Chapter Sixteen.

Logan Wilson.

Esme's unique yet beautiful green eyes widen to the point where I could clearly see the golden flecks that were usually difficult to see. The only emotion that I could see swirling in her green eyes was surprise. Her plump, genuine cupid bow red lips were slightly parted into a natural pout as she breathed in deeply through her nose, her small shoulder rising with the movement.

It was clear to see that when she had asked me about my sudden change that she hadn't been expecting my answer. I was beginning to doubt that she had accepted me as her mate willingly.

The small café was filled with many members of my pack that were purposefully making conversation with one another as well as talking louder than needed so that our conversation would be blurred with the rest and so it would remain private between the two of us. I wished that Esme and I could discuss this in private but when she had asked me it went against everything within me to lie to her, to not give her the answer she wanted and so I told her anyway knowing that this conversation could go many different ways.

I was appreciative of my pack's thoughtfulness as I knew that they were all desperate to meet their future Luna. It wasn't a secret that I had found my mate nor that she was recovering from a rogue attack as many of the pack had rushed to her aid as well as my brothers as soon as I had alerted my warriors what was happening.

Esme had already captured the attention of my packs and their hearts even if she had yet to meet them. I knew that Esme radiated innocence, she was so small and fragile that her appearance was enough to make anyone want to protect and love her.

I had felt it as soon as she had accepted me as her mate. My wolf and I had felt the already strengthened invisible bond attach to myself and Esme more forcefully. She had unconsciously accepted both my wolf and I as we held her while she slept last night. Although I knew she hadn't yet said the words that I was desperate to hear, the words that would have my wolf panting and testing my control as he fought to mark and mate what was ours.

I knew Esme was not ready for either yet. I had seen the fear in her eyes when she woke up this morning, her father haunted her every thought and it would be a long time before she would be fully relaxed. The sudden threat of her father knowing where she was and the promise that he would have both her and her mum back was clouding her thoughts as well as mine. I would die before he touched a single hair on her head let alone take her from me.

Esme may or may not have realised that werewolves were very possessive over what was theirs. Esme was mine as the possessiveness, dominance and constant need to be around her and touch her was heightened due to the status of my wolf. I was in a constant battle with my wolf to keep myself from growling at any male who dared to look her way let alone talk to her.

My wolf wanted to be constantly holding her to our side and show everyone who she belonged to but I knew that Esme was not ready for that. Now that she had accepted us it was harder to hold back my wolf and stop my natural instinct from kicking in. It was only a matter of time before the predator within me came forward whether I liked it or not. It would only get worse after I had marked and mated with her as the possibility of her becoming pregnant was greater once she wore my mark.

"I..." Esme trailed off as her small, pink tongue darted out and slowly ran along her bottom lip, slightly wetting it before it darted back into her sweet mouth. The small action had my wolf panting as he replayed the innocent gesture from our little mate who seemed oblivious to the effect she had on me, on us.

Her small hand that I still held in mine twitched slightly before my hand was given a gentle squeeze. I could tell that it was meant to be firm but it had only been the faintest of touches. I grazed my thumb over her knuckles, her skin so smooth and creamy begging for my touch and I squeezed her hand back lightly.

I didn't want to rush Esme or do or say something that would make her change her mind. I knew that this was something that she had to do on her own without any interference. I remained silent in my seat, my thumb continued to rub soothing patterns along the back of her hand and knuckles as she fell silent once again.

A small frown etched its way onto her face settling between her eyebrows in two faint lines. I could see that she was thinking hard about something, no doubt about the recent discovery that she had unconsciously accepted me. I had seen an improvement in Esme's behaviour towards me as she had openly allowed me to touch her as well as when she had grabbed my hand in the car park just a few moments ago.

"Alpha," I was contacted through my mind link that I shared with everyone. I instantly knew who it was as I searched the café to see that Mary Roberts stood behind the counter with an apologetic expression as she slightly bowed her head. "Your breakfast is ready."

I knew that she had heard our conversation even if she hadn't meant to. She was referring to Esme who was still in a thoughtful state and whether or not we would want to eat. I glanced at Esme whose frown had now gone but the dazed look on her face told me that she was still thinking.

"Bring it over," I told Mary anyway before adding, "please."

"Yes Alpha," Mary quickly replied.

I had no intention of interrupting Esme from her thoughts but I knew that she was hungry and that she needed to eat. She hadn't eaten a proper meal for a long time due to the rogue attack as well the incident with her dad's letter yesterday. I didn't want her to waste away as I already thought she was too small for her own good.

Mary came over with a tray in her hands with a number of plates. Mary gently set the tray down on an empty table beside us before she expertly began to lay the plates down in front of us with a warm smile on her face.

"Thank you," I smiled back at Mary feeling my mouth water at the sight of the food in front of me. I had an abnormally large appetite which came with being an Alpha werewolf. It had surprised me Esme had ordered the same as me as I knew that she had no clue as to what she was getting herself into.

"Thank you Mary," Esme's voice was soft as my head snapped up into her direction. She was sending Mary a small smile before she slowly turned so that she was looking at me. I could see the resolve in her eyes and I knew that she had come to some sort of conclusion.

Her face gave nothing away as she sent me a smile before staring at the mass of food in front of her, her eyes widening at the sight of the full English breakfast; a plate with four pieces of buttered toast, another plate with two chocolate chip pancakes covered in golden syrup, a third plate with two fried eggs, four pieces of bacon and two sausages, plus a four pack of yogurts that had been placed to the side. Her eyes landed on the tea pot and mug that came with the full English breakfast, in addition to the milkshakes we had already begun.

"You eat all of this?" She asked in awe.

"I'm a growing boy," I shrugged my shoulders as I grinned at Esme who was staring at me as if I had grown two heads in the past thirty seconds. I couldn't suppress my laughter as she shook her head and took her knife and fork in her hands and began to eat the full English breakfast in front of her.

I too began to eat my own breakfast, my eyes never straying too far from Esme or my plate. I wanted to talk to her about our earlier conversation but I knew that it was better if we discussed it when we got back home so that it would be more private. Esme had also come to the conclusion that it was best that we didn't talk about it until we got somewhere more private judging by the look on her face.

"I'm so full," She groaned as she wrapped her arms around her small waist and slumped back in her chair. She had managed so eat more than half of her full English breakfast, a pancake had gone from the pile, two pieces of toast were missing, most of her eggs and two pieces of bacon were also gone. She hadn't even touched her yogurts that sat to the side. I had learned that she loved a cup of tea with one and a half teaspoons of sugar and the banana milkshake was completely gone.

"I'm impressed," I told her honestly. I had half expected her to give up after the first few mouthfuls as she had already looked like she was struggling but she continued until she looked like she was going to burst. I had finished before she had even started on eating her pancakes much to her amazement as she had stared at me for a minute or so before continuing with her own meal.

"I've never eaten so much in my life," She told me as I heard the honesty in her voice.

I knew of her past and how badly her father has treated her. Esme was slim, she wasn't skinny but slim with muscles covering her bones. Although she wore clothes that weren't skin tight I had seen curves hidden beneath the material. Her figure was one that I adored, and one that I was also extremely attracted to. I briefly wondered if her dad's abuse extended to starving her and her mum.

My wolf pushed to the surface as I bit back a growl that desperately wanted to explode from my chest. Every time I thought about Esme's dad I had to stop myself from shifting where I was. I hated the man that I had never met, I wanted him dead and my wolf craved his blood. The man deserved much more than death for what he had done to Esme and her mum but when I see her dad I know I won't be able to make his death long and painful as my wolf and I will be too happy to kill him.

I wanted to ask Esme about her past, I wanted to know all of it so that I could somehow carry the pain she felt, for her. We were mates and I hadn't been able to protect her for most of her life but now that she was here and I had found her I had every intention of protecting her from everything and everyone that proposed a threat to her. I didn't know if Esme was ready to open herself up to me about her past as she had only told me a few bits and pieces.

"Do you think you can walk?" I asked as I began to reach in to the back pocket where I knew I had placed my wallet before we left, "Or do you need me to carry you?"

Esme closed her eyes for a moment as she breathed in deeply before opening them again, "you can carry me."

I had not expected that to be her answer when I had suggested that I carry her although I had also not expected her to initiate the touch between us when she had earlier held my hand willingly. Esme was surprising me today and I knew that it was because of our mate bond that she suddenly felt more comfortable around me. I was enjoying the more relaxed and carefree Esme.

"As you wish," I grinned at her.

I placed the appropriate amount of money on the table as well as a generous gratuity. I had been visiting the same café for years now and I had always ordered the same thing so I knew the price from heart, all I had to do was double it and add five pound to the amount for a tip.

I stood from the chair before tucking it under the table. Esme watched from where she sat with a curious expression, her green eyes never straying from my figure as I made my way towards her. I reached down quickly; my hands gripped her small hips as I pulled her from her seat igniting a small squeal from her. I gently moved her so that she was resting on my back, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck and her legs around my waist with her ankles crossed to hold herself to me.

We had gotten the attention of almost everyone in the café as I held onto Esme's thighs to keep her in place. I turned slowly very aware that the café was only small as I began to make my way through the tables and chairs to the exit. Many pack members bowed their heads in respect with a muttered 'Alpha, Luna' before going back to their meals. I had seen smiles on many faces and I knew that it was because of Esme and I and the open display of affection between us that had my pack smiling.

We exited the café with ease and walked the short distance to the car. I wanted to talk to Esme and show her around town but I knew that we had to revisit our earlier conversation from the café. Esme buried her face in the back of my neck, her warm breath tickling the hairs as I shuddered from the sudden feeling. My wolf and I bathed in our mate's obvious content state.

I opened the passenger car door and lowered Esme into her seat before closing the door and making my way to the driver's side where I climbed in and started the engine. The drive back to the pack house was silent as I spared Esme a glance out of the corner of my eye; she was staring out the window watching as we drove through our territory towards my house. I pulled up into the driveway and easily parked the car after Esme got out and waited for me by the front.

I could feel the nerves rolling off of her in waves and I was curious as to what was going through her pretty little head. She easily slid her hand into mine as we walked through the front door that I always left open. I trusted my pack members and knew that no one would enter my house unless I was here and gave them permission. If someone were to enter my house uninvited I would easily know who it was by their scent and they would be punished accordingly.

Esme was suddenly in control and she stepped in front of me and tugged on my hand. She didn't face me as I allowed her to lead me through our house and up the stairs. I had expected her to lead us to her room but instead she walked right past it and to my own where she opened the door and let go of my hand. Esme walked further into the room. She easily slipped out of her shoes and shrugged of her coat and scarf that she folded up on the end of my bed.

"Esme," I began stepping into the room and closing the door behind me.

Esme turned as I spoke her name. I could see how nervous she was as she looked up at me through her long eyelashes, her hands folded together in front of her.

"Logan," she began, my name easily rolling off of her tongue as she took a deep breath, "I know that I'm not exactly the ideal mate because of my past and I know that I'm not ready to be marked or even mate with you yet."

I was already walking towards her as soon as she said that she wasn't the ideal mate. As I reached her I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her towards me my hand resting in the curve of her waist and I brought my other hand up so that I was cupping her cheek. Esme was staring up at me with wide eyes, her lips parted as her cheeks flushed a pretty pink from our intimate position.

"Don't you ever, ever say that you are not the ideal mate," I told her sternly, my wolf agreeing with me as it angered us both that our mate didn't see how perfect she was, "You're perfect."

"But," She began. I knew she was about to protest and tell me that I was wrong.

My wolf lurched forward using my anger to take control as he cut Esme by pressing my lips to hers. Hers lips were soft and smooth despite the harsh weather outside that chapped most people's lips. She froze in my arms as I gained back control and quickly pulled away. My lips seemed to hum with the buzz that her lips left on mine.

"You're perfect," I told her again before continuing, "It doesn't matter that you're not yet ready to be marked or that you aren't ready to mate with me. I will wait forever until you're ready to take that step with me but you are not alone. We're mates; you are mine as much as I'm yours."

Esme was pure, as innocent as the day that she was born. Her scent was sweet, untainted and pure, not being mixed with anyone's. I doubted that she had ever been touched intimately by any man and I was proud knowing that I would most likely be Esme's first and last everything. My wolf was angry with knowing that Esme wouldn't be my first everything as I had slept with two women before Esme. I hated myself for not waiting and I regretted ever sleeping with those two women and giving in to temptation.

"I accept you," she whispered, her green eyes widening with happiness, excitement and nerves. "I accept you, Logan Wilson as my mate and my Alpha."

My wolf was howling with happiness as he desperately tried to break free from the confines of my mind and mark our mate. I held him back as I felt a smile make its way on my face. Esme's words echoed in my ears as I realised that she had accepted us as her Alpha and more importantly, her mate.

"I accept you," I told her as I used my hand to gently bring her face closer to mine as I dipped my head, "I accept you as my mate, my Luna, my lover, my best friend, my equal."

I didn't give her time to reply before I lowered my head the rest of the way and placed my lips upon hers. Esme froze in my arms for no longer than a second before her hands that had been resting limply at her side reached up and tangled themselves in the back of my head, pulling my face closer to hers.

Esme was hesitant as I pulled both myself and my wolf back to allow Esme to set a pace that she was comfortable with, that she would enjoy more. Her innocence shone through the kiss as she attentively began to move her lips against my own. I tightened my arm around her waist, pulling her impossibly close to my body and onto her tip toes. My wolf was growling inside of me wanting his own intimate moment with our mate.

A small gasp escaped her lips at the sudden movement and despite what self-control I thought I had I traced her lower lip with the tip of my tongue before I entered her heated mouth. I groaned at the taste of her sweet mouth as her tongue began to fight my own in a battle of dominance that I naturally one.

She soon pulled away, gasping for breath with her eyes closed as she rested her forehead against my own. I took in the pink tinge of her cheeks and her flustered expression feeling a proud smile make its way onto my face knowing that I had taken her first kiss. I would be the only man to make her feel this way and I would be the only man she would ever know.

I gently stroked her cheek with my thumb before kissing her bruised and reddened lips coaxing her eyes open with a slight flutter as she looked up at me.

"You're mine," I whispered.