Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

38. The Choice to Make

LEO.

It was the following day, and after crushing Corrado‘s heart last night, I felt fucking awful. He had been asleep on the sofa when I returned, the food uneaten still on the table. He had gone to sleep hungry...

So, the first thing I did this morning was promise him that tonight we were going to cook together, because Azura was going to come over. That had cheered him up and I was going to fucking make sure nothing fucked this up this time around. I had left him with Winona, they would go buy the list of groceries I had sent to her. I was currently in my office at headquarters, waiting for Jackie.

Last night I told Eric to make sure she stayed in her apartment until she was called for. Emmet was in a cell which would stop him from linking anyone and before I talked to him, it was Jackie I needed to deal with first.

The knock on the door made me look up, before it opened to reveal Eric, Nikki and Jackie. Jackie‘s eyes were bloodshot, and it was obvious she had cried a lot. Eric looked sympathetic, but I already had a word with him regarding Emmet. He had been there when shit went down anyway, and he knew what Emmet‘s temper was like. The two had never seen eye to eye often enough. 1

“Did I ask for an entourage to accompany her?” I asked. “She‘s in a state, Leo.” Nikki said, her own eyes shadowing when they fell to the mark on my neck. 4

Even with the tattoos on my neck, her mark wasn‘t hidden away... I won‘t deny that I examined it closely. It was a heart of fire in two shades, half was silvers and blues whilst the other was navy and blacks. It may look like a heart created from flames, but if you look closer, you could see that it was in fact, two wolf heads nuzzling together with fur made of fire. 14

Hurt flashed in her eyes before she looked away, placing her arm around her sister.

“I‘ll wait outside.” Eric said, giving a small nod.

I waited for the door to shut, as both sisters took the seats opposite to me.

‘Is it true that Azura is pregnant with your child?‘ Nikki‘s voice came through the link 2

My eyes flashed as I looked at her.

‘You know the answer to that already.‘

‘Wow.’ Her voice was bitter and irritated.

If Jackie wasn‘t here, I would have fucking snapped, but I didn‘t want to stress her out even more.

‘We did nothing wrong. She is my mate. My fucking mistake was not ending it with you that day I got back. For that, I‘m sorry alright, so let‘s end this shit now. We are over.‘ I replied icily. ‘I don‘t want to have this conversation with you again, so move the fuck on.‘

Her eyes glistened, and what fucking irked me was that her sister was in a state, and she was far more concerned about me. 6

‘Leo, you have ignored every message that –

“Leave.” I commanded. My eyes were enough of a warning, and she simply shook her head before standing up, and storming out. Once the door snapped shut behind her, I stood up and walked around the desk, leaning against it next to Jackie.

“I know this is all hard and although you are probably fucking confused about the entire situation, I need you to be honest.” I said leaning closer. My hands threaded together in front of me as I rested my elbows on my thighs.

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with glittering tears.

“I‘m so sorry, I didn‘t know he‘ll try to hurt her. If I knew you were her mate, I would have told you about the baby.” She sobbed, her face filled with guilt, before she broke into tears.

I frowned, not expecting that. “You knew about the baby?” I asked. She nodded, “She said to me to keep it quiet, because you knew who her mate was and that you might tell him, and he wasn‘t a good person... and when I found out she was mated in this

it. I‘m

you kept her

did Emmet

heart thumped, remembering Emmet‘s

“Jackie. Did you

guilt–filled eyes met

thought he‘d hurt her,

white–hot

her in

our pup. “Do you know where he hurt her?” I asked her, my voice shaking slightly, as I did my best to contain the searing rage that was rushing through me. “He kicked her in the fucking stomach.” 2 My voice was dangerous and menacing, and her face

she crumbled in front of me, a woman who had been broken by her mate

Emmet... why did he do this... Leo what if you let him go, don‘t let him stay in the pack. Exile him

a crime committed by misjudgment, but one he carried out intentionally. Emmet not only abused you, but he also tried to harm an unborn pup and a pregnant woman. It doesn‘t matter if she is the rightful Luna of this pack, or the fact that that was my child he tried to hurt. They are

to happen. Emmet will stay in prison for life, or at least for the next thirty

kill him?” She asked in a hoarse

I want to rip him from limb, to fucking limb for what he did. Don‘t forget Jackie, he was like a brother to me too, but I won‘t do that, because it would cause your downfall if I did. “I replied quietly. “He hurt a baby.” She was

was on and off... Maybe it started a year after we were

I love him.” She looked

because of who they

her because of who her parents were. I sure was a fucking hypocrite. 2 “I‘m sorry I said that Azura lied that day. I owe her an

be fucking imprisoned, rest assured. But now it‘s on you. Will you stay as the mate of an abuser, someone who tried to kill an unborn child. Mated yet apart, or will you let him go and build your life once more?” I asked softly, I knew she was in pain, but she needed to make the decision. “It‘s not that easy, you mean rejecting him right? The pain of rejection after marking is devastating.” She whispered brokenly. Gone was

is terrifying...” She whispered. I know how painful rejection was… and I hate that I fucking put Azura through that... but what now? Do I somehow find someone to break the bond, so she can live when I die?

hurt, but with time those injuries will heal. He is an abuser Jackie, you deserve better.” I said quietly, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. “Whatever you decide, I won‘t judge you... but he will remain in prison for his crimes. The rest

to be an easy decision, but it was up to her now. “Whatever I decide, will it affect anything else?” She asked, quietly wiping her cheeks only for

for yourself.”

and we fell

against my desk, and lit

you ask her for help?” She asked

I don‘t fucking want you mentioning that shit again.” I made sure to avoid Kiara, knowing she could fucking sense when someone was in pain. I needed them gone from here... I had already talked to Marcel, saying they

nodding. “Can I have a week.... To

yet either, so I don‘t fucking kill him in the process. I

sadly and nodded. “I‘m sorry that he betrayed you too... I know

trust anyone, not even those who

“One week then... if you want to speak to him before that you can let me know. No one is to see him without my permission, and that includes you.” I

She replied quietly, getting up and walking to the door. “If you need to talk, I‘m here and there‘s many in this pack who will

that shit up

a smile, although I knew she was ready to break into tears again. The

visited the confinement centre earlier, but I didn‘t go into his cell. He had been sitting on the bed, hands cupped behind his head, unmoving. But I wasn‘t ready... not yet... I needed to calm down first. I had spoken to Jax last night, and it was fucking obvious he hadn’t even realised when the drug had taken effect. Only Emmet would have the answer

he hadn‘t wanted anyone watching, or because I had lied that he was

Good.

regarding the buyers of the shipment too. Plus, I had done some more research on this fucking Judah. I returned to my underground cave and began dealing with what I had to. Once this entire shipment was sold, I would have enough funding for all the pack pups. Enough for them to be settled, and live the life I wanted for them. I spent the next few hours trying to find more details on Judah, I had already

to the bottom of this shit, one step at