Her Tortured Mate

Episode 6. Learning

I didn’t sleep very well that night. Between the hunger gnawing at my stomach and the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind, rest felt impossible. And then there was him, sleeping so close to me. I turned my head slightly, studying his face. From the very first moment I saw him, I knew something wasn’t right. But to think he was a living, breathing werewolf—the stuff of legends, horror movies, and villains in games. Yet even now, looking at him, I couldn’t deny there were worse monsters in the world.

That man—Sebastian—had said something about a mate suffering for Dominic’s crimes. A mate? What did that even mean? The only way to find out would be to ask, but waking him up wasn’t exactly appealing. How had my life gone from utterly normal to something out of a dark fantasy? I had no idea. But dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. Somehow, I had to survive this, and that meant putting my faith in the man lying next to me, even if he was on death’s door.

One thing puzzled me, though. Weren’t werewolves supposed to have super healing or something? I guess that was just a myth to make them seem invincible. Then a horrifying thought struck me. If werewolves were real, did that mean vampires were too? Zombies? Ogres? Please, no.

My stomach growled loudly, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. Sleep seemed like the best way to forget about hunger, but the hunger made sleep impossible. Frustrated, I got up and headed to the river. Drinking water probably wouldn’t help much, but it was better than nothing.

The cool water felt soothing as I splashed some on my face after drinking my fill. I let my thoughts wander, trying to make sense of the situation. If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be stranded in the woods with a werewolf, I would’ve laughed in their face. Now, here I was, thirsty, starving, and in over my head.

On my way back to the cave, I checked the clothes I’d washed earlier. They were mostly dry, good enough to wear. Relieved, I quickly slipped them on before heading back inside. The moment my head hit the pillow, exhaustion finally claimed me. The hunger faded into the background as sleep dragged me under.

Morning light filtered into the cave, and I awoke to an unfamiliar warmth. Something heavy was draped across my waist. My eyes snapped open, and I realized it was his arm. This motherfucker. His grip was firm, trapping me against him, and he was still fast asleep.

Not for long.

I shook him awake. His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned softly before pulling me closer and nuzzling his face into my neck. Oh, hell no.

“Let me go,” I demanded.

He sighed, reluctantly lifting his arm. I slipped out of bed and stood, my stomach aching from hunger.

“Do you have any food? We need to eat,” I asked.

“No. I’d have to hunt.”

“Well, you can’t hunt in that condition, so how are we supposed to eat?”

He hesitated, looking at me with an odd mix of sadness and resolve. “I can draw you a map out of the woods. You can get all the food you want in town.”

I stared at him, skeptical. After everything, he was just going to let me go?

“What’s the catch?” I asked warily.

“No catch. There’s no reason both of us should starve. But before you go, I need you to listen. You need to understand what’s happening and why others might come after you.”

My heart stopped. Others? Why would anyone come after me? What made me so special that werewolves would want me?

“Fine,” I said, sitting down.

He struggled to sit up, and I reluctantly helped him. Once he was settled, he began speaking.

“I suppose you already know what I am,” he said.

“A werewolf.”

He chuckled softly. “Close enough. Wolf shifter, but werewolf works for most humans. There are packs all over the world, but we must stay hidden. If our existence were discovered, it would mean war. One that would destroy both sides. Because of this, wolves can’t pass the gene to humans. Only two wolves can create another wolf.”

“And how is this relevant to me?” I interrupted.

“Because,” he said, his voice softer now, “every generation, a few humans are born with pure white hair.” His fingers brushed a lock of mine. “They are different. Special. The moon goddess, our deity, created them to save us from dying out. Most wolves have a mate chosen by the goddess—their perfect match. But white wolves have no predestined mate. They are free to choose anyone they desire, as long as the other wolf chooses them in return.”

I froze. “Wait. Did you just call me a wolf? I’m not a wolf.”

“Not yet,” he said. “A white wolf only attains their wolf form after mating with one. But it comes at a cost. You can never reveal your true nature to a human. If they even suspect, they die. A white wolf must give up all connections to their old life.”

My breath caught. Give up my family? My friends? My entire world?

He took my hands in his. “White wolves are highly sought after, especially by alphas. Many abandon their destined mates to claim one. It’s a foolish show of power since white wolves have no unique abilities. But some, like Sebastian, see them as trophies. Others, those who have lost their mates or given up searching, seek them for comfort.”

He let go of my hands and looked away. “You’re the only white wolf within hundreds of miles. You’re meant to mate within this pack. But the choice is yours. No one can force you. The moon goddess ensures that. A white wolf must choose freely, knowing the bond is unbreakable. Once mated, you become one half of a whole. Till death do you part.”

He raised his gaze, meeting mine. “I would never try to force you. But a decision must be made. And your options aren’t good. If Sebastian finds you, he won’t give anyone else a chance. He’ll do everything to claim you. If he can’t…” His voice trailed off, and he looked pained.

“You’re saying I don’t have a real choice,” I said bitterly.

“You do,” he insisted. “You could give others a chance. Or… you could stay with me.”

He leaned forward, his voice almost pleading. “I won’t lie to you. Staying with me won’t be easy. But I would protect you with everything I have. You’d never have to face this alone.”