Chapter 28: Want Her To See The Truth

-Rogan-

Despite what I had told Serena today, she was determined to not let it change her, and I understood it. She had been trained to be a hunter for years and be loyal to the cause. I didn’t change that in a few days, but I did hope to show her, that we were different. That we were good people, and we only hurt those, who tried hurting us. We weren’t killers, and maybe when she saw that, she would find it easier to believe me, and would hopefully help me in the end.

“What?” she asked when I continued to look at her, but I just shook my head and continued to make us both some food.

I was not the greatest cook, but I could make something edible.

“You could have a long life in front of you,” I said.

“I never expected my life to be long.”

“You don’t find that sad?” I asked and looked over my shoulder.

Serena shrugged.

“We sacrifice ourselves for the cause,” she said.

“And you don’t see anything wrong in that?”

She just looked at me with a blank expression. This was the true power of brainwashing. It didn’t matter I asked her questions that seemed to corner her and would usually make another person see reason. No, she was so damn deep into it.

“You could actually live your life, Serena,” I said, as I moved the food onto a plate and brought it over to her before I went to grab a little too.

I sat down beside her, while she watched her food with a little bit of suspicion, but she already knew if I wanted to poison her, I would have. So, she dug in, and she tried to hide the pleased expression on her face. I was glad I could provide her with some food. Mates took care of each other, and it pleased me to see her happy.

“I am,” she finally said.

I shook my head.

“No, you’re living for someone else. For *something* else.”

She looked at me almost confused.

“Think about it,” I said. “What if you weren’t a hunter?”

“Then I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

“Sometimes normal humans and wolves get paired too,” I said.

“Which I find very strange. That shouldn’t happen.”

“But it does.”

“You’re murderers. What are you doing to these poor humans?” she asked, and I couldn’t help but almost find her funny. “What?”

“Nothing. You wouldn’t understand it.”

“How can you be sure?” she asked.

“Because you believe so strongly in this, and I know what is true. So, therefore, you wouldn’t find it funny,” I explained.

“How can you be sure you know the truth?” she asked me.

“Because they are *my* people.”

“And I am a hunter! I don’t even know why you bother doing this, trying to convert me or whatever,” she snarled before she continued to eat.

“Because this is about me too. We are bound.”

“Bound?” she asked.

“Even if I haven’t marked you—”

“Back up. Marked me?”

I nodded.

“Like literally?” she asked.

I nodded again.

“Yes, us wolves mark each other so others can see we belong to someone else,” I explained.

“And how do you do that?” she asked.

“By biting, placing our mark right here,” I said and reached out, placing my hand on her left shoulder.

She looked at my hand almost a little scared like I could mark her with that, and I slowly withdrew it. I didn’t really want to let go of her. I wanted to keep touching her, which was only natural considering we were mates.

“Humans can’t do that.”

He shook his head.

“No, but we can also scent if other people’s scents are on someone.”

“You can smell that?” she asked and sounded almost impressed.

“Yes.”

“So, if your mate cheated—”

“That is very rare that happens, and only if people aren’t true mates or miserable in their connection,” I said.

“I’m sorry there is a difference?” she asked.

“True mates are people that are paired together by the Goddess, but we can also choose if we want to. The connection won’t be as strong though,” I told her.

“So, this … other wolf, where you had the meeting, you chose her?” she asked.

I nodded. It seemed like the hunter didn’t just know where I was that night, but also *why*. I hoped that didn’t mean Julianna and her family were in danger. I might not want her like I wanted Serena, but I didn’t wish her harm.

“Yes,” I said.

“Why?”

“Because normally us wolves find our mates rather fast. I am at an unusual age for finding a mate,” I explained.

“So, you were just done waiting?”

“There was more to it,” I said. “I needed to form a strong alliance.”

“So, it’s the nineteen hundred again?” she sarcastically asked me.

“Humans marry like this all the time, why can’t wolves form alliances this way too?” I asked.

She seemed to think about it but then nodded in an understanding way.

“I guess they can,” she said. “But now that you have found me …”

“I can’t really choose someone else,” I said.

“Why not?”

“I have already explained this. I can’t just reject you,” I said.

Serena still didn’t seem satisfied, and I understood. She wanted to get rid of me, but we had been paired for some reason. I didn’t know what the Goddess saw in Serena. Why she was different than any other hunter, but apparently, she was, and she was my mate, which meant I had to show her loyalty. At least a little. I couldn’t make excuses for her if she chose to hurt someone here. My loyalty wasn’t undying, and I didn’t think anyone’s loyalty should be, because loyalty was earned, and only if you also received a little back, could you continue to trust each other.

“Isn’t there some way we can be free of each other?” she asked.

“No.”

“Are you saying no because you know there isn’t or because you don’t want there to be? I mean you kind of got me under your control at the moment,” she said.

“I say no because there isn’t another way to separate us without us losing our minds, but I am also saying no because I don’t want to.”

“Why not? You don’t like me,” she said.

“No, I don’t.”

“So, end it!”

I shook my head.

“I am not going to risk getting on the Goddess’s bad side. Besides, what kind of person would I be if I at least didn’t try to help my mate?” I asked.

“Help me?” she asked.

“You could have a life. A life right here without more death or training. Where you could just be … you. You have a chance of a … sort of a normal life, right here, but I need to guide you towards the right path in order for that to happen,” I explained.

“You’re not God.”

“No, but I am your mate.”