Alpha Loren
Chapter 17 A Coincidence

October 13th

After he showed me to the base, Leo took me over to Luca's house.

He lived in a very neat, tidy village. Every house was big and picturesque and the roads weresmooth and tarmac.

"Leo!"l heard Luca shout from the porch of a house.

My mouth curled into a smile at the sound of his voice. I turned to see him frantically waving like anexcited child.

"Welcome to Luca's AKA the party house,” He said gesturing to the house Luca was stood outsideof.

"Any idea where Max Megestanis is?" Leo called back.

I'd been introduced to the Megestanis of all the factions so far. I presumed that Max was the leaderof the biggest and final faction of the pack: Triton.

"Right here,” Luca said pointing to another man who had just walked out the house.

“Max’ didn't have the usual honey brown or golden hair and blue eyes of the Stella people andinstead, his eyes and hair were the same dark brown, almost black. For a moment, I saw Connor inhim.

But hen I looked closer as he stared directly at me with a straight expression, and noticed his darkdemeanour made him absolutely nothing like my brother.

"Max this is Ella, your Luna. Ella this is the Megestanis of Triton," Leo said.

We headed up to Luca's porch where we stood opposite Max, who was still yet to relieve me of hisglare.

"Buongiorno,” Max said in a low voice.

"Nice to meet you, Max" I returned, refusing to look away from him until he looked away from me.That would be a sign of submission to look down at the floor or even break the eye contact and Idon't do submission.

"What's with the stare off?" Luca asked stepping in between us with a massive grin on his face. Onlywhen Luca was blocking the view between us did I realise how tightly Leo was gripping my arm."Sorry, let's start again. Maximus Megestanis. Megestanis of Triton faction for 10 years- since I was14," He said holding his hand out to me and smiling...although I could tell that it was incredibly fake.It was enough to convince Leo though and he released my arm

"Ella Jones," I said taking his hand. His grip was incredibly tight and when I looked back at his face ithad returned to the same stone-cold glare.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ella Jones," he said through gritted teeth as his grip on my hand gottighter and tighter.

"Shall we go inside I'm going to Mexico tonight so need some help setting everything up fortomorrow because I won't have time," Luca chirped before Max let go of my hand. I immediatelypulled it into my chest in a nursing manner.

"Why are you going to Mexico?" I asked.

I thought that I saw him exchange looks with Leo for a short second but then he just shrugged.

"I want an enchilada,” he replied casually.

Strange man.

"I suppose we have a minute,” Leo said as he followed Luca through the door. I was about to go toowhen Max stepped in front of me.

"I am warning you now Luna," He growled quietly in my ear once they were out of sight. "Watchwhere you tread because you're family and mine aren't exactly friends,” He continued.

What did he mean? My family? I've never seen him before in my life! And I hardly even have afamily.

He stepped out the way of the door, I passed him I dared to look him in the eye.

"Don't fucking threaten me,” I hissed. "I have no idea who you are or what you're talking about soyou better leave me the fuck alone.”

He only glared harder but I wasn't going to entertain him any longer so I went into the house afterLeo

"So I need you to hang these fairy lights along the stairs and across the ceiling,” Luca explained toLeo. "God I never thought I would replace myself given orders to the Alpha. Especially when the Alphais you," Luca laughed as he saw me come into the hallway.

"Fuck off," Leo grumbled. "And give me them," he added taking the string of lights that Luca wasstruggling to untangle out of his hands.

Luca ordered us about for at least an hour hanging lights, making decorations and editing theplaylist he'd made of all the Britney Spears songs.

"The last thing I want to show you is the base,” He said after we had finally escaped. "There's a fewpeople to meet too."

"Okey dokey," I chirped.

"You're in a good mood,” he said taking my hand.

"Well it's been a nice day so far,” I said with a shrug, "Don't ruin it."

"Max is going to come with us to the base," he said.

And he ruined it.

"Since he is the Megestanis he feels it is his duty to show the new Luna around his faction," He said."Leo...I-" I started.

"Hey guys,” Max said beaming at us both as he jogged over to Leo's car.

But despite his smile when he turned to me I could still detect the cold expression in his eyes and Istopped my sentence immediately.

"We need to get going,” Leo said.

When we arrived at the base, we were greeted by a much busier atmosphere. There were peoplebustling around everywhere walking in and out of buildings. It was more like a town than anywherewe'd been so far.

"I guess you could call this the high street of the base,” Max said once we were out the car.

"Here we have the meeting house, the courts, the hospital, the prison, cafes, shops, restaurants,” hesaid pointing to various buildings, "And down that road is the army centre where a lot of thetraining happens, supplies are handled and weapons are stored.”

"We'll go there first,” Leo announced, "Some of my brothers should be there training for anotherhalf hour."

When we arrived, we saw Marco and Carlos wresting on a padded mat underneath a canvas shelterstrapped between two trees. Around us there were boxing bags, archery boards, weights and knifethrowing all distributed through the trees.

"Okay, we are going to have to call it quits lads. Its been almost 20 minutes and neither of you isgetting anywhere," A young strong-looking man said with a stopwatch in his hand, "Oh afternoon,Alpha," he added as he saw us.

"So neither twin has got stronger yet I see,” Leo said as we approached them.

"One day..." Carlos (I think) muttered under his breath.

"You wish," Marco replied punching his brother playfully on the shoulder to which he responded byhurling into him in a messy pile of long limbs and grunts.

"Boys, I want 100 press-ups and 100 sit-ups! Last to finish does 3 laps of Triton instead of 2," Thetrainer interrupted and they immediately stopped fighting to complete the said activity.

"Ella this is Adolphus my head trainer,” Leo said causing “Adolphus’ face to turn into a childish scowl."But he prefers Ollie," Leo finished with a smirk.

"Do me a favour and never EVER call me Adolphus,” He said shaking my hand.

Ollie looked as though he was practically made of steel.

"He's pretty much always here," Leo said, "The man doesn't sleep.”

Ollie smiled, "Soldiers aren't gonna train themselves.”

"They're all men," I observed as we wandered through many more adult and teenaged malestraining hard. "Where are the women and children?"

"The girls are trained separately over there,” he replied, "They learn self-defence, first aid andsurvival techniques.”

I looked up at him, "You don't teach them to fight?" I asked.

"No. There's no need,” Leo replied.

"How so?" I asked.

"Because females wolves are weaker than males wolves so I'd rather focus our resources on themen," Leo replied.

"Well you don't seem short of resources, Leonardo,” I said looking around me at the prosperity ofthis pack, "And have you considered that the women are only weak because you are keeping themweak?"

"It's biology," Max said.

I snapped my eyes to him

"And it's better for the pack and keeps everybody safer. My main objective is to protect the pack,not equality and all that,” Leo continued.

"Has there ever been a female Alpha?" I asked and a loud snort to erupt from Max's directioncausing me to glare once again.

"A female Alpha?" Leo asked, chuckling supposedly at the thought of a female Alpha, "No."

Heaven forbid!

"Shame. I think a woman in charge could do this pack a world of good,” I sighed. "The pack menmight actually start to respect us and give us more of a say in the future.”

Max laughed.

"Something funny?" I asked.

"If there was a pack left to have a say about that is,” he remarked.

"Do you really think that lowly of women?" I hissed.

"Ella," Leo warned.

"Who fucking raised you?" I questioned.

"Ella, that is enough,” Leo said.

"There is a good reason that there are not more women in charge," Max said.

"Yeah because people like you and you," I began looking from Max to Leo. "Don't give us theopportunity.”

"If women are so strong and independent why do they need men to give them the opportunity tolead?" Max asked. "Leaders aren't given shit. They take it."

"Both of you were born into your leadership roles. And how many times have the Alpha couple hada girl as their firstborn and given the Alphaship to her younger brother?! Men are givenopportunities to lead and women are not. It's not fair.”

Max shrugged, "Because it would be like giving a penguin the opportunity to fly and not the eagle.”I took a deep angry breath and opened my mouth to speak.

"Ella," Leo growled grabbing my arm. "Stop arguing with my Megestanis.”

He glared at me with angry black eyes and I shut my mouth.

"Walk," He demanded, turning around to look straight ahead.

"I miss being a rogue," I said as we walked, "When I wasn't expected to comply to the socialstructure of a pack where men can order women around and they have to submit and letthemselves be degraded to opinionless possessions or obedient “companions’ at the very most.Yes... definitely miss it. The freedom mostly. But also not being treated like a second class citizenand actually having human rights.”

Every word I hissed with spite and every word I meant from the bottom of my heart.

"Even humans understand equality better than you," I added.

"Humans are stupid and don't understand naturally hierarchy. If you, or any she-wolf here, can beatme in a fight then sure, you can be in charge,” Leo answered swiftly.

I knew I was stepping on EXTREMELY thin ice but I continued anyway. We had reached the entranceto the camp road and I could begin to see the busy streets.

"Would you be willing to fight me then?" I asked. His jaw clenched and eyes flashed with cold anger."Don't fucking test me," He growled anger seething through his gritted teeth as we approached thecar.

"Alpha Loren!" A middle-aged man's voice called.

"Max stay with her. I need to sort something out," Leo demanded before following the man.

Max and I stood by the car whilst Leo did whatever boring pack stuff he needed to do.

"If you were my mate you would never be seeing the light of day again after that little stunt,” Maxsaid. "The Alpha is far too easy on you.”

"Fuck off Max. Our relationship is none of your business,” I hissed.

"You are just like your Father,” Max said in an icy tone.

"You knew my dad?" I said slightly taken about by his words.

"It takes a lot of courage to question the Alpha Like you did. And a lot of stupidity,” He replieddodging my question. "And that is where your father went wrong,” He continued.

"My Dad is dead,” I said.

"I know. But years ago he was a Stella.”

"What...?"

"About hmmm... let me think until 17 years 3 weeks and 8 days ago,” He said. "Roughly," He addedwith a sarcastic smirk. "Oh so if today is October 13th, 2016 that would be hmm... September 14th,1999."

He gave me a sarcastic smile as I processed the information.

"..But that's the..." I stuttered, "That's the day I was born.”

"Oh really? That's an odd coincidence isn't it?" He smirked.

"Are you coming with us, Max?" Leo said making his way back to us.

"I'm gonna replace my own way back,” Max said flashing his pearly teeth. He looked at me with hisusual stone-cold glare designed especially to make me feel uncomfortable and then left.

"Do I get a choice too?" I questioned.

"Shut up. We are going home," Leo deadpanned before opening the car door for me. I would say'How gentlemanly’ if it weren't for the raging expression on his face.

I walked through the front door of the house, Leo hot on my trail. The 10-minute car journey hadbeen silent except for the occasional grunt on Leo's part.

"That disrespect you showed me earlier and the humiliation in front of one of my Megastanis willnever happen again. I will not be shown up by my own mate. Do you understand me?"

"Sure," I grumbled kicking my shoes off by the door.

"For fuck's sake," he growled clenching his fist.

"Do I frustrate you, Leonardo?" I asked taking off my jacket.

He shot me a glare before sitting down on the steps of the stairs and running his hand through hishair.

"Today you have convinced my top Megestanis that I can’t control you. Who next?" he asked, "MyBeta?"

"Your reputation is not my problem," I said with a shrug.

"Isn't it?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Because if people around here start thinking I've beenweakened, they could start to challenge everything that keeps this pack running. And my enemies,people that would happily have you dead, will start to take advantage of that. Do you want to livethrough a war, Ella? Do you want to be killed by fucking rogues?”

"No," I said, "Of course I don't."

"Then you better sit the fuck down,” he replied.

I scowled at him, "Or you could step the fuck up. I'll respect you when I feel you deserve respect.Protect your own fucking reputation.”

He looked at me in disbelief.

He then stood up and approached me before putting his hands on my shoulders and examining myface closely for a few seconds

"Why don't you fear me?" he asked, "You disrespect me and your heart rate doesn't even change.You don't shuffle or stutter or sweat. You have no fear."

I shrugged, "Because you won't hurt me."

"You don't know that. You don't know me," he replied, raising an eyebrow, "We've been togetherthree days."

He had a point.

"But in those three days, I bet I've pissed you off more than anyone ever has and yet do you see anybruises?” I asked.

He stayed motionless in thought for a few more moments.

"Hmm," he said before turning away from me.

"So essentially what you're saying is, if I want you to submit to me, I need to beat you?" he asked, adark smile on his lips, "As easy as that?"

I paused.

"But you wouldn't," I said.

"Wouldn't I?"

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again when no words flowed out.

He smiled, "There it is...the fear.”

His eyes glinted as I struggled to replace my words.

"There is a lot to me that you don't know yet, Ella," he said, placing his finger on my chin, "Don't getcomfortable.”