Alpha Loren novel Chapter 104

Two weeks and a long, tiresome journey later, I arrived at my destination. I could have done it in less than a day if I'd travelled by plane but I couldn't afford to allow Leo to track me that easily. Instead, I had to take the boat option- of the slow, unregistered kind too.

Fortunately, Naples harbour was busy and chaotic meaning, after thanking the kind sailor for his generosity, I could easily slip off the boat and disappear into the city without being seen. The air was warm and arid and the streets aromatic with herbs, olives and tomatoes. It was exactly how I imagined Italy but even more fantastic. I was proud to say my ancestors were from this wonderful country.

I eventually reached the outskirts of the city and farmland and vineyards became far larger in number. With the help of a few locals, I managed to track down the address I had scrawled on the back of a crumpled grocery store receipt. It was a singular detached house, kind of solitary and not particularly boastful in size. Two stories, no car, quiet, peaceful and simple. Not what I had imagined at all.

I made my way up the steps to the front door and knocked. A voice called for me to enter but nobody came to let me in. Deciding that the occupant was expecting me to let myself in, I turned the nob of the unlocked door and cautiously opened it to reveal a room, which I assumed to be the kitchen and living room and a balcony at the opposite end of the door. On the balcony stood a man facing away from me and looking out at the countryside.

Dark hair, tall, mid-twenties. 

He was exactly what I was looking for.

"Long time no see, lil cuz," the man said slowly turning around to reveal his face.

He was Max, that's for sure, but he looked older, more mature, some may even go as far as amiable.

"You've changed," I said placing my satchel down on the wooden table and heading through the sheer, white curtain onto the balcony.

"It's been three years," Max said leaning on the balcony railings and gazing out over the wine and olive yards. 

"This is where you chose to spend your exile?" I asked standing next to him at a slight distance to satisfy my caution of him.

"I tried New York and Rio and Bangkok and Paris and London and even Bangalore but they weren't right and I couldn't make them my home. So I came back to our roots. Where it all began," he explained.

"Right," I said. "It's nice, I guess."

We stood for a few moments in silence. I felt the gentle breeze through my hair and breathed in a deep lungful of the fresh air.

"Still no mate?'" I asked.

"I haven't been looking," he replied. "There's no rush, no title that needs an heir anymore is there?"

I could tell in the tone and spite of his voice that he was still blaming me for that fact.

"Guess not," I said with a shrug. 

What did I care?

"So what have you been doing for three years. Giving birth to and bringing up the Alpha's kids?" Max asked.