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.

snuggled into her, letting out a breath of relief,

know Mama

you always go on about her because I look like her, right? Are you missing her tonight?” I ask softly, looking up at

sadness, and she kissed

She responded softly, looking at Dad, who put his

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

sad when he looked at her picture

Dad‘s parents were married, although Mama and Dad have never

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

Mama having a

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

I frowned but nodded.

occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted

I frowned.

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

tensed, then I saw her

her

to protect everyone because without us winning, things

I not? You all make sure I remember her all the time.“I said

would have loved

some magic that we never knew she possessed, and using it

brows, staring at

did, 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, hugging

thudded loudly in my chest as

Mama

felt like it

No, I can‘t be…

look like Mama and

it was the

didn‘t care enough

didn‘t care if she

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

favourite, right?” I asked, looking

said

and raised me.I don‘t care if…she was meant to be by

saw the flicker of hurt in Mama‘s expression,

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

(End of flashback)

they had slept by my side…although

dare tell Mama or Dad how I felt,

I‘m not a nice

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

abusive relationship, but I thought a mother‘s love was greater than anything? She didn‘t care if I lived or

Scarlett Westwood,

wanted to go into combat and become a

classes in every fighting and weapon class the

the higher level and learning about poisons and

go onto the battlefield

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

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

had to be

through