Chapter Seventeen.

Leon

I froze but Bella leaned down even more, oblivious to realise what she had just said.

"Oh no. That's not grandma." Bella said and leaned back against her pillow with a slouch.

"What do you mean, Bella?" I asked and she shrugged.

"She looks like my grandma. But my grandma has black hair and these eyes." Bella said, pointing towards her eyes and then pointed towards the little girl in the picture. "She has blue eyes and shiny yellow hair." She finished and I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

She scared me there for a second. My wolf said and I nodded mentally in agreement. I snapped out of it and ruffled Bella's hair.

"I think that's enough story telling for tonight." I said and closed the book. Bella looked up at me with a pout.

"But, daddy, we just started!" She whined but I gave her a look, which immediately made her pout in disappointment.

"Not tonight, Bella. Please." I added softly when her face turned sad. She gave me a disappointed nod then shifted so that she was laying down on the bed. "Goodnight, Bella." I said as I tucked her in and placed a kiss to her temple.

"Goodnight, daddy." She said and closed her eyes. I sighed softly and picked the book up before getting up from the bed. I quietly closed the door behind me. When I looked down the hall that lead to my office, I saw Jennifer walking towards me. She was looking at me curiously.

"Over so soon?" She asked and suddenly, something took over me. I didn't answer her but grabbed her hand, dragging her with me to my office, ignoring her questions.

When I pulled her in the office, I kicked the door close behind me and locked it. Jennifer was looking at me with wide eyes in alarm. I carefully placed the book on the table, opening it to the picture of the young girl before stepping back. Jennifer got the gist and stepped up, peering down at the picture. I heard her gasp.

"Bella called her 'Grandma.'." I said quietly.

"I don't blame her. Mom did look a lot like her at the same age. Who is she?" She asked and turned towards me. I crossed my arms on my chest.

"That's the first werewolf child to be born. Her father was the first werewolf. A human turned into one." I said and Jennifer's eyes widened.

"What?" She breathed out.

"Is there something you're hiding from me, Jennifer?" I asked quietly as I took a step forward. "Do you know how is Bella so strong?" I asked as I took slow deliberate steps towards her. She backed away but got trapped against the desk. "Do you know how Bella is a werewolf when both her parents are humans?" I asked quietly as I stood only a few inches away from her. She was looking up at me with wide eyes, and if I guessed it right, she was afraid. But I couldn't really blame her at the moment. This was all too messed up. And it was messing with my brain. I didn't like it. Not one bit.

"Leon, you know I wouldn't hide anything from you." Jennifer whispered. I leaned down a little so that we were on a face to face level.

"I know, but someone like Bella is to be protected at all costs, no? Even if it involves lying to your mate." I said a little coldly but she shook her head a frantically.

"I have never lied to you." She said and both my wolf and I could detect the truth in her words.

"Hidden then." I said, provoking her deliberately. She frowned.

"Why are you doing this, Leon? I've never lied or hidden anything from you. I told you my biggest secret and you're parading it around to everyone!" She exclaimed and I frowned.

"Jennifer, do you have any idea how important it is for an Alpha to have a Luna who gives up her virginity to him alone? The Elders have been very strict about that. And if I didn't tell everyone that you were raped, both you and Bella would be dead in a matter of days." I said coldly and her eyes widened. I could hear her heart pound loudly in her chest. "I'm telling everyone to keep you both alive and safe. All I've done since meeting you has been to keep you safe. But I can't do that until you're truthful with me." I said and then turned around. I walked out of the room, leaving her standing there staring at my back with wide eyes.

I plonked myself down on the end face down. I felt bad about treating Jennifer like that, but I was damn scared about Bella. If the Elders ever got to know about her and her abilities, they'd take her away. I know it. They can't stand things that are out of the ordinary and Bella is certainly one of those.

Last time something unusual happened, they took the wolf and tortured them to death because the wolf didn't give them what they wanted. I was scared that would happen to Bella if they got to know about her.

We won't let it. The might be the Elders but we have the largest pack. They will be no match for us. They might be old and experienced wolves but we've got the numbers. My wolf growled but I sighed.

Yeah. We're so crazy to think we can win against the Elders. You know how they are. I said and heard my wolf growl again.

You have to will it! Believe it! Can you imagine what it would be like to lose the pup!? For our mate and for us!? They might as well kill us! He shouted.

I know, but what can we do? I don't know if Bella can stay a secret for how long. A few years? Months? Unless we're careful, all of us, she's in danger at every second and every turn. I said.

Like I don't know that! My wolf snapped and I sighed.

"Leon?"

A voice quietly called. I turned around on my back and sat up, only to see Jennifer looking at me nervously.

"Yes?" I asked and she entered the room slowly, closing the door behind her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have exploded on you like that." She whispered but I still heard it as if she had said it out loud. I sighed as a pang of guilt hit me.

"I'm sorry as well. I'm just worried about Bella." I said and pat the seat in front of me on the bed.

Bad idea! Bad idea! My wolf chanted worriedly but I just shrugged it off. Jennifer quietly took the seat on the bed.

"But why? Are the Elders really so terrifying?" She asked and I nodded.

"They are. They are more than a hundred years old, hence called the Elders. They don't like seeing anything out of the ordinary and stick to their old traditions and expect the packs to follow them." I said and she frowned at me, confused.

"So they're like your leaders?" She asked but I shook my head.

"No. We don't have leaders. The Elders are just there to make sure there is peace between packs. Think of them as those old army men who think they can order anyone around and expect werewolves to jump when they command." I said and Jennifer chuckled softly. I smiled a little at the sound, the guilt in my heart decreasing slightly. "But you have to get their approval to start a pack because those that don't are labeled as rogue packs. They aren't that dangerous as normal rogues, but they just don't want to live in a pack officially or aren't taken in by any pack." I said and she nodded in understanding, looking down at her hands on her lap.

"If I... If I ask you something, will you give it to me?" She asked softly, but it made both my wolf and I frown in confusion.

"What?" I asked and heard her heart beat faster as a faint blush came on her cheeks. Without a word, she took hold of her hair and draped it over her right shoulder, tilting her head in the same direction.

Exposing her neck for me to mark her.

The realisation made me freeze in shock.

"Jennifer, what..." I trailed off as I tried to regain myself from the shock. My wolf seemed like he had gone into a coma. He was that silent for a change. She straightened her neck but kept her hair on her shoulder. Her eyes looked like she had decided something, a spark of determination was there as well.

I unknowingly gulped.

She moved forward slowly but I couldn't because I was looking at her with wide eyes. Her hands came up and rested on my thighs. The scent of jasmine and honeysuckle hit me hard.

"Jennifer-" I got cut off when she placed her lips on mine. She pulled away before I could react.

"I've wanted to do that ever since you kissed me." She whispered and that's when I felt it. My control snapping.

I cupped her face with one hand, the other went behind her head. She gasped when I titled her head by pulling on her hair slightly and I crashed my lips on hers. I pulled her to me so that our bodies were pressed against each other. She responded immediately. It was a kiss that felt like she was my is oasis in the desert. I felt her hands come up on the back of my head, grasping my hair firmly, pulling me even closer.

I don't even know when it happened but soon our tongues were battling for dominance. But I cut it off and trailed my lips to her jaw and then lowered towards her neck, sucking and nibbling on the soft skin as I did.

"Leon." Jennifer gasped.

"It's alright, mate." I said just as my fangs elongated. I brushed them on her neck and felt her heart pound against mine. Without a warning,

I sunk my fangs in her neck.