It's a yes or a no, no maybe

Just be sure, before you give it all to me

— Katy Perry — dark horse —

******

“Can you talk to me…please?” Grant pleaded, wishing to understand what was really happening. One second ago, she was willing to go with him, but the next, she didn't even want to be touched by him at all. “Mate?” 

Esme stopped struggling when she realized how futile it was to keep doing that. His grip, although not too strong to hurt her, she was still unable to break free. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, and she had to swallow the saliva before being able to speak properly. 

“You are the king,” she said in a whisper. Grant frowned but nodded his head as he finally grabbed what caused the sudden change in her.

“Yes, I am, but right now, that is not important. I am your mate at this moment, and that's all that matters to me,” he said, hoping she would understand as he was able to put the pieces together. “We can discuss more on this once you are out of this– place. Please let me take you…” he trailed off when a sudden noise behind them erupted. 

Grant sighed and turned. The warriors were helping the people who were stuck inside out of the ruined packhouse. Alpha Dane could be seen helping his son, Dawson, to walk. He was visibly bleeding, and the wound wasn't crossing as quickly as it should. 

Seeing Dane like that, Esme instinctively moved to stand behind Grant, causing his frown to deepen, but he didn't ask why she did that because it was already obvious. Feeling a tug on his index finger, he looked at her. “Yes, mate?” He replied to her silent call.

“I want to leave here. Please take me away,” she said, no longer hoping to escape this pack on her own without help now that Dane was out here. 

“I will do that. I am not leaving you behind no matter what,” Grant assured her, and she nodded her head. Her request was a bit absurd, but it pleased him and his beast. At least, she was willing to leave with them.

Esme bit her lower lip but managed a nod. Hiding behind was all she could manage to do now and hope that Alpha Dane never noticed her. But she was wrong. As soon as Dawson was let down and the healer by his side, Dane turned in their direction, running even. Perhaps not because he noticed her right away, but because of the man standing there. 

“Your Majesty, thank you for the help and I beg your forgiveness for our failure to receive you properly…” He trailed off right after his eyes landed on the girl whose head poked out from behind the king. Looking at the side Alicia could be seen as well, and he gritted his teeth. 

Why were they here and standing so freely as if the man was some ordinary man?

He was about to reprimand them when Grant moved to completely block Esme from his view, and Dane’s frown only deepened.

“That wasn't necessary. This was my purpose for coming. To warn and assist with the attack, but it seems I was a bit late. Since that is all taken care of now, I will leave the pack in care once again. The necessary aid needed will be sent as well. You have my deepest condolence for the lives lost here today,” Grant said, and with the way he said those words, Dane knew he had no plans on staying there any longer.

“I and the NightCrawler Pack are grateful to his Majesty for his kindness,” Alpha Dane said with a bow of his head, but he still couldn't help looking Esme's way. Trying to understand why she was standing so close to the king and he was indulging her.

“Is there a problem, Alpha Dane?” Grant asked. He was trying to hold himself from snapping at the man, but Dane wasn't helping himself. With the way he was looking at her as if she had committed a crime, not to talk of the irritation in his eyes.

Dane hesitated but decided to speak up. Esme may be considered useless but he knew otherwise and the king seems to have taken an interest in the girl. He couldn't allow her to be taken. Not while he had a say in it.

“There is none, your Majesty. It is just that the child behind you is needed to help those who are hurt,” he said as politely as he could and hoped that the king didn't find anything amiss in his words. When Grant didn't speak for a few seconds, Dane turned to Esme, “What are you still standing there for, Esmeralda. Take your friend inside and help—”

“I never said you could order her around, Alpha Dane,” Grant interrupted him, his tone and gaze passing on a silent warning that Dane understood immediately. “The fact that she is here with me should be enough to tell you that I want her here. Do you dare defy your king?” 

“I dare not, Your Majesty,” Dane said, while taking a cautious step back. 

“Esmeralda” Grant turned to Esme, who only glanced briefly at him before looking Down at her feet again. Knowing her name was something he was happy about from the appearance of Alpha Dane but the sight of cowering like this at the sight of Dane was unbearable. “Can you look at me, Sweetheart?” He asked, his tone,gentle and coaxing and it surprised Dane and everyone who just heard him speak to her for the first time.

His face that looked impatient and annoyed while exchanging words with Alpha Dane now held so much warmth and patience that it was nearly impossible to believe. 

But beside his softened tone and features, something else also caught Dane's attention, and it was the endearing words of the king.

“Sweetheart?!” The word slipped out of his mouth even before he could realize it.