4 Book 1 : Chapter 4 Stupid Decision Number 2

October 10th

The second I was across, I took a short deep breath.

As a rogue, I'd just stepped into yet another Alpha's territory. Was I asking for a premature death tonight?

But after a few agonizing moments, the forest remained still and I let my anticipation crumble. After a deep sigh of relief, I almost laughed how easily I had let fear grip me and stepped further into the unknown territory.

I pushed a low branch with a brittle network of twigs out my path and kicked up a mass of leaves with every step. Judging by the fact that there was no beaten track, wolves didn't often cross this territory.

Maybe it was abandoned.

Although, the small matter of that incredible scent still hung, now stronger than ever amongst the trees. But everything was just so quiet and still. Something wasn't adding up.

Just as the idea of escaping the gloom to go back to my lovely warm bed was becoming very appealing, a voice sounded.

"Hello."

A jolt of shock seized me.

"Shit," I cursed, spinning around.

The figure of a man before me.

How did he creep up on me so quickly and so discretely?

I looked up slowly. His sheer height made his size immense, regardless of the breadth of his shoulders and the strength of his build. It was enough to intimidate me and I took pride in being particularly hard to frighten.

The hood of his black sweater covered his eyes but what I could see of his face was menacing enough. With defined cheekbones casting shadows on his chin and outlining his sharp jawline and his lips sitting perfectly straight and still, I took a step back.

He was exceedingly beautiful but his expression chilled me to the core.

"What do we have here?" He said, his words dripping with amusement.

I stayed silent and stumbled back a few more steps.

"You appear to be on my territory little wolf."

He had a slight accent elongating his words, only intensifying the enchanting fluidity of his voice.

"I-I was just leaving. I'm sorry."

He let out a short laugh, "leaving already? You haven't even told me your name... or more importantly, why you dared cross my border without permission?"

"It was a mistake," I said. "I'll go now."

He looked me up and down as I staggered back further.

"No..." He said, "... You can stay."

It felt like more of a command than an invitation.

"What kind of man would leave a pretty girl like you alone in the woods?" He said. "It's late and cold. Let me take you to somewhere warm."

"I'll be fine on my own," I said, "thank you though."

By this point, he had stepped close enough to reach forward and run a long finger along my cheek.

A finger that then paused at my chin, just below my lips.

I froze.

His touch was so soft and gentle yet it triggered something powerful inside me. But I refused to look at him. Even with his stare burning into me, I kept my eyes fixated on a tree ahead, completely still and quiet.

"There's something intriguing about you," he said eventually.

I said nothing.

"You're different," he continued.

I forced a smile, "I've really got to go."

He let out a short laugh and only brought his fingers to my hair and then down to my neck again.

"That's not how this is gonna work, sweetheart," he said. "Now would you please look at me?"

He then reached for his hood and pulled it down revealing his entire face. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of some tousled dark blonde hair and a well-sculpted broad forehead appendaged with dark, thick eyebrows and a perfectly shaped nose. But I couldn't bring myself to look into his eyes.

"Look me in the eye," he demanded.

"No," I said, keeping my eyes on the tree. "I can't."

"So you're a defiant one? All the more fun for me."

He then grabbed my face in one of his huge hands and forced me to face him.

I scrunched my eyes shut.

"Open your eyes. Do not make me say it twice," he ordered in a firm authoritative tone.

I don't know if it was my curiosity or the power he conveyed but he didn't have to raise the volume of his voice before I obeyed him.

I cautiously opened my eyes only to meet the most beautiful eyes in existence. They were a brilliant shade of blue with a dark outer rim and gold flecks streaked through them like intricately woven threads. Nothing like what I expected at all. But underneath the comforting mask of colour was an underlying evil. Something that sparked a churning sensation deep inside.

My wolf was screaming something in my ear. Just a four-letter word. And that was what I feared, not the eyes. The concept that this man, tall and dangerous in front of me is my...

mate.

A grin twitched at my lip as I looked up to him.

The more I looked into those beautiful eyes, the more I was sure. His touch, his voice, his scent. It all added up.

This man is my mate.

He now smiled and held out his hand out to me.

Oh, the smile. He was simply the most handsome man I'd ever had the joy of looking on. The way his face creased with it and the way it triggered indented dimples in his cheeks to form and his brightly coloured eyes to glint even more. It made me forget how terrifying he had previously seemed.

"Who are you?" I asked as I shook his hand.

"Your mate I suppose," he said, trailing his hand up to hold my face.

I stood there in complete stillness utterly hypnotized by the deep, mellow tone of his voice.

"Pleased to meet you."

I slowly brought my hand to his cheek, passing his impeccable jawline and lips. He placed his hand on top of mine and a few moments later our fingers were entwined.

"I knew there was something about you," he said.

I smiled and let him kiss my hand.

I then caught his scent again. It was so rich and authoritative and his eyes so blue and mesmerizing and his build so powerful and strong. He was just like they described him.

Just how my father used to describe the man every wolf feared.

"Alpha Leonardo Loren," I whispered.

His eyebrow raised.

"I mean... urgh... you remind me of him."

"I do?" He replied, an amused smile creeping onto his lips.

I nodded.

"Why, thank you. I hear he's very handsome."

I blushed and looked down for a moment to hide it from him.

"But since I'm still standing here alive, I would assume you are not."

"And why is that?" He asked.

"Because of the stories. The evil, the suffering, the fear, the death that he brings to everyone in his path. They used to terrify me. They still do, in fact."

"Then we should get out of this dark forest," he said, taking my hand. "We wouldn't want to come across anybody like that tonight."

"Wait, my home is this way," I said, resisting his gentle pull in the opposite direction. "I live in Kellington."

"Kellington? What are you doing so far from home this late at night?" He asked.

"Oh..." I said, "I was just on a run."

We didn't need to get into my wreck of a life and how I'd just run miles from all my problems just yet.

He looked at me through narrowed eyes before letting out a low hum and tugging my hand again, "well, you must be exhausted. Come, come."

"So I need to go home," I repeated.

He smiled again but this time with a brief twinge of frustration.

"You're coming home with me," he replied, pulling me with a little more force further away from the border.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't," I said. "My brother will worry about me and I have to be at work at 7 am-."

He let out a short breath, "your brother will be informed. Don't worry about your job. Now come with me."

I furrowed my eyebrows and opened my mouth to speak but closed it shortly after.

"Come," he repeated when I did not move.

He looked and spoke as if he was fighting hard not to lose his patience. Did he not hear me?

"What?" Was all I could say.

"Do I have a halfwit as a mate? I don't know what simpler way to put it," he said, his face straightening. "You are coming with me," he added slowly and clearly.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because you..." He said, pulling me closer to his chest, "are mine now."

I stood for a moment inhaling his alluring scent, pulling me into his trance.

He then took my hand firmly and continued walking.

"I don't even know your name and I'm supposed to go home with you? And whose pack is this?" I asked, "and who gave you the right to decide what I do?"

He didn't answer but his grip on my hand tightened.

"Wait," I ordered, stopping again. "I demand that you answer my questions and stop dragging me like some kind of animal!"

"For fuck's sake," he growled before spinning me around and grabbing my arms, pulling me into his chest. "I tried to be gentle with you but now I have lost my patience."

I tried to shove him off me but he was impossibly strong. So as I wriggled and squirmed, I felt his eyes on me. He glanced down at my neck, uncovered by my hair before looking back at my face.

"Don't even bother trying to fight me. You can't win," he said, still with a low growl.

I paused in his arms, trying to catch my breath. After taking a deep breath, he brushed the dishevelled hair from my face.

"Now... what is your name?" He said, still in a deep but softer voice.

"Get the fuck off me," I answered before trying to struggle out of his grip again.

And yes, I have an awful mouth, little kids can learn a lot from drunk dads.

"Beautiful name," he remarked.

I broke a hand free and slapped him across the face. A notion of anger swept over his features turning the amused expression into one of indescribable rage. The gentle being that was once in front of me had disappeared. In his place: a murderous monster.

He pulled me back into him, this time, pinning my back against his chest and wrapping a tight arm around my throat.

I stopped fighting him and instead brought my hands to his arm, ensuring he didn't start strangling me. For the first time in my memory, I felt helpless and unsafe. This man could do anything and I don't know him enough to know he wouldn't.

"This whole stubborn empowerment thing is hot, but save it for the bedroom sweetheart," he growled. "Now did I mention how I don't like repeating myself? What is your name?"

"You have not told me yours," I gasped. "Yet you are the one dragging me through a forest in the opposite direction to my home."

His grip tightened around my throat and I whimpered.

He laughed as I clasped at his shirt with my fingers, "please let me go."

"I love it when they start begging," he said. "It always comes with desperation."

"Please," I whispered.

He finally loosened his grip on my throat.

I breathed heavily. At no point did he actually block my windpipe but the panic had taken siege of my lungs and I gasped for air.

"Your name?" He asked again, his lips right by my ear.

"Ella," I said quietly.

He let go of me before twirling me around to face him.

He smiled and took my hands.

"Let me get a few things straight, Ella," he began, "you are going to come with me and you are going to be my mate, as the Moon Goddess wants. You will submit and obey. You won't raise any questions and you won't disrespect me or there will be punishments. Okay?" He said, before kissing the side of my head, "take what just happened as a warning."

I clenched my jaw. With oxygen back in my lungs, I was angry. How dare he use his strength against me like that? How dare he assume authority?

So I lifted my leg and kicked his shins. He barely even winced but his distraction was enough for me to slip out his arms and run. He didn't seem to be following me at any great speed but I still sprinted through the forest as fast as I could.

"I happen to love hide and seek my dear," I heard his voice say.

It was as if he had allowed me to get away just so that he could hunt me down.

Evil. Totally evil.

I scurried over to a thick-trunked tree and lay my back flat on it, frantically searching for a branch to use as some kind of leverage.

He was big and I was small but the branches on this tree weren't strong enough to hold even me.

"These games never last that long though," my mate's voice continued.

With so much fear and adrenaline pumping through my body, my breathing was uncontrollably loud. So I took a deep breath and held it as I scanned the darkness for a tree more suitable to climb.

I couldn't shift or he would too and the thought of facing the wolf of such a man filled me with pure dread.

Besides, my wolf was weak. I knew she'd give in to him.

I finally spotted a perfect tree no more than ten meters away.

I spun around and headed straight for it only to crash into something incredibly hard. Either I had misjudged how far away the tree was or I had lost this little game of hide and seek. A pair of hands wrapped around my waist confirmed that it was the latter.

"God taming you is going to be riveting," he said quietly under his breath, before he pinned me tightly to a tree, standing so close his breath fanned over my face.

I took a short breath in and froze.

"I should perhaps bring to your attention who I am," he said before pausing.

His scent reeked of power. I knew he had to be a higher rank wolf but as a rogue that meant little in the way of deserving respect to me.

"But something tells me deep down you already know," he said, brushing a displaced strand of hair out of my eyes.

I looked into his blue eyes once again. They were so cold and piercing and the little thought that had been toying at my consciousness since I first looked at them came spinning back.

"Say it," he added, his voice commanding and sharp.

He matched the description perfectly.

"Alpha Leonardo Loren."

His lips curled into a smile, confirming what I had hoped wouldn't be true.

"That's right," he confirmed. "Alpha Leonardo Loren of the Stella pack."

Years ago...

"Ella! Connor! It's time for bed!" My dad called up the stairs.

Our little feet could immediately be heard scurrying towards our warm beds. We knew that if we were quick, he would tell us a story. We snuggled tightly under the warm covers and awaited our father. We were eleven and twelve but you could never be too old for his stories.

"Are we ready?" Dad said, creaking the door slightly open, allowing a small strip of light to illuminate our faces.

We nodded and he sat on the small rocking chair in-between our beds and began to speak.

"Can it be a scary one Dad!?" Connor asked excitedly.

"Are you sure? We don't want nightmares again now do we?" My Dad replied. "Mom will have a fit."

"Please, please, please," we begged.

"Very well," he said with a nod.

"Have you ever heard of 'The Bringer of Darkness'?" He began and we both shook our heads. "He's said to be the most powerful, most ruthless Alpha ever to rule. He's tall and he's strong. He's brave and he's scary. Some say just one of his deathly glares can paralyse a grown man, leaving him defenceless. They call him 'the bringer of darkness' after all the misery and despair he brings and because just the utterance of his real name brings some to sweating, shivering wrecks. He's been Alpha just shy of a year and he already has a name for himself. But do you want to know the worst part?" Dad said and we both nodded. "He takes packs."

"Whole packs?" I asked in shock.

"Whole packs," my dad reiterated. "Mercilessly killing anyone who tries to stop him whether they be men, women or children."

"He won't take our pack, will he?" Connor asked.

"He won't bring any darkness, here will he?" I asked.

"The last we heard of him was two months ago in a small pack in North Washington. It was November 16th. The night was cold and dark and the storm clouds from earlier had just cleared leaving the eerie moon to sit all alone in the sky. The teasing stars twinkled around it fading and brightening as the night went on. A few members of The Silver moon pack sat peacefully around a fire. They were a small pack and vulnerable so they always had guards on watch."

He stopped for a quick breath before continuing.

'Did you hear that?' One of them whispered to another as a few leaves and twigs crunched in the bush beside them.

'Yes.' He replied.

'It's maybe just a rabbit' the third said.

'That's no rabbit,' the first said as a low grumble emanated from the same bushes.

"Those guards were discovered days later, their limbs scattered throughout the forest along with the rest of the pack."

His voice had grown deeper and more sincere as he spoke. Connor and I were cowering under our sheets as we listened, scared to learn what would happen next but filled with excitement.

"Nobody ever heard from any of them again. It was thought there were no survivors, but that's not true. When a neighbouring pack went to investigate the horror, what they found comprised piles of ash, belongings scattered all over the territory and bodies. But only the bodies of men, women and girls. Where the boys went is unknown, but some believe he took them and is training them up to become soldiers, to become warriors, to prepare for something bigger, to prepare for a war to end all wars. Nobody knows what to expect but one thing is for certain 'The bringer of Darkness' is the most brutal, most ruthless Alpha ever to live and to stop him getting what he wants would be plain stupid. Soon after, the Silver moon territory got a new scent- his scent. Nobody dared to go back after that, nobody dared to go in the rest of his rapidly growing territory either, so I guess we won't know... until it hits us."

By the end, Connor and I were trembling with fear.

"But don't fear, my darlings. It's only a story. Probably not even true," he said, gently stroking our hair out of our faces before planting a kiss on each of our foreheads.

"But he exists, doesn't he?" I uttered.

"Maybe... but somewhere far from here. You don't need to worry, Ella," he said before heading towards the door.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly, my child's curiosity getting the better of me.

"Yes, my child," he replied, turning to me.

"What is his name?"

My father's expression changed to become far more grave and sincere. He looked down the hall, presumably to check if anyone was listening before turning to us again.

"Alpha Leonardo Loren," he whispered before closing the bedroom door, leaving us in the terrifying darkness.

After that sort of story, Connor would always jump across to my bed and we would sleep cuddled together as far away from the door and window as possible.

End of flashback

"You can't be..." I whispered, looking back into those eyes, "you're too young... too real... I've heard stories about you."

"Everybody has, sweetheart," the Alpha said.

"Are they true?" I asked, looking helplessly up at him, "are you going to kill me?"

"I have done awful things with these hands, but never would I use them to hurt my mate," he said in a sincere tone. "You have my word."

I nodded.

"Now," he continued with a deep breath. "Are you going to come easily or do I need to drag you?"

I paused.

There was no way out of this. He wasn't going to back down and he certainly had the power to force me if I didn't. So not wanting to get on the wrong side of the most terrifying wolf in the world, I nodded my head.

"I'll come," I whispered.

"Good girl," he said, a satisfied smile on his face before he took my hand in his and walked... once again.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, our hands entwined, his gripping mine tighter than I gripped him back.

"Where are we going?" I asked eventually.

"My home," he said.

Silence again.

"You're anxious," he observed.

"Are you surprised?" I asked, "I'm sure you're used to people feeling nervous around you."

"I've told you I won't hurt you."

"And I don't believe you," I replied, "you've already half strangled me and we haven't known each other ten minutes."

"I don't expect you to trust me yet," he said, "but you will live happily in this pack. I promise."

"Do you own a dictionary, Leonardo?"

"I believe so," he said.

"Then look up the definition of happily," I replied, "because, I may be delusional, but in my world, there's no such thing as happily ever after with a man like you."

He paused and slowly turned to face me.

"A man like me, huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

My mouth had turned dry but I still dared to pull my hand out of his.

"You're a deranged murderer."

His face soured, "what did you just say?"

Watch out guys here comes stupid move number two.

"You've killed people. Many people," I said, ignoring the fast beating of my heart, "you're twisted and sick."

He glared at me.

"Say it again, I dare you," he growled, crouching down to my level in the most patronizing manner possible.

"I don't need to," I said, "it's the truth and we both know it."

With that, he pulled me close, "do not disrespect me," he said slowly and carefully in my ear.

I stared into his eyes for as long as I could before my fear got the better of me and I had to cast my gaze down to the ground.

"That's what I thought." He said, increasing the distance between us again. "Now come," he continued a little more gently.

I didn't move my feet causing him to turn around and face me again.

"Do not do this again. I will carry you through this forest kicking and screaming if I have to."

"I can give you my number, my address, my full name, my fucking social security number. Please just let me go home and finish school and go to college. Then you can come and find me in five years if you're still interested?"

I smiled hopefully but he only scoffed.

"Do you understand how much danger you being my mate has already put you in?" He asked. "Even if that idea was remotely attractive, it wouldn't be possible. There will be wolves in these very woods just on the other side of that border waiting for me to look away."

I cocked my head to the side and blinked, waiting for him to elaborate.

"I am the most powerful Alpha in the world and that doesn't come without enemies. They look for any way to tear me down and until now I didn't have a weakness. It's the rogues mainly, but other packs too. They have people constantly watching and now you are their prime target. You are safe with me, they wouldn't dare, but the second I allow you to walk off alone, you are in extreme danger. If you ever want to see your family again, I suggest you come with me."

I looked over to the border. Nothing moved but I still shuddered before looking back to my mate.

"You may not be sure that I won't hurt you but you can be certain someone out there will," he added.

He then stood up and held out his hand.

"Okay," I said, quietly looking back over at the border through the dark forest before accepting the warmth of his hand.

We walked through the woods for hours. We hardly exchanged a word until we reached a black car parked on the edge of the forest. He unlocked it as we approach before opening the passenger door and herding me in, closing the door and walking around to the driver's seat.

I stared out the window, watching the trees lining the narrow forest track whiz by as I appreciated the soft leather of the seat that allowed my tired legs to finally rest.

But my mind could not relax. I was still in a car with not only a stranger but Alpha Leonardo Loren, who doubled as my mate.

As my thoughts fixated on Connor, sitting at home worrying where I was or desperately searching the woods or questioning every soul at that party, tears accumulated around my eyes. I tried to hold them in but with one final image of what my life was like only a few hours ago and how it had all been ripped away, they fell heavily down my cheeks.

After the first snivel, Leonardo looked briefly down at me before his eyes adverted back to the road.

"Why are you crying?"

"Why do you think?" I snapped.

"You were very into me before I proposed the concept of you coming to live with me."

"You didn't propose it. I don't remember having a say in it at all."

"It's almost as if we are mates and we are supposed to be together..." He mumbled under his breath. "Remind me of your surname."

"Jones."

"Jones..." He said, repeating my surname with his accent like he had heard it before. "And how old are you?"

"Seventeen," I answered.

He looked at me again. At my eyes, my hair, my body like he was checking what I looked like.

"You're young," was all he replied with. "That explains a lot..."

I scoffed and wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

"And why do you reek of vodka?" He asked in a low tone.

"I was at a party," I replied, "and my brother will wonder where I've gone."

"If you were at a party why did you go for a run?" He asked.

"Because I was angry and upset and I needed some time alone," I hissed, "and this is how I've ended up."

"Kellington is thirty miles from my Western border," he said, "you had plenty of time alone before I found you."

I swallowed, "what time is it?"

I had no idea how long I'd been running in my wolf form. My human side had been practically unconscious.

"It's 3 am," he replied.

"Fuck," I muttered, "I need to call Connor now."

With senseless faith in the gods of phone battery, I desperately tried to turn my dead phone on by spamming the on-button. Of course, to no avail.

"Leonardo, can I use your phone," I said, my voice cracking as I tried to keep my tears in.

He'd be so worried. So would Abi and Charlotte.

"Call me Leo," was all he said.

"Do you have a phone?" I repeated.

"I'll send your family a letter in the morning," he said.

"Please, Alpha-"

"Do not call me Alpha."

"Leonardo," I said. "Please."

"It is your older brother, right?" He asked.

I nodded.

"He can wait until the morning," he replied. "What about your Mother?"

"He'll be awake wondering where I am," I said, "why can't I call him now?"

"Answer my question," he demanded.

"Answer my question."

His eyebrows raised as his jaw tightened.

"If you're going to disobey me like that you can kiss your freedom goodbye." He said.

"My freedom got up and left the minute you found me in the woods," I said, leaning on the car door, realizing I was getting nowhere with him.

He was nearly as stubborn as me.

"And I could do without the teenage attitude right now, sweetheart," Leo said.

"Well, that's what you get when you kidnap a teenager."

"Mates live together, but you don't want to live with me. Why?"

"Gee! How d'ya figure that one out?" I remarked.

"Tell me why," he ordered.

"I wouldn't want to bore you."

"Tell me."

I sighed, "number one, I'll miss my friends and family-"

"They can visit."

"Do not interrupt me," I said, causing him to side-eye me. "Two, I want to finish high school and go to college. Three, I don't agree with your morals..."

"My morals??" He questioned.

"I'm not done yet. Four, I can't stand being told what to do. Five, I enjoy freedom. And six, I'm only seventeenth and I'm not old enough for this and everything that comes with it. I don't want kids for another eight years at least, especially not with you," I finished. "Just to list a few..."

"One, as I said, they can visit. Two, forget about education now, I will provide you with everything you need. Three, if you don't like who I am, tough. Four, do what I want you to do and I won't have to tell you. Five, earn my trust and you can have your freedom. Six, you don't have a choice," he replied.

"Thanks. You made me feel so much better," I muttered.

"You're welcome, babe."

"Don't call me babe," I ordered.

"Watch who you are giving orders to, woman," he hissed.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. This man can't be my mate. This man can not be my mate.

"Anyway, as I already said due to the impending doom you now face, you are not going home," he said, "besides, I have plans with you tonight," he added with a wink.

Unbelievable.

"We have just met," I said in disgust.

He glanced down for a second, examining my face. I braced my serious expression until he brought his eyes back to the road.

"And we are mates, so why wouldn't we act accordingly?"

"I have respect for myself and until you can respect me too, I will not be getting in your bed," I hissed.

His hand travelled to my inner thigh where he gently ran his fingers along my skin. I swatted his hand, ignoring the tingles shooting throughout my body. He can't know how much he affects me.

"Soon you'll be screaming my name begging for me to carry on," he replied, removing his hand a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

We eventually rolled up in front of a vast house at least four stories high. It built of wood and had lovely big balconies and glass windows.

But I refused to get out of the car.

"If you think I'm going in-" I began as he opened the door to the passenger's side.

But before I could finish, he'd plucked me out of the seat and shoved me forwards, towards the front door.

"It's been a long night. Don't test me, Ella," he grumbled, unlocking the door with a simple key.

The insides were just as beautiful as the outsides, although with the bonus of it being warm and snuggly. This isn't the house I imagined Alpha Loren to own.

"What? Is it not what you expected?" He asked, closing the door.

"Not at all. You are Alpha Leonardo Loren. Where are the blood-stained walls, the chains, the dungeons?" I asked, looking at the pristine floors and walls.

There were even photos of what looked like family members or past Alphas, all neatly framed and hung.

"So you're into kinky stuff?" He said with a smirk.

"You are well aware that is not what I meant," I said with a glare.

"Go upstairs. Our room is the first one on the left. I'll be up soon but, in the meantime, I'll be in my office if you need me." Leo said.

"Our room?" I questioned.

"Yes. Are you not familiar with the term? Basically just plural for my."

"I'm pretty sure I said earlier that I am not getting in your bed," I replied.

"Fine, sleep on the floor. I don't care," he said coldly.

I gave him a stare as cold as his tone before turning away and venturing up the staircase, just glad to finally get away from him.

When I reached the top, I came to a long hallway, lined with windows facing out into the forest. I turned left and entered the first door. The walls were a deep red with intricate designs branching up to the ceiling. In the middle was a huge bed- bigger than Queen-sized. It had white crisp sheets and a dozen plump pillows.

I like to think of myself as an optimist- at least this guy has a nice house.

I continued into the room noticing three doors at the end. Two closets bigger than my entire room at home, one filled with men's clothes drenched in his scent and one empty. The last door was a beautiful bathroom with a free-standing bath and a shower with a wide selection of soaps and shampoos.

I then came back onto the hall. My exploring wasn't done yet. I went into every room on the first and second floor. There was a weird number of bedrooms; a huge library; a room with a piano and nothing else; multiple lounges and a room just full of locked cupboards and storage units.

The top floor led to one single locked room and hatch in the ceiling. That was it.

The hatch opened out onto the roof so naturally, I clambered up.

A few minutes later, I heard Leonardo's footsteps come up the stairs to the top floor.

"What are you doing up there?" He asked.

"Admiring the stars," I said as I leant my back against the roof tiles and stared up into the night sky, "they look so pretty tonight. And I guess the moon-"

"Didn't I tell you to go to the first room on the left of the stairs?" He asked.

"You did... and I went there. Then I left. Now here we are," I replied nonchalantly.

The stars were mesmerizing. I didn't care about the irritated tone in his voice.

With that, he climbed out of the hatch, grabbed wrists before plopping me back through the roof.

"Stargazing can wait for another night," he said as he climbed back in too, "it's late."

I followed him down the stairs to the floor with his bedroom before I passed the door and headed for the next bedroom along.

He sighed, "where are you going?"

"You have thirteen bedrooms in this house. I thought I'd make use of one of them."

"Yeah. This one," he said, pointing to his own.

"Thank you for the offer but... goodnight, Leonardo."

I then opened the door to the other bedroom but before I could even pass the threshold, I was being dragged once again.

"Wasn't an offer," he said, shoving me through the door of his room and shutting it behind us.

Obviously, my opinion means nothing to him.