Alpha Loren
Chapter 97 My True Love Gave to Me

December 25th

On Christmas morning I woke up bright and early. Leo and I had spent the night in a spare roomwhilst Cato slept in ours so when he started screaming at 6 am I had to step out into the coldhallway.

"Sssh, Cato," I hushed. "Daddy is still asleep.”

I spent the next fifteen minutes feeding him before he fell back to sleep and I lay him back in hiscrib.

Afterwards, I still hadn't heard a sound from Leo, who, since Cato had been born and the sleeplessnights begun, no longer naturally woke at stupid O'clock in the morning. I made my way downstairswith the plan to make him breakfast and a caffeinated coffee to bring up to him in bed.

"You smell..fresh..." I heard a voice say as I walked into the kitchen.

"Jesus shit!" I cursed as the life vacated my body.

I turned to face the uninvited intruder. Luciano.

"That's right. Happy birthday Jesus Christ," he said with a plastic smile, "God bless and shit.”

I was still catching my breath and had no chance to reply before he just kept talking.

"The aroma of Leonardo on you is remarkably strong. Let me guess...you had-"

"Why are you here, Luciano?” I interjected.

"To wish you both a Merry Christmas. Duh," he said standing up. "Cup of tea?"

Despite the fact that I was occupying a very small area in the grand scheme of the kitchen, Lucianofelt the need to walk incredibly close to me- as if he was being deliberately intimidating.

"Leonardo really ought to get into the habit of locking your back door by the way. Anyone couldgetin.."

I looked over to the back door. My boots lay sprawled on the step still damp with snow and besidethem, the once glorious fire had died into a pile of smouldering ash.

"Where is Leonardo anyway?" Luciano asked from where he stood filling the kettle.

"Upstairs."

"Is he asleep?”

I opened my mouth but Luciano interrupted me before I had the chance to say anything.

"Yes, otherwise he would have been down here the second he heard my voice,” he said answeringhis own question. "So be a lamb and go and get him for me."

I scowled at him.

"Or would you prefer some more quality bonding time with your second cousin?"

At that point, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Like waking the dead this morning, Leonardo. Exciting night?" Luciano asked as an exhausted,messy-haired, shirtless Leo staggered into the kitchen.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Luciano?” Leo groaned gesturing for me to move closer to him. "OnChristmas day?"

I shuffled towards Leo and he resting his arm on my shoulder.

"And a very merry Christmas to you too," Luciano replied with a smug look as he watched meintensely.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?” Leo groaned.

"I thought I'd come and make you your morning tea," he said, "To spread the festive cheer.”"You've never spread cheer in your life,” Leo hissed, "Why the fuck aren't you in the Southernterritory with Connor Jones?"

"That's the thing... Connor Jones isn't in the Southern territory either.”

"You let him escape?” Leo growled.

"To cut a long story short.”

Leo clenched his jaw before mumbling for fuck's sake’ under his breath.

"Search the territory,” he ordered, "If he isn't on it, then let him go. I was going to exile himtomorrow anyway and we already have the names.”

"You are going to make us search the entire territory on Christmas day?"

Leo shot Luciano a glare.

"Maybe you should have considered that before you let him escape,” he said, "Stop wasting time,leave me and my Luna alone and get it done.”

"Chill, Leonardo," Luciano said as he reached for the mug cupboard, "He's probably already halffrozen to death in the snow anyway. He'll be dead soon.”

"All the more reason to get looking for him."

Luciano let out a short laugh before looking up to Leo inquisitively, "But wouldn't it just be so handyif he were to die on his own accord?"

His eyes then cast down to me, where he smiled in pure sadistic amusement.

"We all know how much you want him dead. The only thing stopping you is her never forgiving you.So if it wasn't strictly your fault well..how convenient.”

With that, Leo had had enough.

"Fuck off Luciano before I end up punching you for invading my house...again," he growled.

"Just call me Santa Claus," Luciano replied before promptly leaving out of the back door."Motherfucker," Leo cursed once the door was shut.

I watched as Leo locked the back door securely.

"So remind me why you're friends with him again?" I implored, "I see no redeeming quality.”

"He's efficient and he gets shit done,” Leo replied, "And that is literally it. But he's been like abrother to me. Every time I was arrested as a teenager, he was there. Every time I was suspendedfrom high school, he was involved. Every time I took something I probably shouldn't have taken, hedid too. Every time I need something down away from the public eye, he will do it."

"He sounds like nothing but trouble to me," I said

"Hmm," Leo hummed, "And that's why I want him as far from you and Cato as possible. I know himwell and consequently, I don't trust him. Especially now he has this weird obsession with you."

I nodded before looking out at the snow, "What sets you apart from him?"

Leo looked at me for a brief second before walking to the kitchen counter to finish the tea Lucianohad started making.

"I'm your mate," he said, "I wouldn't dream of hurting you."

"..but is that it?" I asked, "Apart from that are you the same-"

"Ella please it's Christmas day. Can we not talk about something a little more cheerful than LucianoMegestanis?"

I sighed before getting up to go to the plug socket and flip the switch.

"That's better,” I said as the entire room lit up with the Christmas lights Leo and I had hung a fewdays ago.

There was also a gigantic Christmas tree that Leo had literally dragged in from the forest anddisplayed in the corner of the room. It was so tall that even Leo stood on a chair couldn't reach thetop to put the star on.

"We should probably figure out how to get the star on the tree before people arrive," I suggested."Are you scared of heights?" he questioned.

"No..why?" I asked.

A second later, he had seized my around the waist and lifted me up onto his shoulders before hepicked up the star and climbed onto the chair by the tree.

He held had an iron grip on my legs as I sat on his shoulder's but I was nine feet off the ground andthe way the chair wobbled slightly whenever he moved wasn't exactly reassuring.

He handed me the star and I slowly let go of his head, which I had been clutching for stability, toput the star on top.

"Perfect," I said with a smile once I was back on the safety of the gound.

For the rest of the morning, we peeled countless potatoes, carrots and parsnips after getting theturkey prepared and in the oven.

For lunch, we were hosting the entire Loren family plus Luca so an unimaginable amount of foodwas required.

I was incredibly jealous of Leo's family. There were so many of them and there was never a quietmoment but they loved and protected each other fiercely and I couldn't have asked for a better'borrowed" family to spend Christmas day with.

Only a couple of hours later, the house was filled with people. Marco and Carlos's were blessing uswith some terrible carol singing. Luca had a whole host of Christmas themed jokes which werepossibly worse than the singing but still got laughs because he's well...Luca. Rosa had brought anapple and cinnamon pie which smelt simply divine and the girls were all dressed in beautiful festivedresses of red and green.

When it got to 4 o clock, it was time for gift giving. I had gone Christmas shopping with Allisonearlier in the week and had managed to replace a little something for every member of the family.The girls were easy to shop for: some jewellery, a nice candle, a book to feed Lisa's serial readinghabit, a cactus for Bella to add to her collection etc. Even Leo's brothers were fairly easy to please.But Leo?

What does someone get a rich 23-year-old Alpha with few needs?

After crawling the shops and replaceing nothing meaningful and special, I resorted to trying to makehim something.

At school I'd always had an eye for painting and brushed, paper and paints were the only things Icould bring myself to spend what little spare money I had on. So I persuaded Allison to drive meback to my old house where she sat on my old bed and watched as I meticulously drew, paintingand detailed a canvas.

"You painted this?" Leo asked in awe after he had removed the paper. "You never told me you couldpaint."

"I've been keeping it a secret,” I replied kissing him on the cheek. "Do you like it?"

"I love it."

The painting was of Leo and me in wolf form at an unusually large tree we had stumbled acrossonce during a late-night run. The trunk was wide and the roots were thick and strong enough to siton. Surrounding it was smaller, narrower, evergreen trees and above was a clear star littered sky anda bright full moon.

"It's beautiful,” Leo added as he kissed me gently. "Thank you so much.”

"You are very welcome,” I replied hugging him tightly.

"And now you have made my gift for you look terrible,” he said handing me a box.

I removed the lid to see multiple little separately wrapped things inside.

I picked up the little one first and opened it to replace a little jewellery box containing a bracelet withtwo engraved disc charms:

Ella & Leonardo 10/10/15

Cato 12/19/15

"The idea is that every little one we add to our family gets a new plaque,” Leo explained.

"That's so sweet, Leo. Thank you," I said as he put on my wrist.

The next one confused me a little at first.

"Is this a mixtape?" I asked excitement filling me. Was it a movie?

"It better not be a sex tape,” Mateo said with a groan.

Leo rolled his eyes, "It's a mixtape of every song I've ever heard you sing in the shower,” he added."So that you can learn the words and not just repeat the same three lines over and over again ofcourse."

"You listen to me singing in the shower?" I questioned not sure whether to be honoured orembarrassed. Either way, it was cute of him.

"I think the whole forest listens,” He joked.

I grimaced, "Oh God."

One of the other presents was a new pair of INSANELY fluffy socks.

"You know me too well, Leo," I said putting them on immediately.

I opened the rest of the little gifts until I got to the last one which was what looked like a flyer forsome club.

"Twelve sessions of fun-filled yoga for Mommy, Daddy and their brand new little one,” I read outloud. "We're going to yoga again?!"

"Turns out that not only does Katerine do a pregnancy couples yoga class but a newborn one too,"Leo said with a strained sense of enthusiasm. "And I thought that since you love it so much-"

"I can't wait!" I squealed. "Thank you! Thank you for all of this!"

As the hours passed, people began to slowly leave to visit various mates and other family until itwas just Marco, Carlos, Mateo, Leo and I in the house. It was considerably quieter now but the Lorenbrothers hadn't been holding back on the alcohol all day and the party was still on.

"Festive mulled wine anyone?" Marco announced from the kitchen as he withdrew a bottle from thefridge.

"Fuck," Carlos groaned, "Just in case we didn't all just drink way too much of Dad's wine."

They all obliged anyway and Marco sloppily poured the glasses before attempting to hand themaround without spilling.

I'd pumped Cato's milk for tomorrow already but even still I was going easy on the alcohol. I wasonly tipsy and giggling making watching the brothers lol about drunkenly absolutely hilarious."That is beautiful,” I stated as I first tasted the spiced warmth. "Thank you, Marco.”

"Oh shit,” Marco cursed as he sloshed half his glass onto a white pillow on the couch.

"For fuck's sake," Leo grumbled.

"What do we do?" Marco said jumping around hysterically with the red-stained pillow.

He was flappy his arms around all over the place, his panic about the fairly minor spillage likely tocause a much larger one.

"Stand still,” I ordered looking down to Carlos who was in great danger of being knocked by Carlosand dropping his glass all over the white rug.

Marco froze and let me take the pillow from his hand

As I went to soak it in the sink, Leo rolled forwards towards the DVD player.

The fire still burnt warm but the snow fell heavily.

The perfect time for another movie.

"The Grinch?" Leo asked, looking to his brothers

"Nooo0o," Mateo complained, "I watched that yesterday at Allison's-"

He suddenly shut his mouth and widened his eyes.

"Why were you at Allison's yesterday?" Carlos asked furrowing his eyebrows as he looked over toMarco.

Usually, Mateo was very good at coming up with some vaguely believable lie to cover up what wasreally going on between he and Allison but he'd drunk the best part of a whole bottle of wine andall he could do was mutter and mumble.

Leo turned to me and grinned before he sat up from where he lay in front of the DVD player, readyto watch the show.

"Mateo?" Marco asked.

"Okay so," Mateo began, "It's Christmas day...a time for joy and happiness and nice family time and-"Why the fuck were you at Allison's house yesterday?" Carlos asked.

Leo grinned even more as Marco looked from him to me.

"Why do I get the feeling that there's something that everybody in this room knows except me andCarlos?"

"Go on Matty," Leo teased, "Tell 'em."

Mateo groaned and tilted his head back.

"Allison and I have been fucking for months,” Mateo said, "Then yesterday... asked her to be mygirlfriend..."

I squealed in delight, "You did?!"

"You did?" Carlos asked in a much angrier tone.

"I did."

"And did she say yes?" Marco asked.

Mateo nodded.

"She did?!" I asked hardly able to contain my excitement.

"She did?" Carlos asked too in the same low tone.

There was a few tense seconds of Marco and Carlos just staring blankly at Mateo as he gulped, alook of pure terror in his eyes. But they didn't leave him in agony long before they both lurchedforward.

Mateo yelped as his brothers attacked him, tackling him to the floor and smushing their hands intotheir face. He tried to wriggle out from underneath them but despite being older and bigger, it wasstill two against one and he didn't stand a chance. They pinned him down and leant over him, likethey were about to beat the shit out of him. Leo watched in amusement, showing no plan tointervene even at the sight of Mateo's terror.

But then a few seconds of anticipation, both twins released him and rolled on the floor with tears oflaughter.

Well, that took a turn.

"You should have seen your face,” Marco said, clutching his stomach.

"Huh?" Mateo asked sitting up, amazed at how he was still in one piece.

"We knew you were hooking up ages ago,” Carlos said, hardly able to breathe through his laughter."How?!"

"The underwear embroidered 'Mateo' by Mom we saw in her bed was the main clue...” Marco said."Or maybe it was the fact that we got in her car to replace a used condom and the scent of MateoLoren still strong underneath all the perfume and air freshener she'd tried to cover it."

"Oh..."

"And we knew you'd end up dating," Marco added.

"What?" Mateo asked.

Carlos rolled his eyes, "Come on. You think you can look at her like she's some kind of Goddess andwe wouldn't notice?"

"We've been waiting for you to man up and tell us,” Marco said, "Didn't know you were such apussy, brother.”

Mateo rolled his eyes and shoved Marco, "You two or such devils. Why would you not relieve mefrom the stress of hiding it from you and the anxiety about telling you?"

"Fucking hilarious, that's why," Carlos replied.

"I mean... would have preferred a better fight," Leo grumbled, "No one even got in a punch!"Mateo smiled and let out a great sigh of relief.

"So we're good? You're cool?" He asked.

They shrugged, "Until you break her heart. And then they'll be trouble,” Marco warned.

For the rest of the evening, we gathered around the warm fireplace and watched a “Home alone 2"as the snow continued to fall heavily outside. After the mulled wine was gone, Mateo cracked openyet another bottle of red wine and soon enough everybody was practically passing out on the sofas."Ew, will you two get a room?" Mateo said throwing a cushion at Leo and I as he kissed me on thelips.

"Yeah, sorry lovebirds. I didn't eat all that turkey for lunch just to vomit it back up," Marco added."Should I go and check on Cato?" I questioned kind of out of the blue.

"I don't trust that you'll get up the stairs without falling, babe. I'll come with you," Leo replied.

"Do we have a code red lightweight situation over here?" Mateo asked.

"We sure do. Two glasses are enough apparently,” Leo concluded as he grabbed my waist andpicked me up as I giggled.

"Leave her alone. She's only small,” Carlos replied.

The rest of the evening was cosy, happy and peaceful. One by one, Leo's brother's began to passout on the sofas, falling deeply asleep to the gentle Christmas music playing quietly on the stereo.Eventually, I was the only one awake in the house. Cato was sound asleep in his crib and even Leohad collapsed in the arm chair by the hearth.

Considering the piles of snow that had mounded in front of the door throughout the day, it didn'tlook like any of them were leaving tonight so as the fire died I collected blankets from around thehouse and wrapped them all up snuggly. I then wiped the sticky surfaces of apple pie crumbs andspilt drinks before blowing out the candles and settling down by Leo's feet.

It had been an odd kind of happiness today.

I'd laughed and smiled more than I had on Christmas day for years but at the same time, my mindcouldn't help but fester on Connor and my Mom and how I wish they could have been here too. Thefact that they weren't was out of my control but it was still a stark reminder of how my life hadchanged in just a few months. I was happy with Leo and Cato and my new borrowed family but onthis festive day, I was also filled with nostalgia for times gone.