Four days later,

I had fitted back into my old life like nothing had ever happened. Leo and I had resumed our day to day morning and evening routine with the kids and I'd caught up with pretty much everyone. Rosa and Leo's siblings were thrilled to see me, the same can't be said for Antonio...but then again he's not exactly pleased with anything I do ever unless it involves trailing after Leo like a little-trained dog that follows his every command. Not that I'm bitter or anything. Basically running away from my mate for three months was a complete no-no for Antonio and has placed another hurdle in our already turbulent relationship.

Anyway, whilst I was getting Marie out of her highchair after dinner, there was a knock at the door.

"That's probably Luca. He said he'd bring us some of his sister's birthday cake this morning," I said as Leo made his way to the door, Francesca in one arm.

"I highly doubt that. Do you remember the last time Luca knocked?"

I heard Leo unlatch of the bolt on the door that was too high for me to reach and then unlock it with the key he kept in his pocket it all times. Slightly over the top paranoid, I know. The door then opened and a familiar scent drifted into the house.

I froze for a moment. Luciano. Of course. I knew he would turn up sooner or later. But already? He is more eager than I thought.

I pulled Marie into my arms and thanked the fact that the other four little ones were upstairs either having a nap or playing.

I wouldn't trust Luciano with a rock, let alone my children.

"Luciano, I wasn't expecting you so soon," Leo said.

"I could hardly keep myself away. And on my way home, to the Southern Territory, I thought I'd swing by and pay you and your family a visit. Five of your pups I have never met and the other one I haven't seen since he was a newborn."

"Well, in that case, come in. I will introduce you," Leo said.

No, no, no.

"This pretty little girl here is Francesca. She is seventeen months old," Leo cooed as the two of them entered the lounge. "And that is her identical twin sister, Marie," he added gesturing to the baby I was holding tightly in my arms.

I stared intently at Luciano, who as usual looked comfortable and relaxed yet menacing and twisted.

"Ella, my dear. You never told me that you had twins," he said smiling at me although with cold eyes.

"Not exactly the topic of our conversation, was it?" I replied spitefully.

"I ought to apologise for if I came across at all uncharitable when we met last week. But I was just doing what I had to do for the greater good of what I would still call, despite the time that has past, my pack. You, the Luna, belong here with the Alpha," Luciano said in a soft but somehow simultaneously cold tone. "Your absence for much longer would have torn Stella to the ground."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Leo replied looking at me with an expression that said 'just go along with it and if you dare argue I will murder your friends'.

"I had your best interests in mind and my intentions were pure," Luciano added.

I could see right through him. I knew he didn't mean a word of it. Leo did too, of course, but he also seemed to believe he owed Luciano something in exchange for giving something back that was coming back anyway. (me btw)

At that point, three little people scurried into the room. Having obviously not heard somebody come in, Cato, Mathias and Silas were surprised at the sight of Luciano. They naturally gravitated towards Leo and I don't blame them. Luciano certainly had a demeaning allure.

"And these are my sons: Cato, Mathias and Silas."

"Who is that, Daddy?" Cato asked holding onto his father's leg.

"This is Daddy's friend," Leo said taking his hand and leading him out from hiding behind him.

"What is his name?" Mathias questioned.

"Luciano."

"Heyyo, Yuciano," Mathias said sweetly.

"Hello, little man," Luciano said lifting Mathias into his arms. "And how old are you?"

Mathias looked at his hands and, concentrating hard, put all of his fingers down except for three.

"Three."

I tensed up as he held my son who giggled innocently and played with Luciano's hair like he always did with everyone who ever came near him.

"Where's the sixth?" Luciano asked.

"We put her down for a nap an hour ago. I'm sure she will wake any moment now," Leo replied as Luciano thankfully put Mathias back down.

"So you had three boys and then three girls?"

"At one point we thought we'd never get a girl and then two came along at once," Leo said gesturing to Francesca and Marie.

"Shall we leave Daddy and Luciano now, boys. I'm sure they have lots of catching up to do," I said taking Silas's hand and ushering Cato and Mathias towards the stairs.

"Actually, I have to be at the base in twenty minutes but you are welcome to stay Luciano. It will save me having to call Luca over and waiting three hours for him to actually turn up. Then perhaps we could go for a run afterwards?" Leo suggested.

"A wonderful idea, Alpha," Luciano replied in an exaggerated tone. I've never heard him say call Leo Alpha before.

"No," I stated.

"Excuse me?" Leo asked raising an eyebrow. "No?"

"I think that you should call Luca," I replied.

"Would you please excuse us for a second, Luciano?" Leo said stepping towards me.

"Of course, Alpha."

Leo smiled before turning back to me with a cod expression, taking my wrist and leading me into the kitchen.

"You need to forget whatever you have against Luciano now. How are you able to forgive Max for what he did three years ago but not Luciano? They are both your cousins and they have both changed," Leo said quietly but angrily to me.

Marie, who was still in my arms, and Francesca, who was still in Leo's, sensed the hostility in their father's voice and their faces transformed to ones of worry. I could tell that they were both on the edge of tears.

"Luciano has not changed, Leonardo," I retaliated. "Why is it that I can see through his false pretences but you can't?"

"Maybe if you had an actual civil conversation with him and got to know him a little better then you might understand," He snapped. "All the more reason for me to leave you to have quality family time."

"Leo-" I pleaded.

"Drop it, Ella," he ordered in his Alpha tone. "You and the kids are perfectly safe with him."

Marie was now beginning to cry and I tried my best to comfort her.

"Can you stop shouting? You're upsetting them," I said quietly.

His face softened slightly and he kissed his twin daughters on the forehead and they immediately settled. He then kissed me, took my hand and lead me back into the hallway where Luciano still stood.

"Luciano is in charge while I'm gone, okay?" he said.

Luciano in charge? Since when did I need someone in charge?

He gave me a stern look as if he was waiting for me to object again. Seeing no way to win this, I simply nodded.

"I should be getting going," Leo said handing Francesca to Luciano.

"I'll see you in a bit, Ella," he added hugging me gently and kissing my forehead. I didn't respond at all and just let him do it. "Be good."

A few moments later, the door had slammed shut and Leo's car was disappearing down the drive.

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