The Beta's Temptation

Esme's POV

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the smell. A mix of clean linen, faint herbs, and antiseptic. It was choking but oddly calming. My vision adjusted slowly and that was when I saw the Pack’s doctor. His gray hair was neatly combed back, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as he flipped through a file.

“Miss Esme,” he said quickly, relief flooding his features when he noticed my eyes open. “Thank goodness you’re awake.”

I blinked, my mouth dry. “How am I here, sir?” My voice came out weak, rough like I hadn’t used it in years. I tried to move but my body felt heavy.

Before he could answer, the door opened. The sound of footsteps that was firm filled the room. I looked to know who it was and it was Cole.

The doctor glanced between us and closed his file. “I’ll leave you for a moment,” he said quietly before walking out.

The moment he left, the tension grew cold. It was always like this with me when he was close. He leaned against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets as his gaze swept over me emotionless.

“If you brought me here then thank you,” I managed to say. My voice sounded foreign in my own ears.

He didn’t respond to that. Instead, his tone came out flat, clipped. “You can go home now. The doctor said you’re fine.”

I nodded and pushed myself up slowly. Strangely, the pain I’d felt earlier was mostly gone, it was just remaining a little dizziness, a pull of weakness in my limbs. I swung my legs down and tried to stand but the room tilted slightly and I almost lost my balance.

Before I could fall, his arm shot out and wrapped around my waist firmly. My breath caught, my body stiffening instantly. I could feel his warmth through my clothes.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, my voice unsteady as I tried to pull away.

He didn’t say anything. For a second, he didn’t even move. His grip held me in place enough to remind me how much stronger he was then without a word, he let go.

I stepped back, adjusting my shirt and looking anywhere but at him. “Thank you,” I muttered before walking past him.

Even as I left, I could feel his eyes on my back cold and distant.

---

By the time I got home, the sun was already low. The house was alive with movements and voices in the distance, footsteps echoing through the hall. I paused at the entrance, taking a breath before stepping in.

My father was in the living room with Cole’s father. Their conversation stopped the moment they noticed me. My instinct was to turn and go upstairs quietly but his voice cut through the silence.

“Esme,” my father called sharply. I stopped on the third step and turned. “Remember, you’ll be leaving tomorrow. Right after Cole’s engagement. No delays.”

I froze. “Cole’s what?”

He didn’t repeat it and just turned back to his conversation as if I wasn’t even there.

My chest tightened. Engagement. Cole’s engagement. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my legs to keep moving, and went up the stairs.

By the time I reached my room, I closed the door and leaned against it, staring blankly at the floor. I didn’t know what I was feeling. Shock, maybe. Sadness but mostly confusion.

Why did it hurt so much?

I let out a small laugh, bitter and shaky. “It’s just a crush,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s not like it matters.”

But it did. I didn’t know why it still did after all this time. Cole had never liked me. He’d never looked at me the way I looked at him. To him, I was Nolan’s sister. The weak Alpha daughter who hadn’t shifted. The girl everyone talked about. The one they blamed for everything.

Maybe leaving was the best thing that could happen. Maybe it was what I needed.

I moved toward the small dresser near the window and opened the top drawer. The sound of it sliding open felt too loud in the quiet room. I started folding my clothes, one piece after another slowly. I didn’t even realize when tears started falling. They hit the back of my hands soft and hot.

I wiped them quickly, my throat tightening. “Mom,” I murmured, my voice cracking. “I miss you. I miss you so much.”

The room felt colder after that.

By the time the clock hit seven, the sky had turned dark. I hadn’t eaten anything since morning and my stomach twisted in protest. I sighed, closing the half-packed bag on my bed, and left the room quietly.

Downstairs, the house was empty and it seems my father must have left.

Silent. Perfect! I didn’t want to see anyone. I didn’t want another lecture or another look of pity or disgust.

I walked into the kitchen and reached for the light switch but before I could flick it on, I bumped into something—no, someone. A hard chest. Large hands steadied my arms before I could fall back.

“Are you okay?”

That voice. I froze. I would recognize it anywhere.

I looked up slowly, and there he was…Cole.

“What—what are you doing here?” I stammered, my voice small.

He stepped back slightly, his expression blank as usual “I came with Nolan. He left with your father for something important. I came to get water.”

“Oh,” I said quietly, nodding. I tried to step aside but my hand brushed his as I moved. I swallowed hard, focusing on the floor. “I’ll just… get out of your way.”

I started to walk past him when his voice stopped me again.

“Are you alright? Do you still feel any pain?”

I hesitated, glancing at him briefly. His eyes were assessing but there was something else in them I couldn’t name. Concern? No. That couldn’t be it.

“I’m fine,” I said softly. “Thanks to you.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. The silence stretched, heavy. I turned to leave but paused, the words came out before I could stop them.

“Congratulations, by the way,” I said, forcing a small smile. “On your engagement. I must say that was fast.”

I meant it to sound polite, casual even but it didn’t but my tone betrayed me.

I took a step forward, but before I could move again, his hand shot out and caught my wrist. I gasped as he pulled me back, turning me until my back hit the kitchen counter not so hard but firm enough that I felt goosebumps.

My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the sound of my own breath. He stood close, his eyes locked on mine.

“Why does it sound like sarcasm coming from your lips?” he asked quietly. His voice was cold enough to make me flinch.

I couldn’t look at him. Not when he was this close. Not when I could feel the warmth of him and his intoxicating male scent. I stared at the counter instead, gripping the edge to steady myself.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” I said hoarsely but

Cole's grip on my wrist tightened just enough to keep me pinned against the counter, his body close but not pressing fully yet.

"You know exactly what I mean, Esme, you tell me congratulations like the idea of my engagement bothers you more than it should, didn't you desperately want me back then?" He asked.

His free hand slipped under the hem of my shirt, fingers cold against my warm stomach skin, tracing upward slowly toward my bra.

I sucked in a breath, my back arching slightly as his touch sent heat pooling between my legs. "Why do you sound jealous if it doesn't matter to you at all?"

I tried to steady my breathing but his fingers kept moving, brushing the underside of my breasts through the fabric. "I'm not jealous, Cole. It's your life, and if you're getting engaged, that's great for you and whoever she is, probably some perfect pack girl who can shift and fit right into everything the future pack’s Beta needs."

He pushed my shirt higher, exposing my bra, his eyes fixed on my chest without any warmth showing.

"Perfect pack girl or not, I know you don't like the idea that after all these years of watching me from afar, some other girl would have me right?" His hand cupped my left breast, squeezing firmly as he leaned in closer, his breath even against my ear.

"Stop twisting my words. I was surprised, that's all, because two years ago you left without a word and now you're back with an engagement announcement that no one told me about until today."

He unhooked my bra with one quick motion, letting it fall open, then lowered his head to suck on the cleavage between my breasts, his mouth was hot and demanding.

I gasped, my hands gripping the counter harder as he licked the skin there slowly. "Surprised or hurt, Esme? Admit it, you've held onto your feelings for me thinking maybe one day I'd see you as more than Nolan's weak sister who can't shift."

His tongue traced lower, circling my right nipple before taking it into his mouth, sucking greedily, his teeth grazing just enough to make me moan.

My body betrayed me, my hips shifting forward as pleasure built from his relentless sucking. "Cole, this isn't fair, you can't do this to me when you don't care at all." This time, my voice grew heavy and ragged, I wanted more..goddrs I need more.

He switched to my left nipple, pulling it deep into his mouth, his hand kneading the other breast roughly. "Fair or not, Esme, I’ll always remind you who you truly belong to."

God .. only God knows I’ve craved for what he was doing to me right now. I threaded my fingers into his hair without thinking, pulling him closer even as his words cut deep.

"Yo shouldn't touch me like this Cole, while planning to marry someone else tomorrow."

He sucked on me harder, his free hand sliding down to my waistband, his fingers dipping inside my jeans but not going further yet. "Then stop me—tell me to stop Esme and I will.”

“You're failing to remember that I left because of you, did you know that?"

My breaths came faster, the ache between my legs growing unbearable as he alternated between my nipples, sucking each one until they were hard and sensitive. "Then don't start it again if it's all meaningless to you?"

He ignored my words and just as his hand started to unbutton my jeans, we both froze at the sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen door.

“Cole?”