost his mate, my mother. I could, for the first time, understand what he went through. I know if something were to happen to Reid, it would kill me. The mate bond was that strong, it would be like losing a piece of your soul. How was David able to live with it? I couldn't forgive all the horrid things he had done, how he rejected Lily, but for the first time, I did understand it. He blamed her even though she didn't deserve that blame.
For the first time since my mother died, I felt sorry for him, but sorry doesn't erase what he has done. Sorry doesn't make me think any better of him. I just hope one day Lily could have a father figure in her life that adores her. But if not, she always has me. I will always make sure she knows that above everything. That her happiness will always be more important than everything else that life throws at us. But to keep her safe I will have to try to speak to her father. They may never build a relationship like I used to hope they would when she was baby, but I also didn't want to risk Reid's Pack, our Pack, if we were to go to war.
I know Reid would go to war if we needed to keep her safe. I just hope it doesn't come to that, and if there is any way to stop it, I promise Lily I will try. After all, as much as I can't stand David, it doesn't change the fact that he is her father. Lily may want nothing to do with him now, but that could change when she is older, and if there is a chance they could build a relationship, I will have to make sure she gets that chance. So, for now, I need to find a way to defuse the situation before it becomes out of hand.
Walking over to Lily and Wendy, they walked out the back onto the patio area that overlooked the pool and backyard. Following behind them, the first thing I noticed was heaps of Pack members. There were about a hundred people in the yard setting up long tables and placing out chairs. There were men setting up what looked like a DJ station and dance floor. Women were happily chatting amongst themselves, setting the tables. A large group of teenagers were hanging lights from the trees and on the huge gazebos. How did they set up all this in the time while we were gone? Everyone seemed buzzed and excited about the ceremony. I wondered if they would feel so excited when they discovered they have a Hybrid for a Luna. I suddenly felt inadequate. I was a noone, now I'm expected to help lead the Pack.
Wendy, noticing me, walks over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "This is all for you, Luna, you and Lily. The Pack members are excited to meet their Luna finally. We never thought Reid was going to find his mate. He has always been so closed off to everyone until you came into the picture, so everyone is naturally curious."
Her words only made me more anxious. Stepping away from her, I made my way back inside. Deciding to go upstairs, I walked into Reid's room, not really knowing where else I could hide from everyone. I looked for a linen cupboard, wanting to take a shower, but couldn't find one after a few minutes. I walked back downstairs to the hallway. Walking past the bedrooms before coming to Alpha Reid's office, next to it was a cupboard and opening it, I grabbed a towel out. As I was about to turn to walk back upstairs, I heard talking. "Calm down Alpha, if you go back and kill him, Aria will never forgive you."
"I don't fucking care. I hate them, hate them all." I quickly dropped my head going to walk off back to the stairs when the floor creaked. Looking through the gap of the door. I made eye contact with Reid, who was glaring directly at me. His canines protruding, his face was distorted with anger. I couldn't seem to pull my gaze away from him. His anger was strong, thick, reaching to me through the bond. I suddenly felt like my blood was boiling, making me feel hot. His anger was burning hot and unrelenting. Zane stepped into my line of vision, breaking my eye contact. He looked at me, smiling sadly before closing the door.