Alpha Loren

As I watched the two men roll around on the floor with each other, I felt my heart creep up into my throat. Andrea's strength took both Leo and I by surprise. He wasn't even an Alpha yet he was the only person I'd ever seen to even stand a chance against Leo and that alone was terrifying, regardless of his murderous expression or the gun which Leo was fighting so hard to keep away from me and himself. At one point, Leo pinned Andrea's wrist the floor but before he could get the gun from his hand, Andrea pushed him off and freed himself once again. 

I managed to move behind a pile of boxes, which provided me relative safety, in the hope of giving my mate one less thing to stop Andrea from shooting. Just as the fight got out of my sight, I felt another body draw up behind me and grab my wrists.

"Sssh. It's me," a man's voice whispered as I felt cutting and loosening of the ropes. "Don't make a sound."

I recognised the voice immediately. 

My eldest cousin: Max.

When my hands were free, he began slowly leading us towards the back of the warehouse where a door hung bent with a freshly broken lock. 

Seconds later, we were in the open desert and Max was leading me in the direction of a parked car about 50 metres away.

"Andrea has a gun," I said pausing. "How can Leo defeat him unarmed?"

"Do not worry about him. You just need to get away from here safely," Max replied tugging me.

"No, no, no. He is my mate. I can't let him be killed," I stated pulling my hand out of his. "Andrea is stronger than you'd expect."

Max let out a short sigh before reaching forward and taking my hand again, this time more forcefully. 

"Max, what the fuck?-" I began.

"We have to go. Now," he replied. "I'm sorry, Ella," he added now marching to the car and dragging me behind. "I made a promise to Leo that I'd get you away from here alive no matter what you say or how much you fight me. That man wants to hurt you and Leo wants your life to be put above his. He says it is the least he could do."

"No," I said trying to pry his hand off my wrist. "No! If he dies, I will never forgive you."

"And I will never forgive myself but at least you will be okay and that is all that matters to him. He is willing to die so long as you live and I am willing to let him sacrifice himself," Max replied.

"And why don't I get a say in this?" I snapped kicking him in the shin. 

I felt a little guilty because he was just following Leo's orders but Leo's orders were suicidal and I needed to do something.

"Let go of me, Max!" I cried as he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me from the ground as we continued to near the car.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I really am."

"Max," I begged. "Please! I can't let him die! Please!"

could have escaped his grasp but I hadn't eaten or drunk properly in days and I had

I kicked and screamed

and I are mates! We are a team!

he is the Alpha of it so stop being a disobedient little

and paused to give him a glare of

know all about obeying the Alpha," I

he could do anything more to get me to the car,  it sounded.

fateful gunshot.

my stomach or maybe it had shattered...I don't

weren't for Max still holding me tightly, I felt as though I would have sunk

silence. The sound of the shot still rung through my ears but no movement was coming from

thud, his breath shorten and the sweat on his palms

to get in the car," Max said after a few more seconds. "I will go and investigate but if Andrea

still couldn't speak.

he repeated shaking me

unable to respond the second time, he began to lift me up. Just as he opened the car door, a figure began to emerge

hand but

eyes, no sadistic grin, and his hair was dark blonde

of relief formed on my face as Max put me down and I ran forward.

than five seconds before throwing myself into his arms and holding him tighter than I ever had. He dropped the

told Max not to let me help you? Why?" I

"Your life was all that

it meant

down at me with his big blue eyes. "I'm sorry I took so long but

that moment, the swing dream made sense.

his face in my

whispered before he leant back in and kissed me back,

seconds later, "We have an audience," I added looking up to Max who was stood

just pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead.

I am

to him once again for a few moments as my emotions calmed a little and I was able to think

I'm sorry," I said holding my hand out to him.

as good as I gave," he replied with a smile as he

managed to have an argument within a