Chapter 85
November 15th
“Why are you here?” I asked cautiously remaining at the entrance to the kitchen.
“The Alpha’s gone out. Something to deal with,” Mason replied.
True the devil himself (Max) hadn’t showed up, but he had sent the next best thing.
“Why didn’t he call Mateo or Marco and Carlos or Luca or literally anyone else?” I asked.
“Probably because you’ve fucked him off,” Mason replied, “He didn’t look particularly calm.”
I clenched my jaw before heading back up the stairs.
“I’ll be in the library until he comes back then.”
“That’s no fun. And besides, the Alpha ordered me to keep you in close supervision. He must really
want you to be punished,” Mason said in a sardonic “fluffy unicorn let’s all pretend we’re a happy
family’ kind of tone.
“Guess you can watch me read my book then,” I replied shrugging my shoulders and beginning to
make my way back to the library.
An hour later I was onto my fourth book. Mason was sat on the opposite side of the room staring
intently and even though a fluent in both Latin and Italian was but 10 metres from me, I refused to
abandon my dictionary.
“You know I used to think you were just a mini Max,” I told him breaking the silence. “But now I
realise you are much less tormenting.”
“Well let’s just say I care more for my life and freedom than my brother ever did,” he answered.
“Have you heard from him at all?” 1 asked.
“Last I knew he was in Southern Italy,” Mason said.
“Enjoying the life of exile I see,” I replied before going back to my book.
It got to 11 o clock and Leo still hadn’t returned. I was on my 8th book and getting a bit sleepy.
“Did he say when he’s planning on coming back?” I asked
“He didn’t,” Mason replied from the now dark corner.
“I think I’m gonna call. He’s been gone hours,” I announced reaching for my mobile that was on the
table beside my armchair.
I knew I was partially given in but I couldn’t help be slightly worried no matter how mad I was.
I rang three times, but it kept going to voicemail.
“What did you do?!” Mason asked.
“We had a small fight,” I said, “That can’t be why he’s not answering.”
I couldn’t help but worry. I was still furious at him but despite his attempts to hide it from me, I
knew there was something dangerous going on in the pack. Anything could have happened.
“We’d know if anything had happened,” Mason replied, “Trust me on that.”
I shook my head and began pacing, “I’ll try calling Blair.”
But before I could find his number, the front door opened.
I darted down the hallway to the top of the stairs.
My eyes immediately landed on Leo in the hallway and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Where the fuck have you been?” I asked, “I’ve been worried.”
“Nowhere that concerns you,” he snapped, removing his jacket to reveal blood smeared all over his
white t-shirt. It was on his hands and neck too in the most gruesome way.
“Leonardo!” I said. “I presume that is not yours?”
“No,” he replied.
“Then whose is it?” I asked.
“Mason you may go. Thank you for watching her,” he said to Mason who lingered behind me.
He quickly left and the hallway was silent again
“Whose blood is that Leo?” I asked again.
“Do you not detect the foul scent of dead rogues?” he asked.
I opened my mouth but he held up his finger.
“Don’t you dare protest,” he growled, “You don’t know the situation and you don’t know my
reasons. And you certainly have no right to tell me how to run my pack and protect my people.
From now on you do not even try to interfere with Alpha affairs. I have had it with you questioning
me.”
He frowned and folded my arms, “I told you I don’t give up when I’m fighting wrong and I stand by
that. It’s who I am. You say you love me but you don’t want me to be myself?”
He clenched his jaw, “You know I love you. Don’t bring that up now.”
“If you love me, don’t you dare try and change me,” I hissed.
He let out a short laugh, “I could say the same to you. I am Alpha of the biggest pack in the world. I
do not go around spreading rainbows and sunshine. And that will never change. No matter what
you do. No matter what you say. So just give up for fuck’s sake.”
“So I’m supposed to just step back and say nothing as you kill innocent people?” I asked. “Stay in
the bedroom and the kitchen, huh?”
His face hardened from his rage to a cold stare, “Precisely.”
I scowled.
He stepped forward and my eyes met the blood on his shirt again. It was deep red and parts of it
still wet. I caught the scents of the people it belonged to and cowered back.
They were rogues but there was more to it than the that. They were men and women. Mothers,
fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters.
I didn’t know why they’d ended up at the hands of Leo but innocent or not, they were still people.
And Leo had no trouble murdering them in cold blood.
I thought about my Mom, who was on her way here as we spoke. She was a rogue. She lived in a
tribe of others. If her tribe crossed onto their territory without permission, would Leo just have them
all slaughtered?
Probably.
The pain and grief even the thought of losing her brought me was immense. How many people are
there out who have had that become their reality?
“I think that I’m gonna go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” I whispered almost inaudibly turning
back towards the stairs.
There was suddenly an ill feeling in my stomach. It stripped away my anger and all I wanted to do
was get away from him.
“No,” he commanded and I froze in my tracks. “I’ve hardly seen you today. Eat with me.”
“Leo I’d rather-” I began.
“It wasn’t a choice,” he retorted placing a bloody hand on the back of my neck and intensively
looking at me in what felt like a deliberately intimidating way.
His sudden advancement made me jump and I couldn’t help but glance down at his blood-covered
shirt again.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked as he pulled me into his chest.
“Oh come on Ella. Normally you’re perfectly willing to relieve my stress after a long day at work.
Scared of a little blood?” he jeered whilst stroking my hair in a psychopathic way.
He then grinned and leant forward as if he was going to kiss me.
I turned my head away and he withdrew but he didn’t let go of me just yet.
We stood in total silence for a few moments.
“What has gotten into you?” I asked
“I guess the switch has flipped…”