Alpha Loren
Chapter 222 Chapter 222

Two months later...

It was a sunny Sunday morning. The sun shone into the library and there was a gentle breezethrough the open windows as I sat on the carpet playing with Stefano and Zacharias. Leo was outworking but Max sat on the other side of the room with the twins on his lap reading to them as welistening to the crashing of Cato, Mathias, Silas and Lili playing in one of their bedrooms.

But even still it was peaceful.

I felt like myself again and I was happy. I could be a mother to my children again and just simplyenjoy life. The nightmares were fading and every day the hugs and cuddles with Leo grew longer asthe memories of Andrea being touched could trigger became less painful. My progress andrecovery was slowly and predominantly made up of the occasionally little step but we'd both agreedthere was no need to rush it.

Just then the doorbell rang. Max looked up and stopped reading.

"Don't stop the story,” I said. "I'll get it."

I left Max and the kids upstairs before heading down to answer the door.

There was nobody stood on the doorstep, just a small white envelope. I picked it up to see my namewritten in an elaborate hand on the front.

Except it wasn't my name. Not the name I went by anyway.

Ella Martinez

I looked up into the forest. Everything was as still as ever. I then ripped open the envelope andtipped out the contents.

A silver ring fell out onto my palm with a large glistening diamond. It shone beautifully in thedaylight yet I shuddered at the sight of it. It was a ring that had belonged to me that I haddiscarded into some Venezuelan jungle months ago, thinking I'd never have to set my eyes on itagain.

The accompanying note read:

We'll be back together soon enough, Blanca.

My hands began to shake and I slammed the door, locked it and ran upstairs.

"Frannie, Marie, why don't you go and play in your room. Max will finish the story later," I said.

He looked at me confused as there were a couple of disappointed wines from the twins but theysoon left after a little encouragement and I thrust the letter towards Max.

"This was on the doorstep,” I said.

"Ella Martinez?" he questioned.

"Read inside,” I ordered.

He did and his face dropped.

"And this was with it," I added presenting the ring. "It's the ring Andrea gave me when heproposed.”

"And it just showed up on the doorstep?”

I nodded.

He stood up and marched down to the front door where he looked out into the forest. There wasstill nothing.

"I should search the area. Whoever it was can't have gone far," he began. "But I can't leave youalone in case they really haven't gone far."

So instead, he phoned Leo who on hearing the news was a terrible mix of angry because somebodyhad managed to get so close to me and into the pack, concerned about the sudden reappearanceof Andrea's threat and shocked at the news that he actually still does exist.

"Are you okay, Ells?" Max asked me as we sat in the living room, awaiting Leo's arrival home.

I shook my head.

"No," I replied. "I was beginning to believe he was gone. I was beginning to move on. Now this hasbrought it all back and it feels like poison in my veins."

"It could be nothing," Max suggested

"You don't know Andrea like I do," I replied. "He's got something planned and it will be the mostflawless, clever and wicked scheme in existence. This was just the warning.”

Twenty minutes later, Leo was home and staring motionlessly at the letter as he spun the ring in hisfingers.

"I don't understand. How did he get it to our front doorstep without the border guards or anyoneelse noticing a thing?" he said.

"I don't know," Max replied. "But at least he did. We wouldn't have had a warning otherwise.""You're right. He's sacrificed covertness for grandiose,” Leo concluded. "Now we will see himcoming. I need to go and prepare my army. Max, stay here until I get back. I'll send Luca too, just incase.”

"Leo, wait," I said. "Andrea wouldn't have just blown his cover without meaning to. You know whathe wants you to know, remember? He clearly wants you to know he's coming."

"I don't see how that could ever be a disadvantage to us," Leo replied.

I sighed, "Neither do I but just be wary. Try not to fall into any of his traps, okay?"

He nodded and pulled me into a hug.

"1 will protect you at all costs, Ella," he said, kissing my head. "I will not let him hurt you. Not again."