Alpha Loren

Leo's POV

When I came back upstairs after cleaning up the spaghetti I expected more angry glares and spiteful comments or a locked door at the very least but instead, I found her completely passed out.

She lay in a little ball on the bed, her eyes red and puffy and her cheeks tear-stained.

I sighed and sat next to her before brushing the loose strands of hair off her face.

She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Her cheekbones are so perfectly defined, her lips soft and plump and her nose so small and symmetrical. Her eyelashes are black and long, the stark contrast of her short blonde hair and her white skin, pure and innocent. She is tiny too, barely even 5 ft 3, but her body curves like it was sculpted by the Gods.

She is perfect and all I want to do is cherish her, protect her, love her.

But she won't let me. Why won't you let me? Why aren't you like every other man's mate?

And I try to have patience with her. But she's so young and immature and the way she resists me and pushes me away, frustrates me in a way I never thought I'd have to feel from my mate.

I just wish she could understand why I have to do what I do. Why I can't let her out alone and why I had to mark her. She thinks I'm her enemy and until she sees I'm on her side, she'll continue to hate me.

Perhaps it's because I'm too sharp with her or too rough or too commanding. But she's far too stubborn and strong-willed for me to be lenient with her. She'd take advantage and her safety would be compromised. And her safety is more important than her happiness. I hate seeing her this miserable but I'd rather see her like this than see her dead.

And that's why I had to mark her.

I brought my lips down and kissed her cheek. She didn't stir.

She was still in her jeans so I gently rolled her over, unzipped them and slipped them off. I couldn't help but admire her body as I unbuttoned her shirt too. I ran one finger along her hip before dragging my eyes away and slipping one of my t-shirts over her head before tucking the sheets around her and leaving her to sleep in peace.