5 Book 1 : Chapter 5 Stupid Decision Number 3

October 10th

Leonardo set me down by the bed and completely exhausted, I sat down. But when he started to take off his t-shirt, I turned my head away.

"Woah, we've just met. Don't get naked," I said.

"Don't act like a child."

"I am a child," I replied, looking back at him. "Legally, I am a minor."

He cocked his head to the side and inspected me. He then slowly walked up to me and lifted my head, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"Most mates sleep together on the night they meet," he said. "Why are you so different?"

"Don't you dare try to make it out like I'm the different one in this. I'm as ordinary as mud, not the most infamous Alpha in the world."

He continued to examine me closely, trailing his eyes down my cheeks to my lips.

"I'd have sex with you tonight without a second thought. It's you that's resisting our connection. Why?" He asked, "how can you ignore your wolf?"

"I'm a virgin," I said.

He smiled.

"I am well aware, sweetheart," he replied, "but that's not the reason you're holding back, is it?"

My eyes fell to the floor as he continued to hold me there.

"Are you scared of me? Is that why?"

"No," I answered.

"Then why do you struggle to look me in the eye?" He asked.

I realized I'd been looking anywhere but at him this entire time. It annoyed me that he was right so I shoved his hand off my face and shuffled to the other end of the bed.

"You don't have to pretend to be brave for me, Ella," he said before walking into the bathroom.

The faucet turned on and after a few minutes, he came back out.

"I ran you a bath," he said.

I nodded.

"Get the wretched smell of stale alcohol off you and then we'll talk," he added.

I got up and headed straight for the bathroom, locking the door behind me. On the toilet seat were a neatly folded white fluffy towel and a large clean t-shirt. The water was a milky pink colour with dark red rose petals which combined with Leonardo's rich scent made for a heavenly smelling room.

As I slowly dipped into the warm water, my aching limbs relaxed and the floral scent drifted up through my nose to my head, soothing my worries.

When I left the bathroom, dressed in the huge t-shirt, Leo was carrying a pillow and a blanket out of a closet.

"Are you still sleeping on the floor or?" He asked.

I looked down at the hard wooden floor and then to the bed. The softness and warmth were too hard to resist.

"The bed," I mumbled.

He smiled before putting the extra pillow and blanket down on the mattress.

"My brother will still worry about me," I said. "Can I-"

"No," he interrupted.

I frowned.

"... Why not?"

"I've sent one of my men to tell him," he replied, "now sit down."

"But I want to talk to him," I argued, refusing to move.

He stepped towards me, "in the morning. For now, I want you to sit down and rest. It's late."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"I have to speak to him," I said firmly.

His jaw tightened as he looked out of the window for a moment. A few seconds after, he brought his piercing eyes back to me.

"I told you I have dealt with it. My guy will inform him you are safe and well with me. Now, get in the bed."

I scoffed, "you think that will ease his worries? Finding out that I am with you of all people?"

He gritted his teeth, "this doesn't have to be difficult, Ella. Just get in the damn bed before I lose my temper."

It was too late and I was too stubborn to swallow my pride now. So I just folded my arms and stood in front of him, staring into his eyes.

"No."

You could taste the tension in the air heightening with every second, before it shattered with Leonardo lurching forward, grabbing my shoulders and throwing me onto the bed.

I wriggled and squirmed but he was soon on top of me, grabbing my flailing arms and easily pinning them to the mattress.

"I thought you would have learnt by now to not disobey me," he snarled.

"And I thought you would have learnt by now that I don't do what people say, especially if they don't ask nicely," I remarked.

"Oh sweetheart, you seem to have forgotten who you are talking to," he spat, "I am in control here. You will obey me. Understand?"

I still fought against his hold, already panting and out of breath as I frantically flexed my shoulders and twisted my wrists, trying to free my hands.

He just sat straddling me, looking down in amusement as he held me effortlessly in place.

He waited until I gave up, breathing heavily and throwing my head back down to the mattress in frustration.

"Are you done?" He asked.

He brought his thumb to my lips, pulling the bottom one down as he ran his touch along it.

He then brushed the hair that had dishevelled over my face away before grazing his fingertips along my cheek.

My heart was beating like crazy as I just looked up into his eyes, unable to do anything.

"I do not tolerate disobedience," he said eventually, "do you understand?"

"Why should I obey you? Mates are supposed to be equal," I said.

He laughed before he brought his mouth slowly to my ear.

"Not when your mate is an Alpha," he whispered as he slowly released my arms to bring both of his hands to rest on my neck.

He dragged his hands slowly down across my shoulders to my chest as I lay immobilized.

His lips then trailed to my cheek, where he pressed a firm, lingering kiss as his fingertips brush over my breasts.

With that, I couldn't take it anymore. Before you could say 'stupid decision number three' I slapped him hard across the cheek. So hard the sound filled the entire room.

"Do not fucking touch me," I growled as he froze, maybe in shock, maybe in utter fury.

He brought his eyes slowly up to me, his body shaking slightly as every muscle in his shoulders and chest tensed.

"You are going to regret that," was all he said before he grabbed my hands, plucked me from the bed and slammed me front first into the wall.

He pressed his body hard against mine, his crotch rubbing against my ass as he pulled my hands behind my back.

"If you ever dare hit me again, there will be consequences," he growled, "do you understand?"

I said nothing as I swallowed, wincing at the discomfort he was putting me in.

He let out a grunt before pushing me harder against the wall, "I said do you understand."

"Yes."

With that, he immediately let me go.

I turned around and shuffled away from him as he took a deep breath.

"I am not used to having to control my temper," he said, "you do not want to provoke me."

"You said you wouldn't hurt me," I replied, looking down at my wrists, which he had squeezed so tightly they throbbed.

"Well... let's keep it that way," he said, sitting down on the bed, "control your mouth, don't disrespect or disobey me and we won't have any issues."

I literally couldn't control what came out of my mouth. I had a severe case of verbal diarrhoea.

"Come," he said gently yet commandingly as he lay down, "you need rest."

I perched on the edge of the bed. He lay down on his back beside me as he reached his hand up to play with a lock of my hair between his fingers.

My breathing was heavy. I tried to control it, I tried to hide my fear. But it only made my lungs beg for oxygen more until I had to gasp for air.

He still said nothing and just lay staring at the ceiling and playing with that same strand of hair until I had recovered.

"I've seen you before," he said eventually.

I said nothing. Only swallowed and kept my eyes down on my hands.

"You work in the diner on the edge of Kellington," he said. "You would have been too young for either of us to feel the mate bond but I caught your scent and it intrigued me. I listened to you argue with your boss and then him threaten to fire you until you begged him that, saying that you needed the money."

"I remember that day. Someone left a thousand-dollar tip and Connor and I used it to pay for groceries for months," I said before looking at him and realization hitting me, "... oh, God. That was you, wasn't it?"

He smiled, "I followed you home too."

My face creased with concern, "you did?"

I had the most dangerous Alpha in the world following me?

"You were alone and it was dark. Some part of me wanted to make sure you got home safe. I rarely care about anyone and my weird feelings towards you messed me up in the head."

"I take that route almost every day at the same time. You are the most dangerous thing ever to find me," I said, looking back down at my hands.

"You weren't in any danger. I would never have hurt you," he explained. "I may have a bad reputation against my name but I draw the line somewhere. Please understand that."

I turned to see a genuine look on his face. He held his eyes on mine until I finally nodded.

"Okay."

I nodded although not entirely sure what he meant.

"You've killed people though, haven't you? Innocent people?"

He rolled over and looked up to the ceiling without a word.

"So the stories are true?" I asked.

"What does it matter? You're my mate whether you like it or not," he murmured as his arms wrap around my waist and pull me into his chest.

His arms were big and held me firmly. I'd already learnt fighting him was useless so having had my quota of disobeying the Alpha, I let him hold me.

Besides, he was warm and I couldn't help but find comfort in his arms.