Chapter 121: You're A Monster

It took Gabriel a total of one minute to go through Marcus' memories; he skipped the part of their night together and could now only look between Esme, who killed yet another rogue, and Marcus, who lay flat on the ground. Their relationship was deeper than he imagined, but it wasn't something he needed to focus on right now. Esme had a past, as did he; 

Gabriel needed to know, though, if there were still lingering feelings between them. Marcus 'returning from the dead' is not something to be taken lightly.

Even as Gabriel put aside his feelings and thought of the situation logically, he couldn't help but feel anxious for the first time in his long life. He'd only known Esme for a few weeks, yet here he was outside a 'Hub', concerned about the she-wolf. There was no doubt about it; he cared about her more than he thought possible. Somehow, Esme effortlessly wriggled her way into his head, clouding his thoughts of only her. 

That was why he was infuriated with Esme for leaving a well-protected apartment. Whether she could take care of herself or not, his enemies weren't some stray rogues or her mate. For now, he could only hope his spies hadn't linked him with Esme; she was his responsibility. Gabriel clenched his fist by his side as he glared into the darkness of the woods, daring any to approach them.

The vampire leaned against the tree nonchalantly with his arms crossed as he redirected his attention to his little she-wolf slaughtering people, ignoring the vampire approaching him.

"And here I thought you'd rescue her like some knight in shining armour," Luther hopped down onto Gabriel's branch from another tree. He placed his hands in his trouser pockets as he watched Esme with intrigue. 

"She doesn't need any help," Gabriel replied quietly, his eyes fixed on Esme's lithe movements; it was like watching a deadly dance, one he couldn't look away from. 

She was beautiful.

"I can see that!" Luther chuckled and sat down, letting his legs dangle from the branch. 

Gabriel glanced at him before returning his gaze to Esme. She stood over the werewolf who'd dropped dead on the ground; she huffed and inhaled deeply before removing her mask from her face. Gabriel frowned as he saw her body relaxing, even though there was another rogue approaching her from behind. The red-haired man sprinted towards her; Gabriel pushed off the tree and halted once more, shaking his head at Esme, who dodged the man's attack.

Esme turned around and smirked; her eyes gleamed in amusement. Unlike the others who she dealt with swiftly, Esme's façade changed somewhat. The she-wolf acted playfully, annoying the werewolf and humiliating him. She swiftly kicked his face, and he fell to the ground; Esme circled him like he was her prey. Whoever he was, Esme didn't like him. He quickly searched the man's mind and narrowed his gaze at the rogue as his chest burned with the strong need to rip his throat out. 

Rudy was his name, and he tried to take Esme down whenever he could. When they first met each other, Rudy threw a rock at her face upon arriving at the Hellhounds. They fought throughout their early years, and then when she was sixteen and Rudy eighteen, he tried to sexually assault her in his drunken state. Esme had been given wolfsbane mixed with the drug Rohypnol and was held down by five men. 

Marcus was on a mission, but Esme somehow broke through the drug's side effects, killing the five men and slashing Rudy's eye with her knife. 

Esme would have killed him if nobody else heard the carnage and intervened. Rudy was never trialled; he was also 'too valuable', and the others who disliked Esme recounted a different story to hers. Esme was told to put her feelings aside. Marcus returned the following evening and reopened Esme's wound on Rudy's eye, pouring wolfsbane in the cut, causing it to scar and make him go half-blind. 

Gabriel had to admit it; he liked Marcus. He wanted to torture the bastard as well, but it wasn't his right to take away any vengeance of hers. It seemed right now, Esme was going to finally avenge herself; he could see the burning hatred in her eyes.

"Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.." Esme tutted and kicked his face, causing him to flip onto his back. 

Rudy jumped back to his feet, wiping away the blood from his mouth, glaring down at her. "You really are a monster," He spat, his eyes glowed momentarily with the growl in his voice. 

Esme tilted her head to the side, arching a singular eyebrow as she held her hands behind her back. "Has it really taken you this long to realise?" She mocked and spun out of his reach from where he tried to grab her. 

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Rudy glanced at Marcus' 'lifeless' body on the ground and stared at her again. "I knew you were heartless. But to kill.." He trailed off, his expression surprisingly conflicted. 

"To kill my best friend?" Esme finished for him, causing Rudy to flinch. She took a step towards him, and he took one back, making the she-wolf smirk. She lifted her gaze from his feet, her eyes darkening menacingly as she held Rudy's gaze. "If I can do that to my best friend, what do you think I'll do to you, Rudy?"

Rudy started to tremble, his face elongating into a snout, but Esme swiped her knife at his face, stopping him from shifting with the silver blade. She then stabbed him in the chest, slamming him into a tree. Rudy laughed, "You missed!"

Gabriel tilted his head to the side; he couldn't see from his position. Now that he knew Esme's skill level, Gabriel was certain if she missed Rudy's heart, then it was on purpose. 

"Oh, Rudy." She yanked the knife out of his chest and wiped his blood on his sleeve while her free hand pierced his throat with her claws, keeping the large man in place. "I am debating with my wolf right now.. on whether you live or die."

Rudy scoffed. "Get it over with bitch. Stop playing your mind games." He wrapped his large hands around her throat and started to squeeze.

Esme grinned, uncaring about the claws around her throat. "My wolf wants me to kill you," She shrugged, "And boy would it give me great pleasure. But then.. I also need you to send a message to your leader.. However," She sighed in exasperation even as he tightened his grip on her throat and blood started to trickle down her skin. "She does make a great point, though. Killing you also sends a message."

Gabriel dropped to the ground, he was restless at seeing another trying to strangle her, but Esme's nonchalance was the only reason he was staying out of sight right now and not tearing the werewolf to pieces. Luther landed gracefully next to him, and although they were soundless, Esme picked up on the small movement, her head turned ever so slightly, to the point that only the vampires could see it.

"You can't kill me without me squeezing the life out of you first," Rudy growled, then scoffed. "You've always been so fucking full of yourself. And look at you now.." He squeezed, even more, causing Esme to grimace.

"That's not a bad plan," Esme said breathlessly before stabbing the knife in Rudy's scarred eye. "If I weren't your opponent."

Rudy's screams echoed through the woods, awakening and stilling the creatures around them. He released Esme from his grasp, covering his bloodied eye and glaring at her, taking a step forwards. "I wouldn't," She warned while turning the blade elegantly in her hand like a parlour trick. "If you want to live, you better go back now like a good little dog."

Rudy stopped and scrutinised the she-wolf before backing away, watching her with his hand clasped over his eye, blood pouring down his face. "This isn't over." He gritted out. 

"It certainly is. Rudy, you better not make a mistake in thinking you will get another chance to live," Esme warned him quietly. "This better be the last time I see your repulsive face."

Rudy didn't respond as he merged back in with the shadows. As soon as Gabriel was sure he was gone, he appeared by Esme's side, bag in hand. Esme looked up at him nervously as she put her blade away and placed her backpack over her shoulders. "We should get out of here," She said quietly, not meeting his gaze. 

Did she fear he had seen this side to her? 

Gabriel gripped her chin and tilted her head up, but she still refused to meet his gaze. "Look at me, Es," He said softly. She gulped and slowly looked up. "I knew you were a little troublemaker the moment I met you. This is a part of who you are, and I accept it."

Esme's lips parted from his words, but before she could say anything else, Gabriel planted a gentle kiss on her lips. He pulled away and caressed her cheek. "That doesn't mean I am letting you off for tonight, though," He growled, narrowing his eyes at her before lowering his lips to the tender spot on her neck and leaving a featherlight kiss. 

"We need to talk.." His lips brushed her skin, and he watched as she shivered from his touch.

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