Chapter 39: Unnoticed Signs: Part Six

Alpha Asher burst into a roar of laughter, slapping his hand on his leg. Esme whipped her head back up in surprise.

"Your mate is truly something, Alpha Ethan. You are blessed to have someone smart and strong by your side." Alpha Asher turned his gaze from Alpha Ethan directly to Esme, the side of his lips twitching up. "You are correct, of course. There may be laws in place to help these children, but that doesn't mean there aren't any out in the world trying to survive in the wild alone. It is our goal at Redwood pack to help those in need. We have helped some young rogues return to their original pack, and others put into schools. Were you ever schooled?"

Esme closed her mouth from where her jaw went slack. The Alpha was.. kinder than she imagined. He didn't growl at her insolence but laughed instead and agreed with her. A pack helping rogue children?! No way.. She had never heard of such a thing.

"I was homeschooled," She replied; her wolf snickered at her comment as Esme's thoughts flashed back to her 'home schooling', her and Marcus at the ages of ten and twelve being taught how to target only vital organs with their knives. "My mother only wanted the best for me, even if we had to move around. But.. I seem to be doing well for myself now."

"I wonder if you have Alpha or Beta blood in you.." Beta Kai murmured aloud. Then spoke louder after gaining the table's attention. "Rogues are weak.. and I have not heard of a rogue becoming an Alpha's mate, the only ones we have heard of tend to be a long-lost daughter of an Alpha or comes from a strong bloodline or something."

"Where is your mother now?" Alpha Asher asked, his questioning gaze bringing Esme's eyes back to his. She parted her lips,

"She's-"

"Dead," Alpha Ethan interrupted, leaning towards Esme and kissing her cheek, his hand going in her hair adoringly covering up the mind-link he formed with her. "That's enough," He growled in her mind.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Alpha Asher replied with his condolences and dropped the subject. Esme's mind was blank after Ethan's lie, but she smiled gently and grasped her champagne flute again, the topic of herself and her past as a rogue now put to an end. For the remainder of the dinner, Ethan was convincing Alpha Asher to become allies, that was until the other Alpha made his judgement.

"As much as I have enjoyed your company, I have no intention of waging war against a pack twice the size of ours put together. They are also fiercely known as being impenetrable and second in strength to the Alpha King's Blood Moon pack," Alpha Asher declared, standing up with a pleasant smile. Esme followed suit with Ethan and Beta Kai; her chest grew tight from the answer her mate did not want to hear.

And although Alpha Asher was smiling, Esme could feel the tension in the air between the two Alphas. She tried to wrack her brain on her knowledge of the Redwood pack, but they were barely mentioned from her tutorage. Was it because they helped rogues, as Alpha Asher claimed?

"Did you have any intention of making an alliance?" Ethan spoke through gritted teeth as they walked down the light halls and marble floors to the glass double doors to the mansion.

Alpha Asher and Beta Kai glanced at one another, then briefly looked at Esme before returning Ethan's burning gaze. "I wanted to see what your intentions were. Which I need to know for the well-being of my pack. If you are to attack Blue Moon, we will not engage with either of you and will remain neutral," Alpha Asher proclaimed, raising his hands outwards in a simple gesture.

Esme could feel Ethan's rage burning deep within him; she looked at him out of the corners of her eyes and could see the deadly glint in his eyes, almost like he was going to attack the other Alpha. Esme walked to his side, reaching out for his hand, but instead, she was pulled into the side of him, his hand claiming her waist, his claws elongating and ripping through the material of the dress. It was better he took it out on the dress than attacking an Alpha of a pack that seemed to want to take care of all the werewolf community.

"You showed interest in my plan when I phoned you about this. You've just wasted my time," Ethan growled at the Alpha, his eyes flashing to his wolf's amber eyes. Esme placed her hand on his chest, hoping to calm him down some, but instead, he glared at her before looking away as they continued down the stairs to the driveway.

They led the Alpha and Beta of Redwood pack to the gates at the far end of the driveway, where the other pack members awaited their Alpha's safe return. Alpha Asher and Alpha Ethan shook hands as Beta Kai and Esme did. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Luna Esme," Beta Kai smiled and stepped back, eying Alpha Ethan.

Alpha Asher stepped in front of Esme and beamed down at her, raking his hand through his blonde locks and pushing them out of his face. "This evening has not been wasted though," He reached out for Esme's hand to shake it but paused and clasped her small hand in both of his. Esme's shoulders tensed up at the warmth of his hands surrounding hers and the intense stare burning holes into the side of her head from Ethan. "Luna Esme, you are more than welcome any time to visit my territory. With your knowledge of life as a rogue, it could be beneficial for our rogues in the surrounding areas."

Esme smiled and removed her hand from his grip. "Thank you for the invite, but at the moment, I am still adjusting to pack life here. But as a parting gift, I must warn you, Alpha Asher, not all rogues are friendly and do not wish to meet pack members. Whether you help them or not, they will not fully trust you," She replied, then lowered her gaze again.

"That can also be said for packs with a Luna who used to be a deadly rogue," Alpha Asher said quietly, almost in warning.

Ethan was bristling by her side and spat, "Goodnight." Ending their farewells.

Esme's gaze rose again as she watched the broad backs of Alpha Asher and Beta Kai leaving and walking to Asher's red sports car. Beta Callum and Delta Bryant were in front of them awaiting orders, but Ethan shook his head, and the pair went inside the mansion behind them. Esme started to turn towards the mansion, but Ethan's hold on her hip tightened, and she stopped.

Looking up at him, she saw his handsome features twist in pure rage as he glared down at her like she was nothing more than a bug. Her heart dropped. For the first time ever, Esme felt fear seep into her being as she watched his hand raise up; she flinched then opened her eyes with a gasp as he held onto her cheeks, his grip so hard she felt her cheekbones begin to shake. "Y-you're hurting me, Eth-"

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"This. Is. YOUR. FAULT," Ethan spat, his face scrunched up as his chest heaved from the waves of anger rolled off him and almost smothered her.

Esme gulped. "How-"

His grip tightened, and she whimpered from the pain. "How!? You fucking whore!" He released her and threw her to the ground. "Look at you!" He towered over her tiny body, looking down at her with such disgust she wanted to shrivel up and hide.

Esme didn't recognise the man looking down at her. Tears pooled in her dark eyes as she stared up at him. "Those hippies Asher and Kai were all over you! I bet you loved that!" He lifted her up by the arm, all too easily with his strength, and she dangled momentarily in front of him. His grip tightened, and his claws pierced her skin, and he shouted in her face, "I saw how you smiled at them!"

Esme flinched at his ferociousness then Ethan slapped her hard across the face. Her head whipped to the side, and she stumbled her footing, but his hold on her arm kept her from falling to the ground. Esme stared off at the grass, shock taking over her body as she raised her shaking hand to the cheek that burned and looked up at her mate. Even now, he looked at her like she was a disgrace or dirt on the end of his shoe.

Did she flirt with Asher and Kai? She was confused but more confused that Ethan slapped her.

His hand raised again, and she flinched, but instead of hitting her, he caressed her other cheek. "You still don't understand," Ethan scoffed, his voice low and menacing now. "It's your fault that the Redwood pack won't make an alliance with us." He released her, and her knees gave way; she collapsed on the ground and clasped at her chest.

"What did I do wrong?" Esme whispered as her sight blurred from the tears pooling in her eyes. "I don't understand.. I.. Please.. Ethan?" Esme cried, and her body shook from the pain in her chest. "I thought I-I did okay.."

Ethan's shoes came into view, and she raised her chin, tears trickling down her cheeks. Ethan squatted down and sighed, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Es. I lost control," He pulled her into an embrace and like a barrier caving, she wept into his chest, clutching at his shirt. Ethan stroked her hair and kept gently shushing her.

When she felt her body deflate and her energy spent, Ethan spoke again, "You just need to do better. Then things like this won't happen.." He peered at her face, and she nodded like a scolded child. He lifted her up and kissed her head, heading back towards the mansion.

"I'll do better," She whispered.

"I know you will. You.. You just make me so angry .. but it's only because I love you.. you know that, right?" Ethan continued and watched her face.

Esme nodded again. "I-I know you do," She croaked.

"I love you so much; you drive me fucking crazy. But now we know there are limits to how much I can take. I didn't mean to hit you, you know that.. Just be a good girl.. Tonight was your fault.. But I can let it slide.." He kissed her inflamed cheek, then her lips, and started to carry her up all three floors to their room.

Ethan gently laid Esme down on the bed; he asked, "Do you still love me?"

Esme looked up at him, snapping out of her daze in astonishment. "Of course, I do!" She met his eyes, her own wild with tumbling emotions she couldn't pinpoint.

"Good, I love you too." Ethan smiled and threw his suit jacket onto the floor, then lowered his body over hers again. He met her quivering lips and kissed her gently.

Esme's cold body warmed up quickly under his touch, and for the rest of the night, she lost herself to the feel of his body, escaping from the harsh reality that her mate was so angered by her that he slapped her. But he didn't mean to…

He didn't mean to.

He couldn't control himself.

It was her fault.

Those phrases slowly started to burn into her skull as self-loathing began to claw at her and her days became darker and darker.

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