SWNOVELS Chapter 16 Chapter 16
"I would like to begin by thanking you, Luciano,” Leo started as we entered the large room to see Luciano stood amongst five other men. "It was my pleasure. Anything to help out an old friend," he replied smiling at Leo before sending me a devious smirk.
"I hope that her mouth and wit didn't get on your nerves too much,” Leo said.
"Well, she is a difficult woman to control I must admit but nothing the both of us can't handle. I do wish the same could be said for my men," he said gesturing to two of the men with black eyes and another with a cut lip.
"Okay, but the lip was Max!" I protested. "You can't blame me for that.” "I apologise for the trouble my Luna has brought you. Is there any way I can repay you for this favour?"
"I was hoping you'd ask."
Leo smiled and put on an expecting expression like he didn't already know exactly what Luciano would ask for. His hand also found its way to my waist where it lingered tightly as if to warn me not to argue with this.
He appears to have missed the memo: I don't follow anyone's orders anymore.
"I'd like permission to rejoin your pack," Luciano announced.
"And I think it is a terrible idea," I retaliated.
"This doesn't concern you. Please be quiet," Leo ordered.
"It entirely concerns me. I care about your pack too, Leonardo. Why else would I be here? And I know that Luciano can bring nothing but evil. He's twisted and malicious. Do you not remember why you banished him in the first place?”
"Of course you may rejoin my pack. It would be wonderful to have you back," Leo said. "But please excuse me whilst I deal with something,” he added grabbing my upper arm tightly and dragging me towards the door.
"I felt guilty for hitting you earlier but now I am considering repeating my actions,” He growled in my ear as he held me against the wall. "Do not make me do the thing I vowed I'd never do...again..."
"You vowed you'd never let him back in the pack too,” I replied in a much quieter voice.
"Well, I changed my mind. Deal with it."
"Are you a fucking moron? Doing this will endanger every she-wolf in your pack. Arent you meant to want to protect your pack members?!" I felt his hand strike me on the opposite cheek to the last time.
I whimpered and brought my hand to my searing skin.
"I do not want to hear another word of defiance from you. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal," I replied spitefully before he took my hand and pulled me back towards the hall.
"My Luna and I shall be heading back to our offspring now but to show my gratitude, you are welcome to come and go as you please.” Luciano smiled complacently and Leo, taking this time my hand, led me out of the room.
"Are we taking Max with us?" I asked quietly as I looked up at Leo, who was still wearing the same stone-cold expression.
"No."
"Luciano said that he would make him pay for all this. We can't leave him here.”
"We can and we will."
"You could at least try to be a little more understanding, Leonardo. You aren't the same man as you were three months ago and it's scaring me," I said.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to me.
"Three months ago was before my Luna disappeared and I was driven to the point of insanity searching the entire world for her whilst trying to take care of six kids and holding a pack of 5000 wolves together. What are you supposed to say when your three-year-old is asking you where his Mother is when you don't even know yourself? What are you supposed to do when there are rogues attacking villages on the outer territory but you are too consumed with the task of finding your mate to do anything about it, regardless of the fact that all your men are scattered around the globe? And what about when your own father is questioning your ability to do anything and you can't even blame him because your entire pack is crumbling and you still haven't found your Luna!? So yes! I have changed! Thank you for fucking noticing,” Leo replied a tiny bit of water accumulating around his eyes.
He put his head in his hands and I noticed that he was shaking slightly. "I am in pieces, Ella, and I can't bear to think about anything other than bringing you home and getting both the pack and our family back together. Not the man that has kept you away from me and not the stupid amulet that took you away from me in the first place. Nothing!" He continued as a tear ran down his cheek.
I stepped forward and softly wiped it off with my thumb. Never had I seen so much emotion come out of him in one go. Never had I seen him cry.
"Oh Leo," I said placing my hand on his cheek. "I am so so so sorry." This time I really meant it
He took a deep breath and lifted his head to look at me again. His irises practically glowed in his watery eyes and only then did I notice how extremely tired and stressed he looked.
"Just the thought of anything happening to you," he said taking both of my hands in his. "And I hate that you are covered in the scents of Luciano and Diego and Max and God knows who else. I can't help but be protective. There are so many people in this world out to get you or use you as a weapon against me. Just the thought of losing you..."
I sighed and pulled his head onto my shoulder. He nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck and inhaled my scent.
"I'm fine, Leonardo. I'm still alive, aren't 1?" I said.
He nodded his head and placed his hands on my waist. He then lifted his head and tightly closed his eyes before regaining his usual Alpha like stance.
"And I can have a shower to get those scents off me. I am in serious need of one anyway," I said.
"I'm not going to argue with you on that," he laughed.
Half an hour later, I was walking out of the bathroom with a very small towel just about covering me
Leo looked up, smiled and then cast his eyes down to my completely bare legs.
"Keep your willy in your pants, Leonardo. It was the biggest towel I could find," I said rolling my eyes.
"Sorry. It's just it has been a while,” he said unable to take his eyes off me. "And damn, that is a sight for sore eyes," he added with that devilishly sexy look on his face.
I blushed before picking up the clean clothes from the bed and backing back into the bathroom.
I leant on the bathroom door, breathing heavily and my cheeks still heating up. After all this time, I had forgotten how he could make me feel with just a Godly smile and a couple of words. I tried my best to shake myself out of it before proceeding to get dressed and resist the temptation to run out there half naked and jump his bones.
When I was done, I headed back out to the bedroom where I stood in front of the mirror and tied my slightly damp hair into a little ponytail. I could see him in the mirror, staring at me. Half in a creepy way, half with a look of awe. Looks like I'm not the only one who missed our company.
"I have something for you," Leo said. In the mirror, I watched him reach into his pocket and withdraw something before making his way over to me. "You forgot this," he said standing behind me and placing a thin silver chain around my neck with a small moon pendant on it.
It was the necklace that he got me for my 20th birthday. The silver crescent was apparently the exact shape of the moon the day we met and on the back, it was engraved with the date. Although I didn't realise it at the time, that day was one of the best days of my life and I'll try not to be corny here but that's because it was the day I met the best person in my life. My mate. Okay that was very corny. Soz.
"I didn't forget it. If you remember, you never used to see me without it. It's just I thought it was too precious to lose so I left it behind,” I replied placing my fingers on the pendant.
He smiled before leaning down and gently kissing my mark. I smiled and placed my hand on his head as he trailed kisses up my neck until he got to just below my jawline where he lingered for a few seconds. Tingles spread throughout me and I found myself feeling weak in the legs. Luckily, his hands were on my hips, supporting me as his lips remained on my neck.
He eventually moved on from that one spot and kissed along my jawline.
"Leo you gave me a hickey," I said noticing a purpley redish mark on my neck.
"Just to remind everyone in this building exactly who's mate you are," he whispered before gently pecking me on the lips.
"And what's wrong with your mark?" I said moving my hair aside to reveal Leo's mark on my neck that was as clear as the day he made it. "Clearly not doing its job anymore.”
"Airplane leaves in three hours. We should get going.”