Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

10. Struggles

AZURA.

He had a family… I stared at the marble tiles of the shower walls, letting the water pour down my body.

Nikki is his woman, and the boy…

I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool wall.

He had a son…

Why didn‘t I know this? Sure, I never cared about the latest news, but it was never something mentioned.

Sky or Kat would have mentioned it…

But then again, Leo has moved away from his family entirely.

Nikki seemed damn nice, and I had gone and slept with her man.

He was your mate, Azura.

Would he have broken up with her if I wasn‘t a Westwood? I don‘t know…

Why did he mark me then? Does he love her? Probably…

What he felt for me was just because of the bond…

I was the other woman.

My heart squeezed remembering the story of my biological mother.

Her mate cheated on her, in fact, I even had a brother thanks to his infidelity, a brother who has been desperately trying to get to know me, but it‘s been me who just hasn‘t wanted to.

I wasn‘t ready.I felt bitter…he was the reason Indigo ended up giving up the will to live.

I knew the story from Mama and Dad…

From the first time when they told me that I wasn‘t their biological child, like Kia and Liam…

(Flashback – Over nine years ago)

I stared at Mama and Dad, feeling worried.

They were on either side of me in my bed, but they wanted to talk to me about something.

Did they find out I cut the squares in Liam‘s underwear because he refused to allow me to taste whiskey? But…

I made sure I had an alibi…

Hmm, something wasn‘t right.

No wait, oh my god, they must have realised I emptied the pot of worms on that dumb boy’s head! But he was calling me names! No, wait…

What if they realised I‘m the one who made Jayce and Theo flood the bathrooms? Or wait, what if it– ! said, tapping my nose.

“Hey, stop overthinking it, Wildfire.” Dad

“I just want to say, whatever it is, I didn‘t do it.I‘ve done nothing at all.”

“We haven‘t said anything yet.” Mama added, looking amused.

“I know but it might be a trick, so whatever you think I‘ve done, I haven‘t done what you think I’ve done.” “You usually have done what we think you have done, but it‘s nothing of the sort, there‘s something we wanted to tell you.” Mama replied, wrapping her arms around me tightly as she smiled.

out a breath

know Mama

about her because I look like her, right? Are you missing her tonight?” I ask softly,

eyes filled with sadness, and she kissed my

looking at Dad, who put his arms around

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

sad when he looked at

although Mama and Dad have never really mentioned it directly, I have

everyone had to accept that their love was

having a secret

we are going to tell you, Angel, is only because you deserve to know the truth,

I frowned but nodded.

the battle that took Indigo‘s life occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted to help us

I frowned.

about her baby then, didn‘t she care about it?” exchange

then I saw

her hand

wanted to do something to protect everyone because without us winning, things would have been terrible for us.When she was killed…Marcel and

do, Grandma Amy, how can I not? You all make sure I remember her all the time.“I said with a roll

loved her.So then, what happened?”

we never knew she possessed, and using it she placed the baby that was still fighting

brows, staring at Mama‘s

lived?” “She did, and she became a beautiful little soul with lots of

Mama‘s tummy…

now…” I asked, that battle happened before

Wait…

Did they mean…

here.” Dad said softly, hugging

loudly in my chest

Mama

felt funny, it felt like it

No, I can‘t be…

didn‘t look

it was

didn‘t care enough

care if

care if she‘s my mama! I don‘t want her to be! “Baby…” MY Mama called, but I

I asked, looking

They said

who took care of me and raised me.I don‘t care if…she was meant to be by Mama, because she didn‘t care if I

don‘t want to know anymore.I saw the flicker of hurt in Mama‘s expression, but I don‘t care…I was only their

and always will love you, but you have the right to know about Indy too.”

(End of flashback)

night they had slept by my side…although I know they

didn‘t feel that same way.I was horrible, maybe…I didn‘t dare tell Mama or Dad how I

I‘m not a

grew up, I learned more, about her abusive mate who

not everyone can escape an abusive relationship, but I thought a mother‘s love was

Westwood, and I

world now, even if I wanted to go into combat and become a pack

taken classes in every fighting and weapon class the academy

higher level and

to go onto the

may have messed up, been a prankster and every teacher‘s worst nightmare, but

forgotten, but right now my priority was my pup, and I

had to be

Indigo has been through at the hands of