Alpha Loren

October 10th

It was an unusual but attractive scent coming from the other side of the border. It was interesting and peculiar and somehow built enough curiosity up inside me to compel me to gingerly cross the borderline, the gentle crunch of the leaves resonating from my steps in the otherwise silent forest.

I suddenly paused and took in a short breath, realising what I had done. Stepping into another Alpha's territory...in the middle of the night...? Did I want a premature death?

But after a few agonising moments, the forest remained still and I let my anticipation crumbled. After a deep sigh of relief, I almost laughed how easily I had let fear grip me and stepped further into the unknown territory.

After all, I still hadn't found the source of that scent.

I pushed a low branch with a brittle network of twigs out my path and kicked up a mass of leaves with every kick. Judging by the fact that there was no beaten track, wolves clearly didn't often cross this territory which brought the question of 'why' to my attention but I quickly pushed the thought away as the scent got stronger.

The most curious thing about it was that no noise accompanied it. There was no rustling in the bushes, no footsteps anywhere around me, no faint evidence of breathing and not a single gesture of life. Everything was quiet and it no longer seemed so peaceful. An air of eerieness seemed to descend amongst the trees and it unsettled me.

Just as the idea of turning back was becoming very appealing, a voice sounded.

"Hello," it said.

"Shit," I cursed as a jolt of surprise seized me.

I whipped around to see the figure of a man before me. How the fuck did he creep up on me so quickly and so discretely?

I looked up slowly. His sheer height made his size immense regardless of the breadth of his shoulders and strength of his build. It was enough to intimidate me and I took pride in being particularly hard to frighten.

He wore the black hood from his sweater over his head so that it left his eyes covered. His face had a menacing expression about them with defined cheekbones casting shadows on his chin and outlining his sharp jawline creating something exceedingly beautiful but at the same time chilling and cold.

"What do we have here?" He said his words dripping with amusement. 

I stayed totally silent and stumbled back a few steps.

"You appear to be on my territory little wolf," He continued in a melodic voice.  He had a slight accent elongating his words, only intensifying the fluidity of his voice.

"I-I was just leaving. I'm sorry," I said quickly.

He let out a short laugh, "Leaving already? You haven't even told me your name...or more importantly why you dared cross my border without permission."

"It was a mistake," I said. "I'll go now."

"No," he said, after looking me up and down. "...You can stay."

It felt like more of a command than an invitation.

"What kind of man would leave a pretty girl like you alone in the woods?" he said. "It's late and cold. Let me take you to somewhere warm."

"I'll be fine on my own," I said, not loving the idea of going anywhere with him. "Thank you though."

By this point, he had stepped close enough to reach forward and run a long finger along my cheek before pausing at my chin. I froze. 

His touch was so soft and gentle yet it triggered something powerful inside me. I could feel his stare burning into me but I refused to look back. I kept my eyes fixated on a tree ahead, completely still and quiet.

"There's something intriguing about you," he said eventually. 

I said nothing.

"You're different," he continued.

I forced a smile, "I'm flattered but I've really got to go."

He let out a short laugh and only brought his fingers to my hair and then down to my neck again.

"That's not how this is gonna work, Sweetheart," he said. "Now would you please look at me?"

He then reached for his hood and pulled it down revealing his whole face. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of some tousled dark blonde hair and a well-sculpted broad forehead appendaged with dark, thick eyebrows and a perfectly shaped nose.  But I couldn't bring my self to look into his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, I was terrified of what I might see.

"Look me in the eye," he demanded.

"No," I said keeping my eyes on the tree. "I can't."

"So you're a defiant one? All the more fun for me," he said grabbing my face in one of his huge hands and forcing me to face him.

I scrunched my eyes shut. 

"Open your eyes. Do not make me say it twice," He ordered in a firm authoritative tone. He didn't even have to raise his the volume of his voice before some subconscious instinct made me do it.

I cautiously and slowly opened my eyes only to reveal the most beautiful eyes in existence. They were a brilliant shade of blue with a dark outer rim and gold flecks streaked through them like intricately woven threads. Nothing like what I expected at all. But underneath the comforting mask of colour, was an underlying evil. Something that sparked a churning sensation deep inside.

My wolf was screaming something in my ear. Just a four-letter word. And that is what I feared, not the eyes. The concept that this man, stood tall and dangerous in front of me is my...

mate.

A little grin twitched at my lip as I looked up to him. 

The more I looked into those beautiful eyes, the more I was sure. His touch, his voice, his scent. It all added up. 

This man is my mate.

He now smiled and held out his hand out to me. 

Oh, the smile. He was simply the most handsome man I'd ever had the joy of looking on. The way his face creased with it and the way it triggered indented dimples in his cheeks to form and his brightly coloured eyes to glint even more. It made me forget how terrifying he had previously seemed.

"Who are you?" I asked as I shook his hand. 

"Your mate I suppose," he said deeply trailing his hand up to hold my face. I stood there in complete stillness utterly hypnotised by the mellow tone of his voice.  "Pleased to meet you."

I slowly brought my hand to his soft cheek, passing his impeccable jawline and lips. He placed his hand on top of mine.

A few moments later our fingers were entwined.

"I knew there was something about you," he said.

I smiled and let him kiss my hand.

I then caught his scent again. It was so rich and authoritative and his eyes so blue and mesmerising and his build so powerful and strong. He was just like they described him.

Just how my father used to describe the man every wolf feared.

"Alpha Leonardo Loren," I whispered.

His eyebrow raised.

"I mean...urgh...you remind me of him," I said quickly.

"I do?" he replied an amused smile creeping onto his lips.

I nodded.

"Why thank you. I hear he's very handsome," he joked.

I blushed and looked down for a moment to hide it from him.

"But since I'm still standing here alive I would assume you are not."

"Why's that?" he asked.

"Because of the stories. The evil, the suffering, the fear, the death that he brings to everyone in his path. They used to terrify me. They still do in fact."

"Then we should get out of this dark forest," he said taking my hand. "We wouldn't want to come across anybody like that tonight."

"Wait, my home is this way," I said resisting his gentle pull in the opposite direction. "I live in Kellington."

"Kellington? What are you doing so far from home this late at night?" he asked.

"I was on a run," I said.

He narrowed his eyes and let out a low hum before he tugged my hand again, "Well, you must be exhausted. Come, come."

"So I need to go home," I repeated.

He smiled again but this time with a little twinge of frustration.

"You're coming home with me," he replied pulling me with a little more force further away from the border. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't," I said. "My brother will worry about me and I have to be at work at 7 am-."

He let out a short breath, "Your brother will be informed. Don't worry about your job. Now come with me."

I furrowed my eyebrows and opened my mouth to speak but closed it shortly after.

I made no

looked and spoke as if he was fighting hard not to lose his patience

was all I could

simpler way to put it," he said, his face straightening.

"Why?" I questioned. 

pulling me closer to

alluring scent,

took my hand

is this?" I asked, suddenly snapping out of his spell. "And who gave you the right to decide

didn't answer but his

I ordered, stopping moving again. "I demand that you answer my questions and stop dragging me like some

sake," he growled before spinning me around and grabbing my arms, pulling me into his

he was impossibly strong. So as I wriggled and squirmed, I felt his eyes on me. He glanced

bother trying to fight me. You can't win," he said still with a low growl. "Now what is your

before trying to struggle out of his grip again. And yes I have an awful mouth, little kids can learn a lot

"Beautiful name," he remarked.

to break a hand free and slap him across the face. A notion of anger swept over his features turning the amused expression into one of indescribable rage. The gentle being that was once stood in

against his chest

take what little capacity to breathe I had left. For the first time in my memory, I felt helpless and unsafe. This man could do anything and I don't

sweetheart," he

one dragging me

tightened around my

shirt with my

He articulated wickedly. "It always comes with

"Please," I whispered.

finally loosened his

breathed heavily. At no point did actually block my windpipe but the panic

he asked again, his lips right by my

"Ella," I said quietly.

before twirling me around

and took

be my mate, like the Moon Goddess clearly wants. You will submit and obey. You won't raise any questions and you won't disrespect me or there will be punishments. Okay?" He said calmly, before

lungs, I was angry. How dare he use his strength against me

arms and run. He didn't seem to be following me

and seek my dear," I heard his voice say coldly from not far away as if he had allowed me to get away just so

Evil. Totally evil.

lay my back flat on it, frantically searching for a branch to use

last that long

so loud but that's hard when so much fear and adrenaline is pumping through your body. I scanned the darkness for a tree hopefully more

one no more than 10 metres

away the tree was or I had lost this little game of hide and seek. A pair

taming you is going to be riveting," He said quietly under his breath, before he pinned me tightly to a tree, standing so close I could feel his breath fanning over

breath in and

bring to your attention

of power. I knew he had to be a higher rank wolf but as a rogue that meant little in the

he said brushing a displaced

and the little thought that

his voice commanding and

the description

"Alpha Leonardo Loren."

into a smile, confirming what

confirmed. "Alpha Leonardo Loren of the Stella pack."

Years ago...

we were quick he

door slightly open allowing a small strip of

nodded and he sat on the small rocking chair in-between our

a scary

We don't want nightmares again now do we?" My Dad replied.

please," We

He said with

brave and he's scary. Some say just one of his deathly glares can paralyse a grown man,

packs?" I asked in

reiterated. "Mercilessly killing anyone who tries to stop him whether they be men, women or

take our pack

any darkness here will

The night was cold and dark and the storm clouds from earlier had just cleared leaving the eerie moon to sit all alone in the sky. The teasing stars twinkled around it fading and brightening as the night went on. A few members of The Silver moon pack were sat peacefully around a fire. They were a small pack and vulnerable so they always had guards on watch."  He stopped for

 whispered to another as a few leaves and

'Yes.' He replied. 

a sheep' the

said as a low grumble

throughout the forest along with the rest of the pack," My Dad said his voice growing deeper and more sincere as he spoke. Connor and I were cowering under our sheets as

them and is training them up to become soldiers, to become warriors, to prepare for something bigger, to prepare for

end Connor and I were

story. Probably not even true." He said gently stroking our hair out of our

does exist doesn't he?" I

 don't need to worry Ella." He said

I asked quietly my child's

my child," he replied turning to

"What is his name?"

become far more grave and sincere. He looked down the hall,

the bedroom door leaving us in terrify darkness. After that sort of story, Connor would always jump across to my bed and we would

at the hidden darkness that was now beginning to expose itself with his anger.

The Alpha

helplessly up at him, "Are you going to

I use them to hurt my mate," he said in a sincere tone.

I nodded.

deep breath.  "Are you going to come easily or do I need

I paused. 

this. He wasn't going to back down and he certainly had the power to force me if I didn't. So not really wanting to get on the wrong side of the most terrifying wolf in

come," I

He said a satisfied smile on his face before he took my

in silence for a few minutes, our hands entwined, his gripping mine

we going?" I

"My home," he said.

Silence again.

"You're anxious," he observed.

asked, "I'm sure you're used to people feeling

I won't hurt

believe you," I replied, "You've already half strangled me

me yet," he said, "But you

you own a dictionary, Leonardo?"

so,"

delusional, but in my world, there's no such thing as happily ever after with a man like

a short laugh, "A man

then pulled my hand out of his, "You're a

say?" He growled coming to

out guys here comes stupid move number

killed people. Many people," I said trying my hardest to sound like he wasn't scaring

He glared at me.

again I dare you," he growled, crouching down

don't feel I need to," I said,

pulled me closely, "Do not disrespect me," he said slowly

as long as my wolf would let me before I had to

I thought." He said increasing the distance between us again.  "Now come," he continued a little more gently

I will carry you through this forest

address, my full name, my fucking social security number if you want. Please just let me go home and finish school and go to college. Then you can come and find me in 5 years if you're still interested?" I

danger you being my mate has already put you in?" he asked. "Even if that idea was remotely attractive, it wouldn't be possible. There will be wolves in this very woods just on the other side of that border waiting for me to

I furrowed my eyebrows.

the world and that doesn't come without enemies. They look for any way to tear me down and until now I didn't have a weakness. It's the rogues mainly, but other packs too. They have people constantly watching and now you are their prime target. You are safe with me, they wouldn't dare, but the second I allow you to walk off alone, you are in extreme danger. If you ever want to see your family again, I

still felt like something was there.

stood up and held out

border through the

the forest. He

the window, watching the trees lining the narrow forest track whiz by as I appreciated the soft leather

not only a stranger

of Connor sat at home worrying and having no idea where I was. My phone was out of battery but I knew his number, all

at me

do you think?"

I proposed the

propose it. I don't remember having a say in it at all," I

we are supposed to be together..." he mumbled under his breath.

"Jones," I said.

my surname with his accent, like he