Esme POVI heard a few snickers as I strolled by where the other girls stretched for the run in a few hours. I came last in the previous race. Knox and I didn’t have time to train but I intended to do better this time despite the dirty stares from the girls.I found a little spot to stretch my limbs. Not long ago the mating run was my priority but then I met Knox. He’s different to the stories I’ve heard. No one other than my Mother put me first before Knox. Knox had a meeting with Luna Stella to discuss my freedom but I don’t know if she’d be in a negotiating mood after what her husband did yesterday.The Alpha King snubbed the official Queen at the ceremony and called up the Luna Consort to make the pledge and sacrifice. It shocked a lot of people in the Pack. Luna Monica looked pleased with herself when her husband called her up. It disgusted me.“Any reason you’re isolating?”A girl with thick black hair in a high ponytail, dressed in comfortable workout clothes that fit her perf
Esme POV“Esmeray, where have you been?” My Mother blasted.I cringed. I couldn’t tell her I was hiding in the meadow reading my book. It would only make her madder.“I… I…uh—”“The Welcome ceremony is in a few hours and we’re busy.”“I lost track of time but I’m here now and I’m ready to cook,” I grinned and quickly grabbed an apron before Mom spoke, but she snatched the apron and glared at me.“Oh no, you’re not cooking. Rhoda’s cooking and you’re picking up the slack.”I mostly did the sewing and laundry and there was none of that to do right now. I’d only been an official servant or slave of the Highbridge Pack’s Pack house despite growing up in this house. I’d never been allowed to go upstairs or speak to the Alpha’s family. I’ve never seen the Alpha in person. Despite calling this place home it was also a mad torture house.“Oh crap.”Rhoda smirked and thrust a tray of alcohol and chicken wings into my chest.“The young betas ordered these hours ago. Take it upstairs,” her cruel
Esme POV“What?” I turned around.Leo stood in front of me, his face twisted with rage, his black shirt ruffled and opened at the top.“No, no, no!” he marched up to me and gripped my shoulders.“Get off me! What did you say?”“Why you? Why now? I’ve known you my whole fucking life and never felt anything like this.”“Leave me alone,” I shoved him.He glared at me. This had to be a joke. I glared at the crescent moon and mentally cursed the moon goddess. What was she thinking paring me up with Leo? He’s an asshole.“You can’t be my mate,” he mumbled.“Yes, because I’m a slave, I know!”“A wolfless slave!”Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t get my wolf. I’d be ridiculed for not having one for the rest of my life. I dusted myself off. I’ve been dealing with the pain for years I was strong I could handle this heartbreak too.“I’m leaving,” I said, I didn’t want him to see me in my weakest moment.Leo grabbed my arm and dragged me back to him. He snaked his right arm around my waist and held m
Esme POV“Wake up, child,” Rhoda’s voice sounded so far away. “Ugh, ouch,” I said, cradling my head.“You fainted,” Rhoda said.Leo was nowhere to be seen. “He just left me, huh?”“He won’t feel this way when you get your wolf.”I shook my head. “You heard Giselle. He slept with her after he…” After he shared what I thought was special.“So you don’t want a wolf anymore?” Rhoda folded her arms.“No, I want it. I want my wolf. Leo’s going to regret rejecting me when I have my wolf.”Rhoda smiled. “That’s my girl. Now, there’s something called an Obsidian Stone. It’s a powerful object with magical powers and it can grant you one wish, after that it’s useless.”“That’s it? I have to wish for a wolf?”Rhoda nodded. “When you make your wish bring the stone back to me.”“What’s the catch this sounds too easy.”“The stone is in the possession of one of the Alphas here.”I narrowed my eyes on her.“Alpha Knox,” Rhoda confessed.My jaw dropped to the floor. “No.”“Don’t you want a wolf? Do y
Esme POVWhere did he come from? The Banquet must have ended so he came out for some air. He stroked my hair but it wasn’t enough to ease the pain.“Set your wolf free, Pet. She wants to come out.”I stopped fighting the pain but I was sure I would die from it. As long as it would end. Once I surrendered control I think I got smaller and hairier.I had four legs, long ears and brown spikey fur.“What’s happening? I’m not supposed to be here.”“You’re my wolf!” I said through the mind link.“No, I can’t be. You’re not supposed to have a wolf.”That’s a bummer, but the stone worked! I turned to Knox and he looked at me proudly.“I told you you could do it, Pet.” He stuck a cigarette between his lips and pulled out a lighter from his pocket.So he came out here to smoke.“This isn’t right you’re not supposed to have a wolf. You’re wolfless.” My new wolf whined.I panicked. I just got her I didn’t want to lose her already. I willed myself to return to my human form. I wrapped my arms arou
Esme POVAfter Alpha Knox and his posy left I went downstairs. I hoped Kira hadn’t left.“Let me go!” She demanded.Oh geez. I hurried and found my best friend glaring at Beta, Justin. Ugh, he was the bane of my existence!“Stop it, Justin.” I came between them.He shoved me into Kira but my best friend caught me and steadied me.“Your smelly friend shouldn’t be here,” he barked.“You don’t know that. She was delivering the meat you and your friends devour every night.”He threw his head back and laughed. “Do you think I’m dumb or what?”No, but it was a good excuse because Kira’s Uncle owned the local butchery and supplied a lot of our meat only Kira never did delivery for him before we just always used it as our cover story in case something like this happened.“Everyone knows you are Kira’s only friend,” Justin frowned at us.“Doesn’t mean anything,” I said, subtly shoving Kira towards the backdoor. “She was just leaving.”“You two are in huge trouble. You know the rules, Esme.” Jus
Knox POVThe Highbridge Pack was one of the fiercest and most well-respected Pack for miles until my Pack came around. The respect my Pack carried came from fear. I marched into the Alpha King meeting room with my trusted men. The large room consisted of the Alpha King, the crowned Prince and Luna Consort, the Luna and the Alpha’s puppets, but since the old King could barely think on his own I’d say he was the puppet.“Glad you could join us, Alpha,” Prince Leo said.I clenched my jaw. He was just a boy but he talked big. He didn’t even know what he was doing here.“Let’s make this quick,” Jax said.I slammed my fist on the table and locked eyes with Prince Leo and his High Beta. The Alpha King had been taken out of the equation a long time ago but I made a deal with the King. The ink on the document had dried and I held up my end of the deal.“I want my land, Old Man,” I said.“Don’t talk to the Alpha King that way Alpha Knox. You are a guest in this Pack show some respect,” the High
Esme POV“Hurry up, you’re late for breakfast, honey,” Mom said, thrusting a tray at my chest. “What were you doing?”“Daydreaming again,” Rhoda murmured as she stirred a pot. She was still mad at me for not getting the Obsidian Stone.I hadn’t told her about my wolf yet, so far only Kira knew about my wolf and Alpha Knox. I don’t know who he thought I was before he snuck up on me last night but he didn’t seem too happy I was a slave but he wasn’t appalled either.“The royal family likes their breakfast punctual. Remember the rules, Esme. Don’t speak unless spoken to, don’t look at anyone in the eyes. The King won’t be having breakfast with the rest of the family but usual suspects will be there.”“Why won’t the King be there?” I asked. I’d never been in the same room as him despite growing up in his house.It was weird, but that’s the way things were.“That’s none of our business honey.”“Fine. It’s no big deal.”“It’s a very big deal. This is your first time serving the royal family
Esme POVI heard a few snickers as I strolled by where the other girls stretched for the run in a few hours. I came last in the previous race. Knox and I didn’t have time to train but I intended to do better this time despite the dirty stares from the girls.I found a little spot to stretch my limbs. Not long ago the mating run was my priority but then I met Knox. He’s different to the stories I’ve heard. No one other than my Mother put me first before Knox. Knox had a meeting with Luna Stella to discuss my freedom but I don’t know if she’d be in a negotiating mood after what her husband did yesterday.The Alpha King snubbed the official Queen at the ceremony and called up the Luna Consort to make the pledge and sacrifice. It shocked a lot of people in the Pack. Luna Monica looked pleased with herself when her husband called her up. It disgusted me.“Any reason you’re isolating?”A girl with thick black hair in a high ponytail, dressed in comfortable workout clothes that fit her perf
Esme POV“What are you reading?” Knox asked.He finally stopped sniffing around in the water and shifted back to his human form.I closed the romance novel and settled in the grass. “A book called Sold for Gold and Bells. It’s pretty good.”“So aside from sowing you like to read?” Knox asked.He hadn’t turned around to look at me but I assumed he was still coming down from his rage earlier.“I sow because I have to. I love reading especially out here. It’s calming isn’t it?”“Yeah, being with you is calming.” He turned around swiftly.He grabbed his pants off the ground and struggled into them.“Are you okay?” I asked softly.“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one subjected to silver.”My ankles and wrists were still red. “Maybe if we stop talking and just make out it’ll make things better.”He smirked. “Who am I to argue with you?”I smiled and he leaned in but his phone rang interrupting us before our lips met. He pressed his forehead on mine and brushed his nose along mine before he
Narrated POVHigh Beta Bruce ushered Prince Leo into his Mother’s private area. If he weren’t the crowned Prince of the Highbridge Pack then Bruce would have slapped him as he would his own son.The brat nearly got them killed.“Lock the door,” Luna Monica ordered.Bruce did as told. They were lucky none of the other servants saw them. They had the eyes of the royal guards to worry about but none of them would want to admit to losing a battle against one wolf.In their defence the wolf was incredulous and in a state so far gone from his human side it made sense only his mate could reach him.Monica wrapped her arms around her son, her precious treasure before pulling back to examine his cuts and the bruise under his eye.“My precious boy!” she cried.“Get off me,” Leo shrugged her off with immense power, she fell on her precious white couches.“Leo, please, don’t be so cold.”He glared at her. “This is all your fault!”“That little stunt almost got us killed,” Bruce commented with suc
Esme POV“It’s a beautiful dress, you didn’t have to get it for me,” I said.Knox chuckled. “I’m not taking you back to the palace in a towel, babe.”I twirled in the purple dress. Knox bought the dress from the store downstairs in the lobby. He had good taste. It had a low waistline and a long skirt. The bodice captivated my breasts perfectly, elevating them and carving them out to appear plump and sexy.“Now I want to take it off you,” Knox grinned wolfishly.“Knox, I still have a job to do,” I giggled as he kissed my neck.“Not for long.”I rolled my eyes but he tugged me forward. His hand travelled under my dress and caressed my legs. I stiffened a little but then relaxed under his touch.“We don’t have to go back,” Knox’s voice rasped.“We’ll be together soon.”He stopped his hand from travelling to my inner thigh. A part of me regretted it. He pulled me close and I breathed him in.“You’re not still mad at me, are you?”“If I was I wouldn’t have slept with you,” I replied.“It
Knox POV“Are you going to join me or what?” She tilted her head to the right as her delicate finger toyed her erect nipple.If it weren’t for my jeans my dick would be standing. Why was I wearing them anyway?My mate lay on the king-size bed like a present waiting to be opened but I couldn’t move. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t get her out of my head but now I had cold feet.I meant what I said. I don’t want to hurt her. The other day I received a call from my sister Nyla telling me Bethany had another outburst and demanded me to come home. I didn’t want to turn Esme into that! Especially since Esme was my fated mate.She sat up, her confidence seemed to melt away replaced by uneasiness.“Do you want me to get dressed?”I snapped out of my insane thoughts. Nothing will happen to Esme. Not if I can help it.“Of course not.”I strolled to the bed and climbed between her thighs. The scent of her arousal drove my wolf wild. I wouldn’t last long before I devoured her. I stroked her in
Esme POV“You’re so wet for me,” Knox said, kissing my neck.I squeezed my legs around his hand as heat rushed to my cheeks. He chuckled.“Don’t be shy. This is normal. You’re so precious and beautiful.”“I’m just not used to it.”“I know and I’ll make sure you do. Right now,” he said, covering my lips with his, his tongue demanded and dominated me.I couldn’t express the distress my heart was under. He held me so passionately and possessively. I’ve read books where men simply stated a woman was his but Knox didn’t have to utter a word. His hands were imprinted on my skin. My body responded to him in a way it never did for anyone else.I could stop him if I wanted to but I didn’t want to.“Do you want to take me here?” I panted.“Yes… fuck… yes, I do. I’ve waited long enough. I’m tired of jacking off in the shower.”He did that?I imagined Knox all wet with his member in his hand, stroking himself just for relief.“You do that?” I whispered.He chuckled and kissed my jawline.“I overs
Esme POV“Will you destroy the Pack for a slave?” Bruce barked.In the absence of the King, Beta Bruce seemed to take more authority than he was given. Alpha Leo sat on his throne, mindlessly watching everything happen. He knew the truth but his feeble mind couldn’t come up with a thing to say.Knox strolled behind me planted his hands on my shoulders and brushed his thumbs along my skin.“She’s more than a slave.” He brushed my dress down, revealing bare skin and the mark he branded me with.Another round of gasps.“She’s my fated mate. She’s the only good thing to come out of this Pack.”“H-How?” Monica mumbled.I pulled my sleeve up and swatted his hand away.“Yes, I’m his mate but that’s not the only reason I’m here. Queen Luna, my Mother was your slave. Will you really let what happened to her go unpunished? What about my justice?”The Queen lifted her chin as the rest of them stared at me in amusement and disgust.“What is the meaning of this?” a frail and raspy voice.I turned
Esme POV“Wake up, Esme, it’s time to go to the King’s palace.”I know but I dreaded waking up to this day. My dreams were void but they carried bliss because my emotions were dormant the second my eyes opened everything came back to me.I spent the night at Kira’s house. I got my first dose of her Mom’s new boyfriend but I couldn’t focus on him.“Want me to go with you? I’m sure they’ll be lenient with me considering the circumstances,” Kira said.“Yeah, I guess you’re right. You know how to escape they decide to kick you out.”She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.“Let’s get out of here,” I said, climbing out of bed.After getting changed quickly Kira and I walked to the castle silently. The second we arrived we were sucked into the chaos. There were people everywhere and locals camped outside the gates peeking into the property.“What’s going on here?” Kira asked.I shrugged. Then I saw the banners and the bonfires being built. The mating run, of course!“I didn’t know we we
Esme POVI stood and watched her limbs but they remained frozen in time. There wasn’t any blood but the air was thick and musty. How long had she been down here?I snapped back into reality and screamed.“Help!”I flew forward and landed in front of her. I smoothed her hair out of her face and sobbed.“Wake up, please wake up,” I begged.Her face was pale and cold. I jumped back. This can’t be true. My Mother was fine!“Someone help me!” I cried.She wore her nightgown from last night. She’s been here all night. Gosh, no.My bedroom door flew open.“What the hell is wrong, Esme?” Rhoda barked.Jasmine and Griselda lingered behind her. Rhoda’s eyes widened and colour drained from her face.“Jasmine, call a royal guard immediately.”Jasmine looked like she wouldn’t be able to make it up the stairs but she turned around and ran off anyway. Rhoda grabbed my shoulders and dragged me away from my Mother despite my protests. I still expected her to open her eyes and smile at me.“She has to