Just Breathe

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 you want to be a slave for the rest of your miserable life? You won’t survive without a wolf, Esme. Chanel threw you down a flight of stairs the other day.”

How did she know that? I didn’t tell anyone.

“Alpha Knox is not just any Alpha. He’s a barbarian, a beast and dangerous. If he catches me then he’ll kill me!”

“Then don’t get caught. All the Alphas are at the Banquet. The stone is here I can feel its essence. Knox brought it with him.”

Rhoda has officially lost her mind. Alpha Knox holds the second largest Pack after the Highbridge Pack, with the second largest army. He had a merciless reputation. He didn’t take prisoners, he killed them on the spot. When I heard Chanel was eyeing him I thought they’d make a perfect couple because she would make a wonderful Queen of Doom.

“He’s not in his room now. Go, Esme. This is our only chance.”

I balled my hand into a fist. “Fine.”

I was crazy for doing this! Did I really want a wolf? I’ve never seen Alpha Knox but I’d heard stories. Everyone has and they’re all terrifying.

Most of the Alphas were placed on the second floor. It was a long quiet hall. Knox’s room was the en suite on the right at the end of the hall.

Each room has a spare key and Rhoda had given me one. She had this all planned out. What would she do with the stone when she got it? I hesitated before placing the key in the hole. What if I got caught?

What if I didn’t and I finally got what my heart desired?

I turned the key and the door swung inwards.

“I’m in,” I gasped. “Oh, my goodness, I’m in!”

I did a little victory dance. Then I snapped out of it because Knox could return at any moment. The man had six bags in the corner of the room. How would I find it now? Could he be so gullible as to put it in his carry-on bag?

I opened the carry-on bag and found a stuffed black pouch. I emptied the pouch on the table, glancing over my shoulder to ensure the door was closed. Out came a dozen tiny white diamonds and one large opaque stone.

My eyes turned to saucers.

“Yes!” I hissed. “I can’t believe I found it! Rhoda’s not just a crazy old witch.”

Forgetting the diamonds, I gripped the Obsidian stone and held it to my chest.

“Please stone, give me my heart’s desire. A wolf.”

I stayed that way for a couple of seconds but nothing happened. It didn’t glow, burn or hum. This had to be the real stone why would anyone travel with a useless rock in their carry-on luggage?

Maybe I wasn’t doing it right. Rhoda would know what to do with it.

The door rattled.

Oh crap.

I turned around, scanning for a way hiding place. It was too late the door swung open before I could dart into the bathroom. A man over six foot tall strolled in wearing black boots, jeans and a fitted white shirt. I held the rock behind me but it fumbled out of my sweaty palms.

Oh my gosh, there he is. Alpha Knox had green eyes, long attractive black hair that he tamed into a bun not to mention a rugged thick beard any woman would love to have brush up against her face or between her legs. I snapped out of it. This man had more blood on his hands than a butcher. He kicked the door shut with his boot.

“Are you here for me, Little Pet?” He stalked forward.

“What?”

“Of course, you’re here for me you’re in my room.”

He thinks I’m a concubine. I was dressed as a server, not a prostitute!

He reached me and attempted to brush his knuckles against my cheek. I ducked out of his reach before he touched me.

“I am not here for you.”

“You shouldn’t be in my room then what if the real woman who’s meant for me shows up? It’s going to be awkward.”

I slowly backed up but he followed.

“I wouldn’t want to kill your fun. If you can call it that.”

“Are you fishing for an opportunity, Pet?”

“An opportunity to leave? Sure!”

He slammed his hand on the door behind me, caging me between his chest and the door. He raised his brow and tilted his head forward.

“Are you scared Pet? I won’t bite.”

“I doubt that,” I breathed out.

Alpha Knox was nothing like I thought. He wasn’t as old as I thought but he was around mid to late twenties. Mesmerizing green eyes they almost put me in a trance.

The door jerked forward, thrusting me into Knox’s arms.

“Alpha, we have— We’ve been here less than a day and you’re screwing someone?”

Knox’s arm came around me protectively. It was natural to him it even startled me.

“Relax, Jax, it’s just mindless fun with my new friend…”

My name was on the tip of my tongue but then I realized how damning that would be. I shrugged out of his hold.

“Leaving, I was just leaving.”

“Well, that broke my heart. Aren’t you going to give me your name?”

I shook my head.

“I’ll remember your eyes, Pet.”

This was a dangerous game. I failed my mission I couldn’t fall into another one. If Knox was my opponent, then I was a dead man. I ran off leaving him and Jax to stare at each other. I ran back to the kitchen where I discovered Rhoda pacing.

“There you are!” She grabbed my wrist and dragged me out to the herb garden.

“Tell me you found it!” she said gleefully.

“I did… but I didn’t get it. Knox found me, Rhoda.”

“No! How could you be so stupid? That stone has amazing powers.”

“I’m lucky he didn’t kill me, Rhoda! We can try again tomorrow.”

Rhoda scowled and threw her arm in the air. “Useless! I knew I shouldn’t have used you. I’ll get the stone by myself.”

“Wait, what about my wolf?”

“If you had gotten the stone you would have shifted already. Useless girl, get back to work immediately.”

I placed a hand on my chest. Rhoda had never blown up like that. What did she want with the stone that was so important? While she stormed back into the house I turned around and ventured out of the herb garden. She needed a second to process her anger while I calmed my nerves.

My mate just rejected me. It hurt so much but I knew if I had a wolf it would hurt more. My wolf would suffer because of him. It was a good thing I didn’t get my wolf that night or else she would have felt incredible pain.

I stared at the crescent moon and sighed. I had to accept my fate.

Suddenly my bones cracked. My mind split in two and my limbs burned. I dropped to the ground and cried my lungs out.

“What’s happening to me?” I whimpered.

I couldn’t take the pain anymore.

“Relax, Pet, just breathe.”

What? I looked up and found Alpha Knox staring at me. He got down to my level and brushed hair out of my face.

“You’re shifting. Let it happen, don’t fight your wolf. Let her out.”