The Huntress of Liars

Chapter 2

A sharp pain in my back awoke me. My eyes fluttered open only for me to squint against a bright light. The sun shone bright above and passed through a hole in the centre of the tent, lighting it better then any candle could have. I was laying on my stomach and I groaned as I tried to lift myself up, only to be stopped by warm hands on my bare shoulders.

"No little one, you need to stay still so your wounds heal." The voice was calm and motherly. Looking to the other side I could see an elderly woman smiling at me. I flinched as she reached her hand towards me. A sad look crossed her face. "You need not fear me, little one. No harm will come to you now." Her voice was soft and gentle. She wasn't lying. I'd know. Lies always left a bitter smell in the air. My heart calmed a little and she reached out again, tucking my hair behind my ear. "There, such a pretty face," She murmured. "I'm Rose dear. I am the healer of this pack. Whats your name dear?" Rose had such an honest and friendly face.

"Wren" My voice was hoarse. She looked at me with sadness in her blue eyes.

"I can guess what you've been through from your scars, little one. So much for someone so young." Tears pricked my eyes. I didn't want anyone to know. It was shameful. I was ruined because of those monsters. "Remember that what happened does not define you. You need not be ashamed of it here and never blame yourself for it either." The tears flowed freely down my cheeks now and I found Rose holding me gently as I sobbed into her lap. Her hand stroking my hair as she tried to soothe me. Why was she being so nice? I didn't deserve this kindness. Someone stomped in sending a breeze through the tent. The smell of fresh rain and sandalwood wafted towards me. I had always found comfort in the rain. 

"Rose! what did you do?" A familiar voice yelled. I whimpered at the power it held and buried my face further into Rose's lap. She huffed.

"Don't you take that tone with me. Alpha or not, I will tan your hide!" She yelled back at him, still stroking my hair. I could hear him muttering an apology. "You know I would never hurt Wren and she has every right to be upset with what she's been through. It's not me you should be apologising to anyway. You scared the poor girl half to death storming in here, yelling like that." Footsteps neared us and then I felt two gloved hands cup my face, turning my head. I was looking into the dark brown eyes of the Alpha. The smell of rain and sandalwood was stronger. Was it him? He was watching me with a worried look as his thumbs wiped the tears from my cheeks. My mind was racing. A strange and imposing man was touching. What frightened me was that I wasn't scared of him. My gut was telling me to trust him. How can I trust a man like him? 

"I'm sorry for shouting. I was...worried." He said softly. His voice was husky and deep. No bitter smell, but why would he be worried. He doesn't know me or seem like the type to care if a stranger is upset. "Don't be scared, your safe here." His eyes searched mine. "I won't let anything happen to you. You're in my care now." Nothing he said was a lie. Could I really be safe here? Why did I want to trust him so badly? The tears stopped falling and my racing heart calmed. A smile tugged at his lips and he lent forward to press his lips against my forehead. My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat as sparks exploded on my skin where his lips touched. It was quick and gentle, but I felt like time had stopped and I didn't want it to end. He looked into my eyes again, then his gaze traveled over my face and to my body. I watched as his face hardened before he abruptly stood and left. What was that? Then it dawned on me. My top half was naked. I looked down to see that he could clearly have seen the side of my breast. My face was on fire as I once again buried it in Rose's lap in an attempt to hide my embarrassment. But why was I embarrassed instead of ashamed that she saw my scars? She stroked my hair again chuckling softly.

"Don't worry, little one. He's a good man and I don't think your scars make you any less pretty." I groaned into her lap causing her to chuckle again. All I had known for my entire life was the cold inside of a castle and the heartless monsters who lived there. I was kept in a tower, with only a small window to view the outside. My days were spent watching the sun move across the sky and my nights were spent watching and praying to the moon. Those monsters would forget about me for weeks sometimes. I relished those moments of peace, when I wouldn't be beaten or....worse. They only brought me out of the tower to see if someone was lying. That's all I was good for. And I couldn't even do that right, they beat me when they didn't like the answer. My whole life was spent lonely and now here I was. With strangers who treat me better then my own family. Why were they so kind to me? It was as though the moon had really been listening to my prayers all these years.

I had passed my time in the tower reading the 3 books that I was allowed. Fairy tales of knights in shining armour, princesses becoming queens and fairy godmothers. Rose seemed like a fairy godmother or like the grandmother I'd never had. She was motherly and kind, but she frequently scolded me for moving. She filled me in on how this 'pack' works. How the Alpha, Gabriel, was in charge. That they were here to make a trade deal. Only half the 'pack' was here and it was mostly the warriors, Gabriel's second in command, the Beta, was overseeing the rest back at their home. The Alpha visited me every day to see how my wounds were healing. It was strange to see. His face was always an expressionless mask. Void of emotion but his voice was always soft when he spoke to me. He was a man of few words. And from the shouting I heard outside, he was also a man of little patience. But he seemed kind, I think. After several days stuck laying on my front, listening to Rose and Gabriel, I could feel my fear fading. When Rose said I was able to leave the medical tent because my back was mostly healed. I nearly jumped for joy. Rose gave me a dark blue dress that was more suitable for the cold weather then the old dress I had fled in. I had never felt anything so soft. 

There was no way I was going to wear it without thoroughly bathing first though. Rose had told me that there was a stream running behind the tent that I could bathe in. She even gave me the most amazing smelling soap to use. I'd never had soap before, I used to a cold bucket of water to wash with. Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the tent. So many men milling about. My heart was racing and I stepped back into the tent. Too many men. But I really wanted to bathe, I needed to bathe and I finally had soap to get properly clean with. Taking another deep breath I stepped out again and ran to the back of the tent. Once I was out of sight of everyone I breathed out. It was only a few steps through the reeds till I reached the stream. Eagerly I stripped and practically ran into the cold water before throwing myself under. Amazing. It was simply amazing. I was finally outside and safe enough to properly look at it. While I washed the soap out of my hair, I listened to the birds in the tree's. Watched as they flew around. Purple and green dragonfly's danced in the reeds, silver fish swam passed my feet. It was better then I had ever imagined.

"WREN!" I turned towards the voice but arms wrapped around me and held me tight against something. No, someone. I knew that scent and I froze. I was naked in the Alpha's arms. No no no. I should be panicking but my body wasn't cooperating. Electric shocks were shooting through my skin where my bare chest touched his. He buried his face in my neck "What were you thinking? It isn't safe to wander alone? Don't you ever run away from me." He was angry but I could hear worry in his voice. He always seemed to be worrying about me. Wait, he thought I was running away? Where does he think I'd go? He doesn't understand that I have nowhere to go and no where I'd rather be. His hand was stroking my hair and his voice was softer. "Never do that again. Please Wren, I couldn't bare it." I pulled back a little to look at his face. His mask was gone, his face lined with worry.

"I couldn't run away." My voice was quite and I bit my lip, looking down, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I was bathing." His breath caught in his chest and I heard him groan before detaching himself from me and turning around. I quickly put the blue dress on. It was so soft against my skin. My face was still on fire as I looked at Gabriel's back. Why was he always half naked? He had had me naked in his arms, yet he didn't do anything. It was strange and oddly comforting. A chivalrous knight. My knight. NO! What was I thinking? I shook my head, dislodging the thought and tapped his shoulder. He turned and I could see his face was back to its hard mask. His eyes were black. I could have sworn they were brown. His gaze traveled over my body. Somehow my cheeks managed to become even hotter and I looked down fidgeting with my hands. I knew that look. My gut was telling me he wouldn't do that, but my brain was more cynical. A hand under my chin made me jump. I looked up into Gabriel's dark eyes. His thumb stroked my cheek. 

"You are so beautiful." Was his voice deeper? My head shook lightly at his words. He growled, but it didn't scare me. It should have scared me. He should scare me like everyone else does. "You are. You're my beautiful Mate. I'll make you see it one day." With that he kissed my forehead and led me through the camp. Everyone was staring at us. I moved closer to Gabriel. All these men made me uncomfortable. "No one will hurt you here" He whispered in my ear. Not a lie. But it didn't help. Before I knew it he pulled me inside a huge black tent. Furs lined the floor and the two beds. A screen was to the left and I could see a tub behind it. He pulled me to the bed on the left. It was a huge bed. I looked at him wide eyed. "This is my tent and this is your bed." My bed. I had a bed. 

"I've never had a bed." I mumbled and ran my fingers through the furs.