Her Broken Mate 26

Three months later -

FLASHBACK:

"No, no! Mom, I'm sorry! Please!" pleaded Seth, trying to protect himself against her relentless kicks.

Laughter boomed from above, her amusement written all over her face. Others joined her, amused by his cries of pain and pleas to stop.

They never did, on the contrary, they intensified the blows with each scream. By the time they were done, his lip had split open, his eyes were so swollen he could barely see, and his little body was covered in blood.

Disappointed that he didn't make another sound, they left and went about their own business. As they went, one after another spat and hissed words at him. Words that drilled into his heart and his overly broken soul.

"You're worthless. It's your fault my wife died! It's your fault! I hope you die, you piece of shit!" A man spat and stepped on his hand until a crack was heard. A soft whimper left him, his body numb from the pain.

The man walked away while another woman relieved him. "How pathetic, no wonder your mother disowned you," she hissed, pulling him up by his hair so that his swollen eyes could meet hers.

With a thud, she threw his head back to the floor; another woman relieved her as she left.

The new woman looked at him with such disgust that he'd've preferred to duck away. She knelt down to his level and spat at him, "You'd do well to drop dead the next day, but then who'll entertain us?" she hissed, looking superior. "I can't believe the Luna gave birth to such a monster. The pack is burning, the death of the pack members, it's all your fault," she added.

Just like that, everyone else left except his mother. He'd a little hope that she'd save him, but she didn't. She just scoffed and then said, "Remember it's your fault your father is in a coma. Oh, and be sure to clean up this mess. We don't want others to see how messy you're, do we?"

His mother kicked him one last time before walking away, her heels echoing in the room.

Seth lay on the cold floor for what seemed like hours until he picked himself up by his broken fingers. Staggering, he wiped away the dry blood on the floor.

Finally he reached the cold shower, because that was the only thing they let him bathe in. His clothes were torn and tattered. But then, they always were after the fire.

When he looked in the mirror, he grimaced. He could no longer recognize the boy he'd once been. He no longer existed, for what lay before him was a boy with bruised skin, his eyes almost closed with painful purple. Cracked lips on which new blood was forming. Cheeks swollen from the beating and a body that no one wanted anymore.

Scars were everywhere, even whip marks.

He broke down there and apologized, sobbing to everyone and everything.

He thought, "My mate would never want a murderer. It's my fault that the pack house was set on fire, it's my fault that many pack members died, it's my fault that father is in a coma, it's my fault that I was kidnapped, it's my fault why they all hate me. Everything is my fault. I wish I'd not been born. I'm a mistake. Because who could love a monster like me?"
_ _ _

Seth quickly sat up on the bed and looked around at his surroundings. When he realized he was in his room, he heaved a sigh of relief.

'You're alive and well, calm down. It was just a dream,' he reassured himself.

Another flashback hit him, and then another.
_ _ _

"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" she screeched.

He cried out as she swung at him and her hands tightened around his throat.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! I'M IN FUCKING HEAT
WITHOUT YOUR FATHER TO SATISFY ME.
IT HURTS. IT HURTS!!!" she half-sobbed.

He tried to gasp, but she only tightened her grip.

"Mom ... please," he pleaded, his eyes brimming with tears.

She quickly shook her head, "Be quiet. Shut up. Talk again, I DARE YOU."

His mother took out her whip, ready to strike him again.

He closed his mouth, in agony. His lips began to bleed from the pressure he was putting on them.

"If you shut up, Mommy won't yell at you or hit you anymore...okay?" she said in a deadly soft voice.

He nodded, fear trembling in every corner of his being.

Then she took the whip and struck him so that he could no longer make a sound.

"Your mate won't want you when I'm done with you! How vile your body is! She'll be disgusted and you'll not be worthy of her! This is all your FAULT! If you make a sound while I'm doing this... the punishment will continue," she hissed.

He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and stifled his cries of pain as each blow burned into his skin. The wolf curse prevented him from healing.

When she was done, she lay in his pool of blood. She didn't move or attempt to make even a sound.

His mother leaned down to his ear, her tone gentle. "Mommy is so proud of you...you haven't made a sound. Don't speak, because if you do, Mommy will hit you, okay?"

He didn't answer.

She smiled contentedly as she left his room.

And she kept this promise... Until he overthrew her and took the alpha title.
But he still didn't talk, he was too scared. Until Sarah showed up and saved him.
_ _ _

He groaned in frustration, cursing himself for even dreaming of the past. Of what his mother and some of the pack members had done to him.

He looked to his left, wanting to snuggle up to Sarah again. Only to see that it was empty. It had been like that for the last three months.

That's right, his mate is in a coma, he thought bitterly, his mouth twisting into a frown.

Virus had been silent these months, not wanting to speak or do anything. He didn't want to be active or even 'alive' until his companion woke up.

Out of nowhere, a drop of water dripped onto Seth's leg.

At that moment, he noticed tears gathering in his eyes, and when his gaze landed back on Sarah's pillow, the tears came for good.

For months he'd held them back because he knew it was unmanly to cry. But it wasn't an unmanly thing to do, because a man who cries shows that he's human. A man crying doesn't mean he's weak, it just means he's been strong for too long.

He wanted his mate, she was the only thing that kept him sane. The one that kept the nightmares away. Without her, he'd be nothing. Yes, they'd only known each other for a few weeks or months. But that's not the point, because the Moon Goddess wanted it that way.

The bond makes the mates fall in love with each other instantly, but he was pretty sure he'd've fallen in love with Sarah even without the bond.

Feeling exhausted and wishing he'd never wake up without Sarah, he wrapped himself in Sarah's pillow. Her scent, which kept him sane in the meantime, made him feel safe.

'Wake up Sarah, I'm waiting for you.'