Mated ✓

02

Chapter Two:

Finding out the reason why

Rean is nothing but in awe.

    Her eyes had spin around the place, looking at everything with eyes that mirrored nothing but adoration and appreciating what is shown before her. She had personally did not know that there are houses like these that exist in the middle of nowhere. Every single house were like it was made to be nothing but beautiful.

    Houses are full of half-timbered houses that make her feel like she had drove into another country, or much better—another realm.

    “This is so beautiful.” She whispered, eyes shinning in glee.

    Echo nodded. “We are very proud for what we have.”  

    Everything around her was crazy and well… very different to what she was used to. Nothing had ever come close to this place to what she had been living in. Despite how she was treated in their house, she really thinks that the place was beautiful. She was not aware that there are places like this that makes the house that she was living nothing but crap.

    Rean loved the whole idea of what she was seeing. They had stopped in one of the houses, seemingly isolated that the rest. Even still, her eyes took every detail into heart and could not believe that she has this beautiful place to say.

    She is beyond thankful.

    Rean just need to pay this woman for this.

    Echo had looked around the place, making sure that no one was taking notice of neither her nor the person inside her car. Upon making sure that the coast was clear, she then hastily pushes the door open, grabbing the arm of the woman inside her car and yanking her inside of the house. Even then, she had to make fully aware that nobody sees.

    The pack is not exactly fond of humans that can just enter their pack whenever they wanted.

    Rean frowned, seemingly noticing some inconsistencies to how the woman was acting. For someone who used to be a mirror of confidence, she was not acting weird. She seems really troubled though as she keeps on pacing left and right. Her eyes never left the outside of her window.

    Is there something wrong? She all but wondered.

    “Are you okay?” Rean asked carefully and barely in a whisper.

    She snapped her eyes at her and nodded in a way that would have been obvious to everyone—and even if Rean had always been very oblivious to thing—even she had seen that the woman does have something that was making her fret.

    “I…” she struggled, before puffing out a sigh. Echo still do not understand why there is a part of her that feels like she could not lie to this woman. “People are not just into new people here so...”

    “Oh, you don’t have worry. I won’t intrude.”

    Her mouth open and Rean knows that she was about to say something but then her eyes grew clouded again. Not being able to stop herself, she had tilted her head to the side as she took a better look at the woman who was helping her. It seemed like she does doze off a little while her eyes turn into something… well, weird.

    Is that something mean to say?

    Rean just noticed that the color of her eyes were getting a little bit bright again as her nose cringed.

    Is she… sniffing the air? 

    “D-do you mind if you slip in one of my clothes?” she asked quietly as if she’s battling her mind. Rean frowned; thinking if she does smells bad. By her emotions, Echo had quickly shakes her head almost frantically. “No! I did not mean it to be offensive. Its just b-because they can smell you—I mean because your clothes are... err, wet and uh... you can get caught—I mean cold? Yeah! Cold!”

    They can smell her and she can get caught?

    Her mind could not help but to remember how her own father would beat her up whenever he would caught her in numerous occasions. A shiver runs to her spine to the memory that had entered her mind. Letting it all slip off of her, she faced the woman and nodded her head.

    “Okay, I can do that.” She smiled.

    Echo sighed in relief. “Fantastic!”

    Next thing that that she knows, Echo had pushed her inside a room while offering her the instructions on what she should and should not do. Rean, on instinct, nodded her head as she could feel something dominant about the female. There was a side of her that was afraid of being beaten if she disagrees to her words. After taking a very refreshing bath, like she was told to, Rean stilled.

    Before her was a reflection of herself in the mirror and she could not help but cringed.

    Her shirt is way too loose despite it being small in size. The jogging pants that the woman had offered were sagging on her.

    She’s devastatingly thin.

    A loud thunderstorm hit the place, having to escape an involuntary whimper in her mouth. Through the dark doors behind the place that everybody wanted to live hides a lot of story that she could not forget. All were clogging in her mind, drowning her to have doubt to everyone. Rean continuous to shake before she holds herself down, she was trying her very best to calm herself down.

    It took her some time before all her emotions shuts down, grabbing her a chance to come back into reality.    

    “Hello?” Echo called back on the other side of the door. “Are you okay? Can I come in?”

    She jumped, automatically walking to the door as she opened it. “Why are you asking permission? I… It’s your house.”

    She was about to say something but then she stopped once she got a glimpse of the woman before her. Echo did not realize how bad the woman looked when she was in the sidewalk but now—seeing her close, she could see gashes of bruises forming on the lengths of her arm.

    Rean could sense many emotions in the woman’s eyes; a few that she was not quite fond of and was always whipped when her father caught people giving her this look: sympathy and sorrow.

    “Do you even know what food is?” She roared.

    Rean, forced to always submit, only lowered her head from the intensity of her voice. “I… I can’t… ask for it. It needed to be allowed.”

    “What?” Echo asked, clearly taken aback by her words. “What do you mean? Your clothes were designer— you such be rich! What do you mean by you are not eating!” 

    Rean whimpered. “I’m sorry. P-please don’t hit me...”

    Echo was surprised. Her hand only rose as an action of her relieving her anger, but it was enough to have the woman close her eyes and prepare for such a huge impact. She had to look at her in surprise, people have always trusted Echo since she was a girl who is vibrant and nice but to have a woman actually flinch while she was showing her reaction gave her worries.

    It made her wonder how much did this woman go through in order to be scared for someone like her: a literal baby.

    Rean gulped, wondering if she had gone numb since there was not an ounce of pain coming in her way As her eyes opened, she was surprised to see the girl looking at her with regret written in her eyes. 

    “No. I wasn’t going hurt you. It’s just that… I was surprised for even the omegas in here never got hurt and is treated well. But you... how ruthless is this mortal that is doing this to you?”

    Rean tilts her head, “Omega? Mortal?” 

    Surprised, she chuckled.

    Echo could not really do anything without outing herself as wolf. Not that anyone would be surprised, the woman is innocent and people expected her to be swindled by anyone who told her that they can take her to anywhere nice.

    “Uh… nothing?” She chuckled, fanning the air. “The food is ready, so you can come and eat. Also, no—” Echo muttered, looking at her with a frown. “You cannot reject my food, I prepared it for you!”

    Rean nodded. “Okay…”

    When they had reached the dining table, she was surprised to see three sets of platter in the table. It would seem like another person would be eating with them. In need of asking who could that be, she had looked to Echo—but frowned when she noticed that her eyes were clouded again.

    Why does she always doze off like that?

    She smiled, looking at her after a second. “This is actually my friend’s house. Since we’re kind of camping in his place for some time now—I needed to prepare him some food. I hope that is fine.”

    “Oh no.” Rean shook her head. “I will eat faster so I won’t have to intrude.”

    Echo did not want the woman to rush her foods, but she had stilled when she noticed the face that she made when she took a bite of her cooking. A smile escaped her lips, loving when people clearly adore her cooking. It is one of her past time, so she actually loves getting complements on it.

    “This is delicious!” Rean smiled, finally making her take a sigh upon seeing a smile settled into the woman’s face.

    Echo nodded. “Thank you. I really adore cooking.”

    “It shows.” She complimented before plunging another chump off food in her mouth. As if realizing something, her eyes grew wide as she looked at the woman. “I’m sorry! My name is Rean. I never got to intrude myself. This is really really good, by the way."

    Echo giggled before accepting her hand. “My name is Echo and thank you for the compliment.”

    Rean stopped her smiles, as there were some loud noises from outside. Echo suddenly gets aware as she looked into the door, linking to who could be outside. As soon as she could gather that it was Zico, she can only sigh. Not even seconds later, he had slammed the door open that she had to physically jump due to his strength.

    “Man is here.” He voiced out with the most pathetic try to be someone who was supposed to be a caveman. “Man is hungry. Man needs—oh, who are—”

    His words halt before his nose twitches, seemingly seeing something weird from the woman. A swirl happened in his eyes before it completely change color, automatically calling his wolf due to the constant stupidity of Echo. The look that he has was lethal that it had caused Rean to shiver, knowing that it was snapped into her direction.

    Did she do something offensive?

    Not even second later, he growled.

    Wait... growled?

    “You!” He sneered, grabbing Echo hastily before pushing her in his back, never once letting her speak in her behalf. “You’re a f*****g hunter, aren’t you? Answer me or I swear I will kill you. Echo, I told you not to be stupid!”

    The complete dread and hatred in his voice surprised her, not even knowing why he would think that he would endanger the woman whom helped her get away from where she was running away from. A whimper can’t help but escape through her lips. One single step from him and Rean stood frozen, looking at Zico in a very helpless state with nothing but the thought that she will be dead tonight.

    “Damn it, Zico! Stop!” Echo snapped, kicking him behind his knee before smacking his head. “You are f*****g scaring her!”

    He only groaned as the woman walked to where Rean was, shielding her from the horrible man that was scaring the very wits out of her—probably giving her flashback that she did not want.

    “Echo!” He muttered, clearly exasperated. “What the f**k! Are you hexed or some s**t?”    

    She glared at him, clearly annoyed. “I brought her here! Damn it! Calm your pants, you dog!”

    Zico, being dramatic and already understanding that the female seemed very sensitive and would not cause harm, had joked around. “That is clearly offensive to everyone!”  

    “But that’s what you all are!” She screamed.

    “And you!” He pressed.

    Zico seem to sigh, knowing that Echo was done with his bullshit. Wanting to have a clear environment in his home, his eyes then glazed over to the woman who was hiding behind his friend. It had jumped upon meeting his eyes, hiding further behind Echo.

    “Zico, what the f**k!”

    He frowned. “What?”

    Walking to where the female was, he wanted to have some formal introduction and apologize, as he was only worried for Echo. The woman was like a younger sister to him and he does care deeply for her. He raised his hand, wanting to wave to her as she seemed to be someone who would be defiant with a shake of a hand. Rean gasped, grabbing Echo and pulling her to face the man as a whimper escaped her mouth.

    Zico, as soft as he could be, only frowned and Echo could see the pain in his eyes.

    It’s her defense mechanism when someone raised their hand in front of her face. Echo carefully links him to fill in the details before she sighed. She seems to be abused... and well, she’s deeply malnourished.

    Zico cringed her wolf felt like clawing outside him. My wolf is angry.

    Mine too! That is so weird! Echo agreed.

    Due to the idiocy of Zico, he was forced outside until Rean was done with her food and was ready to head to her room. It did not even take her more than five minutes before the door was opened and he was allowed to enter his own home. What Echo did was against the rules. Despite her being the daughter of the past Alpha, they were sure that Laurence would need to talk to the woman. Based on her reaction to how Zico had reacted—they knew better that she would faint if she saw Laurence.

    The man was dominant and intimidating in nature.

    She would cry her hearts out.

    “Okay.” Echo muttered, playing with her hands. “How can we tell your sister to pay us a visit and check her?”

    Zico spits out his drink. “Excuse, what? She will tell Laurence!”

    “Then help me so she would not.” Echo frowned.

    “Echo, you know that—”

    “Hey, you know that you basically just scared her shitless, right?” Echo played the blaming card, making Zico frown as he remembered the face of the human who seemed clearly scared of him. He really did feel bad.

    The man is a complete sweetheart, which is why she does know that using that tactic would be good. Not that she had other choice as only Zandee would help them—being one of Doctor Adam’s apprentice in the medicine.  

    Echo frowned. “She really needed to be check by a professional, Zico. I know you are worried as much as I am.”

    “Fuck.” He sighs.

.

.

“You are all dragging me to hell.”

    Echo chuckled as soon as she entered the room based on the blackmail that his little brother have on him. She knows that putting human inside a home full of werewolf speaks nothing but trouble as that is what caused the living hunters by this day and age. Their kind should not be exposed to theirs.

    It’s a common thing, why can’t these two listen?

    “Please, Zandee. We will not be doing this if she is not someone who needed help.” Echo smiled, holding the woman by the hand as her eyes sparkled for one apparent reason.

    Zico nodded. “And besides, I only needed to tell father that—”

    “Okay already, I got it!” She screamed, glaring at the man. “You do not need to repeat it every single time that you could.”

    Rean was already aware of this, having to be talked by Echo earlier in the morning. To see a doctor is something that she did not have a luxury off. All her life, she had to tend to her own wounds and care for herself. Her father did not want anyone to see him for an animal that he was—and so, his daughter suffered.

    “Hello, Rean. My name is Zandee.” She introduced herself as she looked at the woman. With a single look at her sullen face, she could see that she was really not someone who could be properly eating. Looking to her brother, she pointed to the door. “Go out.”

    He frowned. “This is my house, Zandee.”

    “I don’t care.”

    “You—”

    “She needed to strip.” Zandee sighed, holding her temple. “Do you want to be an audience? This woman is also shaking to have you in the same room—what the f**k did you do to her?”

    Echo snickered. “She thought that Rean is a hunter.”

    “In this weight and state?” Zandee looked at her brother, clearly annoyed. “How does your mind work sometimes, really defy the laws of everything living.”

    He frowned. “You are all in my house and you are all scattering hate on me. I can kick you all out if—”

    Looking at the three pairs of eyes on him, he can only sigh in defeat for there are two sets of people who are glaring at her and one who seemed to be extremely terrified of his words. Knowing that the woman had clearly overthrown him in his own home, he has no other choice but to guard the outside of his home.

    He should have just listened to Laurence when he had told him to live in the pack house rather than to have a home near the training room. Zico always wanted to have a place on his own—so it was not a surprise that he wanted his own house.

    Clearly, that was a wrong mistake as Echo had always seen his house as her entry of doing the entire possible craziest thing in the world.

    “Can you please take your sweater off, please?” Zandee asked.

    Rean nodded before doing what she was told. To see their horrified reaction to what her body looks like was insane. She was thin—too thin than normal that one could see the bones forming on her stomach. Not only that, but her body is deeply bruised that one could see a conjoined bruise and wounds from sharp object.

    Zandee closed her eyes, feeling her wolf claw inside her. “This is painful to see.”

    “I know.” Echo nodded, feeling like she’s going to cry. “What kind of person would do something like this to you? You don’t deserve to have that kind of bruises in your pearl white skin.”

    Rean only lowered her head, unknown of what she should say. It took them a moment before Zandee gathered enough strength in control, checking every wound and cleaning those that she did not do well in cleaning or others that she could not reach.

    She frowned. “I needed you to try and add more portion in your food. Do you vomit your food or you’re just restricted in food?”

    “Restricted…” she whispered.

    “Okay.” Zandee nodded, leaning in to give her a smile. “This is what we needed to do, okay? We needed to get you to the healthiest weight, and in order for you to achieve that—we needed to record your food and take some vitamins. Would that be okay, Rean?”

    She agreed, her eyes pooling for this was the second gesture that she had received ever since she had left the home that only put her in nothing but danger in pain—how can another place and people who are not her family… care for her more than her own father ever did?

    “Thank you so much.” She replied, eating her emotions as her tears flows down her eyes. “I will try my best.”

    Zandee nodded. “Good. This seems to be your home until you can achieve your goal. Not that Echo will ever let you off from here when you look like that.”

    “She does not even have money!” Echo pouted, pointing at Rean who was looking at her like she was a living guardian angel. “So, whether you like it or not—you are staying here.”

    Rean nodded. “Okay…”

    “And remember.” Echo muttered, looking at her seriously. “It was Zandee who first told you that this will be your home until you healed. That is very important from the second that someone will you ask about this, okay?”

    “Okay.” She agreed.

    Zandee could only grab a fistful of her hair as she realized the hell that these people are dragging her in. She had pitied the woman and in the end, she would be the person who will be carrying this responsibility once Laurence figured this was happening inside his pack.

    She only sighed while writing in the folder. “Moon Goddess, help me.”

    Rean stilled, looking at her when she had mentioned the Goddess. Do they believe in her too?