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

Mama

on about her because I look like her, right? Are you missing

filled with sadness,

are.” She responded softly, looking at Dad, who put his arms

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

got sad when he looked

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

turned out to be mates too, so everyone had to accept that their love was meant to be, even if it‘s

having a secret

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

I frowned but nodded.

life occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted to help us

I frowned.

then, didn‘t she care about

I saw her

her

but she had been through a lot in life, and she wanted to do something to protect everyone because without us winning, things would have been terrible for us.When she was

not? You all make sure

loved her.So

we never knew she possessed, and using it she placed the baby that was still fighting for life into me instead.”

furrowed my brows, staring at

lived?” “She did, and she became a beautiful little

Mama‘s tummy…

I asked, that battle happened

Wait…

Did they mean…

said

my chest as I realised what they

Mama Indy‘s

mind felt funny, it felt like

No, I can‘t be…

didn‘t look like Mama

knew it was the

care

didn‘t care if she

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

right?” I asked, looking at them

said in

understand why you had to tell me.You two are my parents, the ones 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 died anyway.” I

anymore.I saw the flicker of hurt in Mama‘s expression,

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

(End of flashback)

they had slept by my side…although

was horrible, maybe…I didn‘t dare tell Mama or Dad how I felt,

I‘m not a

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

everyone can escape an abusive relationship, but I thought a mother‘s love was greater than anything? She

parents were Elijah and Scarlett Westwood,

if I wanted to go into combat and become a

taken classes in every fighting and weapon class the academy

Herbology, doing the higher level and learning

to go onto

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

my pup, and I had almost risked its life by thinking

to be

been through at