Alpha Loren
Chapter 68 War of The Pickles

November 16th

I woke the next morning groggy eyed and with a serious lack of enthusiasm for life. Thankfully, Leowas no where to be seen, but I could smell him from somewhere in the house.

I didn't move for what felt like at least an hour. Nothing seemed to be working in terms ofmotivation so in the end I just gave up trying to get out of the warm comfy bed and just lay there.Eventually, my stomach gave me the inducement I needed to I tiptoe downstairs in search of foodwith the hope that my mate was in his office and wouldn't hear or notice me.

"Morning Ella," a deep voice called from his office.

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and froze.

"Morning," I replied before quickly diverting away from his office and into the kitchen.

I headed straight for the cupboard. I'll just grab my gherkins and be on my way...

Hold up.

Who stole my gherkins?

I climbed onto the counter to get a better look of the empty shelf, but all I found was a note withLeo's handwriting in the usual spot of my beloved pickle jar (yes I know we only met yesterday. It'scalled love at first sight duh).

My Dearest Luna,

I want to speak to you. Your gherkins are with me in my office. Feel free to come and collect them.From you Dearest Alpha

XX

That son of a bitch.

I glanced over to the door of his office in the hallway.

The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him after last night but I was also desperately craving thosegherkins.

So I took a deep breath and walked up to the door. I hesitated just outside, for some reason stillreluctant to bring my hand to the door knob.

"Come in," he said.

I pushed open the door and my eyes instantly fell onto the jar of gherkins on his desk.

I reached forward but he got to the first and held it up away from me.

"Sit down," he said gesturing to the chair in front of him.

"What kind of game are you playing Leo?" I asked

"This isn't a game, Ella,” he replied, "This is how it's gonna be and it's how we are going to fix thisfragile relationship. So sit the fuck down and talk to me.”

I looked down at the chair before looking back to him. His face was hard and stern and the jar ofgherkins were still gripped firmly in his hand.

I then slowly sat down, "You don't have to treat me like a child.”

"Look me in the eye when you speak to me," he said. "Otherwise I might think you're scared orsomething."

I then realised how my gaze was fixated on the swirls and patterns of the rug on the floor and Ilooked up.

"I'm not scared of you," I said firmly.

He nodded before he leant back in his chair, "Luca's having a small gathering tonight. Do you wantto go?"

"Small gathering or raging party?" I asked.

He smiled, "Probably the latter.”

"The last one didn't exactly end in success..." I said thinking back to how he passed out and I waskidnapped by my own brother and Logan.

"Well..." he began, "The chance of Logan Wilson rising from the dead and drugging the vodka againis immeasurably close to zero.”

"But...the problem with the rogues-"

"Is sorted for now," he replied, "Don't worry."

I nodded, “If you are sure then, of course, I want to go."

My eyes then wandered back to the gherkin jaw.

He let out a soft law before handing it to me.

"Now sit and keep me company whilst I finish my work," he said, "I won't be long.”

I took the jar and stood up but he only lifted his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you not hear me?" he asked

"Why do you want me here?" I asked.

"Because you're my mate and I like your company,” he said. "Now sit."

I dropped myself back down into the chair. It was small but plump and I wrapped the fluffy blanketdraped over the back around me.

For the next hour, I sat, my pickles in hand, watching Leo fill out form after form and write letterafter letter. He hardly looked up, let alone spoke for the entire duration

It felt odd to be sat here in so much peace with him in front of me. It's not something we usually didand to begin with, it grew a feeling of unnerve. But as time and silence passed and the pickle-lesspit in my stomach was filled, I began to replace comfort in just keeping each other's company.Eventually, he put his pen down and looked up.

"Come here," he said gesturing for me to sit on his lap.

I smiled before leaving the armchair to perch myself on the edge of his knees. Of course, he pulledme further into his chest and wrapped his long arms around my body.

After a few minutes of just holding me Leo's lips slowly found their way to mine. Via instinct, I feltmyself immediately return the kiss. God the control he has.

His lips curl into a satisfied smile before continuing to kiss me.

His hand was soon reaching for the buttons on my shirt but I dragged my lips away and put myhand on top of his.

"What's wrong?" he asked moving his hand off the button and back to my waist.

I sighed, "I don't want to mate right now."

"Why not?" he questioned.

"I just...” began thinking about last night and the blood and his sudden weird behaviour, "..don'tfeel like it."

He nodded, "Okay. Later,” he said before kissing me one more time before letting me go.