Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

69. Burning Emotions

AZURA

My heart shattered watching Leo on his knees, cradling her body to his chest. Not one sound left him, but the pain and anguish that radiated off him was something I didn‘t even need the mate bond to feel. It filled the air and I had never seen him so… vulnerable.

The man that tried not to show emotions, who was always strong and cold, was now broken. Devastated by the loss of his loved ones. I wished I could turn back time and stop this from happening. I wish I could take his pain and make it my own.

Why her?

I wish I had called her last night... she must have been hoping I got her message.

Jackie...

I simply knelt behind him placing my arm around his shoulders, hoping it gave him some reprieve from the pain and heartbreak he was experiencing. His thudding heart was beating far faster than it should.

Closing my eyes, I tried to squash the guilt that was consuming me.

I brought Judah to them... I cost him his sister… and a best friend.

I made sure my walls were up, and never had I ever reinforced them as much as I did now. I didn‘t want to let him know how I was feeling. Not wanting to add to his pain.

Biting my lip, I held him tightly from behind, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to control the burning pain that was rushing through me.

Breathe…

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn‘t even notice the door open behind me, until Emmet‘s angry shouts reached me.

“Don‘t touch her!”

My eyes flew open to see Eric and another guard holding him by the arms, his hands were bound, and although he couldn‘t awaken his wolf, he was staring at Leo with such hatred that it made up for the lack of his wolf‘s rage. My own anger flashed through me, hating how he was staring at Leo.

“Watch your tone.” I growled.

He sneered at me, as he looked me over as if he had just seen me. “Ah… the one whose fault all of this is...”

A pang of pain rushed through me. My fault...

Leo‘s eyes flashed as he looked up, brushing strands of Jackie‘s hair back. “Be happy I‘m allowing you to see her when you don‘t even fucking deserve that.” He said, his voice dead of emotion and ice–cold. His aura suddenly grew as his eyes flashed. “And one more word against Azura...” He left his threat hanging.

he was weakened. “Don‘t do this Emmet!” Eric growled; his voice strained. Leo stood up, lifting Jackie‘s body gently and placed her on the table. Planting a kiss on her forehead. He turned to Emmet, his arm possessively moving me behind him as if he didn‘t even want Emmet to look at me. “I am the one who is allowing you to fucking be here, so show some respect to her and stop acting like a fucking prick.” Emmet sneered, “That‘s my mate, I may have hurt her in my anger but I‘m not the

advanced on him. “For her sake, I am not going to fucking rip you apart but remember she was the only fucking thing keeping me from killing you. With her gone... I‘m not

and hear the deepening of his voice. “For someone who just lost their mate, I can‘t figure out why you aren‘t running to her side to hold her.” Leo snarled venomously, clenching his fists as he glared at the man before him. “She was ready to reject you

didn‘t reply, walking towards the table. For a moment, I did see the sadness in his eyes, but I was unsure if it was him or the bond... He had just lost his other half, but Leo had displayed far more emotions. It was clear that Emmet was not feeling the loss as deeply

was.

closer to Jackie. Eric was crying as his eyes fell on her corpse. I moved away from

and I gave him a

me. I nodded and made my way over to him when Emmet spoke, his voice bitter and icy. “Karma will not forget this,

as he looked over his shoulder at

you.” He growled venomously, slamming Emmet to the ground, and punching him across the face, making blood spray from his nose. His heart was beating, and Emmet simply laughed. “So much for respecting Jackie.” “Leo come on.” I said going over to them, I glared down at

once more a few more of us lost our lives. Congratulations Westwood, you‘re the reason she‘s dead.” Guilt enveloped me as Leo pulled me from the room, my head felt like it was going to explode, and my entire body burned

I am the reason she‘s gone. Emmet wasn‘t even wrong… Leo knows it, deep down he

of me because I made the mistake of getting entangled with someone

her cheeks as she ran straight to

I looked at them, both devastated at the loss of someone special, but I still

mess, and the excruciating pain in my head was about to

run.

those around me. I stumbled into the fresh air, my heart pounding as I fell to my knees heaving, the blinding light around me felt too much. Go away! Let me stay in the darkness. Wrapping my arms around myself, I dropped to my knees, feeling sick. My frustration

his fault. I was going to kill him. Judah had fucking messed with

scream of anguish as the pain erupted, and I just wanted it

“Azura...”

the energy radiating off me. I looked around, but all I could see was the blinding silver and gold

Flames?

heart pounded as my gaze dipped down, and I realised that

emanating from me.

A flame–like aura...

the crippling edge from the pain and guilt that I was

It was my fault.

as he fought against the

believe that, to feel like it wasn‘t

the bond made me shiver.” Breathe...” His voice sounded strained, his heart thumping as he held me in his arms, as he knelt on the ground. 3 Placing my hand on his chest,

was emitting off me... so similar to that of my siblings‘. Why

and Leo caught me as darkness blanketed the

hissed, trying to find an outlet for my emotions. I glared up at him, only for my anger to dissipate when I looked into his eyes. “Understood... but if you stayed a moment longer, you‘d have noticed that I only touched her to get her off me.” He said quietly. Gazing into his blue eyes, I wanted to argue, but I was just being selfish. He had been through so much... he‘d shown me what I meant to him, I wasn‘t a fool... I wanted an outlet for the turmoil inside, but he had just been through

made me

assuming that‘s the first