Capítulo 33: The White Sands Pack

Silence followed Esme as she glided her hand along the surface of the kitchen counters. Esme didn't know how long she stared at the city lights but soon found herself embracing this precious time where her mind was surprisingly quiet from the dark shadows of her past. But like most silences, they're interrupted, and her thoughts redirected to the man she had 'chased' after.

Was he another phantom from her past that she did not want to see again?

Was this a sign she had to leave?

"They could still follow us wherever we go. I think we should stay until we figure out who that man is. We are in a perfect position right now.. We are in the Vampire King's favour," Isana reasoned with her. Esme sighed, stopping at the white marble table near the windows and started to tap her fingers on the solid surface.

The King's favour..

Residing in the Vampire King's territory indeed had its perks, heck, she was working and staying in the same building as Gabriel at the moment. So, she knew some part of her trusted him to a degree, but she didn't have that same trust in his subjects, Niko and possibly Luther, aside.

"But what if we fell out of his favour?" She wondered, halting her fingers. Though she already knew the answer.

"Then we're dead," Isana deadpanned.

"Hmmm, I'm not sure I quite like that negative attitude, Is." Esme responded, then sighed again, staring at the expanse of the apartment Gabriel' loaned' to her.

It seemed being in such an apartment made her feel worse than the rather shitty one she usually stayed in. But she could understand why; the luxury lifestyle reminded her of what she used to have. This wasn't a feeling of envy or pitying herself, but more of a lingering sadness encasing her. The kitchen was much like her own at the White Sands packhouse, large and spacious with floor to ceiling windows, but instead of views of skyscrapers and buildings, it was of the sea.

Had it already been five years since she met Ethan?

It felt like a lifetime ago.

After that day of meeting her mate, Esme had fallen into a blissful state of happiness. She had not known something quite like it in her life. All those emotions she thought she pushed down deep inside of herself started to bubble to the surface; even Isana had become louder in her thoughts. There were also many firsts for her twenty years of living.

Esme was not used to the pack life where mind-linking was such a thing. She knew packs had this power, but it was one thing to know of it and another to experience it. One week after arriving at White Sand Bay, where the pack resided, she first encountered a mind-link. Esme woke up in Ethan's arms, her chest still itchy from being marked and her thighs still sore from mating the previous night. Esme sighed into his embrace, staring at the calm sea waves through the floor to ceiling windows.

Like all mates who first met each other, it was hard to resist the temptation of jumping each other the first moment they were alone. But with Esme's past, she wanted to try and take it slow. All of these emotions she recently opened her eyes to were in overdrive which she presumed was because of the bond trying to pull them together. Fortunately, Ethan was patient and gave her space when she needed it.

His presence alone confused her more, but she never pushed him away when he pulled her in for a hug or caressed her face like they had been lovers for much longer. But that all changed when Esme saw her new Alpha returning from a long run shirtless and flexing those taut muscles the night before. A wolfish grin spread on his lips, and it seemed his patience snapped because he picked her up and kissed her, mind-linking the rest of the pack to leave the packhouse.

One thing led to the other, and now she was a claimed she-wolf of an Alpha. It was crazy what could happen in less than ten days. One moment she was seeking to join the White Sands pack at any cost, and the next, she was the new Luna.

"Good morning, my beautiful Luna," Ethan's voice purred into her mind just like how Isana could speak to her. She blinked and looked up into his ethereal green eyes and smiled, then focused on speaking back to him in this mind-link.

"Good morning, my Alpha," She managed to mind-link back with ease.

"Hmmm, you're missing the word handsome in that sentence," He replied, his voice silky in her mind, and the chuckle that followed vibrated through his chest as he kissed her temple.

Ethan slid out of bed and sauntered towards the bathroom, his broad back and perfectly edible backside on show for her to see. The door slowly closed but not before he looked through the gap waiting with a suggestive look on his sharp features. Esme bit her lip climbing out of bed, walking towards the door, squealing in delight when he yanked her by the arm and pulled her into the bathroom, closing the door behind them.

For the first couple of months at the White Sands pack, Esme and the pack were adjusting to one another. She had to work on her 'people skills' and socialising in general as well as hunting and helping the pack as the new Luna. But after proving herself and showing her fighting skills, the pack quickly accepted her.

And for the first time, Esme felt like she truly belonged somewhere, it was sad to think so, but it was true. She worked so hard to be a good Luna to Ethan and the pack. Esme could feel it through the bond how much he wanted her to do well and the weight that rested on their shoulders because she had been a rogue. Ethan motivated her and pushed her to be the best, which was exactly what Esme wanted to be.

Nothing but the best for her Alpha.

It wasn't all hard work though, Esme was in a sweet routine that provided her with an outstanding work-life balance, as most humans would put it. When she wasn't helping Ethan with training and any pack issues that arose, she relaxed at the packhouse on the cliff or spent her time at the beach. In fact, the beach was one of her favourite places to be. It was the most calming place for her to be. The sounds of the waves washed away the anxiety of the demons in her past and needing to be perfect for the pack.