Chapter 141: The Centre of Darkness-- Esme POV

Esme POV

The West End Pack is going to need a new kitchen! Once glass and wood broke and spread everywhere, I ended up outside the exploded kitchen. I had no idea where Rina was. When I heard intense shouting, I shifted into my wolf and ran.

I just panicked!

I didn’t attack Rina. She threw the first attack. It missed me and hit a cupboard of cups and plates. Sharp objects flew everywhere and cut my arm. The pain from the cut fanned my rage, which prompted me to throw my first attack.

Rina stepped out of the way like a pro. My blast hit the door, taking off half of it. Our battle didn’t last long because the next attack came at the same time. The power of destruction and the intense power of her essence collided and turned into a magical bomb.

The last thing I remembered before my ears started ringing was a bright blue-white light. Then I landed in the grass with a thud.

Reya warned me about this. All I could think about was my birth mother’s warning as I raced through the West End Pack’s forest.

The sound of paws hitting the ground came from behind me.

I cursed mentally.

Rina pinned the whole thing on me! Of course, she would.

She was still the Luna of the pack, and I attacked her too. The paws hitting the ground were a safe distance behind me. I swerved off the path and fell into the unpredictable open forest.

The forest wasn’t as dense as the Vaneka Pack. The last thing I wanted to do was get lost in a pack I didn’t know.

After a couple of minutes of running, my legs hurt. I slowed down because I couldn’t hear the wolves chasing me anymore. I came to a place where the trees were spread out, and the sun hit the ground easily.

Just because the sun shone brightly didn’t mean everything was sunshine and roses. Something sinister whispered to me. Beckoning me to a certain darkness.

“Stay away from it, Esme,” Bessi warned.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Where is it? I can feel it.”

Bessi groaned. “Why would I tell you? You’ll just want to go there.”

True, but if it was dangerous, I should know where the danger was coming from. The ominous feeling hung heavy in the air and made the fur on my body stand on end.

I stood slowly and walked towards a tree away from all sunlight. The oak tree’s branches spread out further than any slender, tall tree out here. The tree bark had to be over a hundred years old. I thought I was crazy, but it seemed the ground near the oak tree was harder than everywhere else.

“Strange.”

Before I could take another step, a jaw clapped down on my neck and picked me off the ground.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Zeron’s voice filled our link.  “The whole kitchen’s gone!”

“Put me down,” I ordered.

He dropped me and shifted into his majestic human form. His heated glare was less than majestic.

I shifted back to human form too and wrapped my arms around myself. I think I discovered something, but I had to deal with Zeron’s temper.

“Did you yell at Rina too? I think we should share the blame equally.”

Zeron gripped his hips. “She’s at the pack clinic. Considering all the cuts on your body, you should be there too.”

“Or we could figure out what’s up with that tree,” I offered.

“It’s a damn tree. Nothing special about it. Let’s go.”

I couldn’t come back here later. This was my only chance. I stood on wobbly feet. Despite Zeron’s bubbling rage, he held me up and close to his body.

“I left you alone for five minutes, babe,” he said softly. “I didn’t expect this to happen. Tell me where it hurts.”

“Over there?” I said aimlessly.

“Huh?”

I ran from him and rushed to the ancient oak tree.

“Esmeray!” Zeron roared.

I planted both hands on the tree. My wolf howled in my mind, and the magic at my core stirred. The tree’s essence was just as menacing as the powers that stirred within me. They connected, but my power was significantly greater. I hadn’t connected with anything like this before.

This could only mean one thing.

Zeron grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back.

“That’s no ordinary tree. That’s your curse, Zeron.”

“The pack curse is a tree?” Zeron frowned. “No way.”

“No, but it’s tied to this tree.”

Zeron frowned. “I’ll burn it myself.”

He scooped me off the ground, and I wrapped my arms around his neck instinctively.

“It has to be me, remember?” I reminded him.

“Not right now, Esmeray. After what you did, you’ve already used a lot of energy. You need to recover. Destroying a curse older than both of us combined will take everything you have.”

I was afraid he was right. Just because my powers were greater didn’t mean it would it would be easy.

“Luna Rina’s so going to get you back,” Des said.

“It was a mutual attack. That should count for something.”

“Not in her world. For crying out loud, when is the divorce ceremony starting?”

I exhaled deeply. “I don’t know.”

Zeron carried me back to the pack house and made sure my minor injuries were tended to, and then he banished me to my bedroom. I hated this room. It was so cold and lonely. A constant reminder that my fated mate slept in a separate room and I wasn’t welcome there until the ceremony was over.

The loneliness was overwhelming, so I called the only person capable of brightening my spirits. My best friend, Des.

“I need the dates. I’ll be there to support you and give you some great news!”

“Could be this week. What great news?”

“It’s a surprise, and if I tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore.”

“I’m too anxious for surprises.”

“Tell Zeron to get a move on with the divorce ceremony so I can travel to the West End pack then!”

“I’ll try. It’s not so easy.”

Des scowled. “It totally is. You just weren’t trained right. Threaten to return to your father’s pack. It’s not like you don’t have a nicer pack house anyway.”

I laughed. How simple. Zeron would just lock me up and personally guard me twenty-four-seven. A soft knock came from my bedroom door.

“I’ll call you back, Des,” I said.

“You better.” She hung up.

I didn’t need to open the door. His musky, masculine scent was enough to let me know it was him.

“Princess,” Zeron said.

“Am I free to go?” I crossed my arms.

“You’ve always been free to go, Princess. A new kitchen is underway, and my councilman is fine. Commander Alexi has been handed a formal letter to resign, and I feel like my pack’s moving forward. So, I came to ask the woman I love out on a date.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re asking me out?”

“Yes, I am. We’ve never gone on a date, Esme. Geez, don’t laugh.”

“It’s amazing. I’d love to go out with you.”

We needed a moment alone without the weight of curses and problems on our shoulders.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Right now?” I asked. I’m nowhere near ready!

“Hell yeah. You look great. Come on.”