Alpha Loren

November 2nd

The next morning I woke up to Max thrashing on the door. I snuggled further underneath the covers with no intention of letting him in.

"I know you are awake so open the fucking door!" Max shouted.

"No thanks!"

"1 will knock it down if I have to,” He said.

"The age old threat, go ahead, but remember who's house this is," I replied.

"How long is the drive to Kellington?" Max said a devilish tone creeping into his voice. "Because from my calculations your brother could be dead in 43 minutes and 30 seconds.”

With that I scrambled out of the bed and padded across to unlock the door. I didn't doubt that threat for a second.

Max was stood casually leaning against the door frame with a smirk on his face.

"Knew that would work. You have too many weaknesses lil Cuz," He said wondering past me into the room.

"Now, remember what we agreed last night. Give me yesterday's clothes and get in the shower,” Max said. I frowned and went to get my jeans and sweatshirt off the chair in the corner of Leo's room. As I bent down I felt a sudden gush of nausea hit my stomach. Some how I managed to get to the toilet before vomiting. For a few moments I felt better before another wave hit me and I vomited again. After wiping my mouth and flushing the loo I looked up to see Max stood in the doorway of the bathroom, a perplexed look on his face.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"I don't know, I just feel really si-" I said shrugging before quickly opening the toilet lid again and repeating the whole process.

The next thing Max said made me freeze entirely,

"Is there any chance you could be pregnant?”

"No," I said.

"But you're fucking the Alpha?" Max asked.

"But I'm not pregnant,” I replied. "He wears condoms now."

Max let out an abrupt laugh.

"Alpha Loren uses protection with his own Luna?" he asked. "Isn't he kinda in need of an heir?" "Shut up Max," I hissed before throwing up again.

"It's probably just food poisoning,” I added.

"Hmm. Except we've eaten the same recently and I'm fine," Max said. "You know condoms aren't 100% effective, right?”

I suddenly froze and my eyes widened. The condoms in Greece. We'd seen they were out of date by a few years and hadn't really thought anything of it.

"Call Leo," I demanded.

"No, not until you've had a shower and washed my scent off you," Max replied.

"He's 6 hours away," I said. "Fucking call him," I ordered again this time sterner. Max scowled at me but did take his phone out his pocket.

"Good morning Alpha it's Max," he said down the phone line.

"What's wrong?" Leo's worried voice said back.

"Nothing is wrong, it's just Ella may be pregnant,” Max said

"That's unlikely," Leo said.

"She's just been throwing up. Morning sickness right?" Max said his complete lack of medical knowledge showing through. "It could just be a bug but werewolves don't really get sick..."

"Ask her when the last time she had a period was," Leo ordered.

"Five weeks ago,” I answered. "It's late.”

"Five weeks ago, it's late,” Max repeated even though Leo probably already heard.

"That sounds hopeful,” Leo said sounding slightly excited "How many times has she thrown up?" Leo asked.

"3 times so far."

"Make her eat and drink something and I'll be back as soon as I can,” Leo said before hanging up. "Shower first then come downstairs and eat,” Max said before leaving and closing the bathroom door behind him. During the process of my shower, I vomited twice more, but the warm water and soap were definitely comforting. Afterwards, I dried and brushed my hair before finding a pair of leggings and a hoody to wear. I noticed Max had taken my clothes from yesterday as I was putting on a pair of fluffy socks. He really didn't want Leo finding out. I then went downstairs.

"Eat," Max said.

"I feel too sick,” I argued.

"You heard the Alpha," Max said shoving an apple in front of me.

"Have you ever heard the expression, you can lead a horse to the water, but you can't force it to drink?" I asked pushing it away.

"If you continue to be a disobedient little bitch I will show just how wrong that saying can be,” Max said violently slamming the apple into my hand. "Fucking eat it before I make you.”

I scowled at him too weak to argue and took a bite of it. 20 minutes and a few more vomiting sessions later, I had forced the apple down and the nausea had passed. I lay down on the sofa and binge watched a load of chick flicks that Lia had lent me whilst she was away with Haden. Max made me eat some popcorn (yes, I had to be made to eat popcorn) and Before I knew it it was 3 o'clock. "He should be back soon,” Max said. "So remember. Not a single word. Understand?"

I nodded my head in response. "But please never offer to stay whilst Leo is away again.”

"Why not? We've had fun. Little game of hide and seek last night, you met the rest of your cousins and now a game called how well can Ella keep a secret?” Max said devilishly.

"Well your twisted mind might have found it fun but I certainly don't,” I replied before we heard the sound of a car rolling up the drive.

"Remember, Scarlet and Connor,” Max whispered. A few moments later the front door opened and Leo came into the room.

"Buonasera,” Leo said to Max. taking off his jacket

"Bounasera Alpha," Max replied as Leo pulled me into a long hug inhaling my scent at the crook of my neck. No mention of Max.

"Come sta?" Leo asked and as far as I know that was something a long the lines of "how is she’ "Meglio di stamattina. Non ha vomitato da dope pranzo," Max replied meaning something about being better than in the morning and not vomiting since before lunch.

"Okay, thanks, Max. I'll see you next week at some point,” Leo finished before Max got his jacket and left.

"I spent most of yesterday evening reading Latin and Italian books by the way," I said with a meek smile.

He lifted up my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes that I had been avoiding.

"So you understood some of that?" Leo asked.

"Some," I replied.

"Good. Any babies of ours will need to learn too," Leo said.

"It's not for definite," I said quickly.

"I know but you've had morning sickness and you've missed your period,” Leo said crouching down so that his head was level with my stomach.

He then lifted up my shirt and stroking my bare skin with his finger. "Was Max alright?"

I hesitated for a second.

"Yes," I answered. Leo lifted his head up and narrowed his eyes.

"Sure about that?"

"Absolutely 100%," I answered.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out another pregnancy test.

I felt my heart jump and my breathing quicken.

"Go and take it," he said handing it to me.

I reluctantly took it and made my way into the bathroom.

I peed on the stick and lay it flat next to the sink before letting Leo in.

"Don't touch it," I said as he leant forward to pick it up, "It has to stay still for five minutes.”

For the next five minutes, Leo stood, staring at it. I sat on the toilet seat, biting my nails and dreading the time when the timer buzzes.

"Are you still mad at me?" I asked.

He sighed, "How can I be mad at the mother of my child?"

"And if it's negative?" I asked.

"It's not gonna be negative.”

A few minutes later, the timer buzzed and the second Leo picked it up the test and smiled, "Positive."

My heart sank and tears brimmed at my eyes.

"No," I whispered.

He turned around and furrowed his eyebrows as he noticed the water on my cheeks.

"This is a good thing, isn't it?" he asked.

I tried to hold in my tears by tilting my head back and blinking my eyes quickly. I didn't want to hurt him, I didn't want to show my disappointment.

"Look at me," he said crouching down in front of me and taking my hands.

I looked down and consequently, a few tears dropped from my eyes. He wiped my cheeks with his thumb and sighed.

"Why are you upset? Tell me honestly," he said.

I shook my head and only let out a sob.

"Ella," he repeated. "Talk to me."

"I'm not even 18 yet," I said. "I'm supposed to be going to parties and high school. Not having babies."

"Your life has changed a lot in a few weeks and I understand that. But this is probably just a bit of a shock,” he replied. "You'll adjust, I promise.”

"A surprise birthday party is 'a bit of a shock’ this is a whole new scale of shock. This is the shock of the century,” I replied. "I've known you only a few weeks and now I'm pregnant with your child?! This is not what I wanted."

He squeezed my hands and looked into my eyes, "I know. But this is what has happened. There is nothing we can do about it so why don't you just try to see how amazing this is. You have a person inside you."

I forced a smile, "There is something we can do," I said quietly.

His eyes flickered, "No there isn't," he replied firmly.

I looked down at my hands and sighed before opening my mouth again.

"Don't you dare suggest it," he warned.

"I can't raise a kid, Leo!" I protested, "It's too soon and I'm terrified.”

"I know you are," he said kissing my forehead. "But you are having this baby and we will get through it together. As mates.”

I nodded and he pulled me into a hug.

I let out a deep sigh and placed my hand on my stomach. I still wasn't sure about it being there but I suppose he's right, it is pretty amazing.