Stray Echo

Talking

POV: Echo

Taking a deep breath, I still my hands, pick up my fork, and continue trying each of the foods on my plate. I could feel the others at the table stealing glances at me, realizing exactly what John had been insinuating with his words and glance. After a moment, Travis spoke again.

“Well, Red Stone’s loss of their two top warriors is our gain! We are glad to have you among our men!” He stated, and I could hear the pride in his voice. I smile. Having hoped that they would excel here, they deserved as much for all the work they put into Red Stone.

Wanting to think about anything but my life before coming to Blood Moon, I turned to Noira and Blaze. I watched for a moment as they ate, each of them unconsciously shifting with the other as they ate. I turn back to my food and sneak a peek at Atlas and watch as he does the same thing when I move.

Light chatter starts up, and I listen to the varying tidbits of information that filter through their conversations. I learned that Blaze and Noira were high school sweethearts who were drawn to each other by the time they were sixteen and were certain they were mates by the time they were eighteen. Turning twenty and having it confirmed had only allowed Noira to step into her role as the female Delta of the pack formally, rather than the informal role she was already playing.

I laugh with the rest of them when Blaze made sure to mention that Travis is slacking as he is the only one of the three that hasn’t found his mate and is going to become the fifth wheel. Travis, of course, makes a snide comment back about being free to do as he pleases and not being whipped like Blaze and Atlas. Both of them reply they are more than happy to give up the freedoms of single life, and they agree they are both whipped and that they wouldn’t change it for the world.

Noira and I share a look as we giggle at their willingness to admit such in front of a table full of the strongest males in the pack. There is no doubting their feelings for their mates. I try not to dwell on it too much, as I am still uncertain just how I feel about everything at the moment.

I don’t quite understand some of their banter, as my social isolation hadn’t allowed me to learn some of the common expressions that those around me seem to just know the meaning of. Thankfully, I did understand most of what they were saying, just based on context and could see the dynamics of their relationships.

Even James, who I learned was the head warrior of the pack, who was in charge of training, patrols, and everything warrior-related, was at ease among the leaders of the pack. It interested me, as I could see he fit into the dynamics of their friendship in the same ways as each of them did.

Atlas seemed to have caught on to my curiosity and decided to explain.

“I don’t think I ever told you how I met these three idiots here, did I?” He asked, chuckling at the frowns thrown his way. I shook my head, I had assumed they met when he took over his position as Alpha, or during their training to become Alpha, Beta, and Delta.

“Well, the four of us grew up together. We were quite the holy terrors when we were younger, but we always made sure to never cause any harm to those around us, or any damage to their things. We were inseparable, not that it didn’t stop them from trying!” He broke off with a hearty chuckle and I smiled in response.

“Do you remember in school when they tried to arrange it so that all four of us had different timetables and none of us had a single class with each other in grade 9?” Blaze asked, grinning at the memory.

“Yeah, do you remember the sour look the principal gave us when we refused to leave her office until we were put into classes together? She looked like she would have kicked us out of her office and given us all detention for a year if we weren’t the future of the pack!” Travis roared, slapping his hand on the table, and making me jump while clutching my chest.

“Speak for yourself! I almost did get kicked out and detention for a year! If Atlas hadn’t stepped up and said that I was with you guys or there’d be problems, I would have!” James replied, drawing everyone’s attention quickly away from me.

Atlas shifted and pulled me to his side, giving me a chance to breathe in his scent to calm my racing heart. I knew I wasn’t in any danger, but their raised voices while reminiscing, combined with the slamming of Travis’ hand on the table, had set off my fight, flight, or freeze instincts. After ten years of being beaten into submission, I had fine-tuned to know which response would be best for varying situations, and this one was a freeze response. If I don’t draw attention to myself, they may move on quickly, without feeling a need to turn their full attention to me.

Once I had calmed down, I returned to my food, only barely being able to taste the last couple of foods on my plate before being absolutely stuffed. It was a few more bites than breakfast, which was a good sign. However, those around me had eaten entire plates full, and some had even gone for seconds.

I could feel the glances of concern from everyone except Travis, James, and Atlas, who already knew that I couldn’t eat more than I had. Sighing, I figure if anyone asks, it might be better to just put it all out there so that they could relax, and I wouldn’t have to endure their glances in the future either.

Sure enough, not even thirty seconds after I put my fork down and leaned away from my plate, Noira gently grabbed my hand.

“Are you alright? You’ve been picking at your food and have hardly eaten a thing!” She asked quietly. I know she was trying to be discreet, but I also knew that while the others at the table tried to make themselves look otherwise engaged, they were hanging off our every word.

“Oh! No! I am perfectly well! Or… I suppose I should say as well as I can be while I recover from my life in Red Stone. I… uh, I don’t… or I suppose I can’t eat very much in one sitting yet! I am… not used to eating very much. I’ve actually eaten more today now and at breakfast than I usually see over a period of days! These foods are also very rich in fats and nutrients compared to what I am used to eating. And, without Alpha Brady’s permission to eat, I have to constantly remind myself I am safe here and he can’t punish me for eating anymore…” I finished with a whisper as I realized I’d started rambling in nervousness and accidentally shared for more than I’d meant to.

When I hear every wolf at the table break off into growls and snarls, I try to remember how to take deep calming breaths. Unfortunately, the tightness in my throat as the table in front of me fades away, making it nearly impossible.

I close my eyes and open them to see a long table set with dishes of familiar foods stretching on either side of me. The smell of cedar and vanilla filled my nostrils as I gasped in shock at finding myself in Red Stone.