Alpha Loren

December 27th

Ella's POV

I still had no idea why Leo had just dragged a struggling human woman into our house but after fifteen minutes of coercing and encouragement and Leo just about keeping his patience, we got her out of the hallway and settled her on the sofa.

All Leo told me was that she knew we were werewolves and that she'd been through some trauma. She was thin, like she hadn't eaten in days, so I heated up some soup on the stove and brought it over to her.

For some reason, she was incredibly anxious around Leo so I'd banished him to the other side of the room where he stood cradling Cato as I gave Hestia the soup.

"Hopefully this will make you feel better," I said to her.

She gave me what could have been a slight smile as she took the bowl, still nervously eyeing Leo.

"Leo, would you go upstairs please?" I asked him.

He turned and glanced at Hestia before nodding.

"Don't worry about him," I reassured her once he was gone, "He looks scarier than he is."

She bit her lip, "He seemed quite scary when he showed up at my house threatening to kill my kids," she said, her voice hoarse and quiet, "And he was quite scary when he ordered the death of my husband and left me in a cold, dark prison cell with his evil friend for days too."

She then picked up the spoon in the soup and slowly stirred it.

My mouth dried, "He did all that?"

She nodded.

"When?"

"In the last week," she replied, lifting the spoon for a few seconds before putting it back down, untouched.

I felt my stomach churn and squeeze as I brought my hand to my mouth and stood up.

"I-I'm so sorry," I said, turning to look out the window, staring at the pure white snow.

"...You didn't know?" she asked after a pause.

I plastered a smile onto my face before turning back to her.

"I know he is no stranger to evil. But I thought he had changed," I said sitting back down next to her.

She placed her hand over mine, "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about," I replied, "And I'll have strict words with him later. But for now, is there anything I can do?"

"Just stay with me...please?" she asked, "I don't want to be alone."

I nodded, "Of course."

We sat quietly as she finally ate her soup. I couldn't help but dwell on the shock of what she had said about Leo. How could he do this? Why would he do this?

"Your husband..." I began, "If you don't want to talk about it then don't worry but...who was he?"

"Achilles Drakos," she said, "He was a mercenary working for your mate, finding out the name of some leader. But he made the mistake of messing with him and lost his life for it."

Connor's name.

I swallowed, "And who are you?"

"I am nobody," she replied, "I had no idea werewolves existed or that my husband was anything other than a teacher until a few days ago when Leonardo and his friend, Luciano, abducted me as blackmail against Achilles."

She's innocent. She did nothing wrong.

"Luciano," I said gravely, "That's the friend he left you with."

suddenly

hear Leo upstairs, talking to Cato and pacing around, probably still rocking him. The thought of him doing this still

forbade Luciano from touching me. But when you went into labour, he had to leave. Luciano disobeyed the orders

place," I replied, "Luciano is a vile, repulsive man but this is on Leonardo's conscience too...although I'm starting to doubt he

me here

we will be glad that he at least made one good decision," I added before noticing

sat with Hestia for hours. Leonardo had come in briefly to inform us he'd tracked down Hestia's children. They were safe but with social services

rightly she didn't thank him and I soon sharply sent him

still in the living room next to Hestia with the TV still playing back to back

in the morning and I could hear Leo's

appointment today?" he asked, being sure not to step through the doorway into

before looking at the clock, "It's in twenty

here

to Leo's appearance. I'd promised to stay with her and as I watched her

quick health check. You can go without me. And when

nodded his eyes darting to

firmly. "And now you only have

for a moment in thought before sighing.

us, call me if anything remotely worrying happens and the Praesidium Deae

away from him and leaving

Hestia and I were already half an hour into a movie: the

as the Baloo the bear began to sing 'the

to this," I announced seconds

the air to try and figure out who it

Luciano's voice called.

grabbed the remote and paused the TV

worry," I reassured. "I'll get

I entered the hall and retrieved the Praesidium Deae Astra from the drawer and quickly sent Leo a text simply reading 'Luciano is here'  before cautiously creeping towards the door with the knife hidden

smell you, sweetheart...and the human girl. Open the door," Luciano

isn't here," I

remarked sarcastically. "I said open the door," he repeated this time

the door frame as tall and terrifying as ever. He looked down at me and

aren't you? Why the hell would you open the door?" he said attempting to step

Luciano. If you want to see Leo, he will be back in half an hour," I

my way, babes," he ordered in a bored tone.

"No."

all 110 pounds

dare to so much as to lay a finger on me," I tested.

the most terrifying manner. I put on my brave face and tried to listen to my own words. He wouldn't dare,

to know me very well yet, lil cuz," he said, "I do

are not coming in,"

protective mode for the human girl?" he teased. "Don't worry. I only want to

phone. "Maybe then you could ask him whether it's okay

and snatched the phone out

calling anyone," he growled before pocketing my

my wrist in his strong hand whilst the tip of the knife was still 10 inches away from his

snarled before clasping his huge hand around my neck and forcing the knife out of my hand. He flung it across so that it landed with a clunk in the corner

try anything like

immediately brought my hand to my neck as he walked with

again, my love," he said as

as if he was going to kiss her

Luciano," I interrupted still trying

paused and turned

to remind you again who is giving the orders around here?" He

need to remind you that I have a knife?" I responded before launching the Praesidium Deae Astra in his direction as hard as it could. He hadn't even seen me pick it back

hand out to catch it and he didn't fail but the blade still slit his hand and the paralysing

fell to the floor with a loud thud

just took down Luciano. Hell