Chapter Seven.

Leon

Jennifer looked at me in disbelief.

"What?" She breathed out and I nodded.

"Is that... Is that why you're so sure nobody will take Bella away from me?" She asked hesitantly and I nodded again, but then stopped short.

"As long as you and Bella are in my territory, I can make sure you two stay safe. However, if you... if you decide to leave and unknowingly go into someone else's territory, I will be practically powerless to save you from them. That's why I'm saying let Bella join our pack. If she joins our pack, she'll be safe because right now, Bella is a rogue. Someone without a pack and rogues are those werewolf's who are extremely loathed by packs. They won't hesitate to kill a rogue." I said and Jennifer paled.

"Are you trying to scare me?" She asked and I quickly shook my head, feeling a little hurt by her accusation. But at some level, I understood it as well.

"I'd never try to scare or even threaten you. The rogues that followed Bella, I left them alive in front of Bella just so that she didn't have to see a bloodbath. They're either killed on the spot or taken into the dungeons where they are kept, and tortured, in case they are spies for other packs, or for information. It's the norm in packs, Jennifer. What I'd really like is, I want Bella, and you, to see how packs are run. See how they train, how they live. It'll create an educational environment for Bella, Jennifer. And easier for both of us because I have many people there that can care for Bella while we work. Also, I work from home. My house in the pack. It'll get tiring for me to travel to the city and back to the pack every day. I not only gave to look after the business, I have to look after the pack as well." I finished. Jennifer nodded her head.

"I can see where you're coming from... How big is your pack?" She asked and I hesitated, my hand running through my hair.

"Um, six thousand five hundred people. Give or take." I said and Jennifer's eyes widened. I chuckled. "I'm the Alpha of the Imperial Heart pack. It's the biggest pack in the world... As well as the most ruthless when threatened." I said and she looked away.

"Is that the reason you're saying Bella will be safe?" She asked and I nodded in confirmation.

"It is." I said and she sighed.

"If I agree, where will we live?" She asked.

"With me. I mean, in the mansion where I live. It's for the Alpha and the beta family. Since we have a large pack, the pack members have their own houses near the mansion." I said and she nodded but then hesitated.

"Can't we have a house to ourselves?" She asked. Before I could stop it, a growl escaped my lips at the thought of having my mate live away from me even though she's near. Jennifer looked at me shocked and I shook my head.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. We currently don't have any free houses as yet. All of them are occupied and it will take months to build a new one." I said and she sighed in defeat. I internally cheered, knowing I had won.

"Okay." She said and I smiled brightly.

"Okay." I repeated. That's when I noticed what she was wearing. Being scared about Bella and her protection, I hadn't even paid attention to my mate's clothing.

Even though it was almost time for it to snow, my mate was wearing mid-thigh black shorts, revealing long, ivory legs. She was wearing a button down light blue shirt. Her hair were a mess from being pulled, and I guessed, from sleeping.

At that moment, there was nothing more beautiful I had seen than my mate wearing her sleeping attire. There was nothing I wanted to do than mark her as mine, to mate with her there against the kitchen counter. But I kept a tight leash on the feeling, ignoring how my wolf growled at my denial of giving into the most basic and primitive need of a werewolf towards their mate. And me being the Alpha, my need for that was stronger.

I fought with my wolf for control, not knowing that I was receiving odd looks from my mate as I was gritting my teeth, my eyes and fists tightly clenched.

"Leon? What's wrong?" Her sweet voice asked and that was when my control snapped. When I opened my eyes, Jennifer gasped because my eyes had taken a deeper colour, an even darker blue had formed near the pupil.

"I'm not Leon, Jennifer. I'm his wolf." My wolf said, my voice coming out husky and deeper. Jennifer backed away. My wolf took a step forward. "Don't be scared, Jennifer. Like Leon promised, I'm not going to hurt you." He said and Jennifer looked at us hesitantly.

"What's your name?" She asked and my wolf stopped short.

"I don't have a name. Would you like to name me, Jennifer?" My wolf asked, slowly taking a step forward as if he was the predator and our mate was the prey. Jennifer backed even more when my wolf got too close for her comfort until she was trapped by the kitchen counter behind her.

Jennifer licked her bottom lip, a clear sign of her nervousness. I wanted to trace that same path with my tongue...

"How about... Damien?" My mate asked and I felt my lips curl in a smile.

"Quiet fitting, I must say. I like it." My wolf said as he stepped closer to her until our chests pressed together slightly. My wolf groaned at the feel and internally, so did I. "Sometimes, I really can't understand how does Leon keep such a strong self-control. Especially around you." My wolf whispered as he traced hi- my nose to the side of Jennifer's face. She took a deep breath, letting it out in a small 'Oh!' at the heat that spread where our skin touched.

"Leo- Damien, please don't." Jennifer whispered, putting her hands on my chest to push us away but that only ignited the heat between us. Jennifer gasped, her eyes snapped up at me in shock but I just leaned more towards her, groaning as I trailed my lips from her ear, then to her cheek, slowly moving towards her lips. My hands cupped her neck, titling her face up towards me.

"Leon..." Jennifer groaned out huskily and I let out a low growl before crashing my lips on hers in a fierce kiss.

Honey. Her lips tasted like sweet honey.

Her lips molded mine. Soft against harsh. One of my hand traveled down her side before I snaked it around her waist, drawing her closer to me as she matched my movement against her lips. That's when I realised she was kissing me back. I felt hands travel up my arm, into my hair, grasping them firmly, pulling my head towards Jennifer even more. I crushed her against me completely and that caused a small gasp to come from her. I was about to take advantage of her open mouth, but then I realised that my wolf had given me control again.

No, Leon! Don't d-. My wolf cut off when I snatched myself away from my mate with the greatest self-control I could muster. I took a few steps behind so that I didn't jump at her again. We panted heavily, our eyes wide as we stared at each other.

"I'm so sorry about him." I finally managed to say after a few minutes of us just staring at each other in shock. Jennifer took a deep breath and I could see her gathering herself again.

"It's..." She trailed off, not being able to continue. I wondered at that moment what she was thinking because her fingers unconsciously traced her swollen lips. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry. I should leave." I said and started moving towards the back door when her voice stopped me.

"Leon?" She asked quietly and I turned to look at her in question. "Do you... Do you regret kissing me?" She asked hesitantly, her violet eyes weary, awaiting my answer.

"Jennifer, if I told you I did, I'd be the world's biggest liar." I said and gave her a soft smile while she blushed. "Goodnight, Jennifer. I'll come and pick you and Bella tomorrow to start the move in." I added and she nodded, blushing furiously.

"Goodnight, Leon."

"Have you dealt with the rogues?" I asked Andrew the moment I saw him waiting for me at the entrance of the mansion. He nodded.

"They've been buried right outside the border." He said and I nodded. He opened his mouth, hesitating before asking. "That was your mate's daughter, right?" He asked and I nodded as we walked into the house.

"It was." I said in confirmation and Andrew shook his head as we climbed up the stairs.

"Everyone thought you were lying about that. I can't believe it even though I saw it with my own eyes." He said and I chuckled.

"Sometimes, even I can't. And on that note, get one of the rooms ready by tomorrow. Preferably the one closest to me. My mate and Bella are coming to live with us." I said and Andrew gave me a shocked look.

"Why? I mean, your mate is a human, right? I don't think they move in with a stranger so soon." Andrew said and I sighed, walking into my office and Andrew followed.

"Apparently, tonight wasn't the first night Bella sneaked out as a wolf. Jennifer wants us to train her, but she's agreed to come here because it will provide more safety for Bella if she sneaks out again." I said and Andrew nodded.

"I'll get right on it. But is it just me or it seems like a mother wolf trait?" He asked and I chuckled.

"Indeed, it is."

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AN: It's back! It's back! Merry Christmas!