Alpha Loren novel Chapter 228

Ella's POV

I woke the next morning practically being crushed by Leo. His leg had found it's way over my stomach and his arms were wrapped firmly around me. Silas had somehow wriggled between us and both of them were sleeping soundly.

I would have left them to sleep peacefully but Leo's leg was basically just one huge chunk of muscle and consequently incredibly heavy. He was also holding me in a way that trapped my hand and the numbness was intense.

"Leo," I said prodding his cheek. "Leo."

He grimaced and then slowly opened his eyes.

"Can you free me?" I asked. "Only I can't breathe and you're lying on my hand."

He smiled and rolled, placing his hand on Silas's back so that he moved onto his chest and stayed completely dead to the world.

I was then able to sit up and yawn.

"Fuck," I said stretching my arms out, "I forgot how much room there isn't on this sofa."

Leo laughed, "At least we only had Silas tonight."

"It's 6 am. Cato will be up and demanding breakfast soon," I said getting up and stumbling into the kitchen.

"That kid certainly has an appetite," Leo replied.

"He's grown about an inch in the last month. That's probably why," I said.

"I should get up too," Leo said, "I've got to be at the base at 7 am."

I looked at him and furrowed my eyebrows, "Why?" 

"I realised in Seattle my men need more gun training," he replied. "We need to be as good as Martinez's men who have been using guns since before they could walk."

I sighed, "Oh yes. The impending doom. How could I forget."

"I'll need to be there all day so Max will be here but I might come home at lunch," he added.

I nodded as he stood up, Silas still in his arms.

"There are five stations focussing on: long-distance targets, moving targets, defending yourself from a shooter, fast reloading and finally, shot-wound focussed first aid. You will spend two hours in each and at the end of the day will only be released if you have perfected all five," I announced. "Anyone who hasn't will stay until they have."

Some of my men were deployed around the territory guarding the borders and outer villages in case of an attack but that still left a thousand men here today. That meant 200 men at each station and the entire camp at maximum capacity. It was a large scale operation and within two minutes of ordering the men to the station, the place was filled with the firing of guns.

"Do you really think we'll get them good enough in one day?" Blair asked me as we watched over.

"They're all fit, young, intelligent and disciplined," I replied. "If we can be the best army in the world with knives and fists, we can do the same with guns."

"But Martinez's men have years on us," he replied.

"Years of using guns, true. But they are just a gang of thugs. They don't know teamwork and strategy and initiative. When the ammunition runs out, what will they do then? Who will have the upper hand?"

Blair nodded, "I hope you are right, Alpha."

Rule number 1 of being Alpha: don't show your fear.

I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder, "Now get back to training those men."