Finding Forgiveness

“Hey,” he said shortly before going straight to the fridge, hardly acknowledging any of us.

“There’s some pasta in there for you,” I said.

He nodded, found the pasta, grabbed a fork and began eating it, not even sitting down.

I exchanged confused looks with Milly.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He looked up, “Nothing.”

“Leonardo, do you take me for an idiot?” I asked. “Is it the training?”

“No. The training is fine but…” he began before looking to Milly and Max. “… nevermind.”

“Out with it,” I said sternly. “But what?”

He sighed and put the pasta down, “I’m afraid it won’t be enough. They may be elite and fast learners but to turn a thousand men that have hardly touched a gun into master shooters in one day? It’s impossible.”

Max and I exchanged nervous glances.

“And don’t you dare tell Blair. I have to keep morale up and if they find out their own Alpha doesn’t believe in them, that would be disastrous,” he warned.

“You might have more than a day to get them up to scratch,” I pointed out.

“Or we could have less than a day. Martinez could attack any minute. We don’t know where he is or what he’s doing,” Leo replied.

I went over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Okay, Andrea’s men are better shooters than yours. But yours are better trained in every other aspect. They are also more loyal, more obedient and more intelligent,” I said. “I lived with them for months remember? When was the last time you had to kill one of your own men for betraying you? Because Andrea was doing it almost every week.”

“And what value does loyalty, obedience and intelligence have against a bullet?” He asked.

I sighed and leant my head on his chest as he put his hands on my waist and rested his head on mine before letting out a deep breath.

“Alpha, I’m sorry if I’m speaking out of turn but I think I could help,” Milly suddenly said.

I let go of Leo and turned around to face her as Max shot her a glare and got off the sofa.

“How?” Leo asked.

“My power has been growing,” she said. “I can feel it. As promised when I first got the amulet, I only practise in my room at home but I know I can do so much more than move books and set candles alight.”

Max marched over, “Absolutely categorically no,” he said. “You are not getting involved.”

“What do you think you can do?” I asked.

“I can move things… big things… and set fires and change the weather and who knows what else. I’ve never had the chance to try,” she said.

“And the amulet lets you control it?” I asked.

She nodded.

I looked up to Leo, who had been quiet, to see him deep in thought.

“Alpha?” Max said. “Please say you are not considering this?!”

“The legends say that the other wolves with Hecate’s powers could use them to defend their packs,” I pointed out.

“Yes apart from the ones that were killed by their own powers or by others who feared them,” Max snapped, “There’s a good reason we’ve been hiding her abilities for four years. Why the fuck would we reveal them to the entire pack now?!”

“Because they could save this entire pack,” Leo said. “And I want to see what you are capable of, Milly.”

“No,” Max said. “You are not using my sister as a weapon.”

“I want to help my pack, Max,” Milly pleaded, “I can’t watch people suffer if I know I can help-”

Max held his finger up to her and she instantly shut her mouth, “You are still a kid. This is not your decision.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“But I am the Alpha and it is mine,” Leo said.

Max tightened his jaw before turning to me, “Ella, you know everything there is to know about Milly’s powers. Surely you can see how this is a terrible idea?!”

“She has the amulet and she is in control,” I said.

“When moving books and lighting candles,” Max replied, “What about when the fear and stress of being in public let alone a warzone takes hold?! And what about when the people of the pack see she is one of Hecate’s descendants? When they see she has the same power as the girl who killed all those people centuries ago? They all know the stories, Ella.”

“Do you really think they’d turn on the girl that saved them?” I asked.

“And what if it goes wrong?”

I sighed and stepped back, nothing more to say.

Max then roughly took Milly’s arm and tugged her towards the door.

“Maximus, stop,” Leo ordered. “I want to see what your sister can do.”

He clenched his jaw again and let go of Milly, “Alpha-”

“We will go to a quiet spot in the forest and give her a chance to test the full potential of her abilities,” Leo interrupted. “If I have the slightest suspicion that she is not ready, we will not go through with it when Martinez attacks.”

Max let out a short sigh, “I can’t argue with you, Alpha, but I am not happy with this.”

Leo nodded, “You care about your little sister, I get it,” he said, “But I care about my pack and my family and if this could save them, I’m willing to try it.”

Max gave a forced nod before glaring once again at Milly and then me before taking a walk outside.

“I’ll call Luca to come and watch the kids, then we’ll go into the forest,” Leo said before leaving to go to his office.

“He’s mad at me,” Milly said burying her face in her hands. “I hate it when he’s mad at me.”

“Oh, Mils,” I said putting my hand on her back. “He’ll get over it.”

“It’s easy for you to say. You’re used to it because he’s mad at you like 90% of the time,” she replied with a sigh.

“Yeh and I think he’s more mad at Leo and I right now and just worried about you,” I reassured, ” Once you show him you can do this, he’ll be fine.”

Leo came back into the kitchen, “Luca will be here in ten minutes. Are you ready, Milly?”