Alpha Loren novel Chapter 96

24th December 

As planned all those months ago, on Christmas Eve Leo and I went ice skating again. The night before I had called both Mateo and Allison separately, asking them to come. 

They both agreed and I put the phone down with a mischievous grin.

"Are you meddling?" Leo asked me.

"I spoke to Allison the other day and brought up Mateo. You should have seen her face when she thinks about him, Leo. They're in love and they just need a little shove to realise it. And Mateo doesn't have the balls so I'm doing it for them," I said.

Leo rolled his eyes, "Who do you think you are? Cupid?"

"Oh I also invited Luca. He's offered to look after Cato and watch whilst we skate," I said.

"Just you wait. That man is going to kidnap our child soon. He's obssessed," Leo said.

"But aren't we all?" I said with a smile as he kissed his forehead.

The next day we were on the rink.

Mateo and Allison were both pleasantly surprised to learn of each other's prescence and before long, had separated off around the rink just the two of them.

"They are cute, aren't they?"  I said to Leo as I watched Allison, who was as graceful on ice as she was in all other aspects of life , help Mateo, who was really rather shocking.

"Pull yourself together, honey. You can do better than this," she hissed as his legs began to repel each other once again.

"I've never seen someone so shit at ice skating. He looks like a deer on a frozen lake," Leo stated.

"Don't be mean," I scolded nudging him, "He just needs a little practice. And the more he falls, the more Allison has to help him and the more likely they are to realise their undying love."

Leo laughed, "You're far too invested in this, Ells."

Just then I caught sight of Luca stood on the outside of the rink, holding Cato in his arms. 

He was repeatedly booping his nose and cooing as he showered him in kisses. 

Luca loved Cato beyond belief. And Cato already loved him too. As Luca lifted him up high to and brought him to his face, he giggled and reached out to clasp as Luca's nose.

"If we die, Luca is taking the kid," I said, "I don't think we even have a choice in the matter."

"Planning on dying are you?" he asked.

I shrugged, "We have to consider it. There are enough people out there to get us, Leo."

He wrapped his arm around me, "And there are many more out there to protect us. Neither you nor I are going anywhere until that little boy has his own kids. Or even his own grandkids. Okay?"

I nodded, "Let's hope so."

After we had ice-skated, I ushered Allison and Mateo towards a warm looking cafe before dragging Luca and Leo back towards the car.

"Wait, I don't understand," Luca said furrowing his eyebrows, "I wanted a hot chocolate."

"You can have one at home," I said tugging him away from the window of the cafe where we could still see Allison and Mateo.

"But why-" he began.

"Because," I said in a low whisper, "This is the moment where Mateo and Allison finally admit their love for eachother and I don't think they need an audience."

Luca still looked confused but he let me lead him away at long last.

"Basically Luca," Leo began, "Ella's got this idea in her head that Allison and Mateo are destined for each other and she won't rest until they at least try dating."

"Ohhh," Luca said with a smile, "You're medalling."

"Exactly what I said!" Leo replied, "But whatever. As long as I get to be there to see the twins finding out, I support it."

He grinned at even the thought of it and closed his eyes, presumably to imagine it even more vividly.

"You're evil," I said, "Come on. Let's go home and get Luca that hot chocolate."

When we reached the front door, surprisingly my Mom was sat on the doorstep. I hadn't seen her since the night we found out Connor was the leader of the rogue organisation attacking the pack, where she had left shaken and in tears.

"Mom?" I asked.

She got to her feet and her eyes shifted between Leo and I.

"I came to apologise," she said, "What Connor did to this pack is inexcusable. And I'm sorry for all the suffering he has caused your people, Alpha Loren."

"Mara," Leo began, "You are not responsible for his actions. He may be your son but he made his own decisions and it is he I blame. You have nothing to apologise for."

I smiled, "He's right, Mom."

"Well, I also wanted to show my gratitude. Connor doesn't deserve your pity. But you have taken pity on him for the sake of my daughter which ultimately I benefit from too. So thank you for loving and caring for my daughter and sparing us the grief by allowing Connor to live in exile."

Leo smiled, "We were about to go inside for a hot drink and you must be freezing from sitting on that doorstep. Would you like to join us?"

She nodded, "I'd love to."

Inside, Luca finally got his hot chocolate and I was sure to fix my Mom with a coffee, just how she liked it.

"So what's your plan, Mom?" I asked sitting beside her.

She shrugged, "I guess I'll just keep roaming around. Maybe I'll convince Connor to come with me for company."

"You know, you're welcome to join the pack, Mara," Leo said, "I could find you a home nearby and from there you can be more involved with Cato and Ella."

She shook her head, "I appreciate it, Alpha. I really do. But after my mate passed away, I became consumed by grief. I found the only way to cope was to stay on the move, never let it catch up with me. And since then, I vowed to never stay in one place for long."

Leo nodded and gave a small smile, "Well the offer will always be there. And please, you don't need to call me Alpha. I'm like your son-in-law now right?"

She smiled and nodded.

"So anyway," Luca began, "Mara. How does it feel to be a saint?"

"Luca!" I exclaimed as he sat down, possibly too close to her considering this was the first time they'd met.

"I want to get to know the woman who brough my bestfriend into the world," he said defensively, "Do you have any baby pictures?" he implored, leaning even closer to her.

"Personal space, Luca!" I scolded.

My Mom laughed and reached for her pocket, "I keep baby photos on me at all time."

"Oh Mom..." I groaned as Leo's eyes lit up and he strode over to where my Mom and Luca sat.

"Ella you were so cute!" Luca squealed as my Mom handed him a bundle of photos, "And that one, aweee!"

"Hmm," Leo said, "She looks kinda possessed in that one."

I took it from Luca's hand to see.

It was of me, wearing a bright red rain jacket and green rubber boots nearly as big as me. I was maybe two years old and hadn't quite mastered the art of smiling as I stared wide eyed into the glash of the camera.

"Jesus Mom. You couldn't have found any better ones?" I asked as I saw another one of me hanging upside down on the branch of a tree, my skirt falling down over my face, revealing my frilly underwear.

Luca then thankfully put that one behind the pile, showing the next.

"Oh my," My Mom said with a sigh and a little sadness twinging at her lips.

It was a picture of my Dad holding both me and Connor as we laughed and smiled widely.

"Those were such happy days," she added.