Chapter Twenty.

Leon

I felt myself sleepily nuzzle my nose in someone's neck. Due to the drowsiness, I shrugged it off and only cuddled into the body even more. A soft breath ruffled through my hair and I felt a hand come up and wrap around my neck.

Leon, wake the hell up! Someone's in our bed! My wolf shouted suddenly and I jerked back from the sudden noise my wolf made in my head.

Let me sleep! I groaned back at him and wrapped my arms tightly around the body, pulling us even closer.

What if our mate sees us in bed with someone else!? He shouted again and this time I did spring back from the body I was cuddling up to. My vision was slightly blurry from the sleep but when my eyes focused, I groaned and cuddled back into my mate’s embrace.

I don't think she'd care right now. I said to him and felt him purr when Jennifer's hand tangled in my hair as she snuggled in closer to me.

What's she doing here? My wolf asked.

I don't care. Be happy she's here on her own free will. I said back to him and felt him nod in agreement.

True. He mumbled back.

Jennifer's lips parted slightly as a small sound came from her lips. She stretched her body, pressing our chests even closer making both my wolf and I moan at the feeling. Her eyes fluttered and soon the violet eyes started at me sleepily.

"Good morning." I said softly and placed a kiss to her burning red cheek.

"Morning. I hope you don't mind." She whispered and I smiled.

"I don't. Not at all. Though I am a bit curious." I said and she blushed even more.

"I couldn't sleep." She said.

Ah. I though and smiled brightly.

"It's because of our bond and the mark." I said and placed my finger on her mark, making her shiver.

"You were feeling restless, no?" I asked and she nodded.

"I was. How come you slept so easily then?" She asked and I chuckled.

"Sweetheart, I practically drained myself of energy then took a sleeping pill." I said and she blushed, a small 'Oh.' came out of her mouth.

"So, you... you wouldn't mind if I sleep here?" She asked softly and I felt my wolf grin madly at that. By Jennifer's blush, I knew I was too.

"Of course not, sweetheart. I'd love if you'd join me every night." I said just as softly and lifted her chin up before placing a small soft kiss to her lips. When I pulled away, I rested my forehead on hers and closed my eyes, letting out a soft sigh of content.

"Leon?"

"Hm?"

"What are you going to do about the Bella and Xander situation?" She asked and I sighed, opening my eyes again.

"There's not much we can do. They're mate’s and separating mate’s is almost as cruel as murdering one’s mate. We can't do that to them." I said and Jennifer closed her eyes, letting out a breath.

"But they're too young." She said and I nodded.

"I know, sweetheart. The most we can do is make them understand that or I could use my Alpha command on Bella to force her to stay away from Xander until they're both at an appropriate age. But that would be cruel on her." I said and Jennifer buried her nose in my neck, a defeated sigh escaping her lips. I wrapped my arms around her to comfort her. My wolf whined at my mate’s sad mood.

"I just... It's hard to believe she already found her mate." She whispered and I chuckled.

"It is. But even if they didn't recognise each other as mate’s, they would have become the best of friends. Andrew and Alicia were like that before Andrew shifted and got to know that Alicia was his mate." I said and as if summoned, the door to the room burst open and Alicia strolled in.

"Why hello there, love birds. I need Jennifer." Alicia demanded and we sighed.

"What for?" I asked and Alicia gave me a look.

"Shopping for the Luna ball, of course. I'm taking the two new mates as well as Frank and Casper." She said and I sighed again. As I unwrapped my arms from around my mate, Jennifer gave me a silent pleading look.

I don't want to go. She thought and I chuckled.

I'm sorry, sweetheart. But when Alicia is in a mood for shopping, not even an Armageddon would stop her. I said and she groaned. I chuckled and then looked at my sister.

"She better be back within two hours." I said trying to save my mate from spending more time shopping. Alicia gaped at me.

"I need at least six!" She protested but I gave her a look.

"I'm giving you three. That's the final deal." I said and she sighed. That's when I knew I won.

That's the best I could do, sweetheart. I said grinning at Jennifer who smiled brightly up at me.

Thank you! She said and then allowed Alicia to pull her away from me. My wolf whined at the loss of contact but didn't do anything else.

"Alpha?" A voice called and I looked up from my breakfast to see Xander's mom looking at me nervously.

"Yes?" I asked and sat up straight. She fiddled with her, from what I understood, wedding ring.

"I've made my decision, Alpha." She said quietly. It made me frown at first, what she was talking about but I nodded when I understood, silently urging her to continue. "I'd like it if we could join your pack." She said and I smiled a little.

"Very well. We shall do the ceremony a day before the Luna ball is held. You don't have to worry." I said when her expression turned into a scared one. "The Elders will be there as well. Alpha Blake won't be able to touch a hair on your head since you would belong to my pack and not his." I said and the scared expression ceased a bit.

"Thank you, Alpha. Is there a way I could repay you for your kindness?" She asked and I frowned.

"Listen..."

"Nicole." She supplied.

"Nicole," I said, nodding. "There is no need for you to repay me. I'm only doing what an Alpha should. If you really want to do something, raise your son like a gentleman." I said and Nicole gave me a small rueful smile.

"I'm sorry about his behavior yesterday. He is a sweet child, but losing his father has been a big shock to him. It has made him retreat inside emotionally. He blames himself for his father’s death. He doesn't want to lose another person." She said and I sighed. Poor kid.

"That's somewhat understandable. But can you please make him understand that they're both too young? My mate and I are going to talk about it to our daughter as well." I said and Nicole nodded.

"Of course, Alpha."

I tapped my foot, looking at my watch for the hundredth time as I waited at the entrance of the mansion.

They were late.

My wolf was pacing in my mind, anxious of why they were late. I had been standing outside for the past fifteen minutes, awaiting their arrival. I was probably overreacting, but they were late.

By five minutes.

I was about to call Andrew to call Alicia but the sound of an engine running came and my ears immediately perked up at the sound. I looked towards the driveway we had for cars and distantly, I saw the shine of the suns ray reflecting from the windshield.

Finally! My wolf growled.

As the car came closer, I could hear music blasting in the car as well as many voices singing.

"In the middle of the night

When the wolves come out

Headed straight for your heart

Like a bullet in the dark

One by one I gotta take them down..."

My wolf laughed loudly at the irony of the song and I couldn't help but chuckle as well. Indeed, if Jennifer wasn't marked, the whole male wolf population would have been at a risk.

As the car parked in front of me, Bella immediately opened the door and bounced out, still singing the song and I chuckled.

"Dance with me, daddy!" She said and grabbed my hand. I couldn't help but laugh and then twirled her around a few times before stopping her.

"Alright, that's enough." I said and then hugged Jennifer when she came up beside me. I smelled her scent, felling content but a throat clearing made me look up. I narrowed my eyes at Alicia.

"You're late." I said but she rolled her eyes at me.

"By five minutes." She replied and I sighed. Xander came out and stepped up beside Bella, holding two small bags in his hand. I frowned at that.

He's holding Bella's bag as well. Insisted he'd carry it. Jennifer said with a small smile and I couldn't help but smile as well.

He really is a young gentleman.