Alpha Loren

November 3rd

My view when I first woke was not the white bed sheets but the tall swaying trees of the forest. The cold air was biting at my feet making me shiver, but a thick blanket enclosed my body and somebody warm and strong held me.

My eyes widened as my situation sank in and I let out a sleepy groan.

"Leo?" I asked catching the scent of the man carrying me. "What the fuck is happening?”

"Ssssh, don't worry about it Ella. Go back to sleep,” he replied softly.

Go back to sleep? So I'm not dreaming right now?

I looked up at the sky to see stars strewn across the clear sky in little clusters and swirling ribbons. The deep purples and blues of the night were rich like the most pigmented paint and it all just seemed so surreal and dreamy.

"Is this real?" I asked just to be sure as I reached my hand out of the blanket to feel the gentle breeze dance at my fingertips.

"I said go back to sleep," Leo said still in a quiet, but more authoritative tone.

The night was still and calm but something about Leo's tone put me on edge which of course put going to sleep out of the question.

I listened to the crunch of his feet on the late autumn leaves and as much as the darkness would permit, I looked around trying to decipher our location.

But soon enough, I felt the comforting warmth of Leo's body and the blanket lure me to sleep and I didn't wake up until the morning sunshine dozed my skin.

I was in a room. Not unfamiliar but not my usual sleeping quarters. Leo was right next to me with his arm securely around my waist as he slept. The thick musk of the forest clung to him which paired with our change in location, were the only two things stopping me from believing I had imagined last night.

I gently woke him, by running my finger along his shoulders and he opened his eyes and snuggled into me.

"Leo, you have some explaining to do," I stated and he only groaned. "You smell like you spent half the night in the woods."

"I did. But it's nothing you need to worry about," he said softly.

"Right," I replied with a sigh. "That's not sketchy at all.”

"Ella," he said sincerely. "I just had to deal with something as Alpha."

I nodded, “I understand. But you look dreadful. Get some more sleep, Leo.”

"Only if you'll join me," he replied with a grin as he leant into my lips.

I ran my hand through his hair, down his neck and to the end of his back as we made out. I loved the feel of his lips on mine, his fingertips brushing along the bare skin on my legs. Leo moved so that his arms were either side of me and our body's chest to chest. We were so engrossed in the moment in fact that we barely noticed when somebody opened the bedroom door.

"Oh god," I heard Bella's voice say. Leo looked over his shoulder at the door. Her eyes were wide open and so was her mouth.

"Oh hey Bell..." Leo said running one hand through his hair.

"Mom says breakfast is ready," she said quickly before immediately exiting and closing the door behind her.

"That was awkward," Leo said.

"You didn't tell me this is your parents’ house!" I exclaimed.

"Didn't 1?" he replied

"At least it wasn't Rosa," I said. "That would have been significantly worse.”

"We should probably go and eat," Leo said.

"Hey kids," Rosa said as we entered the kitchen I noticed Bella sat at the table eating an apple

"Not really kids anymore..." She said taking a bit of her apple.

"Maybe knock next time?" Leo said.

"There will not be a next time. What makes you think I'm ever going anywhere near a bedroom with you and Ella in again?” Bella replied. "Scarred for life.”

"I made some pancakes for you two. Should fill you up from last night Leo,” Rosa said changing the subject and handing us both a plate with a couple of pancakes on.

"Thank you,” I said. "What's happened last night?"

"You don't know?" Rosa said surprised and I shook my head. "Leonardo! Your poor mate deserves to know these things!" she scolded. "Tell her!"

He sighed and rolled his eyes before swallowing his bite of pancake and taking my hand.

"About half an hour after we got back home there was trouble at the Northern border," Leo said in a low, serious tone. "That's why I had to bring you here. So that you could be safe whilst I dealt with it.”

"Ayas?" I asked.

"Yes, about a hundred men,” Leo answered gravely. "It was a military attack from Alpha Haden.” "He has Lia, what more does he want?" I asked taking a sharp breath in. "Has he not messed with this pack enough.”

"He wants to see the destruction of this pack Ella. He wants to see me dead,” Leo answered looking into my eyes.

My eyes widened, "Why?"

"We've always been rivals but remained civil until everything that happened yesterday concerning our Lunas. Now he has the freedom to do what he's always wanted to do.”

The room was quiet, the only sound being Rosa was by the sink, ferociously scrubbing a pan as she breathed fast and heavily.

"Does-" I began. "Does this mean war?"

Leo gently squeezed my hands, kissed my forehead before he simply got up and left the room, every muscle in his body tensed and his face filled with worry.

I will take that as a yes.