HUNTED-Chapter 324: Fluffy and Warm Atmosphere

Esme and Chiara’s stare-off was interrupted by the approaching Delta. The petite she-wolf relaxed. There would be no fight with him there. "Come on, Chiara. Be nice." Finn walked past the Gamma, who glared at him and then glowered at Esme even more.

"Would you be nice if rogues killed your mate?" Chiara hissed and stormed off. "Get rid of her, Delta."

Finn winced at the term instead of his name being used. Esme felt a little sorry for him as she watched the Gamma walking away. "You know, we’re not all alike." A lie, about herself that was. She’d killed many pack members before. But most rogues stayed clear of packs.

Chiara paused. Not because of Esme’s comment but because Ajax strolled out from the open doors, a goofy grin on his face as he looked at the Gamma. It was like he had actual hearts in his eyes though the Gamma was still stiff, her hands fisted in anger.

"Oh, hey, Es!" Unaware or unable to ’read the room’, the shapeshifter kissed the side of Chiara’s cheek before bounding down the steps and pulling Esme into a hug. Esme stiffened and stopped her habit of reaching for the dagger. Only a few people hugged her, knowing well she felt uncomfortable with most unconditional love.

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"Hey, Ajax." Esme pulled away and grimaced when Chiara stormed off. She could hear her calling the shapeshifter a useless Casanova. "I think you need to beg for Chiara’s forgiveness. Didn’t you know she hates my guts?"

Ajax raked his hands through his hair, his emerald green eyes flicking to the retreating shadow inside the open doors to the mansion, the Gamma’s killer heels clicking against the marble floors. "Ah, man, I can’t be in the dog house already." He pouted. "I wanted more hero sex. Do you think we won’t have it now?"

Esme and Finn shared a look, intrigue settling in both their eyes but neither would question what ’hero sex’ was. Instead, they rolled their eyes at the shapeshifter. "What do you think, man?" Finn clamped his hand down on his shoulder before turning them around and gesturing for Esme to enter the mansion. "And don’t take it personally, Es-"

"Oh yeah, sweetness, don’t take it personally," Ajax interrupted the Delta, almost pleading with Esme with puppy dog eyes. "Chiara, she just.."

"Lost her mate to a rogue," Esme finished. She understood and didn’t resent the Gamma for it. "It’s okay."

"Just give her some time," Finn added as they started to make their way to the kitchen, where more than twenty sets of eyes fell on them. It was morning time in the pack house after what looked like morning training.

Esme automatically started to back away, not liking the attention, but hands from behind her clamped down on her, yelping when her knife sliced their wrists as she turned to face whoever crept up on her. Luther and Niko stood there; Niko smirked, "you should have known not to do that."

"Es! You cut my new leather gloves!" Luther whined. Esme eyed the glove and where she sliced him, shrugging and looking away, thinking how Luther and Ajax were quite similar.

"I’ll get you some new ones," Esme muttered, rolling her eyes at his responding, ’Yes!" like a child.

Ajax, the other man child, slid his arm over her shoulders in a welcoming gesture, pulling her away from the vampires and the werewolves, gazing at all of them like they were a freak show. Maybe they were. For one, vampires and werewolves did not get along. Yet here they all were after what happened at Cassius’ castle.

"Here, eat up skinny ribs." Ajax forcefully sat her down at the kitchen counter next to a woman with beautiful curls and a beaming smile like a ray of sunshine.

Esme ignored the shapeshifter’s comment about her skinniness. It was something she was still working on. Her ribs were no longer protruding, though, like they used to. "Hey! I heard you helped Alpha Damon out." The woman with curls and a soft, happy aura spoke, holding her hand out to Esme. "I’m Nairi."

Nairi.. Where had she heard that name before.. Esme’s eyes trailed to Beta Kane strolling up beside her, his muscular arms caging the she-wolf as he placed his hands against the counter, kissing the top of her head. Esme grinned, shaking the woman’s hand and nodding at the moody Beta, who barely registered her existence.

"How the hell are you with a man like him?" Esme blurted out.

Nairi smiled, tilting her head back to stare at her mate. "He’s not so bad.." she trailed off as Kane met her lips, chuckling. Esme looked away, giving them some privacy though she couldn’t help smiling to herself.

"It’s good to see you on your feet again, Kane," Esme murmured, reaching forward where some pancakes had been freshly made, still fluffy and warm. The smell was also divine, making her mouth water as she coated them with fruits and honey.

"Beta Kane." He corrected with that attitude of his. "And thanks." He straightened and turned to look at the other wolves in the kitchen. Esme also looked, feeling as though she was a part of something, though their hostility was here and there at her, nothing she wasn’t used to.

But then Esme felt someone else’s gaze, and she whipped her head around, past her silly guards at her back, looking uncomfortable and saw who it was. Aila and Damon entered the large kitchen. The werewolves immediately started howling and catcalling.

The Alpha and Luna pair smiled, Damon’s hand pulling Aila’s hip closer to his side as he glared at a few males, his possessive nature as an Alpha taking over.

Esme rolled her eyes and then blinked, surprised that Aila was still looking at her. Or maybe she was looking at the vampires with her. It was strange company to keep in a pack full of werewolves.

"It’s great to see everyone back here as a family again," Damon began. His deep voice quietened the busy, loud kitchen as everyone’s attention was set on the power couple. "My mate, your queen has returned." A few whoops shouted in the room at that. "And although we’ve had our own.. celebration." He smirked, and Aila’s cheeks grew a deep red at his innuendo.

"They haven’t left their rooms since returning," Nairi whispered to Esme, making the petite she-wolf smile and shake her head. "Lucky buggers." Beta Kane nudged her at that, causing the she-wolf to giggle. Their love was sickly sweet, making Esme miss her Gabriel even more.

"We haven’t yet together, and it’s time we let loose." Damon continued. "Tonight, we celebrate!"

The pack erupted, "Awoof!", banging tables and walls, stamping their feet, howling. Esme could hear the pack’s mind-link abuzz with excitement.