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 sorry.”

apologise, you kept her

did Emmet

thumped,

“Jackie. Did you

guilt–filled eyes met mine and

hurt her, especially since he knew...”

blazed as white–hot pain lashed

her in the

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 paled. She shook her head, clamping her hands over her mouth. “No... he–no... It‘s my fault, I shouldn‘t have–” * “No. It‘s his fucking fault, and he will pay for it. Emmet will

front of me, a woman who had been broken

you let him go, don‘t

look like a fool to you? If you set a criminal free, he will come back for revenge. This wasn‘t an accident or 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 crimes that I‘m not going to forgive, whether they were against an Alpha, or an Omega, and he will be punished.” My voice was cold but despite my

they are a danger just waiting to happen. Emmet will stay in prison for life, or at least for the next thirty years, before I decide what to do with him... or...

you kill him?” She asked

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 crying again, rocking on her seat. I moved away

“Tell me, how long has he been hurting you. Please don‘t lie.” She didn‘t remove her hands from her face as she continued to sob, her pain and anguish clear. “It was on and off... Maybe it started a year after we

your friend, and I love him.” She

because of who they are... I would have

straight up rejected her because of who her parents were. I sure was a fucking hypocrite. 2 “I‘m sorry I said that Azura lied that

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

not a fake mask whilst suffering inside. • “Rejection 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? I forced my attention back to the woman

with time those injuries will heal. He is an abuser Jackie, you deserve better.” I said quietly, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.

was up to her now. “Whatever I decide, will it affect anything else?” She

yourself.” I

and we fell

my

Can you ask her for help?” She asked

fucking sense when someone was in pain. I needed them

simply nodding. “Can I have a week.... To

“I haven‘t talked to him yet either, so I don‘t fucking kill him in the process. I need

sadly and nodded. “I‘m sorry that

go... You can‘t trust anyone, not even those who you may

face an emotionless mask. “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.”

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

bottle that shit

she was ready to break into tears again. The door shut

I had 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

I wanted to know why he had targeted him, was it because he hadn‘t wanted anyone watching, or because I had lied that he was Azura‘s mate? Either way, I‘d fucking find out when I go to see him. I glanced at the time, I had been notified

Good.

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

going to get to the bottom of this shit,