The Fugitive - Chapter 136

“I didn’t mean to come across as rude,” Esme began and crossed her arms against her chest. “It’s just that the others down there,” She looked in the wolves direction again. “are making us nervous. Are you a type 1 rogue? Or..” Turning into one? She wanted to ask but didn’t. What if upsetting the guy might make him switch?

She wasn’t an expert; this was a first for her.

The man sat back and put his feet into the stream, splashing his dirtied self with the water. “I think I am.. I’m not sure.. I just.. blackout. My wolf also doesn’t have any recollection of what he does during these times. I don’t know where I am or who you guys are. I just know that you’re regular rogues, although.. this she-wolf seems to be a Luna.” He flicked his eyes in her direction before standing up again and rubbing himself, ridding his dirtied body of the mud.

That sounded scary; it made sense, though, because of how type 1’s always reacted. Esme knew their wolves took over the human side of them, making them feral, but they were also extremely dangerous considering they didn’t care who they fought and ate, as long as they had a meal. Sometimes they killed for fun as well; she’d seen them kill their prey and leave the body. It was disturbing.

“How long..” Esme looked away from him, giving him a bit of privacy. The man chuckled at her, but she didn’t care. “How long have you been in your wolf form?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart-”

Esme growled, cutting him off. “Don’t. Ever. Call. Me. sweetheart.”

His brows rose, and it became eerily quiet for a moment, making Esme wonder if the guy was about to lose it and shift into his wolf form. “Fair enough. Anyway.. I said I blackout. It could be weeks or months in wolf form.. From how hard it was to hear your voice and how dirty I am.. I’d say it’s at least been eight months.”

Eight months.. How the hell was he not a type 1 already? Was it some sort of willpower?

The man chuckled again from the shock on her face. But his face became serious suddenly. “Thank you..” He scratched the back of his knotted hair, getting his fingers tangled in it and almost distracting him. “Thank you for bringing me back..”

“Hey, no problem,” She tried for nonchalance, feeling a little awkward from the whole ‘saviour’ look he was giving her.

“Do you live nearby?” He asked. That was a question that made her tense, and Marcus growl quietly. “I’m not inviting myself over.. calm down.. is he your mate?” He stared at the black wolf then shook his head. “No, he’d be more protective of you if he was. I.. I just want to return to civilisation. Speaking to you now, a human.. is clearing my head.”

Was it as simple as that? Would this man be able to return to the way he was?

Esme glanced in Marcus’ direction, and he growled in argument to what she was thinking. “We could drop him off at the Hub..”

She didn’t know of any other Hubs than the one near Chester, but that was a little too close for comfort, bringing this wolf who could or could not revert to being a type 1 at any moment. Plus, it would mean running in wolf form for two hours with him.

Marcus growled again and jumped down the rock to her side. The other rogue jumped backwards, startled, and his neck started clicking to the side and returning back. Esme watched him warily as she put her hand in Marcus’ fur on his front leg.

Even though there was the possibility of this man reverting, Esme couldn’t just leave him. He needed help, and if he could get it, it meant any who had that milky pink eye colour were not lost causes.

“I have someone there that might help..” She trailed off as Marcus looked at her like she was a fool. “In fact, he might be watching right now,” She muttered under her breath.

“What’s your name?” Esme asked, which stopped him from clicking his neck again. That was the most disturbing part about this, it was almost like he was on the verge of switching, but his eyes were still mostly human.

“My name..” He frowned and thought for a moment. The guy didn’t seem to remember his name; he really was almost gone. Esme knew these rogues lost all sense of self-worth but seeing it before her eyes were almost heartbreaking.

“My name..”

Esme’s gaze moved from him to the sudden movement behind him, catching her attention. A wolf suddenly leapt out of nowhere. She inhaled sharply; this rogue was still trying to think about his name and was completely unaware of the other rogue. It clamped its jaw down into his shoulder from where he last minute tried to move out of the way. Esme instantly reacted and threw the shirt off her and shifted mid-jump across the river, and tackled the type 1 to the ground. It pushed her back off it, and she flew to the ground, rolling over.

But she sprung back to her feet in time to the wolf’s onslaught of attacks. Esme dodged its snapping jaws and was waiting for its opening. Marcus was fighting the other rogue while the man they’d just been speaking to was on the ground, clutching his shoulder. Esme wondered how this guy had been alive for so long if he couldn’t handle a bite to the shoulder. It wasn’t like it was his neck! As she thought this, she ripped away from the rogue’s neck from where she’d been clamping down on.

Esme dropped the wolf to the ground and spun on the spot, looking deadly with a bloodied jaw as she growled, watching the other rogue. But before she could do anything, another two wolves jumped out of nowhere, one growled at her, and the other helped Marcus take down the other type 1 rogue.

The one growling at her was poised and ready to fight her. He wasn’t a type 1, but he had an issue with her. His friend helped Marcus kill the other type 1, so what the hell? Were they with them or not?

Esme narrowed her gaze and sunk her paws deeper into the ground; she was ready to jump at any moment. But the power radiating off this wolf meant he was an ex Alpha, and one whose scent she seemed to recognise, making her pause for a moment.

“What are you doing, Dean?!” A voice she recognised shouted from behind her. Esme didn’t look behind her for fear that Dean, who had reason to hate her, might want to settle the score with her right then. He may have seen her in her disguise previously, but she never masked her scent, so the ex Alpha knew who this she-wolf was.

Dean didn’t back down, and neither did she.

“Was it too hard to ask for a peaceful day without any fighting?” Esme moaned to her wolf. “Is this idiot really going to make another mockery of himself?”

Before her wolf could make the snide remark Esme was counting on, the ex Alpha charged at her.

For the love of Goddess!