Alpha Loren novel Chapter 86

December 18th

Leo's point of view:

"Are you done texting your girlfriend yet, Leonardo?" one of the hooded men asked.

I switched off my phone, swept away my warm smile only meant for Ella and turned to face the men, who stood awaiting me amongst the gloom of the forest at night.

"Don't disrespect me, Achilles. You may not be Lycan but I'm still an Alpha and your weakness goes far beyond the back of your fucking ankle," I growled stepping closer to him. The height difference was clear and his humanity got the better of him. He didn't show it but I heard the forever increasing pace of his heart.

He folded his arms and hardened his face.

"Double the money and we'll do it," he bargained.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I asked.

"We know the consequences if we fail you."

A smile crept onto my lips and I scanned my eyes across each of them.

"Glad you are finally getting the message," I said, "So take my original offer or I'll take your families' lives. You have 48 hours to earn their trust and report back to me. All I need is the name of their leader and then I will take it from there."

Achilles nodded, "It will be done, Alpha Loren," he said with a nod.

I stared at him for a few seconds.

He was a human but a stupid one. A mercenary that worked for whoever offered him the highest price. 

He was the perfect man for this job and seemed sincere but it wasn't enough to satisfy me. Not when I saw the way he forced a civil expression on his face as he looked back up at me with the very edges of his eyes folding up in an unnatural manner and his lips held still in a smile like plaster.

He gave him an equally fake smile back before turning my back and heading through the darkness of the forest back to the car.

Five minutes later, I opened the driver's seat to the car and the light flickered on, illuminating the man sat in the passenger's seat with a yellow glow.

"And?" Luciano asked, "Are they gonna do it?"

Blair had been by my side as my Beta since I became Alpha at age 17. He had authority, dedication, leadership, loyalty...the list goes on. But since Amber was killed, he's needed time both away from pack work and away from me. I understood and permitted it.

Especially as I had Luciano: my partner in crime since we were kids.

We had a lot in common and we shared the same 'approach' in getting what we want which perfectly fit the nature of this week's task. 

"Apparently but I don't trust him," I said, "I have the feeling he'll screw us over at the first opportunity. And this could be our only chance to get that name. If the rogues find out I am sending men to infiltrate their organisation, any future attempts will be worthless."

"So what's the plan?" Luciano asked, his dark eyes glinting as he turned to face me.

"He needs a little more...motivation."

Luciano's lips curled up into an evil grin, "His wife? Or his kids?"

"We'll leave the kids," I said, "His wife should give him the nudge he needs to ensure he stays on task."

"I really thought your Luna had stolen this side of you from me, Leonardo," he replied slapping me on the chest. "I knew you wouldn't be changed by a woman that easily."

"She can never know about this, Luciano," I said deeply, "I've told her about the rogues and she knows I'm tracking down their leader but she can not know our methods, understand?"

"Why not?" he asked, "Are you scared of her or something?"

"No," I snapped, "But I don't want to upset her. She's happy and I don't want that to change."

"Awwe. Leonardo doesn't want to upset his little mate. How adorable," Luciano cooed teasingly, "But you're lying to her. And she'll find out you're not who you make her believe you are sooner or later."

"She most certainly will not," I hissed, "Because you are going to keep your mouth shut about this to everyone."

"Whatever," he muttered leaning back into the seat of the car, "But you don't want to be too nice to her remember. Women don't like Mr nice guy."

I laughed as I flicked on the headlights, "Ella's different."

"On the surface," Luciano said, "But trust me, Leo. The nicer you are firstly the more she'll take advantage of you and secondly the less sex you'll get."

"What kind of bullshit logic is that?" I asked, reversing the car back onto the track.

He smiled, "Women like a little bit of roughing up in bed," he said, "Come on, Leonardo. You know that. It's basic."

I rolled my eyes, "Ella will literally deprive me of a fuck if I do something she doesn't like. As I said: she's different."

"And you stand for that?" he asked, raising a thick dark eyebrow, "If you want a fuck, tell her she's giving you a fuck. End of."

I rolled my eyes, "You're in danger of sounding like my father," I muttered.

"Antonio clearly knows what the hell he's doing with women. So did you until this Jones bitch came along and you turned into a dandelion," he replied, "Get yourself together man. Show her some dominance."

"Or I could just keep this life separate from my life with her," I said, "That way she's happy and will have sex with me. But shit still gets done."

"Sounds like a lot of bother just for a girl, "He said, "When do I get to meet her anyway?" he added in a more devious tone.

"That would be never," I deadpanned.

He looked at me with a grin.

"She's the Stella Luna. My Luna. Why not?" he teased.

"Because you are exactly the type of person I'm trying to keep her away from."

He shook his head disapprovingly.

"You act like you and I are so different," he said, "Apart from this little lovey-dovey show you are putting on for her, we are the same. I'm just not ashamed of it."

"Except she's my mate," I replied, "I'm not going to hurt her and she's already mine to fuck. You, on the other hand...I do not trust you to even be within a mile of her."

Luciano grinned, "I only want to get a look at her. Is she hot?"

I laughed, "Yes. She's very hot."

"Let me see a photo," he said eagerly. 

"So you can perve on her? No chance," I scoffed.

"We've shared women before," he replied, "Is she really that special?"

"She's my fucking mate, Luciano," I said, "But I don't expect you to understand. You don't know what it is to care for someone and you have never known love."

He rolled his eyes, "Love? You're going soft."

"You say that as I drive us to the home of a man's wife who we are about to kidnap to use as blackmail against him," I said, "I am still the same man. I just also have a woman at home that makes my life hell when she finds out I've been doing 'bad things'."

"Yeah whatever," he said, "Let's just get this bitch to make the human find out the rogue leader's name so that we can kill him and you can go home and give her a foot massage or kiss her hand or whatever shit you do."

"Fine by me..." I muttered, "I'm already sick of you."

"Eh we've had good times together, Leonardo," he said, "You'd miss me."

A smile crept onto my lips, "We certainly have."

"The highlight would have to be the strip club in Seattle," he said.

"Except from the fact that we were both barred from ever going back," I muttered.

"Well apparently the owners don't like it when you fuck their girls in the dressing room without even having to pay," Luciano said.

"Something tells me that wasn't why we got barred," I said, "Probably more to do with the fact that it was a full moon and we both lost control of our wolves and had to remove three of them from existence before they could tell the whole world werewolves are real."

"Yeh, that might have done it," he replied, "But that blonde one got on my fucking nerves anyway. We did the world and all men in it a favour."

"It's a full moon tonight," I said looking out the windshield of the car to see the large glowing sphere in the sky, "My wolf has been restless all evening. If this human girl tries anything I swear to God, there's going to be trouble."

We were now driving into the suburbs of a small town. I had the address on a scrap of paper on the dash. All we had to do was find the right house.

"I'll sort her out," Luciano said, "I wouldn't want to let you do a 'bad thing' in case it hurts your little mate's feelings."

A few minutes later we pulled up to a house. The lights were off but I could focus my ears to hear the sounds of four different sleeping hearts beating.

"There are four people in that house. He has three kids?"

"For now," I replied bluntly, "That is still open to change if the wife isn't enough."

I then got out of the car and marched to the front door

I rang the doorbell and waited for a light to turn on upstairs.

"I was thinking a kick the door down and drag her out of her bed approach might have been more fun," Luciano said.

"If we wake the kids I might end up murdering one of the little rats," I said just before the door opened.

A woman with long wavy brown hair and dark big eyes stood in the doorway. She was average height with tanned olive skin and an athletic, toned body. She wore a plain white shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. I could tell that Luciano liked the look of her as soon as his eyes landed on her bare legs and slender shape. Before I met Ella I would have thought it too. But I physically can't. It's like there is something blocking any thoughts of other woman.

"Hello," I said the light of the hallway falling on me and Luciano's faces.

"Do I know you?" She asked, sleep still in her voice.

"Your husband does," Luciano responded.

"May we come in?" I asked.

"It's late and my kids are in bed. I'd prefer if you didn't-" she started.

"Let me rephrase that," I said my face hardening. "Let us in or I will drag your kids out of their beds and make you watch them die slow and painful deaths."

Her face turned from tired and confused to totally terrified in a matter of seconds. She then stepped aside and allowed us into her home. I walked in first and took my time to study the family portraits in the hallway. Luciano followed behind but paused as he passed the woman.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Luciano taunted as he stroked his fingers along her cheek. "Give us what we want and we won't hurt you."

Luciano had dark hair, dark eyes and a dark demeanour and dark grin to match. She shuddered as he touched her and took a cowering step back.

"W..what do you want?" she asked as Luciano and I made our way into her kitchen.

"Coffee. One sugar no milk please," Luciano said. 

"No sugar for me," I added.

She nodded nervously and scurried over to the kitchen worktop. I noticed Luciano looking her up and down, his eyes darkening.

"So what is your name, honey?" Luciano asked.

"Hestia," she replied quietly.

"What is it with this family and Greek God names? Next, you'll be telling me, Zeus, Hercules and Apollo are asleep upstairs," Luciano said in a taunting tone.

"How rude of us to have come into your home without even introducing ourselves!" I exclaimed. "I'm Leonardo and this is Luciano."

Luciano waggled his fingers in a what would have been friendly wave if it weren't for the sneer on his lips.

"We have a few questions we'd like to ask you. You don't have to answer but I strongly suggest you do," I added

She nodded nervously.

"So where is Achilles tonight?" Luciano questioned as Hestia began making two cups of coffee.

"He's been visiting his parents in Greece for the last few days."

"When will he be back?"

"In two days."

"Is he a member of any organisations?"

"He plays soccer at the town club every Thursday night."

"Soccer huh?" Luciano said with a grin.

"Where does her work?"

"He's a history teacher at the school."

"When I say the word 'lycan', what do you think of?"

"Twilight, Harry Potter...I don't know..."

I looked at Luciano and we exchanged diabolic smirks. Her heartbeat didn't raise irregularly once. She's not lying.

"You don't know, do you?" I said as Luciano stepped closer to her. 

"Know what?" she questioned stepping away from the ever-approaching Luciano.

"Who I am, what we are, how your husband really earns money....how much danger you are in right now..."

At that point, Luciano lurched forward and she was only able to let out the tiniest little squeak before he had her mouth covered and his arm tightly around her flailing limbs.

"And your lack of knowledge makes it all the more fun for us," I added flashing my yellow eyes at her just to get that shocked reaction that I always get from humans.

"You should be a little more careful of who you allow into your house, Hestia. Especially at this time of night when no one is awake to hear your screams. You see my friend here is something called an Alpha," Luciano said brushing her loose brown strands of hair away from her pretty eyes. "That's werewolf for fucking scary leader guy that you don't want to cross."

"And the thing is: your husband is about to cross me, which is what bring myself and my companion here tonight."

Luciano then uncovered her mouth to allow her to do that human thing that they all do which I like to call quintessentially human rebuttal.

"You must have got the wrong family. My husband is a good and honest man," She said.

"Your husband has a lot of explaining to do when, sorry IF, you see him again," I added. "But for now you are coming with us."

"But my kids. I can't leave them," she protested. 

Oh yes. The classic 'I have kids you can't hurt me'.

"You are mistaking us for people with some kind of moral conscious, my dear," Luciano snarled in her ear.

"And relax. They won't notice you are gone. Well...that is until they wake up in the morning to find your bed empty and no one to make them their breakfast," Luciano replied kissed her on the cheek.

"Would it make you feel better if we left them a note?" I asked. "Where do you keep your paper and pens?"

A few moments later I had a scrap of paper and a ballpoint pen in my hand.

"Dear, Zeus, Hercules and Apollo. Gone grocery shopping. I might be back in two days although I might also be a dead corpse in the depths of the forest. Either way, Love ya lots, Mom," I read aloud.  "Ready now?"

I turned back around to see Luciano kissing her neck with his hand on her left breast.

"Luciano," I said deeply. 

He looked up and rolled his eyes. 

"She's hot," he stated although taking his hand away from her. There were tears in her eyes and her body was slightly shaking. Her eyes were begging for mercy and for just a split second I felt like giving it to her. 

"They'll be time for that later," I replied. "Take her to the car," I ordered.

With that, we left the house, two cups of half-made coffee on the side and three sleeping kids still sleeping upstairs.

Bad as it sounds, I had missed this a lot.