October 20th

The next day, Leo had almost completely healed which meant Haden couldn't be far behind. We went to the Loren household only to find that Lia was desperate to see him. She begged Leo until he gave in to go and get him from the hospital where he was being held in and bring him back to the house.

"Are you sure honey?" Rosa asked after Leo had left. "It wouldn't hurt to wait a couple of days."

"Mum, don't forget about the mate bond," Maria said. "They have met now there's no going back."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I want to see him," Lia reassured as she squeezed her mother's hand

"He will want you to go back with him today Lia," Antonio warned. "But remember that your brother made it so that you have the option."

"And when you do decide leave you can come back all the time. Whenever you want," Lisa added.

"But what if he doesn't let me?" Lia said looking back at Rosa.

"Then I'm sure Leo will let us come to you," She reassured.

"And Leo totally showed him who's boss!" Elena said excitedly, making everyone laugh.

"Don't worry about it, Lia. Mum's right. We can all come and visit you in Ayas whenever we want."

A few minutes later, the front door opened and Leo came in shortly followed by Haden. Unsurprisingly, he was in a worse state than Leo. His cut lip was still visible and swollen and his black eye was an array of nasty shades of purple and blue.

His gaze immediately found Lia in the crowd of people staring right at him and he let out a long exhale.

"Lia," he said gently.

She smiled meekly and looked at him in the eye for a split second before looking away again.

"You two go in the front room," Rosa said ushering Lia towards him. "We'll be in the kitchen."

Haden outstretched his hand to Lia and she took it gladly. He didn't pull her or squeeze her or anything, just gently led her towards the front room.

Everybody else backed into the kitchen, except for Leo who stood staring at Haden in the hallway.

"Leo," Rosa said and he snapped out of his stare and reluctantly followed us.

"Are you okay?" I asked slipping my hand into his.

He nodded and lifted my hand up to his mouth and gently kissed it, "I just can't trust him."

"My brother would probably say the same about you," I told him. "But you would never hurt me, would you?"

"Haden and I are not the same," he said putting his hands either side of my face. "Remember that."

I nodded and looked into his eyes. I could instantly tell that he was deadly serious and he didn't look away until I nodded.

"Leo, come and sit down," Rosa said. "You're gonna give yourself a heart attack soon if you don't stop worrying."

He nodded and without letting go of my hand, sat down at the table with me beside him. It was weird to see him so dreadfully concerned about someone else but also sort of comforting to see that his emotions could function fairly normally.

A few moments later, Rosa brought us two steaming cups of coffee which we drank in silence as both Leo and Antonio listening intently into Lia and Haden's conversation.

About an hour later, Lia and Haden came out of the living room.

"We're going to go for a walk," Lia said after a deep breath.

"Why?" Leo asked.

"So that we can talk without people listening," she said.

Obviously, by 'people' she meant Leo who was glaring at Haden. I nudged him and he tried his best to soften his expression.

"Be back before dark, honey," Rosa said. "And take care of her Haden."

"No," Leo interjected.

"What?" Lia asked.

"You're not going out alone with him," Leo said. "I'm sorry but it's for your own safety. I don't trust him."

"I do and you have no right to stop me, Leo," she said.

"I'm your Alpha," Leo snapped. "I have every right."

"Leo-" Rosa began.

"It's not happening," he interrupted.

"Alpha Loren," Haden began in the utmost respectful tone. "I'm not going to harm your sister in any way. You won the challenge, remember? It is what you say goes. I don't want to start a war between our packs and I am well aware that doing anything that would cause Lia the slightest bit of harm, mentally or physically, would do that quite easily. You have my word."

There was a tense pause whilst Leo eyed Haden and then Lia before letting out a sigh.

"You can go for a walk but I will not be far behind," Leo said. "Ella, you are coming too because-"

"Because all the men have gone to training and you don't trust us to protect your mate. Yeah, yeah. We get it," Elena said making Lia, Bella, Lisa and Maria laugh.

"Precisely," Leo said getting my coat and handing it to me. "And if you try anything, Haden I can tell you right now that I will end you and your pack," Leo warned before we promptly left.copy right hot novel pub