Rhea's POV:

I knew nothing worthwhile was ever easy.

But Kronos was my mate. My love as well as my soulmate.

I couldn't give up on him, not yet.

He was broken. Possibly beyond repair but he was still mine. My other half that I couldn't have the thought of living without.

Swallowing the damage he had done to my feelings, I quickly chased after him. Mind-linking the guards to bring Ouranos, who was currently unconscious in his room, to the prison cell.

Searching high and low, my mate was nowhere to be seen. It was until I left the pack house when I caught his scent.

Following in his footsteps, Kronos was by the hill.

Noticing my presence, I could hear a sigh from my mate.

It was hard being Kronos... as I couldn't imagine what it was like to not only be abused by your mother, but be used by your own father as well. He had now lost both parents.

His mother, who had carried him to full term. Birthed him. And cared for him, only to turn her back on him and blame every little everything on a small boy.

Now, his father.

Who had tricked us. Made us think that he was this funny, silly, and comforting person. That made us laugh and smile with joy. In reality, was a cunning man who used everything to his advantage. He thought nothing he did was wrong. A manipulative man who wanted his way and only his way. A narcissist at its finest.

It was funny, because even though Kronos seemed like he had everything, he really didn't.

Sometimes, even though you're surrounded by the people you love, you still feel so lonely in this world.

And at the top of the hill where he stood, he seemed to be the loneliest of them all.

"There have been many times I've thought about leaving this place, Rhea." Kronos said, finally speaking.

My wolf cried out in angst, wanting me to comfort him but I held my ground. He wanted space and I needed to respect that. All he wanted was for me to listen.

Kronos continued, his back facing me.

"Many times... where I tried to take my own life. I thought, no one would care if I left. I convinced myself that it would make everyone happy. Everyday, I felt like I was a burden. That I was useless. The thing is, I can't take my own life." He whispered, his despair showing.

"I'm tired. I honestly am. I'm tired of waking up. Tired of breathing. I'm tired of opening my eyes. No one understands that. They all want me to live so they don't have to suffer the aftermath. So I stay alive so they won't be sad. But I'm suffering because I'm alive. Ironic isn't it? It's just not fair. And I wish there was an easier alternative." Kronos said, his words causing me and wolf to whimper in sadness.

"And then, I met you. I was finally happy. I was getting better and started to regain the confidence I had lost. I gained my voice back. Why am I so weak, Rhea? It only took a few sentences to break everything I've built."

His words broke me further, wanting to comfort him. "You're not weak, Kronos."

He shook his head almost immediately, laughing pitifully at himself. "I'm no man for you... I'm just a pathetic Alpha." He continued, swallowing hard. I could hear the tremors in his voice.

Please don't say such things.

But my words couldn't come out.

"Even my own father thinks it's my fault that he fell into a coma. Not just my mother, but my dad as well. Everything is my fault... isn't it?" He feebly whispered, more tears rolling down his pale cheeks.

Opening my mouth in protest, Kronos held his hand in the air. Asking me to let him finish.

"It just feels like... nothing I ever do is enough. No matter how hard I try, I feel as though I'm never enough. I'm tired, Rhea. When do I finally rest? When do the nightmares end? I can still hear the screams of the pack members dying." Kronos said, pausing before another whimper from him escaped. "And my best... just isn't enough. It never is."

My heart clenched, noticing how damaged my mate was. He was staring at the sunset, his gaze looking longingly at the sky. As if he wanted to part of it.

"It's hard to believe my father would ever do such a thing. Even now, I'm having a hard time believing this is all real. That I could have been a younger brother or that my dad was just using me. What is real anymore? Who do I trust?"

"You can trust me."

"And I'm scared to, Rhea. How can I trust that you won't hurt me like everyone else has? What if you will leave me too? I'm scared to let myself be more vulnerable around you. I don't know what to believe anymore."

I will never leave you.

"Everyday... I told myself how much of a monster I was. How my mate wouldn't have wanted me. I even have the scars to prove it." He said, timidly pulling his shirt off in one swift motion.

I gasped, finally noticing the lashes on his back. The scars that dressed him from top to bottom.

There were many times were I had chances to examine his scars, but I had feared to startle him. The scars were engraved deeply in his soul and I was worried I would trigger something if I had asked about them.

Bringing up someone's trauma purposely is never okay, as you needed to go at their own pace.

"These are from your mother, weren't they?" I asked, trying to blink away tears.

He nods, having a pitiful smile.

"I'm a monster... aren't I? Just... look at me." he whispered, his face casted downwards in shame and a sheer look of disgust of his own body.

I disagreed, feeling emotional. "Kronos... you're beautiful. There is no way that any of this is hideous."

He grunted, unamused at my answer. "You're lying. No one would ever love this."

"But I do."

Silence filled the air as he finally turned towards me. His eyes filled with a little bit of hope and doubt.

"I have a hard time letting people in. Because when I do, they always betray me."

I smiled adoringly at the man I love. "That's the thing, Kronos. You have to enter a relationship knowing that it could possibly end. You have to open your heart up, and hand the person your heart. Trusting that they won't break it."

He bit his lip, trying to insist that I shouldn't love someone like him. "My skin isn't smooth, Rhea. Not like yours. It's bumpy and unsightly."

"Your scars are part of you, which means I love them. They show others what you've lived through. There's no need to be ashamed of them. Scars tell a story. Even if they're bad stories to you. It can be inspiring to others."

Another tear rolled down his face.

"You love me?" His head tilted to the side, as if he was examining me. Kronos's eyes rested on me, a gentle expression showing on him.

I chuckled, nodding viciously. "Yes. I love you just the way you are. And that means that I love all of you. Whatever you find as I flaw or weakness, I've grown to love."

Each word I had spoke started to light up his face, as a smile slowly appeared. Kronos walked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You promise?"

"I'm in it for the long run."

It was all so sudden. Before I knew it, he was in front of me. His eyes pitch black with desire and want. Sealing my lips with his own, he firmly kissed me. Pouring all his love, as well as his adoration into it.

Tears rolled down our cheeks as Kronos grabbed the back of my head, as I returned his kiss.

Losing track of time, I could hear the guards shouting out names. Kronos quickly broke our kiss, smirking with some mischievous intent. I rolled my eyes, playfully smacking him on his chest.

"Come on, let's go interrogate your father."

Kronos pauses but nods, strengthening his resolve.

As we walked down the hill with our hands together, I couldn't help but want to strangle Ouranos.