Chapter Nineteen.

Leon

"Oh hell no!" I growled and scooped Bella in my arms, not letting her run towards the boy when they both had growled the word 'mine.'.

"Daddy! Let me go!" Bella growled but I knew her wolf was in control right now.

"Xander, no-" The woman said but got cut off when the boy shifted into a grey coloured wolf and growled loudly at me. But we all froze. Even Bella stopped struggling in my arms.

"Shift back!" I commanded coldly but the growls didn't cease. They only increased more. "Now, pup. Don't test my patience." I said but he just took a step forward, crouching down in an attacking position.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Jennifer." I called and handed Bella to her when she looked at me in question. Being released from holding Bella, I took slow steps towards the small wolf.

"Daddy, don't hurt him." Bella said but I just gave her a look over my shoulder. It immediately made her hide her face in Jennifer's neck. The growls increased more and I quickly caught the wolf by his paws when he jumped up to attack me.

He started struggling, attempting to bite my hand that held his paw but I just took hold of his hind legs before hanging him upside down.

"I won't say it again after this. Shift." I said coldly and the pup glared at me but slowly he changed back into his human self. As soon as he did, I straightened him and lightly pushed him towards his mom who quickly took hold of his arm tightly.

"I'm s-sorry about him, Alpha." The mother said quietly and I sighed.

"It's not your fault." I said and turned around to see my mate and Bella. "You realise what just happened, right?" I asked and she nodded slowly.

"She's too young..." Jennifer said and I nodded.

"I know. They both are." I said looking back at the boy who was glaring at me. I narrowed my eyes at him. "When did he shift?" I asked and the mother hesitated.

"Two years ago. Almost three. May twenty-fifth." The mother said and Jennifer gasped.

That's the same day Bella shifted too... She thought and I frowned.

What is going on?

"Why are you running away from your pack?" I asked and the mother looked down at the boy.

"The Alpha... He was getting close to discovering Xander had shifted... He killed my mate as well because he refused to tell the Alpha the truth about Xander. I couldn't stay there." She whispered the last part. I felt my heart sympathize for her but I kept my expression neutral and nodded.

"Very well. Seeing as my daughter and your son are mate’s, I can only go as far as to offer you both protection as well as a place in the pack, should you choose to accept it." I said and the mother’s eyes widened.

"He'll destroy your pack, Alpha. He has an alliance with rogues as well." She said in a whisper. I frowned.

"I hardly doubt the Elders will be pleased to hear that. My offer still stands. You can take your time to think. Until then, James," I called him and he stood up straight in alert. "Ask one of the maids to set up a room for them. You would need rest from the travel, I'm sure." I said and the mother teared up.

"Thank you, Alpha." She said and I nodded. James quietly ushered them towards the room, but I saw the boy, Xander and Bella exchange looks before he left. It made me rub my forehead with my fingers.

"What are you going to do now, Leon?" Jennifer asked me quietly. I sighed.

"I'm unsure. But I know this much that neither Bella nor Xander can announce to the world they're mates. You understand that, don't you, Bella?" I asked and she looked at me with a pout.

"But why?" She asked and I sighed again.

"Bella, what just happened isn't supposed to happen until your sixteenth birthday. And if people do get to know about it, you'll be in a lot of danger." I said quietly and her eyes widened. "You understand why it has to be a secret, don't you?" I asked and she nodded slowly. I gave her a small smile then and ruffled her hair.

"Boys have cooties anyway." I said and Bella's face scrunched up and she nodded rapidly.

"They do!" She exclaimed and we all laughed.

"Alpha, do you think the pup has the same abilities as Bella?" Frank asked me and I frowned at the possibility, thinking it over and then nodded.

"That is very much possible. If it is, Frank, the pup will be joining Bella in the training." I said and Frank nodded.

"Understood, Alpha." He said. "I'll go inform Casper about the new pup’s arrival." He said and giving us a respectful nod, he left.

"This turned out to be quiet a morning, huh?" Andrew commented and I chuckled.

"Indeed."

The office phone started ringing, breaking the working atmosphere that had formed between Jennifer and I as we worked (I was subtly staring at her mostly, I admit). I sighed and dropped the pen I was holding, picking up the phone.

"Wolf."

"Is what Alpha Sterling saying true?" A voice asked and I stiffened.

"Elder Carter." I greeted and Jennifer looked up at me with wide eyes, but I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't change the subject, Wolf." He said and I internally sighed.

"Yes, it is true." I said and heard him take a deep breath.

"The daughter will have to go." He said and as soon as he completed his sentence, I growled loudly. It made Jennifer jump in sudden fright.

"She will not! You have absolutely no say in who goes or stays in my pack." I growled.

"Very well. If that's how it is. Is your mate marked?" He asked and I sighed.

"Yes, she is." I said.

"I see. You are holding the Luna ball, aren't you?" He asked and I took a subtle breath, completely forgetting about the Luna ball.

"Yes, of course. On that note, I need to talk to you about something." I said seriously.

"Talk." He said quickly, understanding the tone I had used.

"Today my gamma found a rogue. A mother and son. Escapees from the Dark Moon pack." I said. Jennifer quietly returned to her working on the file.

"Escapees?" Elder Carter asked.

"Yes. Alpha Blake had murdered the mate of the woman and was after the son next." I said and heard him take a deep breath.

"I see. Is there more?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yes. According to the mother, Alpha Blake has a secret alliance with the rogues." I said and heard him exhale loudly.

"I see." He said again but this time gravely. "Host the Luna ball, Wolf. All of us are very eager to meet your mate and her daughter you're so protective of. We shall deal with Alpha Blake the next day. We're giving you a weeks’ time." He said and hung up without a word. I sighed and leaned back against the couch.

"What's wrong?" Jennifer asked softly and I sighed.

"I totally forgot. When an Alpha finds his Luna and she's marked, a Luna ball is held. We need to host it in a week’s time." I said and Jennifer's eyes widened "Other Alpha's will come to see you with their

Luna's. The Elders will be there as well." I said and Jennifer took a deep breath.

"Do we have to?" She asked and I reached out and took her hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"We do. It's going to be alright, Jennifer. I promise." I said with a soft smile and she gave me a nervous one in return. I pat her hand and got up. "I have something to take care of. I'll just be back." I said and left the room when she nodded.

I had almost walked the whole mansion in search of two little devils. But that's when I saw them through a window, talking to each other in the back garden. I sighed and then walked out of the mansion as quickly as I could have.

"Kids!" I called and two heads snapped towards me. Bella grinned widely and ran towards me but

Xander stayed where he was. "I need to talk to your wolves." I said and Bella immediately nodded but Xander stayed as he was.

"You can do it." Bella told him and I felt an eyebrow raise in surprise. Xander gave me a passive look but soon his eyes turned even a darker shade of emerald.

"I hate you." His wolf said immediately.

"Whatever." I said unfazed.

"What did you want to talk about, daddy?" Bella's wolf asked and I felt myself and my wolf smile at that.

"We will be hosting a ball in a week. The Elders will be there as well but they can't sense you. You have to hide and not tell them your mate’s. Okay?" I asked and Bella's wolf immediately nodded in understanding.

"Yes, daddy." She said and I ruffled her hair with a smile.

"Okay." Xander's wolf said reluctantly. Obviously, Bella had told them about how serious this situation was. I nodded at him.

"Good."