Chapter 86 Chapter 86

Leo pushed Andrea off him and he slumped down onto the floor, his

eyes wide open at the night sky and his limbs as still as the air.

He didn't blink. His chest didn't rise and fall in breath. There was no

beating of a heart inside his ribcage.

Leo stared at his body in disbelief before he looked up to me, his

mouth slightly ajar as I just stood, gripping the gun as I felt the

pumping adrenaline slowly fade away and the reality set in.

Andrea's blood was splattered on Leo's face from the gunshot but it

didn't stop me from dropping the weapon and sprinting forward,

throwing myself into Leo's chest as he wrapped his arms around my

back.

I buried my head into his shoulder as he held me tight and began to

sob.

"You did it," Leo whispered, "You saved us all."

I only hugged him tighter as we sat on the forest floor, next to the dead

body of Andrea Martinez.

And he was definitely dead this time. I'd watched the bullet enter the

back of his skull, shattering his brain and ending him instantly.

A few minutes later, Leo looked down to Andrea before reaching into

his pocket and finding his phone. He then grimaced and picked up

Andrea's still warm thumb to unlock it before searching the contacts.

"Hola," he said placing his hand around my waist and pulling my head

back onto his chest.

He made a lot of phone calls to both Andrea's men and his own before

he finally put the phones down.

"They're retreating,” he said with a smile as he kissed my head, "It's

over."

"Finally," I replied.

"Are my children safe?" he asked.

"They're with Milly. She was amazing, Leo," I replied, "She saved them

all."

"With her...powers?" Leo questioned hesitantly.

I nodded, "Andrea sent men after them but they don't stand a chance.

Our kids are alive and safe because of her."

"And we will ensure the entire pack knows that," he said as he stood up,

helping me to my feet too, "She will be known as a hero and maybe

Max will let her. stay”

I smiled as he took my hand, "Now let me get you safely home so I can

go and clear all this shit up.”

Everything seemed to be working out so well. But it almost seemed too

easy.

"Have we lost anyone tonight Leo?" I asked.

Leo's face dropped and he squeezed my hand, "Blair survived, as far as I

know my brothers, sisters and Max are all fine too...but..."

"Luca," I choked.

"He's missing," Leo replied, "No one has seen him but that doesn't

mean he's dead."

"But it means he's at least injured,” I said, "Badly."

Leo nodded, "I have patrols searching for him but the territory is vast

and he could be anywhere.”

"Then I'm not going home until we find him," I announced, stopping

and looking around, "Where was he last seen?"

Leo sighed and placed his hand on my waist. For a moment I thought

he was going to refuse my help but then he sighed, "Just North of the

base. That's where he was when I phoned him two hours ago.”

I nodded, "Let's go.”

We ran the ten miles towards the area above the base. There were

already men searching through the forest for both Luca and other

wounded soldiers but there was no sign of him yet.

“Luca,” I called, "Luca!"

Soon enough every time I called his name, the coarse, dry skin in my

throat ripped.

But it was as I paused in a clearing hours later in total dispair, feeling so

hopeless I could drop to my knees, that I finally heard a response.

"Ella," a voice whispered.

I snapped my head to where it was coming from. A ditch filled with

leaves and debris but as I got closer, I could see the body of a man

lying stretched out in agony.

"Leo!" I screamed as I dropped down to Luca's side.

Leo was soon there too

"I'll get the Doctor," he announced before sprinting off.

"No," I whispered, my eyes frantically searching Luca's body for the

source of his pain, "Luca."

I pulled his shirt up to reveal a bullet wound in his stomach. Blood still

gushed out and instantly my hands were covered in red.

"It doesn't hurt,” he said, his voice hoarse. "I can't feel a thing."

He then inched his hand to mine, his weak fingers slowly entwining

around mine. His grip was loose but he squeezed a little and a slight

smile appeared on his paled lips.

"Is Martinez dead?" he asked.

I nodded, "I shot him."

He breathed a sigh of relief and his body seemed to relax, "The

nightmare is finally over.”

I looked down at his wound and struggled to agree.

"Leo will be back with the doctor soon," I reassured. "You'll be fine."

He slowly shook his head.

"No, you are not doing this," I ordered, "Don't you dare die on me, Luca

Romano. Don't you dare.”

He managed a sad smile, "Don't worry, Ells. They'll be other people to

eat popsicles with at midnight and swap socks with. You'll find other

friends.”

"No one compares to you, Luca," I replied. "I will never find a

replacement even half as worthy.”

He gave my hand a little squeeze.

"You're my best friend,” I said as tears swept down my cheeks, "You

have been since the day we met. Please just hold on. A little longer.”

"You don't need me, Ella Loren," he said, "You are brave and strong and

courageous. You defeated Martinez. And you'll still have Leo and the

kids and-"

"And that means you shouldn't live!" I exclaimed, "Because you think I

don't need you? You don't think you have worth in this world?!"

“I'm slipping,” he said, his voice fading with weakness, "There's nothing

to grip.”

I lifted his other hand and held them both tightly.

"Grip to everything you have to live for. Your future mate, your future

children, your future life. You've been amazing to me and my family for

seven years. But you've got so much to live for yourself too. Hold on,

Luca. I am begging you. There is too much to be lost.”

But he was struggling to keep his eyes open, the colour draining from

his skin fast.

I soon felt someone lift me up by my waist and drag me away as three

men with, large briefcases and a stretcher swept in. They attached wires

to his chest and performed CPR and shoved pipes down his throat but

his eyes were now shut and he responded to nothing they said.

"No!" I screeched as Leo held me away. "No!"

"The Doctors will do everything they can," Leo said as he was loaded

onto the stretcher, "We have to let them do their jobs.”

I was sobbing as I watched them lift his limp body up and carry him out

of the ditch to a truck a few metres away.

Leo hugged me tight before one of the doctor's jogged over to us.

"We're taking him straight to the ICU, Alpha," he said, "We'll keep you

updated.”

"What are his chances?" Leo asked as I buried my head into his chest.

The Doctor paused, "The wound is deep and he's been bleeding out for

some time. At this point, it could go either way."

Leo nodded before the Doctor ran off to the truck and they sped away

as I just clutched Leo's shirt in my hands.