Chapter Eight.

Leon

"Leon? Leon, wake up!"

A voice shouted and I jerked awake. I looked up sleepily through my parted eyes and saw Andrew standing there, looking at me confused. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

"What is it?" I asked hoarsely. Looking at the clock I saw it was only eight AM. I groaned realising I had only been asleep for three hours. I slammed my head back down on the desk. "Leave me alone." I groaned and heard Andrew chuckle.

"Man, you're late. You had to pick your mate, remember?" He said, humour in his voice was present. I was about to fall asleep again but then the words he said registered in my ear.

"Oh damn!" I exclaimed and quickly ran out of the office and into my room. I quickly dressed myself after taking a quick shower before running out of the room.

"Leon, have your breakfast—"

"Not now, mom! I'm late!" I shouted as I ran past her and out of the mansion. I debated whether to use the car or not for a second but then shifted into my wolf, knowing I'll be faster this way.

I reached their house in fifteen minutes. I was panting heavily from running an hour's journey so fast. My lungs burned as I took deep breaths to calm my pounding heart. I shifted back into my human form before walking towards their back door. I knocked on it and Jennifer opened it in five minutes, an eyebrow raised.

"Sorry. I overslept." I said and she chuckled before opening the door.

"What time did you go to sleep?" She asked and I rubbed the back of my neck, a little hesitant in telling

her.

"Uh, three hours ago." I confessed and her eyes widened.

"Leon, you realise that's not healthy, don't you?" She asked and I internally smiled at her concern for me.

"I'm used to it, Jennifer. It's nothing new for me. I've been doing this for the past ten years." I said and her eyes widened.

"What? Doesn't...doesn't your mate take care of you? Or your family?" She asked and I looked away when she said 'mate'.

"My mate... She's not here as yet. I haven't met her." Until recently. I added in my head while my mate looked away.

"I'm sorry. I sho—"

"No, no, it's alright." I cut in and she sighed. "Where's Bella?" I asked and she sighed again.

"She's been upset the whole night. Blames herself. She refuses to come out of her room." Jennifer said and I sighed. I knew I was a part of that guilt. I shouldn't have scolded her so harshly.

"Would you mind if I talk to her?" I asked and she shook her head. I placed my hand on her shoulder to comfort her before walking towards Bella's room.

Bella was sitting on her bed, hugging a teddy to her with a sad expression on her face. She looked up when I entered but then looked away. However, I saw the slightest hint of tears in her eyes before she did.

"Bella—" She shook her head, cutting me off.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, hugging the teddy closer. I sighed and walked over to her and kneeled down on the floor so that we were on a face to face level.

"I'm sorry as well. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that." I said but she shook her head again.

"My wolf... She told me not go do it but I didn't listen." Bella said and I sighed. I took her small hand in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey, it's alright. Even I don't listen to my wolf at times. It's completely natural, Bella. But you know, the place I'm taking you, you can be your wolf any time you want to be. No one will stop you. You'll like that. Won't you, Bella?" I asked and she nodded slowly. I smiled and pat her shoulder slightly.

"Now, let's go. We have a long journey ahead." I said and she nodded, quietly getting down from her bed. I took her hand in mine before walking us out of her room.

Jennifer smiled at me when she saw us and I gave her a small smile in return.

"Shall we?" I asked and they nodded. Jennifer started walking towards the front door but then looked back at me.

"You didn't bring a car, did you?" She asked and I sheepishly shook my head.

"I ran." I said and she gave me a look.

"How are we supposed to go to your... pack then?" She asked and I smiled.

"You'll ride. I'm quite fast, you know." I said and Bella jumped suddenly.

"We'll ride on your back!?" She asked excitedly and I chuckled, nodding.

"Our stuff?" Jennifer asked and I shrugged.

"I'll ask someone to pick it up." I said and then mind-linked Andrew. I forgot about their stuff in a hurry. Can you send people to pick it up? I asked him and he groaned.

I'll get right to it. But man, you interrupt us— My face scrunched up in disgust.

Man, I didn't need to know you're doing my sister right now! I shouted and he laughed.

We were about to. You killed the mood. He said and I sighed in relief.

"Leon?" My mate asked and I saw her looking still me confused. I shook my head.

"Sorry. My beta is sending people over to get your stuff. Let's go now, shall we?" I asked and led then towards the back garden. I pulled my hand away from Bella's and shifted into my wolf. I was approximately a six-foot big wolf. Normal wolves are almost 5'4, not more than that.

I ruffled my fur slightly by shaking my body, adjusting some fur before sitting down on the ground. Bella eagerly climbed on me but Jennifer hesitated. I let out a huff and motioned my head towards my back. She gave out a sigh and her shoulders straightened as if she was gathering courage before walking over to me. She hesitantly climbed on my back behind Bella and slowly, I stood up.

"Wow! This is so high!" Bella said and I let out a wolfish laugh.

Hold on tight, Bella. Tell the same to your mom. I said and Bella gave my message to Jennifer who hesitantly gripped my fur. A flash of pleasure hit me, a moan about to escape my lips but I held it back.

Tighter, Bella. I instructed and hands on my fur tightened when Bella gave Jennifer my instruction. Ready?

"Ready!" Bella said out loud and I slowly started jogging into the woods, increasing my speed every few seconds. "Faster, Leon!" Bella shouted and I complied. Bella let out an excited squeal when I ran faster.

Alpha, we've got our Luna's stuff. A voice came and I internally nodded.

Take it to the mansion. We'll be there in a while. I mind-linked them before resuming my attention to my run. I increased my speed which made Bella laugh.

Leon, get yourself home now! Mom's frantic voice came suddenly and I frowned.

What's wrong, mom? I asked but got no reply. It made me concerned about what had gotten my mom so frantic. Without warning, I increased my speed to the maximum and heard me mate scream, but there was a hint if laughter in it do I kept going on.

We reached the pack soon.

"Wow. This is so beautiful." Jennifer muttered as I walked through the lane between houses towards my mansion. The pack warriors were practicing their moves and strength in their wolf and human form. I sat down again and they got off me. I shifted back into my human self.

"That is why I'm telling you to not train Bella." I said and motioned towards their fights. "Warriors!" I shouted and they stopped, their heads turning towards us.

Your Luna and her child. I said to them and they nodded at them in respect.

"Do we have any new wolves?" I asked as we walked towards them. Casper, our General nodded.

"Five of them, Alpha." He said and motioned towards the five boys standing a few feet away.

"Very well. This is Jennifer and her daughter Bella. I'd really like you to show them how we train new wolves." I said and they looked down at Bella in shock.

"This is that child wolf, Alpha?" One of them asked and I nodded.

"You told them about Bella?" Jennifer asked and I turned towards her, quickly thinking of an answer.

"I had to. Everyone knows about her. They would have taken her as a rogue otherwise, remember?" I said and she nodded slowly.

"Can we see her shift, Alpha?" One of the younger wolves asked but before I could reply, a glass shattered just as a voice rang.

"Where is he!?" A new voice called, one I didn't recognise. The wolves winced.

"Who is she?" I asked and the door burst open of the mansion.

"Step away from my mate!"

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