Stray Echo

Rags to Riches

POV: Echo

I gaped in awe at the massive white mansion in front of us. It’s immaculately maintained, whereas Red Stone’s pack house was looking rather run down these days. The wrap-around porch with wolves sprawled about on patio furniture engaged in various activities made the place feel less formidable and more homely.

Atlas had stopped after turning to face the building, giving me time to take it all in. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and I realize this pack is far more well-off than I had ever imagined. I revel in the gorgeous lawn, perfectly manicured, but still natural and wild.

“It’s amazing!” I breathed, turning to look at him. I can’t help but smile, and the muscles in my cheeks strain from the foreign position. Atlas looked down at me in his arms, with a look so awe-struck and enthralled that I had to look away.

I blushed, zeroing in on my hands as they fidgeted in my lap, not sure what to do with myself. I had never had anyone look at me like that before, and it was a far cry from the looks of rage, lust, and hate that I was used to.

Startled, I flinch slightly when he gently tilts my chin toward him, making it so I have to look into his eyes. I instantly feel guilty for flinching, but he simply smiles down at me in understanding.

“You have the most amazing smile I think I have ever seen, Little Mate!” He states, his voice husky and sending tingling shivers straight to my core. He grins at my reaction and walks to the front door of the house.

I can’t help but squirm at the feeling of varying wolves’ eyes on me as he carries me into the house bridal style. I guess for us, finding your mate and bringing them home was most wolves’ version of marriage. Some liked the human tradition of marriage and would have a mating ceremony for family and friends, but the Luna Ceremony is probably the closest we wolves have to a proper human wedding.

The Luna Ceremony is a celebration of the Alpha meeting his mate, and the pack gaining their Luna, the mother figure of the pack. The Luna typically wears a white dress to represent the blessing of the Moon Goddess and would walk down an aisle through the middle of all the pack members healthy enough to make it.

Noticing my discomfort at all the stares, Atlas makes a beeline straight to a small lift, big enough to hold only a handful of wolves at a time. He closed the decorative wrought-iron gate before pushing the button for the top floor. He gently sets me on my feet facing him and holds my hands lightly in his as he peppers them with kisses.

The shooting zaps of the mate bond distract me from the slightly claustrophobic feeling that had taken over when he’d closed the gate. I still felt nervous, listening to the creaking as it lifted us higher, high enough to plunge to our deaths if it let go. Seeming to understand this was my first remembered experience with a lift or elevator, Atlas wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer until the lift dinged to let us know we were at our destination.

“You get used to it,” he chuckles as he helps me step shakily out of the lift and into the calming pale green and natural wood colours of the hallway. I look at him doubtfully, making him laugh as he tucks my hand into the crook of his arm and gently leads me down the hall to a beautifully carved door of two wolves howling at the moon. The Alpha and Luna’s bedroom. Pushing the door open, he gently pulls me in, smiling.

“Welcome home, my Luna.” He says, and I look around the room, so different from anything I could have expected. The room is huge and full of lush plants on every available surface.

A king-sized four-poster bed sat directly in the middle, with light grey bedding and a white, sheer canopy that was draped elegantly on the posts. I stare at it for a moment, my free hand moving to touch my lips as Tala pushes pictures of Atlas and me lying on the bed and kissing into my mind.

Atlas clears his throat, and I blush, ripping my gaze away from the bed while mentally scolding Tala, and continuing to look around the room. I wander around aimlessly, taking in the free-standing potted plants, and the ones on varying shelves, tables, stools, etc. All are perfectly placed to make the room look amazing rather than cluttered.

Hearing soft fluttering noises, and light chirps, I followed my ears to find an aviary half the size of the average bedroom on the far-right side of the room. I watch as small birds flit around their habitat, which is set up as naturally as possible. Every detail from the vegetation to the mini-pond built into the floor has been set up thoughtfully and with care.

I frown slightly as I realize these birds have a better home than I ever had over the last ten years. As I watch, I completely zone out, mentally comparing my life to the birds’ lives.

“It can always be removed if you don’t like the birds,” Atlas says, startling me and making me jump as he wraps his arms around me from behind. “Oops, sorry love. We can move it, get rid of it entirely, or change it to house whatever creature you like.”

“No! I love it! It’s so peaceful and calming,” I said, relaxing into him with a shake of my head. “I wasn’t frowning because of the birds… just…” I paused, not wanting to sound childish. I sigh heavily before I continue.

“They have a better home than I’ve had for the last ten years, and they are birds. It’s ridiculous to be jealous of an aviary, but after finally leaving that building, I realize just how deprived I was there.” My voice breaks at the end and silent tears drip down my face and onto Atlas’s shirt that I’d woken up in while at the infirmary. He turns me to face him and tenderly wipes away my tears as they fall.

“You will never, and I mean never, have to live like that again, my Little Mate.” Atlas grunts, trying to control his anger as he remembers my living arrangements. “You see how I treat a simple songbird? Imagine how I will treat my Luna! I will make sure you have everything you could ever hope and dream of, and then some.”

I smiled at him and hugged him tightly. He hugs me back, and after a bit, he shifts me to his side, so we can continue wandering around the room. Completely opposite the bedroom door, there is a set of double doors leading out to a balcony that overlooks the pack. To the left side of the bed, there are three doors, one leading into the bathroom, and one for each of our closets.

Atlas grins at me mischievously as he leads me to the closet door carved with a feminine-looking wolf, with the word Luna carved above. He pulls open the door and practically drags me into the walk-in closet.

Blinking in surprise, I looked at Atlas confused as I looked around at the closet full of clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories. I’d expected it to be empty, as I didn’t own any clothing. Grinning, he says, “While you were healing, I had your measurements taken and had your closet stocked so that you would have everything you needed as soon as you woke up.”

I smile widely and make my way around the closet, touching all the different fabrics and materials with a giddy sense of wonder. I’d gone from owning see-through rags to owning an entire walking closet full of clothing.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine anything like this.