Alpha Loren

Chapter 33 The Ball

October 31st

After dragging the boys back to the car, Allison dropped me home. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

A few hours later, I was stood the piano again.

"Arms up," Leo said before slipping the dress over my head trying not to ruin my hair. When it was on

he carefully putting a diamond necklace around my neck. "Don't lose this. It's probably worth more than

this entire house."

"I'll try not to," I said before Leo took his tie out the glass case. He was already wearing his black suit

and white shirt. I watched him put it around his neck and tie it perfectly neatly before flattening the

collar.

"Ready?" he asked looking at his watch. "The rest of the guests should have arrived by now."

"Wait. I don't have any shoes on," I said sticking my foot out of the long dress.

"Oh shit shoes," Leo said, "I forgot about shoes."

"You don't have any?" I asked.

"Do I have any ladies ball shoes small enough to fit you...?" he asked, "Um, no?"

"Well you had a fucking dress," I replied.

"Do you have any shoes?" he questioned.

"I have my old converse," I suggested, "That's it."

"You know what the dress is long, no one will know," he said with a shrug.

"Yeah and I can't even walk in high heels anyway," I said.

"It's fine."

"Totally fine."

A few minutes later, Leo was stood in the doorway holding my converse by the laces with a grimace on

his face.

"These are disgusting?" he said looking at the mud and rips all over them, "Remind me to get you a

new pair."

I slipped them on and he looked me up and down, "You can't even tell," he concluded."

I smiled and rocked back and forth, my feet incredibly comfortable.

"You've gotta act like a lady tonight," he said.

"A lady?" I asked.

"No cursing, no burping, no sarcasm, no slouching etcetera," he said.

"Yawn," I said. "And you know I can't control my sarcasm."

"This is your first official public appearance as Luna in the pack and most of them are yet to even see

you so it's important that you make a good impression," he explained.

"Good impression? Fuck that," I muttered. "I don't care what people think of me."

"You're Luna, Ells. You need to please the people for the benefit my rule," he said. "And it's just one

night that you have to pretend to be a charming elegant creature. Then you can go back to...whatever

this is..."

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "Rude! And I've never been to a ball. I don't know how to be elegant and charming."

"No cursing, eye-rolling, slouching, sarcasm etcetera," he said, "Just be polite, smile and for the love of

the Goddesses, don't chug the champagne."

"Whatever," I said, "But I've never tried champagne. I might hate it."

"You've never had champagne?" He asked.

"Poverty, Leo," I replied, "Heard of that?"

Just then the doorbell rang.

"That will be our ride my lady," Leo said holding one hand out and tucking the other one behind his

back, "Tonight you are my Queen and I will ensure you first taste of champagne will be the word's

finest."

"Why thank you Sir," I said curtsying before taking his hand.

When we opened the door there was a man in a tuxedo waiting.

"Alpha, Luna. Your car awaits," He said nodding.

After I had crammed my dress in the back seat of the car, which looked like something the Queen of

England might own, we began our journey.

It wasn't long before we reached the building the ball was in. The car pulled up in front of it the sound of

an orchestra and a lot of chatter hit my ears.

"Remember back straight and be polite," Leo said as he helped me out the car and lead me to the huge

wooden doors. The door men bowed to us before opening them revealing the huge ball room. There

were 8 symmetrical chandeliers lining the incredible high ceiling that needed pillars as thick as rooms

to hold it up. People were everywhere. Every man with a neat suit or tuxedo and every woman with a

long ball gown and beautiful hair. There were balconies all around acting as a second floor with even

more people. Butlers were handing out platters or wine and champagne whilst the band we had heard

from outside played for people dancing on the vast dance floor each with a mate. Giant bouquets of

flowers decorated the room along with incredibly long curtains reaching from the ceiling to the floor.

The whole room was so big I could scarcely make out the other side, but I didn't have much time to.

After we had been stood at the entrance for a few moments the two door men had whipped out

trumpets from somewhere and started to play some kind of royal sounding fanfare. Silence immediately

swept across the room and every face turned to look at us.

"Signore e Signori i leader di questo grande branco: Alpha Leonardo Loren e la sua Luna Ella Jones."

One of them announced in Italian. I was starting to pick up the language in this pack. I had always been

quite good at languages at school.

I didn't understand all of it at the time but it was somewhere along the lines of 'ladies and gentlemen

your leaders of this fine pack: Alpha Leonardo Loren and his Luna Ella Jones'.

Leo smiled charmingly to the crowd as he stood tall and confidently. Everyone looked upon him in silent

admiration and I tried to follow his lead but felt the embarrassment of this much attention sear red

across my cheeks instead.

Without a word, he then stepped forward, his arm still through mine to the middle of the hall. The dance

floor cleared and then I realised what was going on. My eyes widened and I looked up to Leo who had

a reassuring look on his face. When we were in the centre of the dance floor, Leo stopped, placed one

hand on my waist and with the other held mine in the air. Naturally, I reached up and placed my hand

on his shoulder. The orchestra then began playing and Leo began to guide me around the dance floor.

Why don't we just add dancing to his list of talents? I hadn't a jiffy in a jaffa how to dance but he led and

I just followed his steps and it felt completely natural. After the dance was over. Leo kissed my hand

and turned to the vast audience which I had been trying not to think about. They all applauded civilly.

"Let the ball begin!" Leo boomed no need for a microphone.

"Didn't know you could dance," I said once the dance floor had filled with other couples and there

wasn't as much attention on us.

"I didn't know you could dance," Leo said in response. "Come with me, there's some people you need

to meet."

I nodded my head and let him guide me through the crowd which was splitting for us anyway.

Eventually, we reached a cluster of men gathered in a circle.

"Good evening Leonardo," One of them said. He looked around 60 yet still tall and muscular. Around

him were two other men and one of which was Antonio.

"Ella, here we have the previous three Alphas of the pack. My Father, Antonio, as you already know,

my Grandfather Francesco Loren, my Great Grandfather Marcello Loren and My Great Great

Grandfather Lorenzo Loren."

I tried not to say anything unladylike but Lorenzo must have been bloody old. At least 100 if there were

that many generations below him. But despite his age, he still stood tall and strong.

"A pleasure to meet you all," I said politely nodding my head.

"A pleasure to meet you too. Leonardo is very lucky to have such a beautiful young Luna," Said the one

I remember to be called Marcello.

"So tell me, Leonardo, How long will it be until I am a great x3 Grandfather?" Lorenzo, the oldest said.

I saw Leo's jaw clench slightly.

"He's certainly not rushing it," Antonio said half jokily but with an underlying seriousness.

"Soon enough Lorenzo," Leo said placing his hand on my back.

"Good to hear," Lorenzo replied.

"And what about the pack-" Marcello started to say, but something caught my eye and I completely lost

interest.

By a golden spiral stair case was Max, but that's not who I was looking at. It was the women next to

him. She looked just like my mother, same dark hair and tanned skin. Even her eyes were the exact

same shade of dark brown. She looked a little younger than her though, maybe 25-ish. She had a slim

fitted sophisticated dress on that matched her diamond necklace and hair pin. Leo was still forcing

himself to be civilised with my new in-laws, but I wasn't in the slightest bit interested. A hidden sadness

lay in this woman's eyes. It reminded me of my mother the years after Dad died. I looked over to Max,

he had taken her by the arm and was leading her away from something that she seemed to want to go

towards. I tuned my ear into their conversation.

"You have no right to manhandle me this way, Maximus. You are not my son," She said breaking away

from him.

"You're right, Maddison. I am not your son, I am your nephew and since you don't have any sons

yourself I see it as my duty," Max growled in response.

"I don't have any sons because your father forbade me to be with my mate," She said.

"Then you have him blame," Max responded bluntly.

"Milo has been dead ten years, yet I have had one conversation with the mate I have know for just as

long?" She said.

"It was in my father's dying wish for me to ensure his last remaining sister does not end up with a man

from that wretched family, so that is what I will do until the day one of us dies," Max said leading her

across the room away from whatever it was she was looking at.

"Last remaining sister? Mara is not dead even now," Maddison responded. Mara? Mara Jones was my

mother's name...

"She was dead to him," Max spat ending their dispute.

I looked back across to find Leo's Grandparents gone.

"Everything alright Ella?" Leo asked.

"That woman over there. The one with Max. She's my Aunt isn't she?" I asked.

"Yes, your Mother's sister Maddison. Ever heard anything about her?" Leo asked.

"No, I always thought my Mom was an only child. Turns out she has a brother, sister and a nephew," I

said.

"Four nephews actually. Max has three younger brothers," Leo said.

"Can we go and talk to her?" I asked not even surprised to hear about more family I didn't even know

the existence of.

"I don't know whether that would be best. There's a lot of complication in Milo's family," Leo said,

"Because he didn't allow his sisters to be with their mates?" I asked.

"Yes, mainly that."

"Please. Just for a minute or two. She's my aunt and I have never met her," I said.

"Okay, just for a bit," Leo said and we made our way across to them.

"Good evening, Alpha," Max said bowing his head, "Good evening, Luna," he continued staring me

right in the eye. "This is my Aunt Maddison."

"And my Aunt I believe," I said attracting Maddison's full attention. She had been looking over in the

same direction she had been when they were stood by the stairs, oblivious to the fact that the Alpha

had just approached her.

"Goodness me," she breathed. "Mara's daughter, isn't it?" She said and I nodded.

"My name is Ella," I said.

"You look just like your father. None of this dark hair thing going on."

"So I have been told. My brother is the one with our mother's looks," I said.

"Connor, yes I remember. How old are you both now?" Maddison asked me.

"He's 18 and I'm 17."

"Gosh, it's been that long since I last saw your mother. I hope she is well," Maddison said.

"She is," I answered half lying. "Since my father died, she hasn't been the same, but she seems to be

coping well."

"Hopefully, I will find time to catch up with her soon, so I can see how she is myself," Mara said a sad

look on her face like she knew that that would never happen. I didn't know why and I couldn't begin to

think of a reason why she hasn't seen her sister in 17 years.

"Has it been a shock coming to this pack?" She asked me, changing the subject as we wandered

across the room to a butler serving champagne. Max and Leo walked behind listening intently.

"Well yes. For starters, I didn't know I had four cousins and an Aunt," I said

"It doesn't surprise me that Mara never told you. She was ashamed to be apart of a family that would

rather keep a young girl from her mate than lose a little bit of reputation," Maddison said clearly

directed at Max. "I used to wish I could run away too with my mate," Maddison continued.

"You have a mate?" I asked acting like I hadn't been listening into their conversation earlier.

"Yes, I haven't spoken to him once though. Milo didn't approve and now his son doesn't either," she

replied.

"That's awful. Why not?" I said knowing that Max would hear.

"His name is Tobias Jones," she answered.

"My Dad's brother...,"

"Yes," Maddison answered before Max came out from behind and took her arm, pulling her from me.

"We should be going," Max said leading her away.

I opened my mouth to protest but Max shot me a glare as he pulled Maddison a little more forcefully.

She forced a smile and nodded to me before they were gone.

"My Dad's brother is her mate, but Max won't let them talk to each other?" I said turning to Leo in the

hope he would do something.

"Yes, he fears it will be a repeat of Mara," he answered

"Is Tobias here?" I asked.

"Yes he's over there by those stairs," Leo said and then it dawned on me what Maddison kept looking

at. By the golden stairs was a tall man in about his early thirties. He looked a lot like my Dad did.

Touselled blonde hair and a stubbly beard. Scruffy, but not in a disreputable way. He wore a smart suit

but he hadn't bothered to tuck his shirt in properly and his tie was loose. He stood out in the way he

stood slouched against the staircase with his arms crossed in front of him instead of straight and

upright like every other guest.

"My Dad told us he had a brother. I think I met him once, but when I was really little," I said. "Can we

talk to him?"

"He's your uncle, I don't see why not" Leo answered taking my hand.

"Alpha," Tobias said nodding as we approached. He unfolded his arms and stood up straighter before

setting his eyes on me.

"My brother's only daughter," Tobias said with a bow. "Still as beautiful as ever I see. The last time I

saw you was 14 years ago, you probably don't remember me," Tobias said.

"I do. Only vaguely though," I said.

"I'll leave you two for a moment," Leo said before kissing my head and disappearing.

"How is your mother?" Tobias asked.

"She is well," I responded,

"You don't have to lie for my benefit. No wolf is well without their mate, I know that better than most,"

Tobias said taking a swig of his champagne and looking over to Maddison who was dancing with Max

the same pained expression on her face. "How are you enjoying this pack?"

"It's good. The people are nice to me...mostly," I said thinking about Max

"Well, you're about the only Jones that can say that. We don't exactly have a good reputation here."

"Why don't you go and talk to her?" I said.

"Her nephew will have me killed and I don't see how that makes the situation any better. Whilst I'm

alive I have to live with the pain of not being with her, but at least I have a glimpse of her beautiful face

once in a while to comfort me." Tobias responded.

I sighed in pity. "I'm so sorry. If only I could help."

"Don't worry, kid," he said putting his arm around my shoulder. "I'll be fine and I'm glad to see my niece

doing so well," he then looked at Leo who was now on the other side of the room and brought his lips

closer to my ear. "Your Dad would turn in his grave if he knew who you ended up mated to."

He smiled widely and I couldn't help but laugh.

"The Goddesses must find it amusing to challenge us with the most unsuitable or impossible mates.

How long ago did you find out you were mates with Mara?" I asked

"10 years ago, we had met before but she wasn't old enough for the mate bond to be present. When

she finally turned 17 I was 25 and Milo immediately banned us from seeing each other" Tobias

answered. "He didn't trust me because of my name and that distrust passed down to his son."

"I don't understand why Maddison doesn't run away like Mara did," I said.

"She is Max's little prisoner, he never lets her out of his sight and she rarely leaves the Megestanis

house," Leo said.

"I sometimes sit in the forest nearby, hoping he will leave her unattended just so that I can have one

conversation, one touch of her soft, beautiful skin, one feel of her hair, but he never does and won't as

long as we both live," Tobias explained.

"He has no right," I stated.

"He has all the right he needs, and there is nothing I can do about it," Tobias sighed. "I should probably

stop watching her, seeing her with him is killing me. Hopefully, we'll see each other again soon, Ella."

Tobias then strode off with his eyes on the floor and a certain dreariness in his posture. It ached my

heart to see him so down whilst everybody around us danced and laughed.

Something had to be done. It's unjust.

"Leo," I said approaching my mate and taking his hands. "You have to do something about Tobias and

Maddison. Everybody has the right to be with their mate."

"It used to be a right. But after Mara and your Dad, the pack code was changed and now it's up to the

family to decide. Max is her family so he is entitled to stop them," he explained.

"But as Alpha you can override the fucking pack code? Surely? She's old enough to decide for herself,

surely?!" I questioned before tuning back into Maddison and Max's conversation.

"Every year he stands there waiting, hoping that we can talk and I have had enough. I can't bare a life

without my mate. You are preventing me from happiness, I have to talk to him," Maddison said to Max

in desperation.

"You will do no such thing. And as for happiness, was your sister ever happy with that drunk excuse for

a man?" Max asked.

"The two of them managed to produce a healthy, well mannered, beautiful daughter and my sister

never came running back did she?" Maddison said breaking out of Max's arms and storming off the

dance floor. She didn't come in our direction as Max was hot on her trail. That was when Leo finally

spoke up.

"Maddison Megestanis," He said over the crowd just loud enough for her to hear without turning too

many other heads. She immediately stopped and looked our way. Leo summoned her with his finger

and she graciously approached curtsying when she arrived. "Maximus, I do not require your presence

at this moment in time so if you could leave me to talk with your Aunt that would be most kind," Leo

continued before Max left looking very pissed off. Maddison shuffled and swallowed as if she had done

something wrong.

"Maddison, I believe this is your mate," Leo said looking over at Tobias who had also heard Leo call

Maddison.

"Yes, Tobias Jones is my mate," She said gaining courage.

"You are free to be together and Maximus Megastanis will no longer be keeping you apart," Leo

announced and Maddison's face lit up. "I'm converting the code back to its original meaning. No one

may interfere with a mate bond."

"Thank you Alpha I don't know how I can repay you," Maddison said gleefully.

"It is your Niece you need to be thanking," Leo said.

"Some more cousins would be nice?" I said and Maddison smiled even more tears coming out her

eyes. Tobias then walked over taking long fast strides before their bodies crashed together in an

embrace. He held her in his arms gently caressing her hair as she sobbed into his shoulder. Leo lead

me away from the new couple and took me to the dance floor.

"Thank you, Leo," I said genuinely. "I knew you had a heart in there somewhere."

He smiled and held me close to him, "I just thought about how I'd feel if someone was keeping you

away from me."

So he is capable of empathy too? Things are looking good.

My cheeks blushed and if it weren't for his finger holding my chin up, my gaze would have turned

straight to the floor.

We held eye contact for a few moments before he looked down to my lips and kissed them softly.

"And I guess Jones's aren't all terrible anyway," he joked.

As we continued to dance, I spotted Max over Leo's shoulder leaning against one of the huge pillars on

the edge of the hall. He was glaring directly at me. Absolutely furious. I opened my mouth to say

something to Leo but he raised his eyebrows in a warning kind of way, before mouthing something at

me. It was somewhere along the lines of 'I wouldn't if I were you'. I closed my mouth and instead just

smiled at Leo, who was completely oblivious to the whole thing. I then looked back, expecting to be met

by Max's cold eyes but he was gone.

About ten minutes later, I found myself stood with Lia and Allison. Allison was wearing her beautiful

maroon dress, whilst Lia was wearing a plum purple one with a lacy back.

"Haden went back to Ayas last week, because he had to sort stuff out with his pack but he's coming

back tomorrow to see me," she explained.

"Are you going to go back with him?" I asked.

"I don't know, I don't want to leave my home and family, but I also want to spend all my time with him

not just one day a week," Lia said.

"Well, you could go and live with him in Ayas, but come back here once a week?" I suggested.

"Well that's what I was thinking, but I'm worried we'd get there and he wouldn't let me come back," Lia

said

"Leo defeated him in the challenge remember? He has to let you," Allison said.

"Okay, I think I'll do it, if I can always come back," Lia said taking a deep breath.

"Of course you can! You have to let us help you pack!" I said.

"Sure! we can have a girls' packing party!" Lia said.

At that point Leo came back from talking to someone I didn't know and whisked me off to meet more

cousins and relatives. The night went on with multiple more glasses of wine and even some nibble

things here and there.

"Good evening Mateo," I said curtsying to Mateo who was stood at a large bouquet of flowers in a

huge, expensive-looking vase.

"Leo sung you the song didn't he?" Mateo asked referring to the barbie thing.

"Surprisingly in tune," I said.

"He's always had the voice of an angel in the family," Mateo said taking a mini canopy thing off a

passing butler's tray.

"He can also dance a play the piano apparently," I said before catching the eye of Max again. He was

still stood in pretty much the same place and seemed just as menacing.

"Ella are you okay? What are you looking at?" Mateo said and I shook myself out of my gaze. I looked

back briefly but Max was gone.

"Yeah I'm fine, do you want to dance?" I asked. Leo was talking to Mathias Megestanis and someone

else that I didn't know.

"Sure," Mateo said taking my hand.

As we danced I kept spotting Max over Mateo's shoulder in different places around the large hall.

"Mateo?" I asked extremely quietly. Fortunately, my mouth was very close to Mateo's ear so he could

hear me well.

"Yes," He replied.

"Do you ever think there's something off about Max Megestanis," I asked.

"What do you mean by 'off'," Mateo asked,

"I don't know, I just don't trust him. The way he looks at me is unsettling," I said.

"He just hates your family, I wouldn't take it personally," Mateo replied brushing the matter away.

I mean...in my opinion you don't get that much more personal than someone hating your family

but...whatever. Mateo has to be right.

We danced for an appropriate amount of time before I went back to Leo who as I had hoped, was fine

about me dancing with his brother.

After a few more hours the huge clock in the centre of the back wall struck 12. It was officially the packs

anniversary and Leo had mentioned something about how he does a speech every year. Everybody fell

silent and Leo lead me through to the stage that the band were on. When we reached the stage Leo let

go of my hand and stepped forwards.

"On this day in age 2456 years ago marks the time in which Astraea Goddess of the stars and

Ennosigaeus Goddess of Neptune, set forth to create the greatest pack to ever graze this earth. The

time in which Vulgarise Loren became the mighty Potestas Loren and the time in which our fourteen

factions, Triton, Nereid, Larissa, Proteus, Naiad, Thalassa, Galatea, Despina, Neso, Psamathe,

Laomedeia, Halimede, Sao and Lissauer were established. They provided us our power, our wealth,

our language, our land. Everything this pack is today, even 2456 years later is owed to our founders.

We must take this day and use it to thank them.

And this anniversary also marks the first in which we have the company of our 122nd Luna," he said

taking my hand. "People of the Stella Pack, I pronounce to you, My mate Ella Marie Jones."

The crowd applauded generously.

"So I invite you all to join me on this day in age to thank our Goddesses and celebrate the pack they

forged for us!" Leo finished before there was another bout of applause.

"Leo, can I say something?" I whispered.

He looked down at me in surprise but nodded. I stepped forward. There was no microphone but after

Leo raised one simple hand, the room fell to deadly silence.

"I just wanted to thank you all for such a warm welcome into your pack," I began my voice shaking a

little. "And whilst I don't want to disrupt the formality of this event, I wanted to take the opportunity to

share a short story."

Leo looked at me in confusion but I continued. He didn't know what I was about to do and I could hardly

believe it either.

"Leonardo..or um the Alpha, tells me that an Alpha needs the support of his people because it is the

people that make a pack. Without them, this wonderful pack would be nothing but forest and lakes. He

cherishes and values every single one of you and your wellbeing, happiness and protection is the sole

motivation behind his leadership. That is what an Alpha is for, right? Which is why, as a token of his

appreciation, we have decided to give something back. Some of you may currently have incomplete

families-"

At this point, it clicked in Leo's head where I was going and he shot me a deep, soul-shaking glare.

But I continued. There was nothing he could do in front of his entire pack.

"The Alpha and I would like to make a promise to you that your sons will be returned," I announced.

"And we'd like you to offer you our apologies for all the grief the infant training programme has brought

you. It was a mistake made in false belief that it was what was best for the pack."

There was a huge cheer amongst the crowd and I saw many couples turn to each other in glee.

I stepped back and Leo took my hand in a bone-crushing grip.

"What the fuck have you done?" he growled through the fake smile plastered on his lips.

"I got the support of the people," I said as I continued to watch the happiness I had caused. "Just as

you asked."

Leo then waved to the crowd before he pulled me off through a door leading out of the great hall. He

marched along a long corridor until the music and chatter were faint where he slammed me into the

wall.

"Do you have any idea how furious I am, right now," he said his hand raising up.

He then closed his eyes and paused for a moment before taking a breath out and lowering his arm

again. I was certain that he almost hit me.

But it would have been worth it.

"Why would you do that?!" he growled. "Are you trying to destroy this pack?"

"To force you to do what you should have done years ago," I replied. "Now you have a choice. Give the

people what they want or lose their support."

"Well fucking played," he snarled finally letting go of my shoulders and stepping back. "That was smart,

I'll give you that. But I trusted you, you abused it and now I'm pissed off."

"I'll survive," I remarked with a scoff. "And saving those kids from eternal misery is worth whatever you

do to me."

Just then the door to the hall opened and footsteps came marching along. We soon found out that it

was Antonio and he was almost as angry as Leo.

"You have got some nerve, Ella," he growled approaching me in an intimidating way.

Leo stepped in between me and him as he got dangerously close.

"Step back," he ordered.

"So you're just going to let her humiliate you in front of the pack?" Antonio asked. "She's destroying the

reputation that you worked so hard for! Do you have any idea how this makes you look?!"

"What do you expect me to do?" Leo hissed pushing his chest. "Hit her in the middle of a ball that my

entire pack has attended? How do you think that will make me look?"

"Better than this," Antonio replied. "At least your people would see that you aren't letting a girl fuck you

around."

"And as far as the pack know, I am backing this and I am not going to give them a reason to think

otherwise. Neither will you and neither will anyone that knows me well enough to guess that this was

not my doing," Leo said deeply.

"You're letting her fuck you around," he replied glaring at me. "And it will be your downfall if you don't

sort it out, now. You're the Alpha. You make the decisions. Not your little bitch of a Luna that doesn't

know when to shut her mouth."

I raised my eyebrows. Did he just call me a bitch?

"And I am dealing with it," Leo said deeply, "She is my mate."

"You're dealing with it, huh? More like letting her get away with shit like this time and time again. The

hole is getting deeper, Leo. You just let her win and now you have no choice but to deliver her

promise," Antonio said. "What next?"

Antonio then stormed off back towards the hall.

I opened my mouth but he held up his finger as he stared at the ground in thought.

"Don't fucking speak," he said before taking my wrist and dragging me in the same direction as Antonio

went.

The rest of the ball was painful. Leo was fairly good at acting and greeted everyone that came to us to

express their gratitude for the promise with a warm smile but he gripped my hand tightly and took every

opportunity to glare at me. Dancing with him was the worst, he held me close to him and completely

controlled every single move. He might as well have been dragging a sack of potatoes around.

As the ball finally came to an end, people began to leave the building. Leo and I stood at the door, Leo

shook a few hands and I nodded and smiled to everyone I made eye contact with. I spotted Maddison

and Tobias leaving together, huddled tightly like nothing could ever get between them. I smiled as I

watched them go out the door. A smile that was quickly stolen when Max came past. His icy cold eyes

set on me as he passed and he came dangerously close. I stepped back slightly away from him.

Eventually, when all the guests had gone Leo and I got back in the car we arrived in and we drove

back.

The journey was utterly silent and uncomfortable. Leo wouldn't even look at me and I could sense the

driver knew something was up, he kept looking at me few the rearview mirror and offering me slight

smiles. I appreciated that but it didn't make up for the intense anger I was receiving from Leo.

As the journey went on in silence, I began to feel incredibly guilty. I didn't regret doing what I did to help

those children but I hated this feeling. I hated fighting with Leo and I hated when he was angry with me.

When we pulled up in front of the house, the driver opened the door on Leo's side. He got out first and

then daned to turn around and take my hand as I struggled out with my dress. But he didn't for a

second look me in the eye and his hold on me was tight and cold. The driver nodded and smiled to me

once more before he drove away leaving me alone with Leo.

We went upstairs to our room before Leo began angrily ripping off his tie and throwing his jacket onto

the chair.

"Did Lia talk to you?" I asked, standing awkwardly in the corner. "About her going back with Haden

tomorrow."

I couldn't think what else to say but I had to break the silence.

"Yes, she did," he replied bluntly.

"And....?" I said.

"If I stopped her I would be as bad as Max," he said. "And I was going to let you go and pack with her

but not anymore."

"Leo," I said. "Are you joking?"

"Do I look like I'm fucking joking?" he asked turning around and looking at me for the first time in hours.

"Did I look like I was fucking joking when I almost hit you earlier?!"

His face was stern and serious. There wasn't a flicker of anything but pure anger.

"I'm sorry, okay?" I said. "For challenging your authority or whatever. I didn't want to and I didn't enjoy it

but I had to for the sake of those poor little kids. Hopefully, when we have our own kids, you'll

understand that."

He turned back around and scoffed.

"Challenging my authority?" he questioned as he ripped off his shirt. "You did far more than fucking

challenge it."

"You left me with no other choice," I snapped.

"You had a choice to act like a normal Luna and not blackmail your Alpha into doing what you want," he

growled. "Where do you even get the courage to defy nature?!"

"Defy nature? What because you're a man?" I asked with a laugh.

His jaw tightened and suddenly he turned around and began marching towards me.

I cowered back but not fast enough and he soon had me pinned against the wall. His sudden

movement surprised me and he glared into my eyes sending a shudder down my spine.

My heartbeat raced as I looked up at him, completely unable to move. He closed his eyes for a few

seconds before pulling himself off me and sitting on the bed, staring at the wall and brooding.

I caught my breath and smoothed down my dress before standing in the corner for another few

minutes.

"Are you going to stand there all night?" he asked eventually. "You should sleep."

"I can't get out of this dress alone," I said.

The way it fastened was complicated and stretched right down from my neck to lower back. There was

no chance of me undoing it myself.

He sighed and beckoned me over with his finger as he swung his legs onto the floor, sitting on the edge

of the bed.

I stood in front of him, turned around and let him untie the fasten.

He tugged with more force than necessary, moving my entire body but I soon felt it loosen and I could

shrug it off my shoulders and slip-free.

When I turned around to pick it off the floor, I caught him staring at my body. He still seemed angry but

now he let out a deep sigh, and his muscle relaxed a little.

"Come here," he said.

I dropped the dress back down to the floor and stepped between his legs as he put his hands on my

hips.

He looked me up and down again, this time running his fingers along my skin before he looked me in

the eye and beckoned me to crouch down.

I knelt in front of him and he instantly put his hand behind my neck and pulled me into his lips as the

other hand came onto my chest.

I opened my mouth to speak but he brought his finger to my lips.

"Do not talk," He grumbled, before reaching for the button on his pants, "Do not fucking talk."

He then kissed me again before pushing his hand up into my hair and bringing my head down and

unzipping his pants.

I looked up at him and he smiled before putting his hand firmly under my chin and running his thumb

along my lips, "It's the least you can do."