Chapter 133: A Run Between Friends

Esme left in a rush with Marcus after Gabriel's threat. She found it both chilling and adorable at the same time. Her protective mate was exactly who she needed by her side. 
Esme still had the freedom to come and go as she pleased in the penthouse, like the rogue she is, and not being imprisoned like her previous mate. There was no comparison, but with two marks on her skin to two different mates, she couldn't help but think about Ethan and the things he'd done and how loving Gabriel already was towards her.
A tiny part of her, possibly 1% of her, doubted that this happiness would last, that something might come between them. That Gabriel might change his mind but even thinking that for a fraction of a second made her neck burn and her body shiver in response. The she-wolf knew that such idiotic thoughts sprung to her mind because of such a past; she knew in time that that small feeling would pass and she could live comfortably, or as comfortably as can be for the Vampire King's mate, once she got over her demons. 
Esme inhaled sharply and leapt over a fallen tree, bringing her back to the present and not lost in her thoughts. Marcus turned his head and shook it, making small barking sounds similar to a laugh. That was the only issue with rogues; they couldn't communicate with each other, so reading each other's body language was the best thing to do. Luckily, they had trained in wolf form as well and knew each other well enough. But it would have been nice to be able to mind-link him.
Currently, she was just following Marcus to the location of his bag. So far, they'd been running for two hours, making Esme wonder a few times if he was just running away and leading her astray. But the black wolf in front started to slow down. They'd already run across the valley, up and down hills, through forests and was now at a forest she hadn't been to yet. Then again, she hadn't ventured too far away from Chester, her instinct was always in fight and flight mode, so it was still strange to be running without a bag or having clothes nearby for when she wanted to shift back into her human form.
Marcus slowed to a walk and followed a small stream until he came across a boulder. Esme paused when he shifted back into human form and crouched down behind the rock, moving some plants away that was in the corner of it, and pulled out a black duffel bag. Esme turned her head away when he stood again and lowered her mouth to the water for a drink.
"Do you want to chill here for a bit?" Marcus asked; she ignored him for a moment as she chugged down the water, not realising just how thirsty she was. Unlike the early hours of the morning, the skies were bright and sunny and even seemed to be warm. Which was lovely, considering it was nearly winter and they were in the north. 
Esme finally raised her head and found her friend already wearing some tracksuit bottoms, his feet barefoot as he redid his dishevelled hair, tying only the top half of his hair back into his new favourite hairstyle. His muscles flexed as he did so, seemingly unaware of the power of his looks, but she knew better. Marcus knew he was good looking; he feigned innocence. But as she glanced at him and looked away, she really wondered who the lucky she-wolf would be his mate. 
If he treated her, his best friend, so well, then his mate would no doubt be treated like a princess.
"I think his question was rhetorical," Isana said pointedly, bringing Esme out of her thoughts about her friend. Esme rolled her eyes and walked up to Marcus, looking down at him from her height. She was a small female wolf but still taller than most humans. Marcus tilted his head to the side, a look of confusion on his features. 

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She rolled her eyes again and lowered her head to his bag, prodding her nose into it and pulling back, looking at him expectantly. "Oh, hold on." He unzipped the bag again and pulled out a shirt; Esme took it in her mouth and walked towards a tree. "Es, I've seen everything now. You don't need to be so shy!" He called out to her, but she let her body transform swiftly behind the tree and threw his shirt over her body, knowing it would act as a dress.
"You may have seen everything, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you gawk after me," She winked as she sauntered back to his spot.
"You wish," He joked and looked away with a slight blush as though she'd caught him in an embarrassing act. 
Esme went to the boulder and lay down, placing her arms behind her head and closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. Marcus lay next to her, but he was on his front, watching the forest and the stream. "It's nice getting out like this," He murmured. "Whenever I see you, there always seems to be one problem or another. At least, for some time, you can have a bit of fun and even play with me."
The pair laughed at his choice of words. They'd never really had the time to fully relax outside of the Hellhound's borders, and if they did 'disobey' rules set by the Hellhounds, they were constantly looking over their shoulders. That didn't mean they weren't still occasionally scouting the trees and their surroundings for any enemies, but that was their natural instinct. 
"This would also be the perfect time to kidnap you," Marcus joked, making Esme open her left eye and peek at him. He chuckled at her lack of response. "I'm glad I have your trust."
"Hmm," She hummed. "Well, you know the consequences.. if it's not me, then my mate will get you." She was eerily calm at announcing her threats, but it was not unlike her. 
The pair stayed like that for a while, content in the quiet and listening to nature around them. That was the only issue with living in Chester, the noise pollution and that they had to be careful with shifting at a decent distance from humans. But Esme had always been adjusting to her surroundings, whether it was a rogue's territory (not her best choice in the past, her daily attacks from type 1 rogues were exhausting), to living with humans and vampires.
With her eyes closed, and the lulling sounds of nature along with the heat of the sun and her friend by her side, Esme soon found herself dozing off. She was confident in her skills and Marcus'; having him, there was a huge stress reliever.. What she thought would be a light nap turned into another strange dream.

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