Chapter 57

"Zendaya, please..." his voice broke, filled with pain. Why did he sound so hurt when I was the one suffering? Warm hands wrapped around my shoulders, and I found myself leaning into his chest. His strong heartbeat reverberated through me, a soothing rhythm that gradually pushed the tormenting memories away. I focused solely on the sound, letting it ground me. After a while in his comforting embrace, an overwhelming urge to apologize welled up within me. I didn't understand why I had acted so irrationally.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

His arm moved from my shoulder to my back, gently rubbing it. I felt stiff at first, but his tender touch began to ease the tension. His gentle pats were making me feel a lot better. "I should be the one apologizing. I should have protected you," he said, his voice laden with guilt, as if he believed the terrible things that had happened were his fault.

"No! It's not your job to keep me safe. I am an adult, I should have known better," I insisted.

He sighed deeply, then shifted away slightly, keeping his hands on my shoulders. He let them slide down to my hands, and I watched him as he eyed the marks on my wrists.

"Zendaya, I know you don't know much about the supernatural world, but I'd like to explain something to you. Please keep an open mind," he begged.

I nodded gently, my eyes fixed on his.

"Do you know what a mate is?" he asked, patiently waiting for my response.

"Not entirely. Sami tried to explain once, but she didn't go into too much detail," I replied.

He took a deep breath and began to explain, "In our world, a mate is more than just a partner. They are your other half, the one person in the world destined to be with you. It's a bond that goes beyond love, it's a connection of souls. When I found out you were my mate, I vowed to protect you with everything I have. That's why I feel responsible for what happened. I failed you, and I can't forgive myself for that."

His words sank in, and I felt a mixture of emotions; confusion, relief, and a deep sense of connection. The idea of being his mate was overwhelming, yet it explained so much about the inexplicable bond I felt with him. As he held my hands and looked into my eyes, I could see the sincerity and regret in his gaze. It wasn't just about duty or obligation, it was about something much deeper.

"Rome, you didn't fail me. This world is new to me, and I'm still learning. But knowing that you're here, that you care, it means everything," I said, feeling a sense of resolve.

He smiled softly, his eyes reflecting the same determination. "We'll get through this together. I promise."

In that moment, I realized that despite the pain and uncertainty, I wasn't alone. We had each other, and that was a powerful source of strength.

"I hate to ask this," he paused, visibly uncomfortable. "Can you explain what happened?"

I didn't want to talk about it, but I knew he only wanted to help. After taking a deep breath, I decided to share. "I was in the kitchen helping Soon as usual when Silvia told me you had arrived and were looking for me. Since you do that every day, I wasn't suspicious, even though I should have been. How stupid of me..."

"You are not stupid, Zendaya, and I never want to hear you say that again, okay?" he interrupted, his eyes locked onto mine, waiting for my response.

"Okay," I whispered. "So, I went past the garden to a small trail that led outside the pack grounds. In all honesty, I didn't know I was walking outside the pack boundary. That's when someone came up behind me, and everything went dark. I woke up in a shabby house deep in the forest, with my hands and legs bound and two rogues keeping me captive. They touched..." My throat tightened, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, two fingers were gently but firmly shoved into my mouth, forcing it to stay open. "Breathe...slowly," he commanded. Somehow, my body listened to him, and my burning lungs found relief.

I focused on his steady presence, grounding myself in his calm. "They sexually assaulted me, they touched me....," I continued, my voice trembling. "I was terrified. I didn't know what they wanted or how long they planned to keep me there. I tried to stay strong, but it felt hopeless."

"Did they say something that stood out to you?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with tension.

"They said they were under orders from someone and they were required to take me alive since I was your mate. I didn't understand them then, but with your explanation, I understand what they meant now."

He seemed deep in thought, trying to unravel the entire mystery in mere moments. "There's something else I should tell you, and you won't like it."

"Go ahead, don't be scared," he urged, bracing himself.

"Someone from this pack sent me to them. They said the person made their work easier," I admitted, sighing heavily.

"I have been doing some investigation of my own, and I do think that's true, unfortunately."

My heart sank.

"That explains how I heard their voice."

"Excuse me! Did you see who did this to you?" he asked, his eyes blazing with anger.

"I didn't see them, but I heard them very clearly. I can identify them through their voice," I replied, my voice trembling but resolute.

He was silent for a moment, then stared right at me with an intensity that made me shiver. "We will find them and make them pay for what they did to you. I swear it." As he spoke, his eyes turned a dangerous shade of yellow, highlighting his inner rage. But I knew he wouldn't hurt me. His anger was directed at those who had wronged me.

"I want to hurt the person who did this to me," I whispered, my own rage simmering beneath the surface.

He took my hands in his, his touch grounding me. "We will make them pay. You're not alone in this."

In that moment, our shared determination forged an unspoken bond. We were united in our quest for justice, and together, we would bring those responsible to account. The fear and anguish that had consumed me began to recede, replaced by a fierce resolve to fight back.

"Little wolf, prepare yourself, we are going hunting," he declared, his voice a blend of determination and ferocity.