The Alpha's Healer

10 | Zachary

A faint knock interrupted her self depreciation. She opened a c***k and peeked from the gap. Kate smiled at the sight of her and raised the bag in her hand. "Alpha wanted me to bring some spare clothes for you. Take a look if they're your size? I went with my guess."

Iris waved her hand frantically, "I have spare clothes in my bag. I don't need these."

"Oh? You mean the bag on the couch? I thought the clothes in it were dirty so I put them in the washer." Kate stuffed the bag through the gap and took several steps back. "It will be a waste if you don't wear them. Just try them on. Let me know if they don't fit, we'll see what we can do."

With that, she spun on her feet and flew away like a busy bee. Iris slowly clothes the door with a sigh. How was it so easy for some people to smile? How could someone be so cheerful all the time? Iris smiled bitterly as she peeked into the bag.

Since the new clothes were delivered, she quickly took a shower in the bathroom attached to the room. It was equipped with everything one might need to take a relaxing bath.

The luxurious nature of the bathroom made it impossible for Iris not to relax. Indulgence felt foreign on her skin. As it rubbed off the grime, Iris hoped to erase the last traces of Fire moon pack from her body and soul.

The new clothes fit her perfectly. Iris paused in front of the vanity on her way out. It didn't occur to her that the white dress and strawberry design was something out of her childhood.

Iris pulled her lips into a smile like she remembered doing that day, but this time her lips fell instead of cooperating. Growing up cost Iris every last penny of will.

The full face in the mirror was just a shadow of the person Iris wanted to be. Often forgotten and trampled on.

"Iris, believe in yourself."

A voice in her head defended against her own claims. If Iris was any less of a coward, she would have asked her wolf where she was when every other child her age was galloping around, shifted. Would her life be any different with a wolf? Perhaps not.

"I believe in fate. Maybe this new chapter will bring me a surprise from mom." Iris whispered, gazing out the huge window that let in enough sunlight to brighten up the entire room.

----

Iris didn't see Sebastian's shadow for the rest of the day. The man seemed to have disappeared between the walls of his home, yet his commands echoed in the actions by Kate.

"Alpha told me that you haven't eaten anything since last night. Poor thing, you're all skin and bones. I'm afraid you'll be blown away by the summer breeze!" Kate calmoured.

"This fish is a popular delicacy of our pack. I always make it for Alpha when he doesn't have an appetite. He finishes it all by himself! Try it!"

Iris stared at the fillet later than her palm on the plate, surrounded by more food. She ate one small bite at a time under Kate's expecting gaze.

The empty table had only her as an occupant. Iris had eaten the majority of her meals in isolated corners of the house back in the fire moon pack, which made her a stranger to the etiquettes required to be eating at such a fancy looking meal.

She did her best to eat slow and small bites and not appear too hungry. Her tolerance for hunger had been honed through the years and for once she was grateful to the fire that burned those unappealing edges off of her.

"Kate! What's for Lunch?! I'm starving!"

Iris flinched and her grip loosened. The spoon fell with a faint clatter as a young boy with bright blond hair and familiar blue eyes burst through the door and zapped into the dining area.

Iris watched the caring housekeeper turn into a devil with metaphorical horns as soon as the boy reached for a seat at the table. Hands on hips, she kicked the chair to the side and glared, not out of anger or hate, but pure frustration.

Nobody in the room could tell the difference between those few emotions better than Iris. Her interest in food was completely lost as soon as the boy appeared. His resemblance to Sebastian was uncanny. Perhaps it was the brother he mentioned.

"Zachary! How many times have I told you to wash up before eating! Food isn't going to run away but you sure will get sick someday!" Kate scolded in a motherly fashion.

Zachary hung his head, pouted and tugged at her appron. The woman visibly softened like butter over an open flame. "Alright, don't act coy! I've made your favourite fish. I'll heat it up for you so don't take too long!"

"You're the best, Katie!"

Zachary spun on the spot like an overgrown frisbee. While doing so, he caught sight of Iris at the table and his entire demeanour changed as if someone flipped a switch. The change was day to night, and awfully similar to Sebastian. She suddenly craved for his reassuring presence.

"Who are you?" He asked in a tone that was neither welcoming nor warm. "Why are you sitting in my brother's seat?"

Oh. Iris shot up, gathered her plate and shifted it to the seat next to it. Kate opened her mouth to say something, but zachary was faster than her : "That's my seat!"

Iris paused, blinked and shifted to the one next to it. "I'm sorry."

Apology came naturally to Iris. As long as it pacified the other person, she would willingly say those words which lost their meaning when she was too young to even understand it.

"You didn't answer my question. Who are you?" He barked loud enough for her entire villa to echo back the sentiment.

Iris' skin crawled, neck squeezing into her shoulders as a form of defence. Her gaze lowered the plate clutched in a tight grip. The unfinished food mocked her for getting too ahead of herself.

What was she expecting? Just because Sebastian was good to her didn't mean the entire shadow ridge was obligated to do the same.

"Mind your tone, Zachary. She is Alpha's guest! What do you think he'll say if he finds out you spoke to her so rudely?" Kate scolded him, to which Zachary hummed, "Should have said it earlier when I asked. I thought some stranger came to meet him again. When did he come back? He didn't tell me or I would have skipped practice today. I'm all filthy!"

"He didn't tell you precisely because of this. Now apologise for your nasty behaviour and take a shower! You stink of football and sweat!" Kate jokingly smacked his shoulder.

A shadow swallowed Iris in it's length. It took considerable effort to face the person who looked ready to toss her out a moment ago.

"I am sorry about the way I acted towards you. Don't tell my brother about it haha. What's your name? I'm Zachary, a high school senior."

Zachary proudly raised a hand after the short mix of apology and self introduction. Her teeth dug into the flesh of her bottom lip. A startling taste of blood rushed to her head.

She placed her smaller hand in his ever so lightly. The touch stayed for a second, so small it was barely felt on his palm heated with stretched. She recoiled as if burned.

"It's been a hectic couple of days since he left on a trip. So many people have been showing up because he couldn't be contacted. That's why I got pissed, I thought you were one of them. Did I ruin your lunch? Haha, nevermind."

Her discomfort reflected in every inch of her skin. Iris never mixed well with strangers. Almost all of her encounters ended in humiliation.

There were no precedents to make believe that it won't be the same with him. As her mind once again spun to conspire against her, Zachary took her silence as a gateway to keep talking.

"By the way, how did you meet my brother? He has never brought a guest home, let alone a female. What's your relationship? Friend...or..." He trailed off suggestively.

Iris looked up briefly, just enough to see his eyebrows wiggle playfully behind the messy bangs on his forehead. The need to explain took over. "We are..."

Her words tangled up on the tip of her tongue. What were they? Mates? She was waiting for rejection. Friends? They didn't know each other enough to be friends. Strangers? Not quiet. What were they?

"Why does it smell like a dumpster here?"

The voice shattered the confusion and replaced it with relief. The scent of musk and pine came first, followed by the man himself as he descended down the stairs.