The Secret One

5

Chapter 5

"The Blood Moon pack started as nothing. Our dad wasn't even a beta. The Southern family belongs to the pack Lotus Handler. We were a quiet pack. Nothing ever happened within the pack. But that one day changes it all. Jake swore he would never fall like our pack did. He learned how to show kindness. The war that broke out only happened because our alpha wasn't so kind to a rogue wolf looking for a place to live. Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen overnight. The young pup got strong and took over lands. The pup ended up coming back and ripping through the pack because he was not happy he didn't get accepted into the friendly wolf pack. So Jake gathered up the courage, after watching our pack get slaughtered in front of us, to take hold of the remaining living people and start all over. Jake was young, 16 if I remember correctly yet everyone followed," Anya fills me in as we walk to the training lands. She was taking breaks here and there for me to rest my body.

I nod as I watch the surrendering switch from trees to open lands. As we walk up, I see men and women, handfuls in groups training. All the people on the field are either shirtless or wearing a sports bra and sweating from the workout. They all stop and watch as we make our way to the middle. I meet the eyes of men and women who smile at me. I don't give them one back. I study their faces. Some have old scars; others have freckles that litter their face. I look forward to meeting Jake's honeyed eyes. He is also shirtless, standing next to a shorter male. "Anya tells me she found you running in the woods." Jake questions as he comes looking hurt. My lips thin in a small line, causing Jake, Anya, and the other guy to chuckle. The groups around us began to train. I watch as they swing and dodge each other's hits perfectly; their footing is off but after that, they have great technique.

"Hi, I am Jason, Jake's beta," the man informs me. He has dimples when the counter of his mouth opens, making him cute. I stand there not knowing what to do, so I rock on my heels. "Okay," Jason says while dragging out the kay part is okay. "The people you see know who you are and what you are to me. These are the warriors of my pack. The fastest and strongest." Jake states with pride in his voice. I nod my head.

Jason pats Jake on the shoulder, making him step back from me. They resume their fighting stance once again. I hum as I watch the men fight. "Do you not talk because you can't or choose not to?" Says Anya when we both take a seat. She is truly curious about me. I hold up my fingers to show the number two. "Is it because you are afraid to?" I shrugged my shoulders. My whole life, I have been a quiet person. Getting kidnapped only added to it. I was told if you are not necessary, you have no place to talk, so together, I just stopped talking. Tears gather in my eyes as I remember those memories.

Anya looks over but doesn't speak after that. She only stands and walks over, tapping Jake and pointing to me, "I met with my warriors this morning when I left your room. I didn't expect you to leave your room either," Jake chuckles, throwing light at my morning advantage. I pull my knees up to my chest and remain still. "Ruth, I would like to take you on a date tonight." I place my cheek on my knees, so I am now facing Jake. I slowly close my eyes and take in the surrounding birds; the sound is peaceful. Oh, how simple life was. I don't feel pretty. I am not pretty. He says we are mates, but I genuinely don't know. My wolf went silent after I gave up. To be that innocent girl again. Jake is going to find out about my past. I wonder if I will end up like Medusa, where no one believed her. My body and mind show the abuse, but Waylen has the title. I let out a breath after thinking for a while and nodded my head yes. To go back and redo my whole life, this is a start.

Jake grins eye to eye. He looks like a kid in the candy store, his sweaty hair plastered to his forehead and smiling like he got money from doing a chore. "Anya will take you back to mine and her place to help you prepare for tonight. You will be moved from the infirmary into our house. I set up a room for you so you will be comfortable, but it is between Anya and me. I must get back to training before Jason starts calling me a simp. I'll talk to you later, little one," He informs me, throwing me a small wave as he jogs back to Jason. I wave goodbye to him and wait for Anya to finish her training.

...

As we made it back to the house, Anya told me she would take a shower, and then we could find something to wear for tonight.

The red oak floor is sleek under my feet. My eyes dance around her room and see pictures in frames. I look closer to find torn or burnt images yet still in the frames. "I tried to save some pictures in our old pack before everything ruined," Anya porches with a towel in her hand, drying her hair. I rub my finger over the glass and onto a little boy. He looks so happy and carefree. His honey eyes shone in the sun. "Come on, we are going into the bathroom to put makeup on. We can't be sad about the past anymore. My mom always told me that someday your past and pain will be useful."

I shake my head in response and smile at her. She opens the door to the bathroom, making me see the clean marble again. I stop dead in my tracks. *The dirty, rusted smell leaked into my nose; they dragged me into the room of red-stained marble as they dragged another girl out who looked dead. Being ten and shifting in my wolf form so many times trying to fight can dampen your body. The men threw me on the icy floor. As a man walks in, my life flashes before my eyes. "You have a long life ahead of you," the older man told me.* Remembering the ache in my body from fighting and crying. I gasp for air. I am grabbing the countertop for support. I feel Anya's arms wrapped around me. Somehow, grounding me.

She holds a worried look on her face. It shows through the mirror in front of me. Anya reaches over, grabs a tissue, and wipes my tears from me. "You are safe now," she mutters.

"You have pretty hair, Ruth." She comments as she pulls everything out for tonight's date. She was trying to save me from my thoughts. I give a small smile in return. She pulls out a curling rod and plugs it in so it can get hot. Being here makes me wish I had a family. A sister. Not a life I hate. This feels so normal. It's weird. Anya clapped her hand, making me jump in my skin, and her eyes said sorry without her speaking, breaking me out of thought. The makeover begins. She tells me everything she is doing to me.

I looked at myself in the mirror; Anya did a black smokey eye with an eye shadow wing. Simple but pretty. "The dress I picked is short, but it will be cute on you because you have a small frame. It won't overtake your body," So I slip the soft fabric over my body and run my hands over it. The dress shows a lot of scars on my legs, making me uneasy. The dress has sleeves that cover my arms; at least those scars are hidden. Black sparks on the top make it more elegant than anything I have ever worn. The white lacey bottom and black lines add more definition to the dress. Anya gives me black flats to finish off the simple look.

I'm a bag of bones wearing a dress. I hate my body, and Anya sees it, "It will take time, Ruth. It would help if you were easy on yourself. I may not know who you are, but everyone can tell you are not easy on yourself," I licked my lips and got scared as the knock on the door sounded.

"Knock, knock. Can I come in?" Jake announces as he peaks in.

"Jake, you are weird." Anya preaches as Jake fully enters the room. "But you love me," Jake replies to her statement. Jake then takes notice of me. "You are breathtaking, little one." I feel the heat on my cheek rise as I get bashful from his remark. Something nice I haven't heard in a long time.

"Doesn't she!" Anya blurts out without realizing it. Jake chuckles but never breaks eye contact with me. "Let's get going on that date, shall we?" Jake says while slowly lifting his hand from me to take it. I place my hand into his. Feeling his skin for the second time. Our eyes lock and ease floods through his, even mine.