Alpha Loren

October 13th

I woke the morning with the sun brightly shining through the window. I groaned as I drifted out of sleep and back into reality. Wincing, I put my hand to my neck and to touch the wound. It had covered over but still stung like hell. I looked over to the man who had done this to me and saw that he was still asleep.

"Morning," I heard his voice say.

I didn't reply.

Instead, I just lay silently, running my fingers along the soft sheets with that same intense feeling of despair still running through me.

I then silently sat up and shuffled to the edge of the bed.

"I need to get ready for school,” I said after a minute or two of staring out the windows at the tall swaying trees of the forest.

I then left for the bathroom where I showered, brushed my teeth hair and put my pjs back on because I wasn't about to go in front of Leo only in a towel.

"Can you drive me to Kellington please?” I said to Leo who was just getting up.

He looked up at me briefly before standing up and stretching, "You're not going to school,” he stated bluntly.

He sounded mad. What right did he have to be mad at me?

"I need to see my brother,” I said.

He stood up, kissed my cheek and walked into the bathroom.

"I'm not driving you for about 20 obvious reasons and that's final," He called.

"Fine. I'll run. There's plenty of time," I said and he turned around in the doorway of the bathroom to face me.

"Did you hit your head last night as well?"

"If I am delusional it would probably be because you bit deep into my neck and I lost a lot of blood,” I snapped.

His face straightened

"You are not going to school. Get that idea out of your head now," he said a little more authoritatively but like he was still trying to keep his cool.

I sat on the bed whilst he was in the bathroom planning my next move.

If I hid behind the door with the bedside lamp, would I be able to knock him out when he unexpectedly comes out?

I decided against it. Not because I was afraid of failure but more because I was certain I would fail and it wasn't worth the hassle.

He eventually came out and I didn't exchange a single word.

"I gave the shirt you were wearing yesterday to my best hunter,” he said. "Whoever you visited will have been tracked down before nightfall if not much sooner.”

My face must have gone a pasty white shade.

Logan had brought me so much grief in my life and I loathed him entirely but did I wish death upon him?

No.

"I just had to sort something out. It's not a big deal.”

"Then why didn't you tell me? I could have sorted it for you in a way that wouldn't have ended in you nearly getting killed by rogues.”

He wasn't wrong only that way it would probably have ended in Logan's death.

"Because I don't like your methods of “sorting things'," I replied, "Plus it was none of your fucking business."

"Everything concerning you is my business. You are my mate. So next time you've got a problem, tell me."

"I don't have to tell you shit, Leonardo,” I said, "You don't own my life."

He then stepped forward and crouched down, "But I see it as my duty to protect your life," he said, his face much softer as he looked at me, "And I will do whatever it takes to ensure your safety whether it's against your will or not. That's why I marked you - because I can't stand the idea of anything happening to you."

"It didn't have to be like that," I said, "We should have talked about it and you didn’t have to be so aggressive and rough.”

"If we talked, you would have said no and I still would have done it and I still would have had to use force. The outcome is the same,” he replied, standing up again.

"Then you should have waited until you didn't have to force me," I hissed, "Or actually be nice and I might have let you do it."

"You mean wait even longer to maximise the number of creeps touching you up in the woods, huh?" he asked, "What don't you understand Ella? I did it for you. We are not enemies.”

"Did you?" I questioned, "Or is it just another way for you to own me?"

"The two are linked. That mark shows other wolves that you are mine so messing with you means messing with me,” he replied, "Now let me look at it."

His hand moved forward to touch it but I slapped it away, gritted my teeth and glared up at him. He let out a short sigh and looked up at the wall for a short second with a tense jaw. I could tell he was trying desperately to keep his patience with me and hold his tongue.

"Ella," he said eventually. "For once can you not fight me?"

"Don't you dare blame me for this. I have every right to be angry,” I replied.

"I'm not blaming you for being angry. I'm blaming you for refusing to let yourself be happy," he said.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What?"

He sighed.

"You're doing everything you can to make my life difficult but at what cost? You're frustrated and hostile and downright miserable all because you are resisting your wolf's instinct to be with your mate. Why are you fighting me so hard when you know you'd be better off just giving in?"

His eyes had softened as he spoke and his voice had gone from coarse and harsh to frustrated and despairing and maybe even slightly...caring? His face too had dropped its sternness and he even stared at me with his blue eyes in a way that wasn't meant to be intimidating.

I paused for a minute, his words replaying in my head before I stepped forward. He smiled and brought his hands to my neck. I let him tilt my head to the side and brush away my hair before he ran his thumb along the mark.

"That's beautiful," He said.

I winced slightly as he touched it but I have to admit, there was something that felt right about it. He leant down to kiss it but unable to swallow my pride anymore, I turned my head so that he couldn't get to it. He pulled my head back with more force than I was expecting considering how gentle he had just been and instantly I switched back to not tolerating him. He held me firmly as he continued to look at the mark but I pushed his chest so that he had to look away in order to keep a hold of me.

"Stay still for a little longer, please,” he said. "Then I will let you go.”

I let out a short breath to show my disapproval before I relaxed and let him have a few more seconds to examine the mark. He then brought his gaze to my lips and kissed me. I refused to kiss him back.

He sighed and took his hands off me.

"Never ever run away from me again. Do you understand?"

I didn't answer.

"I said, do you understand?" he said in his Alpha tone.

"Treat me well and I won't keep trying," I said staring into his eyes.

He stared right back and held the eye contact, "Get dressed,” he ordered, "Today I'm showing you the pack.”

I hesitated, staying glued to my spot.

He nodded his head towards my closet before I scowled and broke our eye contact to go and dress. Fucking asshole.

What a massive fucking asshole.

There was no way he was going to let me go to school today. Trying to persuade him would just be a colossal waste of energy so instead, I starting getting ready for him to drag me around his pack whilst trying to think of another way to speak to Connor.

I grabbed a t-shirt and some black skinny jeans. I also found some fresh panties before I felt Leo draw up behind me and put his hands on my hips.

"Can you just leave me alone, please?” I asked. "I need to change.”

"I've seen it all more than once now. You fell asleep in your clothes last night,” Leo whispered into my ear as he lifted the black pj shirt over my head.

How could I have not even noticed that I passed out in completely different clothes than I woke up in? But more importantly, he changed my clothes?

"Leonardo!" I exclaimed. "How dare you violate me like that?"

"Please," he said rolling his eyes as he continued to lift my shirt off and discard it on the floor. "Everybody knows how shit it is to fall asleep in a pair of jeans. I did you a favour.”

He had a point.

I felt his hands lay on my bare stomach and my internal organs seemed to jump and twirl. His warm touch sent me into fits of flutters.

His bare chest pressed against my bareback and one of his hands slipped from my waist down to the hip.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in as I felt the light tickles of his fingertips. His lips were soon on my neck as he gently kissed the fresh mark, comforting the painful sting his fangs had left. His hand had soon slipped down onto the waistband of my panties before his fingers brushed the lace fabric between my legs.

My back arched at the sensation and I quickly grabbed his hand, breathing heavily, "Don't..don't do that, Leo.”

"This?" he asked as his fingers slipped further.

I gasped and squeezed his hands tighter, "Stop."

He pulled his hand away before kissing my cheek and taking the clean shirt out of my hands and lifting it over my head.

He looked in our reflections in the mirror as he reached around me and did up the buttons.

"Your boobs are sexy but I don't need anyone else to know that,” he said as he buttoned up every single one except the very top one.

"Alpha!" Someone called after a slam of the front door. It was Luca and he was quickly running up the stairs and down the hall

"Luca do not come in!" Leo demanded but it was too late. The bedroom door had flung open. Leo shoved me and my lack of pants behind his massive frame and glared at Luca.

"Woah!" Luca said. "All that money and you can't afford clothes?!"

"Just get the fuck out!"

"I'll wait downstairs..."

Leo turned back around and rolled his eyes before leaving me to finish changing whilst he went to change himself.

I let myself laugh a little. Luca was good at making things better

I found my eyes gazing at Leo's stomach as he stretched up to put a shirt on.

God o mighty.

No. Stop.

"Do you know how much trouble you caused last night?" he asked, "I had 100 Stella wolves out there looking for you.”

"I was only gone for half an hour,” I replied.

"I thought I'd made it clear how dangerous it is out there for you? I was worried that you had been kidnapped or murdered,” he replied. "And you nearly were."

"I know. And I'm sorry, okay?" I replied.

"By the scent of your clothes, I would guess you were with a male wolf maybe in his late teens and my bet is on that kid you were talking to outside your school. Is he your boyfriend?"

"God no!" I exclaimed disgustedly. "I don't have a boyfriend.”

"Good," he said. "But it was that boy, wasn't it? Who is he to you?"

"Luca is waiting for us downstairs," I said dodging having to respond to the next 50 or so questions. "Uh, uh," he said, "Look at me."

I looked back and shrugged, "What do you want me to say?"

"What is he to you?" he questioned, "Have you dated him?"

"No," I said.

"If I find out that he is more than just a friend’ I will lose my shit,” he said, "Understand?"

I nodded, "Yeh whatever."

And then left him to fume alone as I went downstairs to find Luca.

Luca smiled as he saw me, "Sorry about earlier. Wasn't expecting to interrupt a romantic moment,” "It wasn't a romantic moment-" I started as Leo came downstairs too.

"You walked into a bedroom with two mates at 7:00 am. Were you expecting us to be fully dressed?" "Well anyway, I'm here to tell you there's a party at my house on the 15th at 8:00 pm," Luca said before walking out the front door waving.

"Ever heard of a text?!" Leo called after him.

"Talking of texts, can I use your phone Leo?" I asked.

"Why?"

"I need to call my brother. I know his number and everything-"

"Why?" he asked, still showing no sign of handing me his mobile.

"Do I need a reason?" I asked.

He narrowed his eyes, "When you have that suspicious look on your face, yes."

"It's about our house," I said, “The bills are due this week and now there are only his wages to pay for it. He might have to move out of Kellington if he can't find the money.”

Wasn't the main issue Connor faced right now but hardly a lie either.

Leo nodded and reached for his phone, "Okay," he said holding it out for me.

I smiled and took it.

"And Ella," he said just as I turned, "If he's struggling, I can offer financial support.”

I nodded, "I'll pass the message along...thank you."

Connor picked up almost immediately.

"It's Ella," I said, speaking quietly as I paced the bedroom with Leo still downstairs.

"Hey, Ells. It's so good to hear your voice. Are you okay?" he asked.

"Surviving," I muttered, "But I called about you.”

"Well, I'm just in the middle of packing up everything. Logan told me about his proposal and I'm getting out of Kellington.”

I sighed, "I'm so sorry, Connor. I tried to fix it."

"I know. But there's nothing you can do. I've found an apartment in the next town, just off Cerridwen territory. It's skanky but it's all I can afford.”

"My mate is offering to help with finances,” I said.

Connor scoffed, "Tell him I don't want his money. I'd rather have you."

I smiled, "Are you sure? I'm going to transfer the little money I have in my bank to you and there's some cash under my bed but if that's not enough, the offer is still open.”

"I'll be fine, Ella," he said, "Listen I've got to go and get out of here by tonight. But we'll talk soon, okay?"

"Love you."

"Love you too."

He then hung up and I sighed.

Fuck Logan to the depths of hell

"He's moving?” Leo asked, clearly having heard.

"The rent on the house is too high,” I said.

Also not strictly a lie.

"But there are plenty of cheap apartments in Kellington,” Leo said, "And again, I can pay his rent.” "Well maybe he wants a fresh start. He's on his own now and that house has a lot of memories,” I said, "But I don't want to talk about my depressing life," I added quickly changing the subject, "Take me on this tour."

"Come on then," I said, "I'll show you the Northern section. The villages, the lakes, the base. It's beautiful weather and I get the feeling you're dying to get out the house?"

"What about the Southern section?”

He paused, "There's a few training areas for my soldiers but the remnants of old packs mainly.”

I looked up at him, "You mean the packs you have destroyed?" I asked.

He glanced at me before putting his jacket on, "Yes."

"And the training areas? That's where you train the kids you stole from those packs?" I asked.

"No. That is at the base in the centre of the Northern territory. Where they can be cared for and trained under close supervision until they are old enough to become warriors,” he told me.

"The base...nearby?" I asked.

He looked over to me, "What so you can break into the junior training centre?" he asked.

I smiled innocently, "Why would I do that, huh Leonardo? Is there a reason?"

He glared at me with sly narrows eyes.

"It's a couple of miles away from here and where almost everything surrounding the running of this pack happens. The hospitals, most of the training centres, the pack houses, the courts, my offices...ect,” he replied. "We'll go later.”

Two hours later, we were still touring the pack. There'd been a lot of sitting in the car and watching the trees whiz by outside. It was beautiful and all the villages and factions he showed me seemed peaceful and the people happy enough.

They all practically dropped to Leo's feet, bowing their heads deep into submission and not speaking unless he spoke to them but everybody seemed to know where they stood with him and there were no problems.

I was formally introduced to the faction leaders and their families. They all greeted me respectfully but beyond a “Hello, nice to meet you, they only addressed Leo and with only the absolute respect. "Everybody's fucking terrified of you," I said as we walked out one of the villages and towards a lake that Leo insisted I had to see.

"They respect me as their Alpha," he replied, "There's a difference.”

I nodded and bit my tongue for a moment.

"I agree there is a difference,” I said as calmly as possible.

It'd been a peaceful day and I knew I was about to ruin it but when I think something I just have to say it.

"The difference between respect and fear is how you acquire it. You acquire respect by doing things worthy of respect. You acquire fear by doing things worthy of fear. Which have you done, Leonardo?" I asked.

"Hmm," he said, staring straight ahead as he gripped my hand, which was already firmly entwined in his, tighter. "Maybe there's not such a difference. The outcome is the same right? They submit, they obey, the pack runs smoothy.”

"Well, the holocaust ran pretty fucking smoothly too," I muttered.

"And by that, you are suggesting... what?" he asked.

"Just because a system works, doesn't mean it's right. And ruling with fear isn't right,” I answered. "Whatever," he grumbled, "This pack is thriving because of my leadership. These people have jobs, food, shelter and a place to live in peace. If the cost of that is a little bit of fear, I'll cope. At least I know you're the only one I have to worry about stepping out of line."

I opened my mouth to speak.

"There's nothing more to stay about this,” he interrupted, "Everything is fine around here. I don't need you to tell me what to do.