04

"Why are you crying?" The handsome man's voice brought back Esme to her senses.

"Um... He... He scared me," She pointed her finger at Beta Leandro who looked guilty by his actions.

"Alpha... I didn't.." Beta Leandro's words were cut short by the handsome man. So, he is the Alpha that the Beta mentioned earlier, Esme thought in her mind.

"How dare you scare her?" The handsome man's voice was deeper and hoarse than any man Esme had ever met. It reaped of authority and dominance.

"Wow..... Did you look at his Adam's apple when he spoke? He is sexier than the beta" Poppy, Esme's wolf said making Esme cringe.

"Uff... Can you please leave me alone for some time?" Esme said, already irritated by her wolf's presence.

"Why? So you can spoil everything. This man is one of a kind. Just let me come out, I'll make sure he will take us home with him." Poppy retorted as she always does.

Esme rolled her eyes and ignored Poppy for the time being. Why does she keep eye raping men like this? She makes it sound like Esme is desperate to find a mate.

The handsome man signaled for some of his men to beat up the beta. And the men took it to their advantage and went on with giving him hard and brutal hits. This handsome Alpha has a different kind of aura from the Alpha of Esme's pack. He looked like he has a kind side and also a cruel side. Esme had no idea how to get away from this situation.

On the other hand, the people who were holding Charlie let him go and he plopped down. Esme felt the handsome Alpha's hand on her face. He wiped the rest of the fresh tears from her eyes and held her hand and turned towards the people who were having fun by watching the live drama that was happening in front of them.

"I, Alpha Theodore Griffin of The Silverfur Pack is announcing that... " he leaned towards Esme and asked, "What is your name?"

"Esme Carter," She whispered, avoiding his eyes.

He resumed his talk, "I, AlphaTheodore Griffin of The Silverfur Pack, am announcing that Esme Carter is my mate."

"Yes!!! Yes!!! I love him already!! He is so charismatic!" Now there was nothing to stop Poppy.

"Uff.... enough" Esme whispered.

Theodore held Esme's hand and pulled her inside the fair. She looked through her corner eyes, Charlie was being carried by Ronnie Grayson's men. Despite his strong annoyance for Charlie, Ronnie instructed his men to take Charlie to the hospital and get him treated. Despite her worry about her friend, Esme could only sigh of relief. At least he was being treated for his wounds.

Ronnie Grayson is the Alpha of Esme's pack, The Delta Prowlers. He is a lot older than them but mentally is the cheapest one can ever find. He is mostly a sly fox.

Esme walked with Theodore and a few of his people walking right behind them, which she assumed were his bodyguards.

"Which pack are you from?" Theodore asked without looking at Esme.

"The Delta Prowlers," She replied softly.

"Then you will have to pack your things and move into our pack, The Silverfur Pack."

"What?" Now this was news and a shocking one at that. Esme knew that she should be living with her mate but she was not aware that she should be going this early. Don't they have to get married or something to live together?

"What are you shocked about? You are my mate and it is only right for you to stay in my pack," Esme's thoughts cut short by Theodore's voice.

Esme fidgeted with her clothes, thinking why can't he talk in a little softer tone. She was not used to being dominated and intimidated.

"Don't we have to get married or something? And I have just joined college," Esme said in a low tone and very cautiously.

"We are not getting married right away. But we will have to some day in the near future. You can go to college after marriage also,"

"Really!" She exclaimed and he simply nodded his head.

"Gosh!! This is so cool. You better don't destroy this. We are so lucky to have him as our mate." Poppy popped in at the right moment.

"Hmm.. I think so too." Finally, something that Esme and Poppy agreed on together.

The next few hours go on with Esme and Theodore just strolling around the mating ritual fair and looking at how many werewolves get mated and who all. It was also part of his duty as an Alpha of The Silverfur Pack. He should know who all will be getting into his pack and who all will be leaving.

At some point in the evening of the ritual, Theodore looked down at Esme, or rather her eyes. They were seated at the highest special spot in the venue and there were other werewolves around them sitting just a level below. He looks deep into her eyes. She wondered if he could sense her worry or her dilemma of leaving her pack and going to his pack. Could he see the uncertainty in her eyes?

He cleared his throat when they heard the crowd cheering loudly, making them realize that the ritual had come to an end with a good success rate of werewolves finding their mates.

"We should leave now. Before that we can go to your house and meet your parents and pack your things," Theodore said in an authoritative tone.

"I don't have one," Esme mumbled, lowering her head.

"Huh? What?" Esme guessed that he did not hear her words or he did not understand her words by looking at his confused look.

"I don't have parents. They passed away a few years back."

"Oh... With whom do you live then?" Theodore seemed like he was taken aback suddenly.

"With aunty Sarah and uncle Ben," he raised his brows expecting her to explain more.

"They are Charlie's parents. And also they were good friends with my parents so they took me in after the demise of my parents,"

"Oh.. ok... Let's go now. I have to meet them and inform them about us,"

Theodore immediately got off the seat and walked away. For a moment Esme thought that he was concerned about her but she guessed he was just a cold blooded man. And here, she was expecting a hug or comforting words from him. Or did she expect too much and too soon just because he is her mate? After all, they met just a few hours ago.

Esme shook her head to shake off all her useless thoughts and got off the seat and followed him. She doesn't want to get lost in the crowd and get into trouble with any other werewolves.