Alpha Loren novel Chapter 154

Hours later we finally pulled up at the army base in Stella pack. I'd just woken up, was still half asleep and probably looked like an absolute mess so when Luca told me to stay in the truck I wasn't going to protest.

"How is she?" I heard Leo's voice from the back of the unloading truck.

"Distraught, upset, angry, tired, hungry," Luca listed with a little spite in his voice.

"Should I talk to her?" he asked.

"No. She's still mourning him, Alpha," Luca stated. "I don't know if she'd be ready to talk yet."

"Can you let her know that I came by?" he said after a pause.

"Of course, Alpha."

"I'll be back in an hour to take her home," he said before his footsteps faded away.

I rested my head against the truck door and closed my eyes. I kind of wanted to see him but at the same time I wanted to be as far away as possible.

A little while later, I was woken again.

"Ella," a soft voice said. "Ella."

I fluttered my lashes open to see Leo's vibrant blue eyes in front of me.

"It's time to go home. The kids will be missing you," he said taking my hand and ushering me out of the van.

I nodded and followed him to his car without a word. The journey from the base to our house was fifteen minutes but I didn't say a word then either.

"Mommy and Daddy are back!" A little voice squealed before six little people ran into the hall and swarmed us with their adorable presence.

Cato, Mathias, Silas, Francesca, Marie and Lili, shortly followed by the youngest Lorens in the arms of Rosa, Zacharius who was only one and Stefano born only 4 months ago.

"Why do you look so sad, Mommy?" Silas asked after the hugs and kisses had been delivered by both Leo and me to all eight of them.

"Mommy lost someone very close to her, honey," I said kissing his forehead. "But don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Bambinos, why don't you get the present you made for your parents," Rosa suggested handing Zacharius to me and Stefano to Leo.

"Who did you lose?" Rosa asked after the six walkers had ran off into the kitchen.

"My brother," I said quietly.

"Oh, Bambina," she said pulling me into a hug. "What happened?"

"He was fighting against the pack," I replied looking over to Leo. "And..."

"Leonardo..." Rosa said looking up at her eldest son. "Please tell me you didn't..."

"I did," he replied bluntly with a clenched jaw and a pained expression. "I'm not proud of it and I don't need a lecture."

"My God," Rosa exclaimed putting her hand up to her mouth.

"Mama, Papa look!" Marie and Francesca said in time as all six of them hurried back into the hallway with a large piece of paper.

On it was a childish drawing of some people outside a house amongst trees and underneath a great big blue sky with white fluffy clouds, birds and a yellow shining sun.

"That's Mommy and that's Daddy," Cato announced proudly pointing at the two taller figures. "I drew Daddy and Mathias drew Mommy but we could remember how tall you were so we drew you the same but actually..." he said looking between us. "I don't think that's right."

I let out a slight laugh as a tear ran down my face.

"I told you that we should have done Daddy bigger!" Mathias exclaimed.

"And you're holding hands because you love each other lots and lots," Lili added.

"And then we drew us next to you," Silas said pointing to the smaller figures below. "We all drewed ourselves but I did Zacharius and Stefano because they don't know how yet."

"And then!" Francesca squealed. "I drew big Luca in the trees but he's hiding because it reminds me of when he always plays games in the forest with us."

"Mommy, why are you crying?" Cato asked.

"It's lovely kids," I said crouching down and pulling them all into my arms. "I'm crying because I'm sad but also because I'm happy to have all of you back."

"Can we go to bed later tonight?" Silas asked forever hopeful.

"Special treat," I said ruffling his hair. "Now say goodnight to Nonna and go and get your pyjamas on."

There was a chorus of 'nun night Nonna's sent in Rosa's directions and lots more kisses and hugs before they finally went upstairs and Rosa left with our thanks for looking after them so well. She offered for me to come and stay at her house without Leo but I declined because I decided that the best way to keep the kids happy would be to keep the family together.

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," Lili cried tugging at his leg. "Can we watch Shrek?"

He swooped her up into his arms, already with Stefano, and rolled his eyes.

"Again, Lili?" he said ticking her tummy.

"Yeah!" she exclaimed. "Again! Again! Again!"

"You'll have to see what your brothers and sisters want to watch," he replied.

"Shrek!"

"The 2nd one!"

"No, the first one!"

"Me and Silas want the third one!"

"First!"

"Okay, okay," Leo said and they all quietened and listened eagerly as they always did when their father spoke to them. "Everyone who wants to watch the first, raise their hand."

Francesca and Marie raised their hands.

"The second one," he added.

Lili and Cato raised their hands.