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 of relief, wondering what it

know Mama Indy

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

with sadness, and she kissed

She responded softly, looking at Dad, who put his arms

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

he looked at her

married, although Mama and

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

Dad and Mama having a

is only because you deserve

I frowned but nodded.

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

I frowned.

her baby then,

tensed, then I saw

her hand

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 killed…Marcel and

Amy, how can I not? You all make sure

would have loved her.So

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

brows,

and she became a beautiful little soul

Mama‘s tummy…

now…” I asked, that battle happened before I was

Wait…

Did they mean…

here.” Dad said softly,

chest as

Mama

felt funny, it felt like it was being

No, I can‘t be…

didn‘t look like

knew it was

didn‘t care

care

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

favourite, right?” I

They said in

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 shrugged

flicker of hurt in

always will love you, but you have

(End of flashback)

by my

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

I‘m not

I grew up, I learned more, about her abusive

but I thought a mother‘s love was greater than anything?

Scarlett Westwood, and I would never be like

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

taken classes in every fighting

doing the higher level

onto the battlefield if the need

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

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

to

through