Mated ✓

05

Chapter Five

She was used to hiding from people, but not this way.

Rean Aedler’s Point of View

A small whimper of a cry escaped my lips.

Fresh bruises are really hard to mend, but this had been the first time that I was wincing with the pain again. On usual notes, I had been very careful not to let my cries get away from my mouth—maybe that I was because I needed to be careful so nobody could know that I am in this amount of pain.

Now, everyone in the room does understand where I am going through.

In the art of healing yourself, one should know to be careful. Not only do you not want to damage your skin further, but it is more painful if you would accidentally or choose to pat yourself in a way that is very harsh on your skin. I have learned it the hard way. Also, in some way... this did make my wounds heal a lot faster as I do not really trouble it that much.

As the door slammed opened without any alert of entry what so ever, a loud cry escaped my lips as I ended up slamming the herb in my wound with a force that really seemed like I have been licked by satan's tongue with the burn. With a frown, I looked to the person who had done me dirty and saw Echo awkwardly smiling at me, and mumbling a soft apology.

She must have been surprised by how I had reacted too.

It did really hurt.

I could not stop myself. 

“I am so sorry, Rean!” She cried, walking towards the bed with a cringe forming into her mouth, clearly feeling guilt to what she had done. Looking to the wound, I could see that it had gone red from the reaction or maybe I had put too much than necessary. As her eyes looked mine with nothing but sense of remorse, I could not do anything but let it go. It was an accident, anyway. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to.” Her words were careful, very meek. 

I nodded, trying not to wince by the pain as my hand continued on fanning my wound as fast as I could. “I… It’s fine. You’re fine. I was just surprised.”

“I am so sorry for doing that to you,” she all but repeated, her eyes forming into tears.

Surprised to how she seemed to have been more guilty than I had anticipated, I waved my hand sideways to make her aware that it was no big deal. “It’s okay, I promise. I was just surprised.”

“I thought something was happening to you and I was so worried.” Echo cried, sitting on the floor and sobbing through her fresh tears. I have always been confused about why she was like this but I chuckled, shaking my head.

With the most adorable whimper, she had looked at me like a baby. I was not sure if she was younger or older than me but she does act like a baby. More than I ever did. Never have I been in a position where I thought that it was okay to act like this.

I always needed to be tough.

Sometimes it does make me worry about how easily she can pick on things. For a second, it does make me question if she has a nose that could smell from a mile away but I know that is clearly impossible. As far as I am aware, only dogs have that ability. Maybe even wolves. Humans could not possible smell from a mile away or from another room, it was just impossible—maybe the way that I have opened the window for some ventilation was spreading the scent.

As far fetched as that sounds, it was the only explanation that I could have.

“By the way…” Echo muttered, looking at me with such uncertainty in her voice as she fidgets around. “We are actually moving away from this house.”

I c**k my head to the side, clearly confused about the sudden news. It had not been a full day of me being in this place but we were already leaving? 

“Is there anything wrong?” I asked. 

“No!” Echo easily dismissed that made me think that she was hiding something without my knowledge.

Even if I am someone who can easily be deceived, I know how people react when they hide something—as I have perfected the art of that from the years that I was abused. Not only that, but I noticed that Echo was innocent for her own good too; she was someone who does not really lie.

Maybe that is why I feel really attached to her.

Noticing my uncertainty about how she was acting, she had only offered a smile to coat my worries. It does not help, but it was good to feel that she was caring for my reactions. “It’s just that, I don’t really live here and Zico is set to live where I am staying.”

I frowned to her words, they seemed really close to being friends and by the number of clothes that she has in the house that Zioc was living in—maybe she was his girlfriend? That makes sense. 

I blinked. “Are you two together?”

“Pfft! Girlfriend? Of that i***t? Oh my heavens, even Zico would laugh upon hearing this!” She holds her reaction before laughing loudly. “No! We’re just really close. Everyone here basically grew up together and the man is more like a brother rather than someone who I wanted to be in a relationship with.”

I nodded, giving her the privacy she needed. Maybe I was just out with the concept of having friends to understand how that could be perceived as normal. To what my father tells me, not even a boy could be close to me. Let alone having me in a near spectrum when a boy in my age could breathe normally.

He had always told me that I was too young—even if one of my servers were 16 and she was already pregnant. I still have a couple of months before I turn 18 and I believe that the only boy who was in my age range that I have told to was the man who was scary.

…even if I did not pass any words to me.

Maybe that counts.

“Do you have a boyfriend, Rean?” Echo asks out of the blue.

My eyes reached hers, clearly surprised by her question. “No…”

“You hesitated.” She accused, glaring at me.

My bottom lips got tangled with my teeth before I replied. “I was just surprised. I... do not think that I have been in the same room as someone who was my age. Zico is probably the first man that I have seen who had reached my age range.”

Echo chuckled before sitting on the bed. For someone who seemed to have no problem in talking and making someone comfortable by her presence, I always saw Echo as someone who was a sad child… even if she acted very bubbly and happy.

“Do you know that there is actually someone in the world that is only meant for you?” She asked, her voice seemingly hopeful than most.

I nodded, looking out the window and into the sky. “My mother always tells me the same thing.”

“I wanted to find that person too.” She could not help but sigh in anything in what seemed like a blissful one as she looked up. “To finally have someone who you could spend your whole life and understand you better than anyone. I would be more than happy to have him now!”

My head bobbed to her words. Rosie told me that girls in my age would usually be wishing for boys who they would want to date—never have I think anything in that spectrum. For the years that I was nothing but trapped in the house, all I dreamt of was getting happiness.

“Have you ever think of the one who you’ll be destined with?” She asked with eyes that seemed to sparkle like the night sky. It was good that she was lucky enough to have a childhood in which she could think of happiness as spending life with someone you loved.

“I was aware of the concept.” I replied, frowning at the words that soon followed, “However. I never found the strength or reason to find solace in that idea.”

“Why not?” Echo asked.

A small puff of sigh escaped my lips. “Have you seen my bruises?”

It was also this. 

Not only does thinking about my safety was not enough, but as soon as I have gathered enough strength as I did today, my father made sure that he could still destroy me and made me remember all the things that he had done to me. He made sure of that. 

“Yes.” She replied.

Nobody can love me upon seeing this. That’s my father used to say—that I was someone who would be happy to open my legs to any man. So he ruined me, in any place of my body that he could scar—he did.

While telling me that nobody can love me with such a hideous body, and I believed him. Through the years of torture, I gave up the feeble idea of love and just saved my own soul. I had asked help to the Moon Goddess—but I believe that I never wished to have a man in a stallion to come and rescue me.

Echo grabbed me by the shoulders and pull me by her side. “Those are battle scars, Rean. No matter how bad you think they are—everyone who sees that will know that you fought hard in a battle that you won. More than anything, it does not show anything bad.” She smiled triumphantly. “In fact,” she added with a grin. “It shows just how much strong you are for still not losing your light despite of that.”

My lips quiver, not wanting to shed tears. Echo only smiled before pulling me close to her and telling me things that I have never heard before and wanted too. The very reason that I still hold on and be the version of my self that I am today—was because of my mother. She would have wanted me to shed love and live the life that she thinks that I deserve.

As soon as we both have composed ourselves, Echo had taken me outside of the home and into the depth of the small town that she was living in. It was really beautiful how everyone seemed to be really closed to each other and how the place seemed like nothing but a fairy tale.

“This place is really beautiful,” I whispered as I was trailing beside her.

She nodded, her eyes brightening by my words. “I know, right? I am so happy to live in this place! It’s so full of life and history!”

As we were fast approaching what seemed like a Victorian mansion—and probably the biggest house in this place, my eyes grew wide as I looked at Echo. She had only laughed and nodded as if telling me that she lived in this place.

So she’s the type of rich rich.

As soon as we had entered the house, I was surprised to see that the place was touched with both modern and historical. As soon as you enter, you were surprised by the big staircase leading you to the second floor, which is just beautiful. To that open area around that staircase was a large chandelier that was holding the place down.

I know that my father has a house that was gorgeous in nature—but it does not hold a candle to this place. Around the receiving area were portraits of the people who had lived in here and I was nothing but shocked to see the place.

It, however, easily ended when I was ushered by Echo.

“We best get going.” She muttered, dragging me to the second floor as she was looking around. For someone who lives in the place, she sure was acting like she should not be in here.

I wonder what is happening.

My thought must have slipped as she answered with nothing but dismissive. However, I soon caught that she was hiding through people, as she would pull me close to the wall before checking the hallways.

Rosie told me that children in my age would sneak people into the house and try not to get caught. I frowned; maybe Echo was experiencing the same thing as me? I always know that being lavished in nothing but expensive houses and beautiful place is nothing but a way to deceive others into thinking you’re something else.

Maybe she was going through something too.

“Okay.” Echo whispered, looking at me with a smile. “I needed you to stay in this place for a second, I will grab us some food while we talk and enter my room.”

Looking around the small area where she will leave me, I nodded. “Okay.”

It was a receiving area filled with chairs that I could sit on, so I did not question her words. That being said Echo had slipped out of the place and head somewhere to grab some food. I, on the other hand, sat on the place with nothing but my hand on my lap and waiting for her to arrive.

I would have stayed in that position but my eyes caught something from the hallway. For a moment, it seemed like it was a portrait that was calling me and without being aware of my action, I had walked to where it was and frowned.

Before me, was a portrait of a man who seemed to be in the same age range as me, maybe a year or two older—but seeing that this seemed old, he might be someone who was already in his prime age.

“Echo?” A rough voice called, making me jump.

I had looked around and almost freaked out upon noticing that I was not in the place where she had left me. Maybe she would be reprimanded if I were caught! As my feet were close to walking back to where I was, my ears heard someone walking through the stairs.

Oh, my moon goddess—

Pivoting around, I had messed around the place until I found a closet door and had turned the knob. Thankfully, it was locked. Being very careful, I have entered it and closed it without making a noise. A small sigh escaped my lips as I turn my back on my door—which was a big mistake.

This is a room!

Jeez! Why would I think that there would be a closet in the hallway?

Was I too nervous about things like that?

Then again, there was a fact that I might be stupid too.

Maybe this was Echo’s room? No.

I doubt that I am ever lucky for the streak that has made my life miserable as it was. My body reacted as soon as the door rattled, making me aware that I just closed a door that was meant to be open.

“Why the f**k is my door locked?”

The voice muttered on the other side of the door, making me look around the room in panic for a place that I could hide. My eyes continued to scan around until I found a space below the bed that could fit me. Moving quickly, I had dived under it and quiver in fear. There were some muffled noises from behind and I was nothing but scared that they know that I had made a mistake.

I have never hidden in my whole life and I was not aware that it was this scary.

As the door flutter open, my eyes closed and continued on praying that maybe—maybe just maybe, Echo will find me and let me out of this mess. I do not want to die or be beaten up again.

Please…

.

.

Laurence Pierce’s Point of View.

Where the f**k is Echo?

That girl had been blocking my link, which was pissing me off. I was still not sure when she would be taking my mate into the pack house. Having my mate in the place where Zico had to choose to live was not safe. It was dangerously close to where the border was and it would probably be the first house that the rogues would attack into.

It was the reason why Zico picked the place as it was close to where he was reporting in. Not only that, but it gives him a quick access into killing rogues who would attack his place before anyone else.

In a sense, it was a win-win.

Hence, I have approved of it.

“Echo?” I called as soon as I entered the house, but she did not answer.

There was her faint smell around so I was not surprised that she could just not hear me. Maybe it was her lingering scent for being in this place before she had admitted that to everyone that she holds my mate captive.

I will talk to her later.

I needed a bathe.

Walking to my room, I had stretched my neck and my arms. There had been a lot of warriors who had been improving in their training and I needed to be there to watch the pups shift, seeing that Henry was still not in the place to give the job to his mate.

I really need that asshole to come back.

As soon as I have grabbed my doorknob, a frown etched on my skin. “Why the f**k is my door locked?” I grumbled, knowing full well that I do not even lock this s**t, as no one would dare enter my room.

Damn it.

Annoyed as I was, I had to rummage to through my pocket and frowned. Quickly linking an omega that was responsible for storing the keys, I only leaned on the wall. She had ushered before me with a bow.

“I am so sorry, Alpha.” She whispered, clearly feeling guilty and flushed, as she must have run in such a long distance to get here in time. “I must have locked it while I was cleaning by mistake.”

Pushing my self off the wall, I only nodded. “It’s fine, Beatriz. Just be careful next time.”

“Yes Alpha,” she answered before unlocking the door and sending her respects before she had left.

As soon as I have entered the door, I was confused when I was bombarded with the strong smell of my mate. Despite me being in love with the scent, it does pose a question as to why her scent was around the room.

Damn it.

Echo Blithe.

Walking to my dresser, I was focused on taking off the training bands on my hand when I heard a small whimper. Confused, I had looked behind me to see a piece of cloth under my bed. It was only a little piece that seems to not have been tugged along with the other piece when someone had hidden behind that, but knowing the smell that was dominant in the room.

He already knows who it was.

It was his mate.

However, why was she hiding under his bed?

Confused, he had linked Lucian to tell his daughter to cut off his link. His eyes lingered on the piece of cloth and were keen on wanting to hear if she would let any words escape from her mouth.

‘What do you want, Alpha!’ Echo screamed in the link that seemed to be in distress. I could feel every sense of panic and distress in her link but I pay no attention to it.

I frowned before replying to the link. ‘What is my mate doing under my bed?’

‘What?’ She had replied quite easily and seemingly confused as I was.

‘She is under my bed, hiding.’ I replied.

There was some silence from the link as my nose marveled at the scent of my hate. I was not sure why she would be in my room—let alone under my bed. A sense of calm went into the link as Echo replied.

‘Are you sure?’ She asked.

‘If it was something else, do you honestly think that you would not have heard a loud shrill of a scream from me killing that person?’ I asked.

Walking towards the bed, I grew even more confused as she let out another whimper. Did something happen or was she scared for her to hide under my bed? I was sure that nobody in the place could have caused her fear.

As nothing seemed to be coming from Echo, I had made my decision to kneel on the bed and bend down, wanting to see her face again. Only what I did not expect was to see a woman who seemed completely terrified into seeming me look at her.

And before I know it, she had screamed.