Six hours later,

I sat between Max and Leo with my head resting on Leo's shoulder as we drove. Their shoulders were kind of encroaching into my space and I've seen bigger cars in my life but it was warm and snuggly. At some point, I must have dropped off because when I woke up we were no longer in a mountain range but amongst the tall trees of a forest.

"Do you hear that?" I heard Leo's voice say in a hushed whisper.

"Hear what?" Max asked.

"I can hear footsteps less than a mile away. Maybe two hundred people. They're running," he replied as I sat up straight and tried to listen too.

We sat in total silence for a few seconds straining our ears. All I could hear was the gently swaying of the trees above us and the engine.

"Stop the car," Leo ordered about ten seconds later.

The driver brought the car to a halt and Leo opened his door.

"Stay," he ordered looking at me before slamming the door.

A fraction of a second later, he opened the door again and this time looked at Max.

"Make sure she stays," he added.

I rolled my eyes before Leo shut the car door once again.

"Do you hear it?" I asked Max.

"Faintly," he replied. "He isn't going mad if that's what you're wondering. Just super good Alpha hearing."

There were another thirty seconds more of agonising silence before I was now able to hear the footsteps. It sounded like an entire army charging towards us and charging very fast.

I exchanged nervous looks with Max. We have so many enemies. There are endless possibilities of who this could be.

Before long, figures began to emerge out of the forest including that of the Descendant of Hecate.

"Shit," I cursed as more and more angry soldiers, both men and women, appeared from the darkness.

After grabbing the Praesidium Deae Astra from my bag, I opened the car door and stepped out.

"Ella, I told you to stay in the car," Leo said frustratedly from about five metres away.

"Yeah but that was before I realised that these are my enemies," I replied as Max got out the car and stood by me. "And you need all the help you can get, Leonardo," I added looking at the extent of people surrounding us.

"Why are you here?" Leo bellowed into the forest.

The descendent's face seemed slightly shocked as if he wasn't expecting Leo to be with us. Maybe a hint of fear too. He took a few moments to collect himself before his face recovered to its usual evil, twisted smirk.

"I believe your pretty little Luna has something that belongs to us," the Descendant replied. "We want it back."

"If we are going to get technical, it actually belongs to me. The Goddesses gave it to my direct ancestor 2000 years ago. I'm a far closer descendant of Donatia Chiaramonti Loren than you," Leo replied.

"Your pack discarded it 300 years ago. You didn't want it and we have been taking care of it ever since."

"Well, times have changed. Get over it," Leo said with a shrug. "Unless you want to fight for it... but it's a fine army you have here. It would be a shame if every one of your soldiers ended up dead. I suggest that you take your people and leave. This can never end well for you," Leo said.

"You are one and we are two hundred. You may be the mightiest Alpha in the world but we don't fear you.copy right hot novel pub