I was Kidnapped for Revenge by a Ruthless Alpha-Chapter 159: Christmas pt 3

~ODETTE’S POV~

Watching Ambrose unwrap everyone else’s gifts first was driving me crazy. I was getting so anxious while I struggled with my patience.

Everyone’s gifts were weapon related, even Ursula’s. She got him a knife with a fire stone in it, capable of amplifying his fire abilities.

Mine were simple trinkets.

But all my worries washed away when his face lit up seeing the first gift. He found an 8x10in painting of us in the ColdMoon Packs Butterfly Gadren.

"Wow this is amazing!" He leaned over and kissed my cheek. "This made me realize, we don’t have any pictures together." He laughed lightly and pulled out his phone. He angled like a selfie, and a small smile found its way to my lips. He snapped a photo of us and then played on his phone after showing me the photo was now his screensaver.

When he arrived at the last gift, his eyes glowed when he was opening it.

"Wow, this book. It’s one of my favorites. Look at the attention detail the cover has. Wow. This is impressive.

The hardcover was carved and engraved with a moon in the middle and the title was in a fancy collagraphy. Even the pages were textured.

"Thank you. I might have had a little help, but I won’t say who." I winked at him.

After we had finished opening gifts the plan I made was to go outside but the coming down the steps was Esmerelda.

I hadn’t seen her since we got back from the rogue’s den.

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. When she caught sight of me her eyes never left me. They were haunting but strong. A beautiful shade of blue, that had been dulled by the horrors she must have faced.

"Come down, I’ll have one of the servants pull up a chair." Ambrose signaled one of the servant’s and they quickly obeyed.

"How have you been Esme?" Damon asked. His voice was full of concern.

She just nodded. I heard she was basically a mute; she almost never spoke. I heard she’s always been that way.

Seems what I heard was right.

She sat in the chair the servant pulled up next to Damon.

She hadn’t said a word. She just stared at me.

"Did we want to take a walk outside, the snow is freshly fallen, I bet it’s beautiful." I suggested.

Esmerelda was surprisingly the first to stand, everyone. Looked shocked at her action.

"I guess a walk it is." Ambrose scratched the back of his head and laughed.

I felt this pull toward her and I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same thing. Like my soul recognized her.

Was it the same for her?

I ignored it and got up with Ambrose, who slid his hand into mine.

Then she shocked everyone because they are nearly fainted when she spoke "Well Princess Odette walk beside me?"

Ambrose looked at Damon confused. I could feel his thoughts, his surprise to see her get anywhere near me, and it be not for the purpose of a swift silent death.

He was almost afraid.

I pushed a thought in and asked why.

’Because, she doesn’t speak hardly ever and she’s asking to be close to you. That’s alarming.’

’What am I unsafe with her?’ I asked.

’You’re safe. She’d have already tried to kill you if she intended to kill you.’ Which didn’t make me feel all that safe to be honest.

But I trusted him, and I trusted whatever it was I feeling.

"Yes, I’d like that very much." I gave her a genuine smile.

She nodded, no smile, but her cheeks turned a little pink.

I walked next to her; we were trailing in the back. I could feel Ambrose’s presence in my mind.

She spoke first, it was barely above a whisper, "My wolf recognizes you."

She does?

"Jasmine has been quiet since I was injected with all that bane, but both times she saw you she woke inside me. This last time she heard your voice downstairs and clawed her way to the surface." She looked at me, "I wondered if I met with you would it help bring her back, and my speculation was correct. Your presence does indeed bring my wolf life again."

She stopped in her tracks, "Do you know why?"

Could it be her wolf recognizes the goddess in me? And because her wolf is seeking comfort in her creator?

I got an idea!

"Can I hold your hand?" This was probably crazy, and she might even fall asleep if I fed from her. But maybe it’s the connection her wolf is searching for... Maybe her wolfs need for help is what’s been pulling me?

"Why?" She raised her eyebrows at me skeptically.

"I’ll explain after, just let me see. Please."

"Okay..." She mumbled giving me her hand.

And then I felt it, a bond snap into place just like it did with Raven. Like two links magnetically clinking together.

Esmerelda’s eyes popped open and she gasped covering her mouth. "Oh my god."

"Oh my god." I said at nearly the exact same time.

She pulled her hand back and just stared at me.

"You... You... Your..." She kept stuttering, Ambrose and Damon hurried over seeing us looking so weird, probably.

"What’s wrong?" The urgency and concern in his voice warmed my heart.

"She..." She looked at me wide eyed and gulped, "She brought Jasmine back. Jasmine is back, not weak, she feels charged and alive. And... And... Odette... Odette did that, she touched me and Jasmine jumped into my mind howling like she’s never felt better, like she didn’t just almost die."

Ambrose looked at me narrowing his eyes questioningly. ’Did you do something to her?’ He pushed the thought in.

’Yes. I fed from her.’

’You did what? But she’s still awake? And you only feed from me... I’m a little jealous.’ He was slightly annoyed, harmlessly, but still slightly.

"I fed from you Esmerelda. I’m sure you’ve sensed I’m different, wolfless, that’s because I’m an energy vampire. I feed from people by touching them." I started to explained. "I’ve recently started going through some changes, and I was wondering if that also effected the reactions of the people I fed from. Sorry to use you as an experiment, but something was pulling me to you, and it just felt right. Guess my instincts were correct."

"You fed from me, but why did that help with my wolf? What changed?" Esmerelda asked.

"When I fed from people, they would sleep after, however, it’s different when my mother feeds, she would heal people’s pain, emotional or physical. Didn’t literally heal them, but it was like she fed on their pain and gave them happiness." I remembered how insecure I used to feel about the different results of our feedings.

I could tell she had more questions, but she was letting them go for the time being. Thankfully. I didn’t want to lie to her, I already felt bad not disclosing everything as is.

This is something I should bring up to Artemasia the next time I have the chance.