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.

a breath of relief, wondering what

know Mama

like her,

sadness, and she

softly, looking at Dad, who put his arms

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

always got sad when he looked at her

and Dad have never really mentioned it

too, so everyone had to accept that their

Mama having a

are going to tell you, Angel, is only because you deserve to know the truth, it doesn‘t change anything.” Dad said, kissing

I frowned but nodded.

was weird… “When the battle that took Indigo‘s life occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted to help us against the evil.It cost her,

I frowned.

then, didn‘t she care about it?”

tensed, then I saw her

gave her hand a

a lot in life, and she wanted to do something to protect everyone because without us winning, things would have

sure I remember her all the time.“I said with

think I would have loved

using it she placed the baby that

furrowed my brows, staring

baby lived?” “She did, and she became a beautiful little soul with lots of spark.” Mama added,

Mama‘s tummy…

where is she now…” I asked, that battle happened before I

Wait…

Did they mean…

Dad said softly, hugging

heart thudded loudly in my chest

Mama Indy‘s

it felt

No, I can‘t be…

look like

knew it

didn‘t care

care

mama! I don‘t want her to be! “Baby…” MY Mama called, but I didn‘t

still your favourite, right?” I asked,

They said in

me and raised me.I don‘t care if…she was meant to be by Mama, because she didn‘t care if I died anyway.” I shrugged

don‘t want to know anymore.I saw the flicker of hurt in Mama‘s

always have and always will love you, but you have the right to

(End of flashback)

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

maybe…I didn‘t dare tell Mama

I‘m not

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

mother‘s love was greater than

Elijah and Scarlett Westwood, and I would

baby is my world now, even if I wanted to go into combat and

taken classes in every fighting and weapon class the

level and

ready to go onto the

and every teacher‘s worst nightmare, but in the lessons I liked, I did my

pup, and I had almost risked its life by thinking Judah wouldn‘t

had to

has been through