Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

18. A Memory

LEO.

I looked at my phone. The message was crystal clear, but even then, I had to fucking read it a few times.

‘I‘m going to be leaving. With Marcel here, I don‘t think it‘s smart for me to linger. Arrange me a car, or at least let your security know to let me out.‘ She was leaving Just how I fucking wanted... There was no relief, nor fucking excitement at the fact that she was.

Yeah, because once she‘s gone, Marcel will have a shit–ton of questions for me to answer. Why didn‘t I fix stuff with her ‘mate‘, and then Corrado would do my fucking head in about why I let her go.

Stop fucking with yourself Leo, you know that isn‘t the reason. 2 I lit a cigarette, taking a drag on it as I stared at the phone, letting out a string of smoke slowly. But it was for the better that she left. Her being here was fucking with me. I texted her back that I‘d come to get her, but she asked for an hour in return.

Fine. I tossed the phone onto the desk and placed my feet on it, resting back in my chair. Was it really Marcel that was pushing her to leave, or was it because of the kiss between Nikki and me? She hadn‘t reacted. Did I want a reaction? Yeah I fucking did, and she didn‘t seem to care, or so I fucking thought until she fucking stabbed me.

She had gotten pissed, and I was sure the kiss had been the fucking trigger. 3

Azura Rayne Westwood... (Flashback – Just Over a Decade Ago)

I walked into the garden of Alejandro Rossi‘s mansion, not wanting to see Rayhan the bastard again. I was damn bored, I wanted to get to the battle, see exactly how strong I was. A chance to unleash it all and not have to fucking hold

back.

These lot took so fucking long to say goodbye.

Alejandro‘s twins were out here playing with the Westwood pup.

“I got the ball, Sky! You are slow!” She teased, sticking her tongue out. Skyla frowned as she ran over, knocking the ball from her hand.

“Not that slow.”

Crazy kids. I glanced over at Kataleya, who was standing there lost in thought. I knew what she had been through, I fucking hated it when people did shit like that to kids. I scanned the area, making sure we were alone, before I walked over and crouched down by her side.

“You know, if you keep on making that face, your lips are going to forever stay fucking down. You might end up looking like your dad, and that‘s not a pretty look.” I teased, lightly prodding the corner of her lips. 4

She blinked, coming out of her reverie, and forced a smile as she nodded. “I‘m ok.” She said quickly, almost as if it was a automatic mechanism.

I‘m ok. Something I always said to Dad when I was child... The times when he was himself and he worried...

I‘m fine, I‘m ok, I‘m great... Lies to keep him from feeling burdened. “It‘s alright not to be ok all the fucking time, you know?” I said quietly, like the fucking hypocrite I was. ! I never took my own fucking advice, always acting like fuck all bothered me. “Oi, boy!”

I turned to see the Westwood pup standing behind me with her hands on her hips. She was a cute kid with big blue eyes, but I swear she gave me a vibe that told me she was not to be trusted.

“What?”

She leaned closer and shielded her mouth with her hand, as if not wanting anyone to hear.

“I can see your smelly knickers.” She whispered loudly, making Skyla laugh

manically. I raised an eyebrow. What the fuck were these kids fucking bred on? “First of all, they ain‘t knickers. Second, what the actual fuck?” I said, standing up and glaring at the pup. She simply shrugged.

She retorted, about to pick up the ball when I grabbed it and walked

back.”

“Ask nicely.”

it back, knicker

now.” I growled, tossing the ball

out into the garden, ready to

didn‘t hurt, try again.” She challenged, catching the ball and tossing it

she mean it, or

bouncing the ball off her forehead again as lightly as I could. Liam stopped a few feet away, clearly fucking worried for his sister, but to my

“Zuz.”

“You sure pup?” “I. Said. Again.” She

was beginning to look a little red. Was no one going to stop

Liam tried again. Why the fuck

She said firmly, her large eyes glaring

little psycho. I saw Alejandro step out from inside from the corner of my eyes,

I stated coldly, tossing the ball

again.

she wasn‘t even blinking. The first sign

fucking

her fucking head was red, it was going to bruise if I carried on. “Nah, I‘m bored.” I said

this shit out.”

me for a moment, and for a split second I felt fucking bad, she was going to cry. I hate making kids cry. We stared at one another before she quickly ran

Maybe not.

Skyla chimed

to hit her again.” I shot back, taking my lighter from my pocket. Liam sighed. “Azura is just...” “A weirdo.” I finished helpfully, pulling out a cigarette. “I thought you weren‘t going to come here?” Alejandro asked me, crossing his arms as Azura returned with the ball. Damn she was totally ok, maybe I didn‘t need to worry. She walked off, and I shrugged as I looked

lips. I was about to light it, when something hit the back of my

flash. Kataleya gasped, and it was the only thing that held

me, anger now

matter how much he fucking pretended to care, but it was half my fault I guess; I did make Rayhan the bastard‘s pup cry not that long ago, although he was the one I was trying to scare. I turned my attention to the pup, glaring at her. “The actual fuck? You psychotic–”

Skyla added defensively. Liam picked the deranged pup up protectively,

down!” She

See?

down.” Liam tried

He hit me first!” “But weren‘t you saying again, again‘?” Liam asked gently, trying to calm his sister, who was struggling to get free. “I don‘t

placed a hand on my shoulder as if he thought I was going to attack her or some shit. “She‘s a kid. Are you seriously going to start a fucking fight? Why

he had me fucking wrong. Nothing new here. My eyes blazed a steely blue as I shrugged him off. “She‘s a fucking maniac.” I growled. “You‘re the maniac!” Azura shouted, glaring at him murderously. “Get out of my sight, or I will poke your

little longer, but I think I‘ve fucking overstayed my welcome. “Azura!” Her brother tried to calm her, unsuccessfully. “Oh yeah?” I

“Yeah!”

to trust that fucking calmness of hers. The calmer she

the power to read her mind, did Nikki really bother her to that extent? Or

was going to show her out. I could have had Eric or Emmet show her out,

accepted my rejection yet, the pull of the mate bond was so powerful and I needed it fucking gone. I‘ll

sure this thing between us

for some fucking reason. I ran my hand through my spiky hair, trying not to let