Her Broken Mate 47

Sarah knew that nothing worthwhile was ever easy.

But Seth was her mate. Both her love and her soul mate.

She couldn't give him up, not yet.

He was broken. Possibly beyond repair, but he was still hers. Her other half, without which she couldn't imagine life.

She swallowed the damage he'd done to her feelings and quickly chased after him. She joined her thoughts with the guards to bring Jupiter, who was currently unconscious in his room, to the prison cell.

She searched everywhere, but her mate was nowhere to be seen. Only when she left the pack house did she catch his scent.

Seth followed his tracks and was on the hill.

When he noticed her presence, she could hear a sigh from her mate.

It was hard being Seth... because she couldn't imagine what it was like to not only be abused by your mother, but to be used by your own father. He'd now lost both of his parents.

His mother, who'd carried him to term. Had brought him into the world. And had taken care of him, only to turn her back on him and blame everything on a little boy.

And now his father.

Who'd tricked her. Who made her think he was this funny, goofy, comforting person. Who made her laugh and smile with joy. In reality, he was a cunning man who used everything to his advantage.

Seth thought that nothing he did was wrong in his father's eyes. Yet he was just a manipulative man who wanted to get his way, and his way only. A narcissist at his finest.

It was funny because even though Seth looked like he'd it all, he really didn't.

Sometimes you feel so lonely in this world even though you're surrounded by the people you love.

And at the top of the hill where he stood, he seemed the loneliest of all.

"There have been many times I've thought about leaving this place, Sarah," Seth said when he finally spoke.

Her wolf howled in fear, wanting her to comfort him, but she stood firm. He wanted his space, and she'd to respect that.

All he wanted was for her to listen to him.

Seth continued, his back to her;

"Many times ... I've tried to take my own life. I thought no one would care if I left. I told myself it would make everyone happy. Every day I felt like I was a burden. That I was useless. The thing is, I can't take my life," he whispered, and his desperation was palpable. "I'm tired. I really am. Tired of waking up. Tired of breathing. Tired of opening my eyes. No one understands. They all want me to live so they don't have to suffer the consequences. So I stay alive so they won't be sad. But I suffer because I'm alive. Ironic, isn't it? It's just not fair. And I wish there was an easier alternative." Seth said, and his words made her and her wolf whimper with sadness. "And then I met you. I was finally happy. I felt better and I regained the confidence I'd lost. I found my voice again," he said, taking a deep breath. "Why am I so weak, Sarah? It only took a few sentences to destroy everything I'd built up."

His words broke her even more, she wanted to comfort him. "You're not weak, Seth."

He shook his head almost immediately, laughing pitifully at himself. "I'm not a man for you... I'm just a pathetic alpha," he continued, swallowing hard.

She could hear the tremor in his voice.

'Please don't say things like that.'

But her words couldn't come out.

"Even my own father thinks it's my fault that he went into a coma. Not only my mother, but also my father. Everything is my fault ... isn't it?" he whispered weakly, and more tears rolled down his pale cheeks.

Sarah opened her mouth to protest but he held his hand in the air. He begged her to let him finish.

"It just feels like... Nothing I do is enough. No matter how hard I try, I feel like I'm never enough. I'm tired, Sarah. When am I going to be able to rest? When will the nightmares stop? I can still hear the screams of the dying pack members." Seth said, pausing before another whimper escaped him. "And my best ... Is just not enough. It never is."

Her heart clenched as she realised how hurt her mate was. He stared into the sunset, his gaze looking longingly at the sky. As if he wanted to be a part of it.

"It's hard to believe my father would ever do something like that. Even now, it's hard for me to believe that it's all true. That I could've been a younger brother or that my father was just using me. What else is real? Who can I trust?"

"You can trust me."

"And I'm afraid of that, Sarah. How can I trust that you won't hurt me like everyone else has? What if you're going to leave me, too? I'm afraid to be more vulnerable around you. I don't know what to believe anymore."

'I'll never leave you.'

"Every day... I told myself what a monster I was. That my mate wouldn't have wanted me. I even have the scars to prove it," he said, tentatively taking off his shirt in one swift motion.

She gasped when she finally noticed the lashes on his back. The scars that covered him from top to bottom.

Many times she'd had occasion to look at his scars, but she'd not dared to frighten him. The scars were deeply engraved in his soul, and she was afraid of triggering something if she asked him about them.

It's never okay to intentionally bring up someone's trauma, because you've to go at it at your own pace.

"These are from your mother, aren't they?" she asked, trying to blink away the tears.

He nodded and smiled sympathetically.

"I'm a monster... aren't I? Just look at me," he whispered, his face thrown down in shame and disgust at his own body.

She contradicted him and became emotional. "Seth ... you're beautiful. There's no way any of this is ugly."

He grunted, less than amused by her response.

"You're lying. No one would ever love this."

"But I do."

Silence filled the air when he finally turned to her. His eyes filled with a hint of hope and doubt.

"It's hard for me to let people in.
Because when I do, they always betray me."

She smiled admiringly at the man she loved.

"That's the thing, Seth. You've to get involved in a relationship and know that it could possibly end. You've to open your heart and give your heart to the person. Trusting that she won't break it."

He bit his lip, trying to emphasise that she shouldn't love someone like him. "My skin isn't smooth, Sarah. Not like yours. It's bumpy and unsightly."

"Your scars are a part of you, which means .
I love them. They show others what you've been through. There's no reason to be ashamed of them. Scars tell a story. Even if they're bad stories for you. They can be inspiring to others.

Another tear rolled down his face.

"You love me?" His head tilted to the side as if he were examining her.

Seth's eyes rested on her, a gentle expression showing on him.

She chuckled and nodded bitingly. "Yes. I love you just the way you're. And that means I love all of you. Whatever you see as a flaw or a weakness, I've learned to love."

Every word Sarah had spoken began to brighten his face, and slowly a smile appeared.

Seth walked toward her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You promise?"

"I'm in it for the long haul."

It was all so sudden. Before she knew it, he was standing in front of her. His eyes were pitch black with lust and desire. He locked her lips with his own and kissed her hard. He poured all his love and adoration into her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as Seth held onto the back of her head while she returned his kiss.

She lost track of time and heard the guards calling out names. Seth quickly broke off the kiss and grinned with mischievous intent. She rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on the chest.

"Come on, let's go interrogate your father."

Seth paused, but nodded, strengthening his resolve.

As they walked down the hill holding hands, Sarah couldn't help but want to strangle Jupiter.