Stray Echo

The Beta and the Healer

POV: Echo

Feeling like I was floating on a cloud, I slowly and painfully came to. ‘You’re lying on a proper bed, with pillows and proper blankets!’ Tala informed me and I could feel her kind smile at my wonder. Not wanting anyone to know that I was awake yet, I kept my eyes closed and tried to scent those in the room.

The calming scent of the forest after a rainstorm mixed with freshly brewed coffee helped me remain relaxed, but I can’t remember why it’s so soothing. I can also smell a she-wolf, lavender and sandalwood. Oddly, I find her scent to also be extremely calming, but nowhere near as much as the first.

Somewhere in the room, two wolves were quietly discussing some poor she-wolf who seemed to be extremely unwell. There is another scent in the room, a male, I think. He smells like freshly cut grass and leather.

Trying to remember where I am, and how I got here, I’m flooded with flashes of the breakfast from hell playing in my mind. My heart pounds as I realize the scent of damp forest and fresh coffee is my mate. I have a mate! I feel eyes on me as I hear all three wolves move toward me.

The look on Alpha Brady’s face the last time I saw him made me choke, and I felt like I was being suffocated. My breath comes in pants, and I feel much like I’m trying to suck air in through a much too-small straw. All but one wolf that was moving toward me stopped. The edge of the bed dipped significantly, as warm hands gently wiped away tears I didn’t even know had fallen.

The hands sent tingles throughout my body, and Tala purred at their touch. His scent washed over me, and I opened my eyes to meet his steady green ones. He drags me into a hug, giving me a chance to pull away if I want.

I threw myself into his arms, openly sobbing as I desperately tried to remember how to breathe. He ran his massive hands over my waist-long hair, releasing it from its now misshapen ponytail and sweeping it away from my face.

“Breath, in through your nose, out through your mouth, that’s it. Breathe with me now, love.” He holds me close and breathes with me until my tears have dried, and my breathing is even.

“I’m s-sorry,” I stuttered, pulling away slightly, looking at the damp patch of his shirt. My face burned in embarrassment as I suddenly realized that I was being completely cradled in his lap. He gently pulled me back, resting my ear above his heart. His steady heartbeat calmed me significantly.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You have done nothing wrong!” He exclaims gently, pressing his lips to my forehead and I gasp at the sheer pleasure it sends racing through my nerves. His chest rumbled in a gentle, calming purr, and I know his wolf is pleased by the effect he has on me.

Once I’ve fully calmed down, he slowly stands up and sets me softly on the bed. With a smile, he moves to retreat to where the others are, but I instinctively grab his hand and pull him back toward me, face flaming red. I am embarrassed by how much I want, no, how much I need this complete stranger’s touch. My fingers gently touched the spot he kissed, tingles still shivering down my spine from the feel of his lips on my skin.

“Please, don’t leave me,” I whispered, terrified of being away from him for even a second while in this Goddess awful pack. I hear someone gently clear their throat behind him as he settles his massive frame on the edge of the bed again, slightly angling himself toward me. I drew myself closer to him, tucking myself behind him to peek over his shoulder at the other two wolves in the room.

A tall, well-built man was standing next to a motherly-looking she-wolf. He had chocolate brown hair, with sparkling eyes that matched. I vaguely remembered that he was the one sitting in the Beta seat next to the Alpha. I can tell he is a well-trained warrior, far better than any in Alpha Brady’s pack, simply by the way he moves as he slowly makes his way across the room toward us. He keeps his eyes on mine, occasionally glancing at the Alpha I’m cowering behind, stopping the moment my chest constricts at his closeness.

“Alpha,” he says, bowing his head to Atlas. He turns to me, sinking to one knee, head fully bowed in submission, exposing his neck. Being so near to me now, I can tell he is the one who smells like freshly cut grass and leather.

“Luna,” he says, raising his head to make eye contact with me. I stared at him in shock… I’m not a Luna, I’m not even an omega, so why is he calling me that? ‘You’re mated to his Alpha, that makes you Luna to his pack…’ Tala chimes in, filling in the gaps in my knowledge because of the years of isolation and abuse.

“Luna, I am Travis, Beta of the Blood Moon Pack.” He says, keeping his voice soft and kind. I looked at Atlas, wide-eyed and scared. I can’t help but feel as though this is all some sick joke. Atlas meets my eyes, nodding in encouragement.

“H-h-h-h-hel-l-l-lo” I stuttered. I have never greeted a ranked wolf in conversation before, except to offer my services or apologize. My whole body shakes as Travis moves to a standing position. Atlas reaches behind him, pulling me gently onto his lap again. My entire face fits in his massive palms as he cradles my face to look into my eyes.

“You have nothing to fear from anyone in this room. No one here will lay so much as a finger on you without your permission.” He promised. I stared at him, trying to wrap my head around what he was saying. ‘Trust him, Echo, he is safe!’ Tala urged, so I nodded slightly before looking back at the Beta.

“I would lay down my life to protect you, Luna. I hope one day I can earn your trust. After witnessing the nightmare you’ve been living firsthand, I understand why you might not give it freely.” Beta Travis stated with compassion, staring at me with blatant adoration in his eyes.

I gave him a small, tight smile, feeling extremely uncomfortable, and turned my attention instead to the she-wolf. It’s her calming lavender and sandalwood scent that I can smell. She bows her head low before meeting my eyes and speaking,

“Luna, I am Cordelia, our pack’s healer. I put a splint on your ankle while you were unconscious.” She nodded at my broken ankle. “You were only out for about twenty minutes, so I was discussing with Alpha Atlas the best next step in your care.” Her soft voice reminds me of how pack mothers would speak to their pups, calming and caring. Her next words wiped out any sense of calm she’d provided.

“Based on the number of fresh injuries and healed scars on your face, hands, and lower legs, I need to examine you entirely. However, I need your permission before I can do so.”

I froze, panic gripping me once again. She wanted to see the rest of my body. That means she would see my back. He would see my back. I gasped for air, looking at the wolves in the room. If they saw it, saw the claim of another Alpha on me, they would send me straight back to Alpha Brady. The Goddess only knows what he has in store for me after today.