Stray Echo

Flash Backs

POV: Echo

Atlas gently parted my hair and used a single finger to tilt my face tenderly toward his.

“You never, ever have to hide in shame from me, Little Warrior.” He whispered, his voice husky. He caressed my face with both hands, and I leaned into him, the tension finally leaving my body.

One look in his eyes told me there was no way he or Zev would ever reject us or allow us to come to any harm by his side. He tenderly wiped away my tears and pressed his lips to my forehead. ‘I told you, mate loves us, Echo. We can trust him.’ Tala practically purred.

Taking several deep breaths, I blinked away the last of my tears. Atlas slowly released my face and shifted into a sitting position on the floor. Gently reaching out, he pulls me onto his lap, bundling me into my blanket while being careful of my ankle.

Cradling me to his chest, he looked at me as though the moon rose and set at my command. I stared back at him in awe. How could this man hear everything I said, see the scars on my back and still want me?

“The actions of a deranged Alpha do not define you, Little Warrior. You are not some piece of property whose worth is dictated by the scars on your back. I am sorry that I was still for so long, my Luna.” He cooed, answering my unasked questions, scowling for a moment before continuing. “Zev was fighting me for control, a battle I obviously lost in the end. But we needed to hear your story, your entire story, not run off and abandon you part way through it to hunt him down.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Alpha. I am… so happy that you feel that way, and that you still want someone as impure as myself as your Luna.” My voice wavered and cracked, and I worry I’ve said something wrong as he frowns slightly before speaking gently, but firmly.

“You are not impure. You are not tainted by the actions of another. You are pure and you are strong, Little Warrior, do you understand?” He waited until I nodded before he continued. “Little Mate, you do not need to call me by my title. I am your mate, and you will call me by my name.” When I stared at him in blank shock, he went on.

“I want to hear you say my name. I need to hear you call me Atlas,” His voice became rough with need, desperate to hear me call him by his name as he pleaded with me to do so.

“Okay… Atlas.” I replied, his voice causing a rush of warmth deep in my abdomen. A purr erupts from his chest, sounding his approval.

The sound of throat clearing brings us crashing back to reality. Looking over, I had completely forgotten that there were three other wolves in the room. A slight blush crept over my cheeks as I saw Travis and Blaze share a grin, mind-linking about something. Cordelia stepped forward, kneeling in front of us.

“Alpha, Luna, I am truly sorry to interrupt. However, I really think that it is imperative for me to check your wounds, Luna Echo. Especially after hearing of all the hardships you have been through in the last week alone, never mind the past 10 years.” Her voice shook slightly, and I know she was probably right. Sensing Atlas is disappointed at having been disturbed, I responded before he could express it.

“Of course, Healer Cordelia. While my wolf Tala did her best to heal my injuries last night, a lot has happened since.” Atlas stiffened for a second at my words, before pulling me even closer and scenting my neck. There was a whisper of quiet rumbles across the room, cutting off quickly before I could think of fearing them.

In one swift movement, Atlas stood, carrying me over to the bed before setting me down on the edge. Kneeling in front of me so that his face was on the same level as mine, he searched my face before speaking.

“Would you like me to stay with you? Or do you need some space?” His voice was steady, soothing my frayed nerves.

“I… I don’t know.” I replied, conflicting emotions flooding through me. I don’t want to be away from him, but showing him the true extent of what I’ve been through terrified me. He nodded, thinking for a second before replying.

“How about I sit here?” He spun on his heels a bit and plopped down onto the floor next to me, leaning his back against the bed. “If you need me, you can say my name or reach out to me. If you need more space, all you have to do is say the word and you will have it.” He shot me a quick smile and turned to face forward.

“Luna, I’m going to have to ask you to remove the blanket so that I can get a good look at everything,” Cordelia’s voice was thoughtful as she dug through what appeared to be her travel healer’s case to get what she needed.

I looked around the room as the Beta and Delta quietly slipped out of the room. I glanced at Atlas with curiosity, and even without looking at me, he knew I was looking, and he explained immediately.

“They are giving you privacy, going to check on our warriors and start working on getting you out of here.”

Excitement filled me, giving me the motivation to stand on one foot, letting the blanket fall to the floor. As I moved to sit down, I tripped, flailing for something to catch myself on. Atlas’s hand shot out and grabbed mine, steadying me as I sat down.

I snuck a glance at him and realized he hadn’t even turned to look when he caught me. It was done completely by reflex. His eyes kept averted to provide the privacy I craved.

Now that she could see everything, Cordelia set to work, and with a pen and notepad, she noted all my fresh injuries and their locations. Pulling out a bottle of disinfectant and some cotton pads, she slowly cleaned the cuts on my face. A whine slipped out as it burned, making me squeeze my eyes shut. I instinctively reached a hand toward Atlas and felt reassured as he took it in his, thumb running over my knuckles. To keep me from pulling away, Cordelia gently grabs my chin as she dabs at the cuts on my cheek and lips.

Instantly, I’m taken back to the basement, and the sensation of Brady’s tongue on my cheek as he licks me continuously. I jerked away from his hand with a cry of disgust. Scrambling backward on the bed until I hit the wall, curling into a ball while whimpering. Hearing a woman gasp, obviously startled, I paused when I heard a deep, soothing voice,

“Little Warrior, you are safe here. He is not here with you, and he will never put his hands on you again.” Mind whirling, I try to figure out what’s going on. That’s not Alpha Brady’s voice.

Peeking around the room through my lashes, I recognized the guest room before glancing toward the two wolves standing beside the bed. They both gazed at me with concern. Lifting a finger to my face, I collect a tear and stare at it in confusion.

I was just in the basement, so how am I now here, with Brady nowhere to be seen? I lift my eyes to meet the green eyes of the Alpha standing before me, and I realize what’s happened. Uncurling from my ball, I make my way back to the edge of the bed.

“I’m sorry! I-I don’t know what happened. I closed my eyes and suddenly I was back… with him,” I explained, my voice cracking as a violent shudder tore through me.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Luna, it’s to be expected that someone who has faced as much trauma as you may also experience flashbacks that make you feel as though you have returned to some of the more… intense experiences in your past,” Cordelia comforted, patting my hair gently.

“Please, please, call me Echo. I feel uncomfortable with everyone calling me Luna all the time.” I practically begged, knowing that I was their Luna, but feeling as though I still didn’t deserve the title. She pulled back, smiling down at me, and nodding before stepping back to continue working on my injuries.