HUNTED-Chapter 311: A True Leader

The sounds of an engine rumbling and tyres turning over dirt and stones stopped just outside Damon’s hiding spot, snapping him out of his daily obsession over Aila. He silently went to the open shed door and looked at the large dusty light blue truck. A woman climbed out, leaving the keys in the glove compartment, much to their luck.

Although he had a sneaky suspicion, Esme could start a car without keys.

As the lady opened her front door, Finn sneaked around the side of the house, watching her before darting towards the truck. He managed to get a pair of tracksuit bottoms on and grabbed another chequered jacket sliding it on top and leaving his torso bare. Damon climbed into the truck and started it up, instantly reversing and turning it around in one go.

Finn got in, and they sped off as quickly as they could down the bumpy dirt road, feeling guilty for stealing from the older woman.

That guilt dried up once a bullet pinged into the back end of the truck. Damon sped down the country roads until he stopped on the side where Esme stood waiting for them. He’d mind-linked ahead. The pair climbed out to help carry Kane into the back of the truck.

"Ya know we’re meant to be laying low," Esme said, casually shrugging and trying to slide a little snarky attitude into her comment, attempting to be her usual self. But her smile was more of a grimace, and there was no light in her eyes. Damon and Finn stopped beside Kane and glanced at her questionably. "You’re walking around shirtless in dungarees looking like some badass farmer model..

The same goes for you, Finny boy."

The compliment made them raise their eyebrows and glance at each other again. "I didn’t think you paid much attention to us, Es. You’re so loved up with-"

Finn smacked Ajax’s shoulder. The shapeshifter loved the attention, but it was aimed at the Alpha and Delta. Ajax’s comment, even interrupted by Finn, had soured Esme’s mood further.

"Yes, none of you can even compare to him. But I won’t deny I’m surrounded by good-looking men," she snapped before turning away and disappearing through the long grass. The men didn’t think much of it. All of them were taken and pitied Esme. Especially Damon, who knew how she felt. He’d been going through it longer than half a day.

"Couldn’t find me any clothes?" Ajax asked after the men were left in awkward silence.

"Thought you preferred walking naked," Damon mused as they all began to lift the hefty golden wolf and carry Kane towards the truck.

"Ah.. By the sounds of it, Damon.. You prefer to see my naked ass," Ajax winked and snickered when the Alpha glowered at him. It was odd that after a night of running and fighting, the group was already joking around. He was glad they weren’t moping. Well, mostly all of them weren’t; Esme was attempting to remain positive.

Damon’s glare dried up and a smirk formed on his lips. "Actually, Finn brought you some dungarees as well."

In the back of the truck, Kane’s large form was slumped on the metal floor, with Ajax grumbling beside him about the tightness of the dungarees he wore. "This isn’t good for my balls. You know I do want kids when I’m older."

"Maybe you should cut down on how much you eat," Finn called out the back window behind his seat.

"Please, I’m an actual model. If anything, it’s because I have a bigger di-"

Finn slid the window shut, flipping him off. Though the movement was strained in the small space left for them in the front seats. Damon drove, and in between them sat Esme, who was tiny, but Finn gave her extra space on the seat they shared, keeping himself close to the window.

"What’s the plan now, Alpha?" Esme asked, staring ahead as her eyes grew darker. "We go back for that son of a.. Actually, that’s an insult to Gabriel’s parents.. Nevermind. I want Cass, Damon. You need to let me-"

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"No," Damon growled, his Alpha voice lacing slightly into his own. The command was on the tip of his tongue, causing Esme to glare at him. "You’re part of the pack now. This isn’t some mission of yours, some scheme to find Gabriel. We need to assess the situation and go from there. Can you do that?"

His knuckles had grown white from his tight grip on the steering wheel. Esme had grown used to being a lone wolf and disliked taking orders. He didn’t know the intricate details of her whole life, but there was a story there besides the one he knew of her. There was something deeply rooted in her that made her despise taking orders.

"I ’spose I don’t have any choice," Esme said through gritted teeth, looking straight ahead.

"You might not like it, but I am in charge, and there are responsibilities with that. I could have been fucking selfish ages ago. Taken my Queen and left everyone to the fate of that fuck, Cassius. But I didn’t because that’s what a leader does. He chooses those under his rule first. We WILL get Gabriel back." Damon glanced at Esme after the truck remained in silence beside the engine, roaring loudly.

Esme sighed her features hardening. "I’ll follow your orders for now.. But if Gabriel dies.." She turned her head to him, eyes darker than he’d ever seen them before. "You’re partially to blame, and I have no qualms about killing a-"

Finn wrapped his hand over Esme’s mouth, shutting her up before she said anything more that would make Damon kill her. Finn hissed and pulled his hand back. "I can feel his pain," Esme whispered, the fight in her eyes shrinking as did her body in the seat.

Damon was torn between wanting to discipline her for the obvious threat, his wolf was the one urging him to put the she-wolf in her place, but then his compassion won. She hadn’t threatened him in front of the pack or anyone who would question his authority over it. He also knew she was emotional right now.

"We’ll get him back," Damon repeated with conviction. "First, let’s mess up whatever plans Cassius is making."