**** Content Warning ****
Please be aware there are themes of emotional and physical abuse in the following chapters. Read at your own discretion.
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Esme started to see slight changes in Ethan's behaviour towards her from that day onwards. Occasionally she would feel a wave of anger wash over him, it was so strong it almost made her feel sick at times, but when she would look at his handsome face, he smiled at her adoringly, though his eyes were hard. It was so subtle she almost believed she made it up.
But as quickly as she saw this distant, cold stare, it went in a blink of an eye, and his gaze would soften.
Yet all too soon, a cycle began, one that kept causing her mate to act out on his aggression. As an Alpha, she knew his temper could be an issue, but she never anticipated that she could be the cause of the problem. He'd punch a wall and storm off, leaving the she-wolf to stop and assess her actions.
Esme knew she had a long way to go as a Luna and being in a relationship; he wasn't the first man she'd laid with, but he was the first to be in a relationship with. That became abundantly clear from the number of mistakes she kept making but being the diligent mate she was, she followed Ethan's orders and tried not to repeat the same mistake twice. She didn't want to be the cause of his distress; she only wanted her hubby to be happy.
"Esme," Ethan sighed, the agitation filling his voice at her name alone. Esme bit her tongue from his tone, knowing well he was not happy. "I need you to listen to me, okay? If you don't, you're going to embarrass the pack, and you are going to embarrass me. The other pack doesn't need to know that my Luna used to be a rogue." His hands on her shoulders tightened as he stared down at her, then scoffed, "We've been together six months, and you are still incapable of simple etiquette."
Esme looked down, her hands wringing together. It was true; he was right. This was their first fancy dinner together with another pack's Alpha and Beta. She'd already seen the multiple knives and forks, plates and dishes being readied for their meal. Ethan and Esme ran through a practice run beforehand, and she messed up on the positioning of her knife and fork that equalled for the next plate to come out. The fork was placed central in the dish correctly, but she pointed the knife incorrectly.
She couldn't be an embarrassment to him. Her heart twisted uncomfortably from the idea of letting him down. Ethan was an Alpha of a pack; she was meant to be his equal, but she really wasn't measuring up. How was she meant to help lead the pack?
Ethan's aim was to become allies with the Redwood pack if ever the White Sands pack was attacked by the Blue Moon pack. She didn't understand why they would attack them; from what she had learned about the pack's history, the Blue Moon pack were peaceful. They never attacked others.
That didn't mean the pack was weak, though. There was a reason why the White Sands pack would need an ally; the Blue Moon pack was triple the size of theirs.
Ethan released her shoulders and turned away, strolling towards the walk-in closet as he called over his shoulder, "Without me, you would be nothing, Esme."
He returned, holding a strappy light green silk dress; stopping in front of her, he softly grabbed her chin with his thumb and knuckles. "I'm the one that looks after you, buys you these beautiful clothes, and lets you live in this mansion." He kissed her hard on the lips then released his hold on her chin. "You know I care about you, Es. This is all for our future."
"I know. You are so good to me," Esme murmured as she thought back to how much her life had changed since meeting her mate. If they had not met, she would still be living with the other rogues and following her mother's orders which she had slowly begun to detest.
"Wear this dress instead." Ethan handed her the dress and turned away, already knowing Esme would change out of the blouse and skirt she was currently wearing.
"Are you sure?" She questioned; her eyebrows drew together as she looked at the material. Ethan had made it clear that he didn't like her revealing too much of her skin in front of other men; it made him feel uncomfortable.
"I would not have given it to you if I weren't sure. Don't question me about such trivial things," Ethan replied as he sat down on the bed and pulled his smart shoes on, tying up the laces. Esme felt her chest burn; she only asked because of his preferences.
Esme changed into the dress and stared at herself in the mirror. Ethan walked behind her and pulled her hair out of the messy bun she put it in; her long wavy locks fell down to her waist. She almost sighed from the effort of doing her hair, she usually left it down or put it in a half-up hairstyle, but she refrained from doing so. This evening was important, and something inside of her was telling her to follow his wishes.
Ethan pulled out a dainty gold necklace with a singular diamond dangling from it. He placed it around her neck, his hands pushing back her hair again so she could see it in the mirror. In return, Ethan kissed the side of her head, his other hand on her waist as he stared at her in the mirror. She smiled and thanked him in a mind-link.
"Much better," He smiled, but his eyes froze on her lips. "Remove the red lipstick. Only whores wear that colour," Ethan snarled, startling her from the ferocity in his voice. He then rested his chin on her shoulder. "You are not a whore are you?" He drawled, his hardened eyes piercing through hers in the mirror.
Esme inhaled sharply and stared back at his green eyes. "Of course not! I am only yours. I thought you might like the colour, but I will remove it!" She panicked, not fully understanding why she felt her heart beating so hectically from such a request.
"Good girl," He kissed her neck and backed away. Esme removed the lipstick and replaced it with a dark berry nude lipstick. She eyed herself in the mirror again; she looked a lot better.
Ethan was right. The red was awful.
"Alpha Asher and Beta Kai are at the gates," Beta Callum mind-linked her and Ethan. She glanced at her mate, who finished clasping his watch on his wrist. Esme walked to the bed and picked up his suit jacket, and helped him put it on.
Esme's hands were rested on his chest after Ethan held onto her wrists tightly. "We are coming down," Ethan mind-linked their Beta back, then gazed down at her, his hands tightening further on her wrists. "You look beautiful. Don't mess up." He warned her and released her wrists before intertwining their fingers as he led her down from the third floor to the first and met the Alpha and Beta at the gates.