LOGINShare
Chapter 37
Last Updated:
2021-08-15 18:30:11September 11th
Cato’s point of view
That weekend, it was Jessica’s 17th birthday. It, unfortunately, fell on a Saturday, meaning seeing her wouldn’t be as easy as a school day. She was still strictly forbidden from seeing me, but that wouldn’t stop me. From the grocery store, I bought the reddest strawberries I could find, chocolates and a bag of carrot flavoured chips (her favourite bizarrely).
It was early September and just about warm enough for a midnight picnic, so I grabbed candles and a flashlight from the basement before raiding my parents’ wine collection. As I picked up a bottle, the light to the basement flickered on. I tucked the bottle behind my back and smiled innocently at my Dad who was standing at the top of the basement stairs.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh... it’s Jess’s birthday and I’m taking her out for a picnic so I needed candles and a flashlight,&rdquo
Related chapters
Alpha Loren Chapter 38
September 12thCato’s point of viewIt was only three hours before daylight woke me. The sky was as clear and the sun glared through the window.I looked around.Jessica’s room.I looked down.Jessica in my arms.I listened.Footsteps coming along the hall.Shit.“Jess,” I said, shaking her.But it was too late. The handle of her bedroom door twisted before she finished her sleepy murmur.And soon enough, I was eye to eye with her father.There were a few seconds between seeing me and it sinking in. His eyes then snapped to Jess as veins throbbed in his forehead.“Jessica,” he growled.Her eyes fluttered open as she murmured. But when the sight of her Dad had sunk in, she scrambled up, her chest rising as her mouth opened.“Oh Dad...”“Is one of you going to explain?”
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 39
September 12thLeo’s point of viewThe front door slammed. Cato.I left my office and came into the hall where I found him, angrily flinging off his shoes.“How did it go?” I asked.“It was the best night of my life. Then her Dad found me in her room this morning and lost his shit.”He kept his head down as he passed me to the stairs. I put my hand in front of him and grabbed his chin, lifting his head. Around his eye was a dark, swollen bruise.I clenched my jaw.“Did he do that to you?”Cato nodded, “Hehatesme.”“And what did you do?”“I shoved him, but then I had to leave. I didn’t trust myself to do anything without losing it.”I nodded. I was glad to see Cato had control, but I can’t let someone hurt and disrespect my son and get away with it.“Leave this with me
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 40
September 12thJess’s point of viewMy father came back into the kitchen, nursing his throat.“The Alpha’s message was clear,” he said.My heart leapt.“We either stay here and allow Cato Loren to lead you further astray or start a new life somewhere else.”My heart sank again.“What?” I asked.“Pack your things, Jess. We leave this evening.”“I don’t want to leave,” I protested. “This is our home, our pack. Where would we go?”“Anywhere without Cato will do.”My mouth opened as I turned pleadingly to my mother.“Mom?”She sighed, “Cato is nothing but trouble, Jess. Your father’s right. We can’t disobey the Alpha, but we also have duties as your parents. So we don’t have a choice.”“Mom, Dad, please,” I begged, tears falli
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 41
September 12thCato’s point of viewI stood underneath Elias’s window, throwing tiny pebbles at the glass. The light flickered on and his face appeared.“What do you want?” he whispered, after opening the window a crack.I lifted the bottle of whiskey and his face lit up. He climbed onto the window ledge, scaling down the gutter and swinging from a tree to the ground.“Where did you get that?” he asked as I swigged the whiskey and handed him the bottle.“My basement. Ana was having a tantrum. It was too easy to sneak down there, grab this, and get here. Our uncles also came over earlier and I snuck a joint from Marco’s jacket.”He took a drink of the whiskey and grimaced, “Strong.”“Just what I need tonight. Jess left.”“She left?”“Her family has left the pack. I’ve lost her.”Elias handed
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 42
September 13thLeo’s point of viewI sat in Cato’s room for half an hour. He’d passed out, but I put a bucket by his bed, laid his covers over him, and sat beside him stroking his hair. I was unwilling to leave him like this, but Madeleine’s face stuck in my mind. She’d be awake, no doubt crying.When I pushed open her door, she was huddled in the corner, her cheeks tear-stained and her nose running. I sighed and crouched in front of her.“He’s okay, Maddy,” I said, “Cato is fine. He’s tucked in bed and you should be too. It’s well past your bedtime.”“Why was he like that?” she asked as I lifted her to bed.“Sometimes big people make silly decisions. They drink things and smoke things that make them act strange and that’s what Cato did tonight. But he’ll be back to normal in the morning.”“Why?”
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 43
September 13thLeo’s point of viewThe next morning Cato dragged himself out of bed at 11 am. He appeared in the kitchen and slumped at the kitchen table, bags like suitcases under his eyes and his face sickly pale.Ella rushed to him and lifted his chin, examining the bruise on his jaw.“Thank the Goddesses Dad found you.”He groaned and pushed her hand off him before resting his head on the table.“Why did you do this?” Ella asked, “I thought we were past the drugs and trouble?”“I don’t want to talk about it, Mom.”“Jess has left the pack,” I said, “And you’re upset, I get it. But last night is not how you should deal with it.”I poured the milk into the mug of coffee and carried it over to him. He refused to look up, even as I put my hand on his shoulder.“And next time you sneak out without telling us wh
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 44
October 20th - two months before Cato becomes AlphaCato’s point of viewOver the next weeks, I spent most of my time in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I kept the curtains closed and the light off. The lamp in reach of my bed emitted its dull yellow glow. My unwashed sheets slipped off my mattress, but I didn’t bother to put them back on, no matter how much they tangled around my legs. On my nightstand, my Mom’s book lay untouched, a bookmark wedged at the start of last chapter. A layer of dust had collected on the cover, only disrupted by the mug, half filled with cold coffee, I’d set there days ago.I hadn’t touched a single piece of homework on my desk. The post-it notes with to do lists and reminders curled and fell off the wall, gathering in a heap on the floor next to my discarded sneakers and rucksack.One evening as I lay, drawing circles on my crinkled sheets the door opened. I lifted my head briefly to s
Last Updated : 2021-08-15Alpha Loren Chapter 45
October 20thCato’s point of viewI knocked gently on Lili’s door. Her snivels silenced and there were a few moments before she said anything.“Come in,” she called.Having never seen her cry, I had no idea what to say when I saw her tear-stained cheeks. She stood by the window, watching the soldiers milling on our drive, facing out into the forest for any movement.“We’re safe. He’s gone.”I stood next to her and together we watched the soldiers.“Who was he?” she asked, eventually.“We don’t know. We didn’t get the chance to get it out of him.”She sighed and pressed her forehead on the window.“I’m sorry. I panicked and forgot everything you taught me.”I put my hand on her shoulder, “It’s not your fault. He had your arms pinned and we hadn’t got to kicks yet.”&
Last Updated : 2021-08-15
Latest chapter
Alpha Loren Chapter 61: The End
December 23rdCato’s point of viewI stood by my office window in the base, my Dad beside me. In the street below, a nurse walked Adelaide out of the hospital. When she flew in from Vermont two days ago, she couldn’t walk, her skin sickly white and her body frail and weak.Now we watched as she sprinted across the street to where her father was standing. She leapt into his arms as he squeezed her tight and swung her around, kissing her head repeatedly.“You may come to regret letting him walk free, Cato,” Dad said, “But must say, I’ve never seen him love anyone, let alone that much.”I’d spent all morning speaking to Adelaide. Everything she and Luciano said matched perfectly, giving me no reason to suspect any malicious intent.“Maybe he had no one to love until Adelaide came along,” I said, “With no parents and you as his only friend, it must have been lonely.&rdq
Alpha Loren Chapter 60
December 20th Cato’s point of viewWhen Dad and I came home, I was greeted by Jess striding down the hall. She grabbed my face in my cheeks and kissed me, clutching my shirt in her fist.“Thank you,” she said as I pressed my forehead against hers, “I’m so glad we’re all safe.”I glanced over her shoulder. Her parents sat in the living room, wrapped in blankets, watching us.“Have you told them about us?”She nodded as she took my hand to lead me into the living room. My Mom and Grandad sat with them, steaming cups of coffee in their hands.“Alpha,” Jess’s father said, getting to his feet, “Thank you again.”I nodded, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile. The last time I looked into those eyes, he was punishing Jess and me for loving each other.“... I also owe you an apology. I sho
Alpha Loren Chapter 59
December 20thCato’s point of viewLuciano sat on the opposite of the table, his wrists shackled and four guards in the room. My Dad sat next to me, staring at Luciano, not saying a word.“Why didn’t you just ask?” I said.Dad scoffed, “Because he knew the answer he’d get.”“I would never refuse to help a nine-year-old with terminal leukaemia,” I said.“Then your father failed to raise you well,” Luciano said, his eyes shifting from Dad to me, “You don’t help your enemies.”“He has his mother’s heart,” Dad said, “She helped you even after you gave Andrea Martinez the coordinates of the bunker all our children hid in.”“And if she hadn’t, you would be drinking champagne with your Lunas tonight. But here you are in a dark prison cell with me.”I res
Alpha Loren Chapter 58
December 20th- at duskCato’s point of viewI walked through the forest with Elias and Milly, only our heartbeats pounding in our ribcages to fill the silence. After crossing the border, we soon reached the designated meeting point.“Are you ready, Milly?” I asked.“I haven’t used my powers for anything other than healing in years,” she said, looking at her hands, “Let’s hope it’s a force of memory.”Two figures emerged from the shadows of the trees, the fading light falling on their faces.“Good evening, Alpha,” one said.He looked as Elias had described. An unsettling smile and dark boring eyes. A couple of feet behind him stood Nicolos Jones.“Grandfather?”With his face stony and cold, he didn’t utter a word.“Your Grandfather has decided I can offer him more than y
Alpha Loren Chapter 57
December 20th Leo’s point of viewElla and I were in the kitchen opening a bottle of champagne, awaiting all our family and friends for a party.“Is that the one we’ve been saving?” she asked.I drew behind her and rested my hand on her hip.“Yes. We have a lot to celebrate. I have finally retired, our son is successfully Alpha, and has found his Luna. Elias is also remarkably alive and maybe won’t be an entirely useless Beta.”She grinned as I leant in to kiss her.“I also have a beautiful mate and a reason to celebrate every day.”Through her sheer cotton dress, my fingers pressed against her curves. I had to drag my lips away and take a deep breath.“If I touch you any more, I won’t stop.”She turned and rested her hands on my chest.Her lips were millimetres from mine as her fingers
Alpha Loren Chapter 56
December 20th Cato’s point of viewWhen Elias, Jess and I escaped the crowd to a quiet part of the forest, I lifted Jess and spun around. She giggled and grabbed my face, pressing her lips against mine.“My handsome Alpha,” she said, running her hands down my chest, “And Elias, you never told me you were going to be Beta!”Elias’s lips twitched, “Well, we were busy running for our lives.”I put Jess on the ground as Elias held his shoulders tense, worry etched on his face.“What?”“I found Jess in Vermont,” he said.Vermont...“Alongside men with dark markings on their skin like those who attacked-”“Lili,” I whispered, “The ones after something from Stella.”Jess nodded, “We didn’t know until it was too late. When the Alpha learnt of my relati
Alpha Loren Chapter 55
December 20th - forty-five minutes before Cato becomes AlphaCato’s point of viewAfter a lot of hugging, crying from Granny, and congratulations from my Grandads, my Dad looked at his watch.“Shit, we don’t have long,” he said.My Mom glanced at Jess and Elias, her eyes wide. The forest entwined with their hair, rips left their clothes in ruins, and mud and dirt covered them head to toe. She took Jess’s hand.“I have a dress that will fit you,” she said, pulling her toward the stairs. “Cato, sort your Beta out with a suit.”Elias and I ran upstairs. He just had time to wash the mud off his face, comb his hair and slip into one of my old suits.“Very dapper,” I said as he came out of the bathroom, buttoning his sleeves.He gave me a twirl, a grin on his face, “Do I look like a Beta?”I cocked my head and examined him.“M
Alpha Loren Chapter 54
December 20th - the day Cato becomes AlphaElla’s point of viewCato stood in front of the mirror, dressed in his finest suit as I tied his tie. I wound the silk fabric around and tucked it underneath, finishing with a perfect knot. After smoothing his collar and straightening his jacket, I looked up.“How are you feeling?” I asked.His cheeks were taut, a mechanical expression holding his lips, and his eyes glazed.“Like this is going to be the worst birthday of my life,” he said, not taking his eyes off the reflection in the mirror.It was 11 am. The ceremony was just after midday at the time of the solar noon, but still no sign of Elias.“He’s not going to be here, is he?”I shook my head as he took a shaky breath.“But everyone else is. They’re all waiting downstairs.”I walked with Cato to the top of the stairs. In the ha
Alpha Loren Chapter 53
Ten days ago...Elias’s point of viewThe bus left me in the middle of Vermont’s most remote forest.I’d been travelling for eleven days, avoiding towns and main roads so Alpha Loren couldn’t track me. I only turned my phone on to text home when I could get a fast ride away from where the signal would trace to, and every time I rode the bus or train, I covered my face with my hoody.My plan was against Cato’s wishes. The Alpha and Luna would never allow it either. But this is what Cato needed, and I couldn’t let them stop me.I glanced around. That was the final bus I needed to take, meaning my destination was a short walk away, yet there was nothing except a rusty bus stop sign and trees for miles. But the coordinates led me here. This had to be it. So taking a deep breath, I stepped off the single-track road and headed West.The trees loomed over me, casting distorted, shadowy shapes on the ground
