Alpha Loren

Leo's POV

Hours later and I'd finally got Ella back to one of my camps. It was small and made up of only three or four tents strung up between the trees but it was hidden within the dense foliage of the forest and had a dozen or so of my men circling and patrolling. As we descended further into the night the constant chirp of crickets and occasional cries of distant birds and animals emerged but the air was still as thick and hot as ever.

Ella sat silently on a rock as I crouched below her tending to her wounds. There were bruises all over her body which I could do little about. Her lip was cut, her neck covered in Andrea's hickeys and her legs were all scratched and scraped from running through the jungle. Most notably, a nasty gash stretched across her knee.

I rinsed away the blood and cleaned the cut with antiseptic. It can't have been particularly comfortable but she didn't even wince. It was as if she was numb to pain. Every now and then, I would look up to her but she just stared straight ahead into the jungle. Either she was so far into her own thoughts that she didn't notice or she couldn't bear the thought of a conversation and chose to ignore me.

"Do you know why Luciano helped us?" I asked finally as I pressed a large band-aid onto her knee.

She looked down and met my eyes.

"Don't trust him," was all she said before she looked back up and continued to stare into vacant space.

"Why?" I asked. "Who's side is he on?"

She paused again, "His own."

There was silence for another few minutes. I remained crouched in front of her, completely lost for what to do. I had no idea how to comfort her.

I gently took my hands and pressed them against my lips, "It won't feel like this forever."

She nodded meekly.

"Are we safe here?" she asked looking around.

I hesitated, "Yes."

"Why do I feel like that isn't true?" she replied, seeing right through me.

"We leave this Godforsaken country at first light," I said, dodging the question. "Then we'll get home and everything will be alright."

"But he is still out there," she pointed out. "And he won't give up."

I nodded, "I know."

I then squeezed her hands again, "You should get some sleep."

Out of nowhere, a tear suddenly fell out of her eye and landed on my hand. She quickly wiped it away and turned away as if she didn't want me to see her cry.

"Ella," I said. "Look at me please."

me, her watery blue

don't know what I can do to make you feel less pain but

me...please," she replied.

I said, shuffling closer.

could feel the sharp bones of her back through her shirt and she was so small and

didn't want to let myself sleep in case she woke and needed me so I just stared up at the tree branches, holding her close to me,

a voice said. 

I hissed.

a few miles away or that's what

sat up, taking care not to disturb Ella and faced him.

said. "Who's in charge of Camp

had to come and see her," he

Luca were inseparable. I could understand why he

is she?" he

off her face. "Physically she's weak and injured, mentally she's broken. And unfortunately, I

part?" Luca asked.

so was still sound asleep.

quietly as I looked up to him. "I can sense it."

she was already experiencing, it felt like she wouldn't have coped with any more. It boiled my blood to know she was carrying his child but the last thing she

"Have we decided who gets to kill that piece of shit

would be too merciful," I muttered

tell

said firmly. "And you

nodded, "Yes, Alpha. But she should know, shouldn't

feels almost like I have her body back but she's

run down my cheek which I just let

can't know. Not yet."

"Let her know I came

replied and he disappeared back

around 3 am, she woke in a sweating

she said sitting up. "I have to go back, I

where?" I questioned holding her as she tried to get to her feet.

out of my hands. "If I don't, he'll kill us all. I can't

and she fought as much as

calm down," I

in the camp and undoubtedly could be heard by anyone at least a few miles away.