When we were walking back from the remote place, she explained why the community lived so far away.
"People like their privacy," Selene explained when I asked. "Some don't mind as much as they live in the town."
"Does the town know?" I said as we walked by some very pretty rustic houses.
"Some do, some don't," she smiled. "The older generations remember, the younger ones think it's folklore." Her golden-brown hair seemed to glow under the sun. "We try to steer clear just in case."
"You were amazing with them," I admitted.
"I wasn't always," she said with a sad smile. "I don't think I've ever told you my story, have I?"
I shook my head.
"Would you like to hear it?"
"Only if you are comfortable.."
"I assume you know this better than anyone, but at first I hated talking about it." She looked away as if remembering something. "But the more I do, the less it hurts. The less power it has over me. He has over me," she corrected herself.
"Things were different before Damien's time. Women were traded as livestock, treated like objects for satisfaction and breeding..." She put her hair behind her ear. "I was sold by my own family when I was about thirteen, to one of Damien's father's gammas."
Her voice was weak, and though her tone was usually calm and serene, I could have never described it as weak. Could never describe her as weak.
"I was practically a sex slave. Barely fed with anything without aconite on it. Barely allowed out of the dungeons. I was to be one of his wives, forever stuck in that basement, never seeing the light of day."
Suddenly she smiled, a sadistic smile that was most unlike her.
"But he messed up and betrayed the alpha, so he sent his sons to destroy him." She closed her eyes. "Damien and Harlan saved me."
Selene finished, and I couldn't imagine how horrible that must have been. But her face was relaxed once more when she said,
"Damien told me the bond snapped into place the moment he saw me, but he never told me because he saw I needed space. Needed to heal."
I didn't know Damien much, but I can't imagine how hard that must be. From what I've heard, not every man can be so noble.
"I am so sorry you had to go through that. Have you felt any anxiety, nightmares, any flashbacks?"
"Yes," she said calmly. "And I have days where I can't get out of bed," she admitted. "But I can't let him win. He would want to watch me crumble. That is why I fight."
Those words were truly so inspiring. I had been dealing with a lot. The attacks and everything were starting to become more than I could bear. But seeing her like that, seeing her fight after what she went through inspired me.
"If you ever need to talk, know that I'm here, and I can help you with these symptoms. It is possible you have PTSD and.."
"I appreciate it. I will come to you," she promised.
I could feel her drifting back into her memories, so I changed the subject.
"Right." I found myself staring at the white ends of her hair. I remembered she was a white wolf, so maybe it wasn't dyed.
"Your hair, is it natural?"
It was kind of a shallow question, but I was curious.
"Yes," she answered honestly, fingering the ends. "When I am about to turn, the white creeps up my hair until it reaches my roots. Damien says it is pretty magical to witness."
"That is so cool." In my imagination it seemed pretty cool.
"I would like to see it someday." I gave her a shy smile and she returned it.
"Of course. Name the day. I'd show it to you right now, but I don't want to shred my clothes," she laughed.
"When that happens, what do you do?"
Do they hide clothes in the woods or walk around naked?
"We normally wait to end the transformation until we have clothes," she giggled.
We were in silence for a moment, but then I remembered something.
"What is aconite?"
"It's a plant that is highly toxic to werewolves. I'll show you a picture when we get.."
Her smile disappeared as soon as she heard something. A second later I heard it too, like wooshes of air.
"Stay behind me."
Something supernatural was here. We could feel its presence. Selene looked ready for anything, her eyes glowing purple as if she was getting ready to shift.
I heard breathing. It was getting closer.
And before we knew it, he was behind me.