Alpha Loren

December 2nd

Back to Ella's POV:

"Luca!" I called as we entered the back yard.

Luca turned around from where he was stood, picking the sprinkles off a chocolate donate on the food table. As he saw me, he smiled widely and bounded over.

"Am I allowed to talk to my bestfriend, Alpha, or...?" he asked.

Leo rolled his eyes, "Keep her away from Haden. Do you think you can keep that order?"

Luca nodded.

"I'll be over there, speaking with my Grandfather," he said.

He then left us and I turned back to Luca, "Nice eye," I said referring to the black bruise still on Luca's face from when Leo punched him a week and a half ago. "I'm surprised that hasn't healed yet."

"Did you not see how hard he hit me?" Luca questioned. "If he wasn't tightly gripping my throat at the time of impact I'd still be walking back from Alaska," he added and I giggled. "I also have a bruise on my ribs too if you want to see-" he added reaching for the hem of his shirt.

"Yeah okay, we believe you, honey. You don't need to show us," I interjected.

"Oh, I've missed you and your sarcasm, Ells," Luca exclaimed suddenly bear hugging me.

Slightly overwhelmed I stumbled back a bit but he was squeezing me so tightly I would struggle to fall over without pulling him down with me. 

"Your Alpha is giving you a look," I whispered in his ear having caught sight of Leo watching the situation. "But I missed you too, Luca."

"Is it a good look or a bad look?" Luca asked sounding slightly concerned.

"If I had to guess I'd say bad...it's kind of a look that says: get the fuck off my mate or I'll give you another black eye to match," I replied and he finally let go of me.

"Sorry Alpha," Luca said, knowing that Leo could hear. "I'm currently trying to persuade him to put me back on babysitting duty. He's a tough nut to crack but I'll get there eventually."

"If he's desperate..." Mateo's voice said from behind us.

"Mateo, hey," I said, "How are you?"

He shrugged and sat himself on top of the garden table just by us, "I saw Allison this morning. She's still distraught."

"Well...one of her closest friends was murdered right in front of her," Luca said, "It's going to take more than a week to heal from that."

Mateo nodded and rubbed his eyes with his hands, "Oh shit," he mumbled.

"What?" I asked.

"I think I care about her more than I ever planned to," he said, "We were just friends that fucked sometimes. Now I see her cry and it makes me feel hurt too. And I'm sitting here at this party with loads of hot girls around and I don't even want to go and talk to any of them. All I can think about is Allison."

I rested my hand on his shoulder, "You Loren boys don't know much about emotion, huh?"

He smiled, "I've never liked a girl for her personality before. I know that makes me a massive dick but I always knew I have a mate out there somewhere so I didn't plan on getting involved with anyone else. Now I have and it really sucks."

"Why does it suck?" I asked, "She may not be your mate but just because you are a wolf doesn't mean you can't be a normal teenager too. You can date."

"I don't even know if she

a few weeks when she has had time to

this in the least homosexual way possible but you're funny, charming and a

"I don't know. What we've got is good. I don't want to risk ruining it. Plus...there's the small matter of

of your little brothers?" I

never been punched by either of them," he replied with

the backyard. Haden's eyes fell on Mateo who had turned to watch them before he pulled her into a

Mateo muttered under

said as he came back over to us after finishing speaking to his

"Mom," Mateo replied.

muttered, "Just you wait. It'll be family

Mateo scoffed, "Unlikely."

Mateo stood up, "I can't watch that anymore," he said, "I'm gonna go and

nodded before Mateo headed

arms around my

like

Ella is my mate and not yours?" Leo

me see her recently so I had to make up

bestfriends?" I asked with

"Um duh," Luca replied.

"It's

Luca?" Leo asked, "I don't care who it is as long as he/she will stop you being such a pain in the ass child

is? Even if it's one of

his eyes so he was squinting, contorting his cheeks up to narrow his

deeply and not sounding

abruptly turned on his heel and threw up a peace

Luca responded before walking

Leo muttered under

"Heard that!" Luca called.

really," I giggled. "Just Very, VERY

Leo responded and I giggled again, "Anyway, my Mom wants to speak to you. She's got an early baby present for

said clapping my hands in

in the kitchen," Leo said letting go of my me. "Try and

Nardy," I said and he frowned at the nickname.

pecking me on the lips before urging me

she

"Vieni vieni," she added meaning

her arm around my shoulders and guided

she said handing me a small tissue-wrapped object. "Antonio's Mother gave it to me when I had Leonardo and

took off the paper revealing a gold mobile with different sizes

is the secret to a sleeping baby. See how it chimes? Put it above their crib and the sound will send them straight to sleep. I promise you it worked for all ten of mine," she said as I lifted

beautiful," I said as I stared at it in awe before

seen Leonardo happier than he is with you," Rosa said, "And what he did for Lia...letting Haden free so Lia could raise her child how it

me," I stated.

he will, honey," she reassured just before Leo came into the

Leo said gently pushing the mobile so

father already," Rosa said reaching up to place her hand on Leo's cheek. "And Ella, as beautiful as a Luna could be," she added taking my

emotional Mom,"