Alpha Loren novel Chapter 47

November 4th

"I wanted to tell you in person Connor, I was going to, but then all this happened and-"

"How long for?!" Connor asked his voice getting deeper.

"A week," I said quietly.

"That fucking prick! He kidnapped you, he marked you against your will and now this!" Connor said.

"Connor calm down. We can talk about this later."

"No. I have just found out that my seventeen-year-old sister is pregnant with the biggest dickhead in the world's child. This can not wait."

"I want to go home," I said quietly taken his arm, "Please, just take me home."

He let out a deep breath before finally nodding.

An hour later, we were at the front of the house I hadn't been in for a few days short of a month. The last time I had even see the peeling red paint of the door that I used to walk through at least twice everyday was before going to Cameron's party on October 10th.

Connor pulled the key out of his pocket opening the door revealing the dark hallway.

"This feels weird," I said quietly stepping into the house. 

Connor hadn't spoken for a while. I guess he was still processing. 

"It should be safe here. If they just came, they're unlikely to come again," he said after a few moments in the silent hall.

He flicked on the switch and illuminated the house with the yellow light of an old bulb.

On the floor by the door mate were a pile of disorganised shoes. 

I bent down and picked up a pair. My Doc Martens. I'd bought them from a thrift store four years ago and they were in a bad state even then. Now, the once black leather was brown and tarnished, the laces hung in a frayed bundle of threads and the sole, which I had attempted to glue back on many times, peeled almost completely off. 

But they had been my favourite shoes.

"Every time I see those, I itch to throw them in the trash," Connor said with a laugh. "They are an abomination but I just can't because you love them."

I laughed and put the shoes back down.

"Best five dollars I've ever spent," I replied.

I then went upstairs to my room. Mr Greggory's essay was still on my desk, along with all my other school books and parts of my old life.  

The polaroids of Abi, Charlotte and I that we took in the summer were still on my wall, as well as photos of us when we were younger. Despite Abi being Blair's mate now, I still hadn't seen her since the time we went iceskating. All I know is she is going to continue to live with her parents until she graduates. As far as Mr and Mrs Williams, Abi's parents, are concerned, Blair is just her boyfriend that may or may not stick around. 

I sat down on my bed and grimaced as the springs dug into my arse.

"I suppose you're used to luxury now?" Connor asked.

I then picked up my pillow, which was flat as a pancake and offered little more comfort than a rock.

"Something like that," I replied. "But how are you doing? With your job and money?"

"I'm alright," he said with a shrug. "I work, I get paid, I get by."

"Every day?"

He nodded.

"Connor, I could ask Leo to help you out. So that you can have time to focus on school and graduate and go to college and-"

"I don't want his money," Connor said bluntly. "I'm fine on my own."

I sighed and looked at him in despair. 

All of a sudden the window flung open and somebody fell through into my room knocking over my desk and everything on it.

"SHITTING FUCK!" I shouted from the shock. "Mateo! What the hell are you doing?!" I continued as Connor came forward in a protective way. He had never met Mateo so I didn't blame him- he could have been an Ayas warrior for all he knew.

"Connor it's fine I know him," I said breathing heavily. 

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you," He said standing up and shaking himself off.

"Enlighten me please...what is wrong with the front door?" I asked.

"Mainstream. The window is far more exciting," Mateo said helping me pick up the mess he made.

"Well next time can you at least try to be a bit more elegant?" I said. "And Mateo this is my brother Connor. Connor this is Leo's brother Mateo."

"Your brother got my sister pregnant,"  Connor said.

"I am well aware thank you," Mateo replied slightly sarcastically  

"It's not Mateo's fault," I said to Connor. "Anyway, you two are the baby's future uncles so be nice to each other," I continued. "Oh, and talking of family Connor. We have 5, I mean 4, cousins."

"We what?" Connor asked.

"Max, Mason, Mattio and Miles," I said, picking up Mr Greggory's essay and putting it back on my desk.

"Soon to be 3 too. Max is as good as dead," Mateo added. 

"Cousins?" Connor said like he didn't even know what the word meant.

"It's a long story..." I said to the ever more confused looking Connor.

"One that we don't have time to explain. In case you forgot there is a war going on all over both Stella and Ayas territory. The only safe place now is the base, but we will have to run past the main battle zone, near Lissauer, to get there so I hope to Jesus and all his friends that you still have that knife, Ella, because you are going to need it," Mateo explained incredibly quickly. That +  the slight Italian accent made it incredibly hard to understand.

"Wwwait. Too fast..." I said.

"War spread through both territories. Only safe place is base. Way to base going through battle near Lissauer. You will need knife," Mateo said much slower cave man tone.

"Lissauer..." I said as we were shepherded down the stairs by Mateo. "Are the people there safe?" I asked thinking of Scarlet, her kids and Ada.

"Not for long," Mateo said with a sense of urgency as we walked out the door with Connor too. 

"Where's Leo?" I asked.

"Close to Haden."

"Where's Haden?" I asked

He paused and thought for a moment.

"Close to Leo."

"Really helpful thanks," I said as we ran into the woods just behind our house.

"Pleasure," Mateo finished.