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.

ball when I grabbed it and walked over to the steps,

back.”

“Ask nicely.”

back, knicker

it back now.” I growled, tossing

saw Liam step out into the garden, ready to intervene as I caught the ball

again.” She challenged, catching the ball and tossing

mean it, or was it a

as I could. Liam stopped a few feet away, clearly fucking

“Zuz.”

pup?” “I. Said. Again.” She

head, but it was beginning to look a little red.

on, let‘s go inside.” Liam tried again. Why

firmly, her large eyes glaring

corner of my eyes, as I raised my eyebrow at the determined kid in front of me.

fucking weird.” I stated coldly, tossing the ball at her

again.

time I realised she wasn‘t even blinking.

fucking psychotic.” I

repeated, making me frown. Ok no, her fucking head was red, it was going to bruise if I carried on.

this shit out.”

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 after the rolling

Maybe not.

Skyla chimed in,

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

as fuck waiting around.” I replied, placing the cigarette between my lips. I

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

at me, anger now clear in

of the fact Alejandro had jumped to my fucking side. Yeah, he‘d never trust me, no 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

Liam picked the deranged pup up protectively, as if she was not

me down!”

See?

Zuzu, calm down.”

again, again‘?” Liam asked gently, trying to calm his sister, who was struggling to get free. “I don‘t care! Give me

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

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

longer, but I think I‘ve fucking overstayed my welcome.

“Yeah!”

back then, and what happened over lunch, was not to trust that fucking calmness of hers.

did Nikki really bother her to that extent? Or was she just fucking pissed at me for some other shit?

show her out. I could have had Eric or Emmet show her out, but I just needed to see her one last fucking

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

sure this thing between us

reason. I ran my hand through my spiky hair, trying not to let my thoughts divert