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.

the ball when I grabbed

back.”

“Ask nicely.”

it back, knicker

back now.” I growled, tossing the ball lightly against her forehead.

the garden, ready to intervene as I caught the ball

try again.” She challenged, catching the ball and tossing it back at

it, or was

as lightly as I could. Liam stopped a few

“Zuz.”

pup?” “I. Said. Again.” She challenged, her chest heaving

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

go inside.” Liam tried again. Why the fuck was he listening to a

said firmly, her large

from the corner of my eyes, as I raised

fucking weird.” I stated coldly, tossing the

again.

realised she wasn‘t even blinking. The first sign of

kid‘s fucking psychotic.”

fucking head was red, it was going to bruise if I carried on.

shit

at me for a moment, and for a split second I felt fucking bad, she was going to cry. I

Maybe not.

started it.” Skyla chimed in, frowning at

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,

lips. I was

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

me, anger now clear in her

the – was what?” The psycho pup shot back, stopping herself from swearing. My eyes flashed and I felt angry, but more so because of the fact Alejandro had jumped to my fucking side. Yeah, he‘d never trust me, no matter how much he fucking

that to Azura first, Daddy!” Skyla added defensively. Liam picked the deranged pup up protectively, as if she was not a fucking psycho but

me down!”

See?

on Zuzu, calm down.” Liam tried to

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

done. Alejandro placed a hand on my shoulder as if he thought I was going to attack

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

little longer, but I think I‘ve fucking overstayed my welcome. “Azura!” Her

“Yeah!”

lunch, was not to trust

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

her out. I could have had Eric or Emmet

the mate bond was so powerful and I needed it fucking

sure this thing

thought of it unnerved me, for some fucking reason. I ran my hand through my spiky hair, trying not to let my thoughts