Alpha Loren novel Chapter 80

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."

He sighed, "I don't even know if she feels the same way."

"Then in a few weeks when she has had time to grieve Amber, you should talk to her."

"Why wouldn't she feel the same way?" Luca asked, "I mean this in the least homosexual way possible but you're funny, charming and a fuck ton kinder than your brother. And she clearly finds you attractive."

Mateo shrugged, "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 Marco and Carlos actually obliterating me from existence if they find out."

I rolled my eyes, "You're scared of your little brothers?" I asked, "Those two goofy dumbasses?"

"That's coming from someone that's never been punched by either of them," he replied with a laugh, "They hit hard."

Just then Lia and Haden came out of the backyard. Haden's eyes fell on Mateo who had turned to watch them before he pulled her into a kiss and rested his hand on her ass.

"Oh God," Mateo muttered under his breath, "How revolting."

"Tell me about it," Leo said as he came back over to us after finishing speaking to his Grandfather, "Who the fuck invited him?"

"Mom," Mateo replied.

"Of course," Leo muttered, "Just you wait. It'll be family picnics in the park with him soon."

Mateo scoffed, "Unlikely."

At this point, Haden was still necking Lia so Mateo stood up, "I can't watch that anymore," he said, "I'm gonna go and get a beer. Anyone want one?"

Luca and Leo both nodded before Mateo headed inside.

Leo then wrapped his arms around my waist, placing his hands on our bump.

"Well suddenly I feel like a third wheel," Luca said.

"Because you realised Ella is my mate and not yours?" Leo asked.

"I know she's not my mate. She is my best friend and you haven't been letting me see her recently so I had to make up for all the missed hugs with one fat one," he replied.

"I'm your bestfriends?" I asked with a hopeful smile.

"Um duh," Luca replied.

I grinned, "It's an honour."

"Are you ever planning on finding you mate though, 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 all the time."

"You don't care who my mate is? Even if it's one of your siblings?" Luca questioned.

The sun was shining right in his eyes so he was squinting, contorting his cheeks up to narrow his eyes as his goofy smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Fuck off," Leo said deeply and not sounding particularly amused.

Luca then abruptly turned on his heel and threw up a peace sign.

"Off I fuck," Luca responded before walking off and into the house. 

"Asshole," Leo muttered under his breath.

"Heard that!" Luca called.

"You love him really," I giggled. "Just Very, VERY deep down."

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

"Ooh how exciting," I said clapping my hands in glee.

"She's in the kitchen," Leo said letting go of my me. "Try and avoid Haden."

"See you in a bit, Nardy," I said and he frowned at the nickname. 

"I'd prefer if that didn't catch on," he said quickly pecking me on the lips before urging me towards the house.

I quickly found Rosa and she pulled me into a tight hug.

 "Ciao bambina," she greeted. "Vieni vieni," she added meaning 'come, come'.

She placed her arm around my shoulders and guided me upstairs.

"This is for you," she said handing me a small tissue-wrapped object. "Antonio's Mother gave it to me when I had Leonardo and she was given it when she had Antonio. It's kind of like a family heirloom."

I carefully took off the paper revealing a gold mobile with different sizes stars and a crescent moon.

"This 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 it up and it made a soft, melodic tinkling noise. "And Leo was an utter nightmare. It was a lifesaver."

"Thank you so much, Rosa. It's beautiful," I said as I stared at it in awe before smiling widely at her. 

"No thank you. I've never 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 should be raised...I don't think he would have done that six weeks ago. Whatever Antonio says, you're changing him for the good."

"He doesn't like me," I stated. 

"With time he will, honey," she reassured just before Leo came into the room.

"Hey I remember this," Leo said gently pushing the mobile so that it chimed again. 

"Oh my handsome son, almost a 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 hand.

"Please don't get emotional Mom," Leo said.

"Give me a hug, both of you," she said pulling me into her arms and gesturing for Leo to join.

"Fuck's sake," Leo mumbled giving in and wrapping his long arms around both of us.

"Ay! 23 years old and the Alpha still doesn't mean you can curse in front of your mother, Leonardo," she scolded giving him a light nick around the ear as I giggled. "You are still a bambino in my eyes."

"Sorry, Mom."

"Okay you two kids go and have fun," she said eventually releasing us from her arms around wiping a tear from her cheek. "And Leonardo could you please have a search for the twins? I can't find them anywhere and I have the suspicion that they are up to no good..."

"Of course," Leo said before taken my hand and leading me downstairs.

We took a quick trip to the car to safely store the delicate mobile where it wouldn't be forgotten before beginning our search for Marco and Carlos. 

Leo lead me into the ever-darkening forest. He was presumably following a scent. 

"Oh sweet Jesus, take away my sight," Leo suddenly said staring straight ahead of us. 

I looked to where he was looking only to see the beautiful sight of Carlos...with a girl...against a tree...with his tongue down her throat.

Leo coughed loudly and he suddenly pulled away from her. 

"Oh hey Leo, hey Ella," he mumbled wiping his lips and fixing his hair.

"Hate to interrupt what I assume is a heartfelt romantic gesture but mom is looking for you. Where's Marco?" Leo asked and Carlos opened his mouth to speak. "Actually, don't bother. I'll just follow the strong smell of pot."

He then took my hand and strode further into the forest.

"Marco!" Leo called after we came across four tall figures. "What are you doing?"

"Definitely not smoking pot," Marco lied.

I could now see that the other three were some of Leo's cousins.

"Are you high?" Leo asked.

"No," Marco replied.

Leo suddenly clasped his brother's face in his hand and looked into his clearly dilated pupils.

"Yes, you fucking are," Leo growled. "And who is that girl that Carlos is necking over there?"

"Her name is Jessica," Stefano replied.

"I don't give a fuck in high hell what her name is. Who is she and why does she look about 16?" Leo asked.

"Because she is 16...and we know her from school," Marco explained. "Carlos hooks up with her all the time-"

"Don't need to know about my little brother's sex life thanks, Marco," Leo interjected. "Just get back to the house before midnight for Lenny's first shift. Oh and preferably not completely stoned, understand?"

With that, they all nodded and Marco dropped the end of the blunt onto the floor, putting it out with his foot.

Leo and I then left them to sober up and headed back to the party, avoiding Carlos and his little friend on our route.

"You are surprisingly not that mad at them," I said as we got back to the house.

"That's because they are nowhere near as bad as me when I was 18," Leo replied. "Drugs, alcohol, girls...I did it all."

"Rosa's gonna be pissed."

"Rosa's not gonna find out."