The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Scars

“Hi” I offered Jane a greeting outside the pack house. Ethan volunteered her to go to Sage’s spa with me today. I had a nagging feeling that she was here to babysit me. 

“Hey!” She said. “I’m so excited for today, I haven’t been to the spa in forever,” she emphasized every syllable on the last word.

We walked down the road towards the neighborhood but turned into a side path that lead up into the woods. I took the time to smell the fresh air as we climbed up. After all the days spent underground, there was little I loved more than the smell of fresh air. The spa was actually a large house. The siding was crisp white with dark black shutters. In the front was a wooden porch that wrapped around the building. Jane pushed open the large oak door to reveal a large open room. The woman at the desk smiled and said, “Hi! What’s the reservation under?”

“They’re here with me!” Sage came bustling around the corner. “Hi girls. I’m thinking we start with hair, move on to massages and then a facial to end the day what do you think?”

“Sounds so good!” Jane replied as I hesitantly nodded.

“Jane, this is Stephanie. She will be doing all of your work today.” Sage introduced a short girl with a pixie cut and a nose ring. She smiled at Jane and led her to a room off to the side.

“You’re with me, Luna!” Sage said excitedly.

“Anna is fine,” I told her with a small smile.

Sage opened a door next to the one Jane had gone in. It had everything that she had described earlier. On one wall was a large mirror with a chair in front of it for hair styling. The opposite wall had a large sink and basin I assumed was for the facial. In the same corner was a long table for a massage. She led me to the chair and we talked about my hair.

“So do you want it cut and colored or just cut?” She inquired

“Probably just cut,” I answered distractedly. 

We discussed hair lengths until I decided that she could cut my waist length hair to my mid back and give it layers and textures. I had to admit, it felt amazing to have someone take care of my hair. I was dozing in and out when I was interrupted by her question.

“Where did this scar come from?” She traced a 2 inch line across the back of my head.

“I fell off a swing set and hit a fence when I was ten,” I told her. It was true. Jason and I were trying to see who could jump the highest off the swing and I jumped crooked and met a sharp end of the wooden fence poorly. Our pack doctor, Nigel, put 11 staples in my head. My heart twinged. Nigel was a sweet man who always took care of everyone and I missed him dearly.

Sage was quiet for the rest of the cut, sensing that I needed the rest. After she was done and I approved, she led me to the facial table where she applied product after product to help ‘rejuvenate’ my skin. I let her out cucumbers over my eyes like I had seen in movies as a kid. When she was satisfied with her work, we went to the massage table. She instructed me to undress and I did, covering my body with the blanket before she came back in. She started at my feet and began to massage the knots there. It felt amazing to finally relax. She worked through my legs and finally she removed the blanket from my back. I knew it was coming before she said anything.

“Oh my God, Anna” her voice was quiet.

She has noticed the scars that marked my middle and lower back. The day the Red Aspen Alpha came to my cell he had my hands and feet released. I was so thankful at first, but I was wrong to be. He took advantage of me and then he used a long leather strap with silver at the end to whip my back until it bled. Silver causes wolves to not heal at a normal rate. By the time he was done, I was mostly open flesh for several days as it healed.

“I don’t know how much Carter has told you about what happened to my pack...” I started talking and I didn’t stop. She worked her way gently over the scar tissue on my lower back and the worked through the knots in my shoulders. I told her about the battle, watching my mother and father both die. Seeing the broken, dead bodies of my friends on the ground. Being taken to Red Aspen territory and being locked up. When my wolf was so wounded she stopped talking. I told her about my plan to die until Ethan walked in. How I begged him to kill me but he didn’t. I sobbed into the cushion that held my face while I released emotional and physical stressors. She stopped shortly after I stopped talking and I sat up. I knew my face was red and puffy but I felt okay for the first time in a long time. Sage gave me a small smile and the leaned in for a hug that I returned.

“Thank you so much for sharing that with me today. Know that I am here for you and I love you,” she said as she reached out for a hug.

“Thank you, so much,” I responded and I meant it.

“I feel better,” my wolf said in my head as Jane and I walked back to the pack house.

“Me too,” I responded to her. For the first time in a long time we felt like we were on the same page. All I could think was that I wanted to find Ethan as soon as possible.