Unexpected Visitor
1015 Words
Luca
I heard a footstep in the woods, then another. Rhiannon was still bathing in the spring, so it wasn't her.
I jumped to my feet, the firestarter forgotten.
Alaric was on a high alert. Find the intruder!
I took a silent step forward, sticking up my nose and scenting a familiar wolf.
Esme.
What the hell is she doing here? Alaric sounded disgusted.
Now that I had scented her, she was easy to see in the underbrush, crouched low, watching Rhia bathe.
I don't care that it's Esme, Alaric snarled. Get her away from our princess.
I started running and pounced on Esme, knocking her to the ground and catching her completely off guard.
Esme snarled at me, trying to fight back, but Alaric growled at her, and she immediately fell in submission.
I had never forced her to submit to me before, but I needed her in my complete control. She could run off and tell Bane our location or try to attack Rhiannon.
Esme cowered on the ground, her neck bared.
Rhiannon had clearly noticed the commotion because she ran out of the water, grabbed her clothes, and quickly pulled them on. She jogged over to us.
"Lou! Please, stop," Esme pleaded, looking up at me with her big brown eyes. "It's me."
Alaric prickled at her audacity to look us in the eyes and speak to us while we were demanding her submission. I tamped him down, not wanting to go too far. It was just Esme, after all. I didn't know where her loyalties lay, but I could subdue her easily, so there was no need to keep her on the dirt. I let up on my Alpha aura and allowed her to return to her feet.
"Who--" Rhiannon started to ask, sending a puzzled look at Esme, but she seemed to realize who she was. "Oh. That girl."
I could tell that Esme's ego was stung by being called "that girl." She glared at Rhiannon.
Esme demanded, "Who the hell are you?"
Shut her up, Alaric urged me, feeling very protective of Rhiannon.
I gritted my teeth. Esme's attitude also rubbed me the wrong way.
"I'm his mate," Rhiannon snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
Alaric made a smug, self-satisfied noise. He liked Rhiannon claiming us like that.
"Mate?" Esme rounded on me, hurt evident in her face. "Your dad said--"
I growled, but she continued.
"He said that you kidnapped his mate and unborn child, and now you're here with her . . . " Esme trailed off.
Rhiannon clutched her stomach at the mention of an unborn child, but her eyes shone fiercely. "I do not belong to Bane."
"What's the truth, Lou?" Esme asked, ignoring Rhiannon. "I know you'd never betray the pack or your dad--"
"That man doesn't deserve to be called my father," I cut in, clenching my jaw. How was Esme so ignorant that she never saw the truth about Bane?
"Lou . . ?" Esme's eyebrows scrunched together over her big brown eyes. "I don't understand."
I knew that Bane probably brainwashed everyone to think I was a traitor, so her confusion made sense, but it didn't stop me from being frustrated. I grabbed her by her shoulders.
"Look at her!" I gestured toward the obvious bruises on Rhiannon's face. "Bane kidnapped and abused her. I found out she's my mate and was able to help her escape. I had to protect her." I didn't mention the rape. That's not something I would ever share with anyone without Rhia's permission, even though it would've helped my point.
Esme's face was still scrunched. "But you're coming back now, right? You got her to safety so--"
"No," Rhiannon interposed between us, wrapping her body possessively around mine and forcing space between me and Esme. "He's not."
Alaric rumbled happiness through my chest. Alaric and I both liked seeing Rhiannon act possessive, plus she was touching me now, curving her body into mine.
Esme glared at Rhiannon. "I wasn't asking you." She turned back to me, "Lou?"
The nickname grated on my nerves. "No, Esme, I'm not going back. Not unless it's to kill my father."
Rhiannon grabbed my wrist. I think she could sense my anger rising.
"But we're going to be Alpha and Luna of Bloodwater," Esme whined. "What happened to that, Luca?"
"That changed the moment I saw my mate." I was careful not to say Rhiannon's name. I didn't want Esme to put two and two together and realize that Rhiannon was the princess.
I felt Rhiannon's eyes studying me.
Esme looked crushed. I never hated Esme or even disliked her. I just didn't want to spend the rest of my life married to her.
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands. "What if--" I glanced at Rhiannon before continuing. "I could promise you'll still be Luna of Bloodwater?"
Rhiannon's eyebrow rose.
Esme's gaze immediately switched from pitiful to calculating. "How?"
"I swear," I swallowed, "that I will return to Bloodwater and kill Bane for what he has done to my mate. But first, I need to make sure she is somewhere safe."
Esme looked hesitant. "So, once you've dropped her, you'll come back for me?"
I met her eyes, "If you vow not to tell Bane that you saw us here, I will come back for you."
Esme glanced from me to Rhiannon. "Fine. But don't bring her when you come." Esme's lip curled up at Rhia. "I don't ever want to see her again."
Rhiannon snarled at her.
I put a hand on Rhiannon's shoulder. Honestly, I was surprised to see her acting this way.
Esme didn't try to challenge Rhiannon; she just slunk away and then took off at a run. Esme's fast, one of the fastest in Bloodwater. She was gone in seconds.
I turned to Rhia. She was still standing close, her side pressed into mine. Touching her felt so good that I couldn't help wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her closer. Had she been jealous?
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