0004: Speak To Me

LUKAN

" Oh, I'm so sorry." Rosita said quickly, composing herself and looking kind of embarrassed." I was kind of lost in thought."

" Fine if you say so." I replied, not wanting to push it, but I knew I saw a kind of recognition in her eyes. 

I was staring at Merida, it was now that I looked at her. She was probably thinner and looking frail than before, and she was always trying to avoid my gaze.

"You have to take her measurement Rosita for her new dresses."

" Yes, Alpha Lukan," Rosita replied and proceeded to take Merida's measurement, who was looking kind of frightened. I peered at her, and it seemed there were a lot of things she wanted to say. 

"What is it, Merida? Speak."

 Merida shook her head.

"No, it's nothing."

I stared at her for a while, living with her aunt and uncle must have molded her into someone who is silently headstrong and stubborn.

"If you have something to say, then spill it out, don't get me angry. As my mate, you should learn to be outspoken, and also I will mark you soon during the Mating Ritual."

Merida's eyes immediately flew wide open." Mate." She stuttered and her lips kind of quivered.

" Yes." I replied, looking at her frightened face." Do you have any problem with that?"

With the way she was staring at me, I knew that something was wrong. I guess all this had happened suddenly, and she knew nothing about most of the arrangements.

"I think there's a lot of explaining I have to do." I said, pushing my hands deep into my pockets." I didn't buy you because I wanted you to be my slave or breeder, I bought you because I want to mark you and make you mine."

The last statement made her eyes almost fall out of their sockets, even Rosita raised her head quickly in shock.

"Your aunt and uncle are so daft. I'm quite sure that they really didn't read the contract back to back."

But she wasn't listening to all I was saying, her quivering lips parted.

" Why me?" Merida said, swallowing hard." I'm not good for you. I killed my parents. I might repeat the same mistake."

Instead of giving her a reply, I looked out of the window. 

Rosita was trying to make her stand still so she could take a proper measurement and from the corner of my eyes I saw Merida wince.

" Why is this place so sticky?" Rosita asked, pointing at a place beside her lower back.

Merida glanced at me and then at Rosita and back again.

"It's- it's an injury." 

" Any injury?" I asked and Rosita glanced at me." I think there's a bloodstain there, it must be really big for it not to heal properly."

Again Merida stared down at her feet.

" Come here and show me." I said in a low, commanding tone.

" Don't be stupid. You are not at Frostclaw Pack, don't force me to strip you here."

Merida's eyes flew wide open at my sentence, and she cowered in fear.

She glanced at Rosita and then back at me.

"Can I use the bathroom please?"

I turned to Rosita." Leave us."

Rosita bowed before leaving the room, shutting the door calmly behind her. 

Merida's blood scent was so strong, it floated into my nostrils, making my head spin.

Calmly and with shaky hands, she turned around and pulled down her dress, and it fell to her lower back.

" It's fine." She said." It's just a little injury."

" Indeed," I sneered."how do you know it's fine, and it is just a little injury, when you can't even look at your back." I growled, and she flinched before trying to pull the dress up. I held her hands, stopping her.

" Are there any more bruises ?" I asked, and she shook her head slowly, but I didn't believe her, and before she could say a word, I ripped the gown off her and a silent gasp escaped her lips.

My eyes fell on her underwear that were barely hugging her small, frail,,.

She was so thin and bony and the bones at her hips were sticking out.

They weren't just a single bruise like she claimed, it seemed she was bathed in a thousand bruises, some of which were ready to turn purple and they looked so painful. 

Mad anger danced within me and I felt like tearing whoever did this apart. 

" Who did this to you?" I asked, hoping she would give me some piece of information, but she said nothing.

" Is it Ophelia?" 

She shook her head, staring at her small feet.

" Or is it that fool called Garrick?"

She shook her head before answering me. 

"They weren't the only ones. The whole pack hates me."

I cursed under my breath and ran my hand through my hair.

"They are so dead." I yelled." How would they do this to you?"

Then my eyes fell on her wrist, which had bruises on them, it was as if she was bound so tight, and it had left an indelible mark there.

"They also did this too, right?"

As usual, her tongue was tied, and she couldn't give me an answer as she wore her dress which could barely cover her properly.

" You must see a physician."

" No issues, but you don't have to bother."

" I insist, don't tell me you are fine and not to bother." I thundered." Say that one more time and I will take you to Frostclaw Pack." I threatened, but I knew I couldn't do that.

She stared at me shocked.

" Can't you see that you are hurt and going through pain? Look at your body. You are my mate now, and you are my responsibility. Is that understood?"

I didn't realize that I had been yelling. This was the first time I was feeling so concerned about someone. No woman had touched my heart this way.

Merida was star

ing at me, surprised too, and I kind of felt embarrassed.

I exhaled and looked away. I just hope I'm not falling for her.

" I will have to find out about the Nightshade fern," I said instead.