Chapter 138: Mother Hen: Part One

Esme stopped just before the trees started to become scarce, and she could see the small field before the Hub's building. After two hours of running, and even playing, and surprisingly play fighting with grumpy ex Alpha, the group had relaxed around each other. Even Brody seemed more at ease, and they were at ease with him.

Esme was a little concerned for the type 1 rogue now that they were at the Hub. He would struggle again to shift, but she hoped he would stay in his human form longer this time, and Einar would be helpful. At least, when he was in his human form, he didn't look like a type 1 rogue. 

Esme turned to look back at the grey wolf with milky pink eyes, then turned to the others who seemed to loom over her with their large frames. She jogged by their sides and hid behind a tree, out of view as she shifted onto two feet. 

"Marcus, hand me a shirt and some trackies," She politely commanded as she leaned back into the tree and reached her hand out, waiting for his clothes. 

She could hear the quick shift of bones cracking before the crunching sound of feet stepping across leaves. "I gave you a shirt.. what did you do with it?!" He complained but already knew what she did with it. 

Esme bit her lip, suppressing her giggle. She played with Brody, making sure to include him when Dean refused to; this then turned into them playing tug-of-war with Marcus' shirt she had been holding onto. It didn't take long for it to rip and fall into a puddle. 

"Oh, come on. You had fun on today's venture. Don't act like you didn't!" She felt Marcus roughly give her some clothes, grumbling under his breath about everything he does for her. Esme rolled her eyes. She could buy him more clothes, and she was pretty sure the shirt he handed her was an old one he wore to bed. She'd definitely worn it before.

Esme pulled on a black long sleeve top and some tracksuit bottoms. She rolled the bottoms up a few times then pulled her hair out of the top before making her appearance to the others. Marcus was still only in some jeans, his bare chest on show and the ring on his necklace. Esme automatically felt for her own ring and panicked momentarily until she realised she had left it in a bag near the valley with her other clothes. 

Marcus started to smirk after catching her staring at his chest. Well, it was his ring, really. She looked away and slapped his arm hard. "Did you forget I am mated," She grumbled in a joking manner.

"How could I bloody forget.." He replied sarcastically; she looked back at him but relaxed after seeing the amusement behind his deep blue eyes. He was making a point about Gabriel being her second mate. 

Esme raised her hand to her neck, sliding her fingers over the mate mark he left and shivered in response, causing goosebumps to flourish across her skin. She could feel a slight tug in her stomach, almost like this small distance now between them was too much. The she-wolf hadn't felt it all day, but now that she was nearby, it was almost like Gabriel was calling for her to return to him. If this wasn't important, she'd run to him in a heartbeat. 

"Wait.. You have a mate?!" Dean exclaimed, mocking shock. "Who would want to be with- ahem. Where was he when you entered the arena?"

Esme smirked and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, probably killing someone who pissed him off." 

"See, I don't know if she's joking or not," Dwayne muttered. He was the only one fully dressed now besides her. 

"A little mystery doesn't hurt anybody," Esme replied nonchalantly as she walked past them and stopped in front of Brody, who was still in his wolf form. 

"Actually.. it does," Dwayne called from behind her. "If I recall your little act with your goth look.."

Esme ignored the commentary behind her back and smiled softly at the wolf. "Okay, Brody. We are just waiting on you now. Once you're human, I'll go in with you." She turned her head back to look at the others. "You guys don't have to come."

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"We'll stay here. We had one too many at the end of the night last night here.. and got into a scrap," Dwayne said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. 

"What did you fight over?" Esme questioned; her curiosity now piqued at what would cause Dwayne to fight someone drunk. He didn't appear like the sort to do that, but how would she know? She barely knew him. Dean, who seemed to be his polar opposite, was more likely to start a fight.

"An old pack member showed up after hearing Dean was here.. He ran his mouth while Dean was fighting.." Dwayne trailed off, glancing at his brother. 

That seemed more like it. 

"Huh.." She whipped her head back and raised her brows after hearing Brody's bones start to crack and twist. Marcus grabbed Esme by the shoulders and pulled her away from him. 

He howled, looking to the sky as his frame became smaller and his snout drew in, his features becoming slowly becoming human, the agony reflecting on his face. His howl turned into a cry, and he collapsed on the ground, hunching over and breathing heavily. 

"Marcus.." She whispered, and he let go of her, ruffling through his duffel bag and pulling out a top and shorts. 

He stepped towards him, but Brody let out a slight growl. Esme pulled on the back of Marcus' jeans, stopping him from going any further. She took the clothes from him and started to go towards the type 1 rogue. 

"Nyx.." Marcus whisper-shouted. But Esme ignored him and strode to Brody's side. He had not growled but snapped his head up to look at her. She paused momentarily but saw his eyes were clear, and so she crouched down in front of him and said softly, "Here." She stretched her hands out with the clothes. Brody stared at her and then the clothes, almost like he was processing what she was doing. 

"Brody. Take the clothes," She softly commanded. Who knew her voice could become so gentle? 

His whole face lit up at his name, and he took the clothes. She turned her back to him, providing some privacy and stared at Marcus. "Give me your card. I don't have mine with me."

"Considering who you are mates with.. your manners are atrocious," Marcus mocked. "A key term in that sentence would have been.. please."

Esme glared at him, and he chuckled softly. "The cards are unique to each owner. I'm coming with you inside. Did you really think I was going to let you go in with Brody to meet whoever you know in there?" Marcus questioned seriously. 

Esme pouted, but she didn't really care if he came or not. "You are just trying to get into his good graces," She smirked; he parted his lips to deny it, but then his focus went behind her, and she turned around. 

Brody was now clothed and appeared more confident than his hunched over self a few minutes ago. For some reason, she felt like a proud mother hen even though she'd only known the guy for a few hours. 

"Ready?" She asked, releasing a breath. 

Brody nodded with a nervous smile. Even though he was older than her, Esme secretly swore she would protect him.. No one was going to touch her little chick.

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