June 26th
Ella’s point of view
It was 4 pm the next evening when the doorbell rang over Theodore’s ear-piercing cries. I’d been trying to settle him for ten minutes, but I couldn’t find his teddy carrying Amaani’s scent, and without it, my attempts were useless. I dug my hand down the back of the sofa, searching for the damn thing as Zac and Stef bounced around me. I’d given up persuading them to do their math homework. With Theodore screaming, I couldn’t expect anyone to focus, let alone two hyper kids.
“Zac and Stef,” Mathias said as I finally retrieved the manky teddy, “Sit down, do your damn math homework and give Mom a break or I’ll never let you play on my Xbox again, got it?”
They both immediately stopped jumping on the sofa to sit down at the table.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to Mathias as I rushed to answer the door.
Theodore was still in my a
June 26thLeo’s point of viewI knocked on Cato’s bedroom door, and a groan rumbled from inside.“If you’re here to shout, I’ve already heard it all from Mom,” he said.I opened the door and set the condoms on his dresser.“For you,” I said, sliding them towards him. “And you better pray to the Goddesses no one is already pregnant.”He was sitting on his bed with a book on his lap, which he promptly slammed shut and threw his head back.I stepped forward into his room and sat on the swivel chair by the desk.“Dad-” he groaned.“I’m not angry, Cato,” I said. “I was the same.”He grimaced, “Please. I don’t need to know about your sex life.”“And I didn’t really want to know about yours either,” I said. “But you were stupid enough to get caught fucking a gir
June 26thCato’s point of viewAs I walked through the forest toward Jessica’s house, I internally screamed. The last thing I wanted to do was face her parents to apologise, but my Dad had ordered me to do so and my Mom wouldn’t speak to me if I didn’t.But I was having to apologise for something I wasn’t sorry for. I don’t regret doing it, and I’d do it again. Jessica had no intention of saving herself for her mate. If it wasn’t me, it would have been some other guy to take her virginity. Besides, she’s a great girl and I’m into her.Praying no one would answer, I knocked on the door and cleared my throat. But of course, ten seconds later, I faced her Dad.“Good evening, Cato. I didn’t think you’d show your face here again.”His tone was surprisingly sharp considering I would be his Alpha in less than six months.But I admired that.
June 26thJess’s point of viewMy father silently placed my bowl in front of me before striding to the other end of the table. His chair scraped back, and he took his seat at the head, directly facing me. My Mom sat beside him, her fork clutched in her hand.“You’re both overreacting,” I said.“Eat your food, Jessica,” Dad said, refusing to look at me.I picked up my fork and twirled the spaghetti, glancing up at my parents occasionally. None of us were eating, and I couldn’t take the silence.“Why are you acting like I’ve murdered someone?”Dad scoffed.“You’ve thrown away something as precious as life.”“Not in my opinion.”“Your opinion doesn’t matter. It’s what your mate will think when he learns Cato Loren defiled you.”I clenched my jaw, “I don’t exist for my mate.&r
June 27thElla’s point of viewThe next afternoon, I finally heard from Milly. She texted me for the first time in weeks, obviously on Max’s instruction, asking me around for coffee.I left the kids with Leo and headed straight for the base. She lived in a cottage a few blocks from the hospital. Nothing could persuade her to live any further from work.Sat on the porch, facing out onto the street, was Allison. She sat with her white bunny in her lap, stroking and cooing it as it nibbled on a carrot.“Afternoon, Luna,” she said as I jogged to her.The sun shone, illuminating her pale blue eyes as she smiled widely.“Hey, Allison,” I said before turning my attention to the bunny, “Hello Claude.”As I petted Claude, Allison’s eyes drifted out to the streets. Mateo was across the road with Annelise, his mate. She had grabbed his cap from his head and he was wrapping h
June 27thElla’s point of viewWhen Leo came home from the base that evening, I was on the sofa watching Shrek with Cato’s head in my lap. I wasn’t watching the movie as I played with his hair and held him tightly, gazing at his beautiful face.“Taking it easy in your exclusion, huh Cato?” Leo asked.“I’ve had him doing housework all afternoon,” I said, “And I’m thinking you should take him to your meetings tomorrow.”Leo nodded. “Sounds good. I need to get you up to speed on the pack going-ons.”His eyes flickered to Leo before he nestled his head into my lap and grumbled.“And we need to talk later,” Leo continued, “About what’s happening in six months. We can’t keep avoiding it, kid.”He closed his eyes as his shoulders tensed, “What about it? I don’t want to be Alpha and that’s all t
June 27thLeo’s point of viewIsabella Ferrero’s house was only a fifteen-minute march away. I soon strode across her front porch where the music thudded and the stench of alcohol leeched. After ringing the doorbell, I pounded my fist on the door. It was thirty seconds before a hand fumbled with the latch and Isabella opened the door.Her face fell as she cast her eyes up at me.“Alpha... good evening,” she said, standing straight and tucking her beer behind her back, “Can I help?”“Where’s Cato?”She swallowed, “In the kitchen.”“Thank you,” I said, stepping past her into the house.The air was hot and putrid and the house looked identical to the days I was partying with Isabella’s father.As I pushed through the crowds of drunk teenagers, the laughter and chatting died down as eyes fell on me.By the time I was i
June 28th Ella’s point of view The next morning we left Cato to sleep. Leo told me everything they spoke about last night, and we decided the poor kid needed a break. I, however, had the dreaded task of heading out to speak to Haden and Lia. Although last night was a breakthrough, I wasn’t willing to get ahead of ourselves and ending Cato’s rebellion was still my priority before someone gets seriously hurt or thrown in jail. “Good luck,” Leo said, kissing me as he stood at the door, “Are you ready?” I grimaced. Haden and I weren’t exactly best buds, but he liked me far more than Leo. As an ex-Alpha, Haden hated anyone having power over him. Leo could crush him and he resented that intensely. But I, a mere woman, couldn’t, and that satisfied Haden. “Ready to be disrespected and patronised because unlike every other member of this pack, Haden has no concept of respecting his Luna? Doesn’t he realise I could have him punished for even
June 28thElla’s point of viewWhen I got home, I shut the door behind me and turned to the shoe rack to kick my sneakers off. Just as I reached to untie my laces, a pair of arms seized me from behind and lifted me into the air. My scream filled the house as I flailed my limbs in every direction. The office door slammed open and seconds later, his grip loosened around me. Leo was pinning a man in a black hood against the wall, his hand tight on his throat, and his entire arm tensed as he towered over him.“Alpha, stop,” he choked, “It’s me. Luca.”I closed my eyes, breathing a sigh of relief.“What the fuck?” Leo hissed, “I almost snapped your neck.”He released Luca, who slumped against the wall, catching his breath.“I came to pick up Theodore, and I thought it’d be funny!”Leo put his arm around me and pulled me into his chest as a