Esme's POVThe force of the slap caused me to fall over completely, my vision blurry with pain and tears.After lacerating my back with heated, broken glass, I thought he would be satisfied but of course not, he wouldn't stop until I passed out completely. Which won't take too long from the look of things.He stepped on my copiously bleeding back and I screamed loudly, unable to hold back the pain."Pl….. Please….. please stop Alpha, I can't take it anymore." I begged helplessly, my voice barely above a whisper.He suddenly stopped and pulled me up by my hair, pushing me against the stone cold wall of the dungeon.I groaned, realizing my body was starting to give out and I feared that I might not wake up this time.He grabbed my chin and forced me to look into his eyes, which had a wicked red glint, a sign that his wolf was at the surface."Do you know why I haven't killed you yet?" He suddenly asked and the only thing I could do was shake my head with what little opportunity his grip
Esme's POVAs I walked towards the Great Hall with a tray of appetizers, all I could think about was what the Alpha had told me three days ago.He had said that on my 18th birthday, which happens to be today, I would become the Pack's whore.Could that possibly be the reason for his inviting the other Alphas? Could this banquet just be an excuse for one big gangbang with me at the receiving end?No! It can't, the Alpha wouldn't be so cruel.Tears gather at my eyes at the thought, the Alpha hates me so much that anything is possible."Don't think so negatively Esme, everything will be fine." Solar tried to comfort me but I wasn't buying it.This is starting to seem like too much of a coincidence.I was made to wear a flimsy and see through dress, short and barely able to hide anything, specially for this occasion. All my scars are on full display, including my still freshly wounded back.It's been three days but it hasn't started healing yet, it must be infected.That's definitely the
Esme's POVIt's been three days since I came here but the Alpha has never even spoken to me once.Forget about speaking, I've not even seen him. I certainly didn't enjoy my life as a slave in my own Pack but I still feel like it's unfair that Alpha Ethan claimed me as his mate and brought me to his Pack but doesn't give me the time of day.I feel like a wife who's husband is absent and despite all the luxuries I've been provided, many of which I've never experienced before and so I'm grateful for, I can't seem to take my mind off my mate.For the past three days, I've been fed so well, pampered beyond measure and dressed in the best clothes, a healer even comes daily to heal my wounds. It's almost like a dream, one I fear will end soon.I was told by Ms. Rachel, the lady in charge of the palace duties, not to leave my room until I was sent for. She seems nice and has only been kind to me but I can't help the feeling that she's hiding something, everyone is.Each maid I try to ask abou
Esme's POVThe carriage had been riding for only three minutes but it felt like forever. I don't know why but I feel a strange connection to this Pack, I'm not happy about leaving despite everything I've been given."Solar, why do I feel this way?" I couldn't help asking."It's the bond Esme, we were bound to him the moment he accepted us, a mating ceremony would have made it official but still, we're connected to our mate whether we're with him or not." She explained and I sighed. "I don't like this feeling. He should have at least rejected us properly." I intoned angrily."The pain of rejection is ten times worse than this." She stated."But it's the same, isn't it? He doesn't want us with him, he even gave us permission to have another mate. He rejected us without words." I concluded."His wolf wants us, I can feel it but he's resisting. He's suppressing the desire of his wolf for some reason. It'll be difficult for me to mate with someone else as long as our bond with him still e
Esme's POV"He may seem like a selfish, egotistical and ruthless bastard but he's actually a broken wolf calling for help, hiding behind the shadow of a tough exterior. He needs you Esme, he needs his mate. You're very special and I believe that not only will you break the curse, you'll bring back the caring Ethan that I once knew, the one who could buy people's hearts with just his smile." Rachel pleaded."I understand everything you've said and I truly feel for Ethan, he was badly wronged and I hope that he can find redemption but you're wrong about me.There's nothing special about me. I'm just a weak little wolf struggling to survive in this harsh world. I would never be able to do what you're asking, especially since he doesn't want to see me." I resisted."If you could just__""I'm telling you that I can't help you because I need to heal as well. My life has been just as tragic as his. I've been imprisoned and tortured for the past twelve years, I'm broken both physically and em
Esme's POV I returned to my room with a troubled heart, wondering if I had made the right choice by agreeing to his condition. It seems harsh but I've already resolved to do this so instead of constantly worrying, I have to give it my all. But how exactly do I get a heartless person like Ethan to fall in love with me? I have no experience with love whatsoever, I've never even had a crush or witnessed any romance given my previous circumstances. I don't know the first thing about love so how do I do this? I don't think I'm good with seduction either, not that Ethan would fall for something as easy as that. The thought of having to go to bed with him in order to bear his child makes me go red with shyness. If I hope to have any luck with this, I need all the help I can get. "We should ask Rachel, she'll have more experience with handling the Alpha. Besides, she's sure to know his likes and dislikes." Solar suggested. "You're right, I have nothing to worry about as long as Rachel
Esme's POVAs soon as I arrived at the door of the Alpha's room, I took a deep breath before knocking on it. Probably thinking that it would be Rachel, he told me to come in.I went into the room and closed the door behind me but as soon as I turned around to face him, I was welcomed by a frown."What are you doing here?" He asked without mincing words.I summoned up the courage to speak."Rachel said she wasn't feeling too well so I decided to save her some stress by bringing your food." I concocted.He glared at me for some time before looking away, silently giving his consent for me to continue.I carefully moved towards him and placed the food on the table, managing to keep my hands from shaking while I served him."Keep it together Esme, you can do this." Solar kept cheering me on.I finished serving his food and moved to the side, wanting to watch him eat."What are you still doing here?" He asked without looking at me."I…. I'd like to watch you eat." I answered."Why is that?"
Esme's POV I watched him quietly as he moved towards the shrubs and began taking off his clothes. I didn't think of this at all and flustered by the scene, I unconsciously moved backwards, the sound of the grass giving away my position. I froze in place, scared to the bone. When I didn't hear any more sounds, I took a look and saw that he wasn't present anymore. Damn it! I can't believe I wasted this golden opportunity. I quickly look around and don't see any sign of him. I guess I'll have to go back then, so much for the element of surprise. I began moving but paused when a large arm swiftly wrapped around my body and sharp claws were tactfully positioned at my neck, missing my skin by just a few inches. One wrong move from me and the claws would surely slice my neck open, I struggled not to shiver. When the fear finally died down, I soon realized who my attacker was. I would never be able to forget this scent. "It's just me, Esme. Please retract your claws, I could get hurt.
Esme's POV"Uh…. How do we get down? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall there being a rope in the bag." I said."There isn't. There has to be some kind of way through it since there isn't a way around it. I'll take a look." He said and moved away and though I wanted to stop him, I resisted the urge."It's just as I thought." I suddenly heard him blurt out."Did you find something?" I asked as I made my way to the spot which he was crouched over."There's a rope ladder here. It's been set securely in place and seems to go all the way down." He mentioned it to me and I touched the ladder, confirming how sturdy it was. I didn't know if to consider this a good thing.A prepared ladder just sitting around waiting here for us might not be a good sign, I don't even know what we should expect."Who could have put it here?" I asked briskly."I don't know and I don't think we should be worrying about that at the moment. We'll have to get down and keep our guard up since there's so much
Esme's POV Tanika. Alpha Waylen. Nightwalker Pack. These words kept swirling in my head. The things she had just said, none of them made any sense. I have no business with Tanika and the Night Walker Pack. Besides, Tanika is dead, Ethan said he killed her himself. Even if she survived by some miracle, what on earth would she be doing in the Forbidden Zone? She couldn't possibly be the one standing in front of me, this has to be a trick. I need to get this girl, whoever she is to leave me alone and I have to find Axel so we can get out of this hole as soon as possible. "That's not possible, you're lying." I blurted. "Arlene, why would you say that?" She asked and tried to touch my face but I dodged her advances. "Don't call me that and stay away from me. I need to get out of here, I have to find Axel." I said and limped away, trying to go as far away as I could from her but her next words paused me in my tracks. "Don't you want to know the truth? The truth of your existence? Don
Esme's POV "Uh…. How do we get down? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall there being a rope in the bag." I said. "There isn't. There has to be some kind of way through it since there isn't a way around it. I'll take a look." He said and moved away and though I wanted to stop him, I resisted the urge. "It's just as I thought." I suddenly heard him blurt out. "Did you find something?" I asked as I made my way to the spot which he was crouched over. "There's a rope ladder here. It's been set securely in place and seems to go all the way down." He mentioned it to me and I touched the ladder, confirming how sturdy it was. I didn't know if to consider this a good thing. A prepared ladder just sitting around waiting here for us might not be a good sign, I don't even know what we should expect. "Who could have put it here?" I asked briskly. "I don't know and I don't think we should be worrying about that at the moment. We'll have to get down and keep our guard up since there's s
Esme's POVA wonderful aroma tickled my senses, causing me to turn sideways but my eyes forced open when a sharp pain from my leg hit me.I groaned and tossed the blanket wrapped around me to the side before rising a bit, carefully sitting up. I feel really groggy and my body isn't even cooperating. I scratched at my eyes and yawned, stretching a bit. The delicious smell came again and I looked around to see Axel, he was sitting by the fire and seemed to be cooking something."You're finally awake, good morning." He greeted me with a smile while I replied accordingly."Good morning.""How do you feel?" He asked and I paused for a bit, trying to find the best way to describe how I felt."Honestly, I don't feel good at all. My leg still hurts, though not as bad as yesterday, it's painful but bearable. I feel tired, my throat's a bit dry and the nausea's back again. I feel bloated and my boobs hurt, they're swollen." I surmised."That's a good sign." He sighed."What?""You're only exper
Esme's POV"What?!" I blurted weakly."If I'm ever going to have a chance to finish the mission, I can't lose a leg. Please there has to be some other way." I pleaded, my eyes watering.The thought of my leg being cut off, coupled with the pain, wasn't something I wanted to imagine."There's only one other way I can think of but it's not guaranteed. If it doesn't work, the poison will still be able to get to your heart and kill you." He suggested"Just try it at least, please." I begged and he took a deep breath. He brought out a pair of pants and tore it into long strips before tying one very tightly at the start of the swelling and he did the same at the end, towards my foot."What are you going to do?" I couldn't help but ask. "I'm going to try to see if I can get the poison to flow out with your blood, that's why I tied up your leg, so it wouldn't be able to spread. I'll cut open the swelling and we can let the blood flow out. I'll cauterize the wound right after but it's going to
Esme's POVMy scream rented the air as soon as my eyes darted to the ground. Leafy vines had wrapped around my legs and were moving up my body fast.The vines moved smoothly on their own, surrounding my body and holding me tightly in place. What kind of plant is this? And how can it move so fluidly on its own? It seems to be intelligent as well, going for my legs first.Axel rushed over and his eyes widened when he saw my current dilemma."Esme!" He called out worriedly before pausing. He took a few steps back, creating a good distance between us.If he gets too close, the vines might ensnare him as well and we'll both be in trouble."Please stop struggling, these are carnivorous vines. If you move too much, it might try to harm you." He warned and I paused, my heart beating wildly in my chest.A leafy and thorn filled vine creeped over to me and wrapped around my body, shredding my clothes. Wait a minute, it seems like it's trying to gain access to my skin. After having escaped deat
Esme's POV "Wow. It's so phantasmagoric. Looking through this boundary, the Forbidden Zone seems so beautiful but it's the deadliest place in existence." Axel commented. "I agree with you completely, it's so beautiful but we have to be careful. You remember what Irma said, looks are often deceiving." I reminded him. I moved behind him and opened the backpack, placing the traveler's stone in it. "Let's go." I beckoned and we both walked through the boundary and into the Forbidden Zone. The place was massive, spanning for miles but also really beautiful with huge trees, clear skies and nice vegetation. The air felt cool and relaxing, the songs of beautiful birds filled the air and butterflies littered the place, flying around the low grasses. This place feels like it was created right out of a dream, it looks like paradise. "The view is awesome and I've never seen trees like these before, the flowers are pretty." I blurted. "Trees like these are rather rare, they grow naturally i
Esme's POV"What? What do you mean by that?" I asked, still not putting my knife away."I knew you were coming, long before you even came up with the plan. I wouldn't be a seer if I didn't know this, would I?" She asked softly.Damn it. I had royally underestimated this woman and I had completely forgotten the fact that she was clairvoyant.But if she knew I was coming, is it possible that this is a trap? Is that perhaps why Rachel had not reacted when Axel and I passed by? Does she already know as well? I wouldn't be surprised now if several guards burst through that door any minute.This is all just so hard to deal with."Cast your fears away, dear. Rachel doesn't know a thing." She said as if reading my mind."Why should I believe a single word you say? You're Rachel's friend after all. You could be trying to trick me." I countered."Yes, but I wouldn't gain anything from that, would I? By the time I arrived, I already knew the plans that Rachel had for you. I knew she was going to
Esme's POVI put on the guard's clothes and braided my hair into a ponytail before wrapping the braided part round and round in a circular pattern, holding it in place with a bobby pin and putting on a cap to cover it.I looked in the mirror and was satisfied with how I looked so I left."I'm done." I alerted and he paused to take a good look at me. I could see a smile stretching the edge of his lips."Is my disguise convincing enough or am I missing something?" I asked in a fret."No, you aren't missing anything. Your disguise is pretty convincing. I'm rather surprised how good you look even in men's clothes." He said and I didn't have time to decide if he was either flirting or just teasing."Alright, let's go." I urged and we both headed for the door. But I quickly made a stop at my bedside table to grab the fruit knife just in case I might really need it.He went out first and when he told me the coast was clear, I followed.He locked the door from the outside but left the key in