Her Broken Mate 15
Sarah snatched the notepad from his hands and threw it carelessly to the side of the bed. Her breathing was frantic because she felt so much anger and sadness.
His mother, Stella, did this to him. She made him believe that the death of pack members and the death of his father in a coma was all his fault. He had not only been abused mentally, but physically as well. Stella had convinced him not only that the attack was his fault, but also that his life had no value, that not even his mate would desire him.
Seth stopped talking because he was afraid... and she had to show him that there was nothing to be afraid of.
She wanted him to understand that he would always be precious to her, but how? It was always a mystery to her what to do. Whether she approached him or not, he pushed her away or got scared. And it felt awful when she did something that triggered his panic attack.
She took a deep breath and took a risk.
She clasped his cheeks, leaned forward and forced him to look deeply into her eyes.
His breath was coming in jerks, full of panic.
"Look at me, Seth. Does it look like I am hurting you?"
He shook his head.
She did not believe him.
She continued, "I will say this once, and only once. I want you and only you. Remember, the Moon Goddess brought us together for a reason. Seth, you were made for me. Just as I was made for you. Nothing will ever change that."
She seemed to have his attention now, because he stopped breathing heavily. His heart was still racing, but it was not pounding in his chest like it had been moments ago.
"Seth, every person has value in their life. Even if it were a criminal, there is someone in their life who thinks they are valuable and cares about them. Just like I will always take care of you, and I will wait for you to open up to me. Even if it takes years, I will wait," she said in a strained voice.
When she realized she was still gripping his cheeks, she let go of them and sat down next to him. Her emotions had truly overwhelmed her.
Those words she said to Seth were the last lessons her parents had taught her.
As she drifted from her thoughts, she noticed Seth smiling slightly at her before hesitantly leaning his forehead against hers.
He was trying, and as long as he made an effort to open up and face his fears, she knew they would be okay.
A single tear rolled down his cheek, and another. He was still smiling, though, as if relieved. Surprisingly, Seth leaned away from her and suddenly wiped her face.
She looked at him in wonder, not understanding why.
Until she realized that she was crying, too.
They were tears of joy because they were trying to get better. Her tears were not only that, but also from longing, frustration and pity.
She wanted him, but they were not ready. She was frustrated because she lacked patience and understanding. She had to learn to respect his boundaries. She was also frustrated because he did not understand how much he meant to her. How much he deserved and that he was more than worthy of her. He was perfect, and she wished he understood that.
And she felt pity... Because he's not alone in the world. Terrible things have happened to him and she can not imagine his pain.
He continued to wipe away her tears as the sparks flew.
They continued to do this for God knows how long, but it was sweet. That moment was something she would remember for the rest of her life because it really felt like they connected and understood each other.
A moment later, he smiled and reached for a tissue that was on the nightstand. He reached for his notepad and wrote down:
'You have a runny nose,' he remarked, sniffling through his tears.
Her face instantly turned red and Seth honestly found that very funny to see.
'So cute.' he wrote on his notepad.
She shook her head in exasperation, "Noooo! Do not look!"
He reached out and wiped her runny nose, whereupon she quickly tried to push him off her.
But he was persistent and wiped her snot away.
Embarrassment flooded her entire being. She could not believe that her buddy had just seen her ugly, crying face and the snot running down her nose.
That's embarrassing!
'Imagine how I feel... you disgusting human.' Thunder said, covering her eyes with her paws.
'Oh, shut up. I did not expect that from him!'
After Seth took care of her, he washed his hands and returned to his room. He sat down next to her again and wrote on his notepad:
'You are beautiful. Do not worry, I do not think it's gross.'
She stared at him, her heart racing.
'You really are something... Seth. Watch out or I'll fall in love with you,' she said, her face even redder than before.
Seth's mouth dropped open, but he quickly closed it again. He seemed surprised, but happy at the same time.
But before he could answer, something all too familiar caught their attention.
The patter of footsteps snapped them out of the moment before they turned their attention to the door. Without warning, Ryan and Emily rushed through the door, completely out of breath.
Their skin was eerily pale, causing Sarah and Seth to shuffle hastily to their feet. The tension in the air was so great it was almost enough to choke on.
"What's wrong with you two? You look like you have seen a ghost," Sarah joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
Emily shook her head in exasperation, "No time for jokes, Sarah! It's urgent."
Sarah's lips formed into a grim line. She glanced in Seth's direction, who seemed to have composed himself.
Seth signalled for the two to move on, crossing his arms impatiently.
Ryan swallowed, "Jupiter's awake and asking for you."
