Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

AZURA.

Four weeks had passed since his rejection. That night had shaken me far more than anything Judah had ever done to me. I still remember grabbing my clothes before I stumbled out of the penthouse. I had nothing, not my phone, not my bike. I had managed to beg someone for a phone, and I had rang Liam as the rain began falling, washing away the scent of my so-called mate. But it couldn’t wash away what he did to me. My mark burned with agony, the healing slowing due to the rejection.

When Liam had shown up, I had been silent. When he saw the state I was in, the anger in his eyes had made me succumb to tears. I had never seen him so enraged, and if I didn’t grab onto him and beg him that it was consensual, he was ready to kill. I had managed to tell him that my mate had marked and rejected me. If it was anyone else but Leo, I wouldn’t have cared, but I couldn’t tell anyone because it would ruin things. Alejandro would lose it and Marcel, Leo’s dad, would feel guilty over it. This involved my entire family, not just me. I just couldn’t.

I now clutched at my neck, where his mark stained it. It had taken a full week for it to heal.

Frustration and anger filled me as I stared at the message on my phone.

Judah.

He was a problem that still didn’t go away and he, like the rest of my pack, had found out I had been marked and rejected. His anger had been clear in his messages and he had begun to ring me too. Calls I refused to answer, which only made his threats worsen.

The Blood Moon and its sister pack, the Blue Moon, combined were over four thousand members. We literally shared the same territory, although the residency homes were separate. Years ago, we were like this pack of people living in the woods, weird right? Yeah, tell me about it, but now, we had a mini town here; shops, a restaurant, cafés, even a school, and of course a huge hospital. Somehow word of me being marked had still travelled like wildfire, even though I had tried to keep it a secret.

My mark… a crescent, shimmering, midnight blue moon, with stars and a lotus, set against a background of blue flames. A beautiful mark with an equally ugly story too. A reminder of the painful memories I wanted to remove.

I still remember the look on Dad’s face when Liam had brought me home, the way he had hugged me, the way his heart was thumping… Mama’s pain, the worry and anger in her blazing eyes. I had to stay quiet for everyone’s benefit, but they only got angry at me for refusing to share his name. I still hadn’t said the words to accept his rejection… I knew I didn’t need to be face to face to do so, but still, it was daunting.

Everything had made me sick; I had lost my appetite and I was unable to focus on anything. I needed a break from it all, I wanted to run away… and although Liam told me it wasn’t the answer, I still wanted to.

A light knock on my bedroom door made my head jerk up.

“Hey Zu,” Liam’s voice came, concern clear in his magnetic blue eyes.

“Hey.” I replied, picking up my jacket and slipping it on.

“Were you going out?” He asked.

I nodded as he stepped into the room, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I closed my eyes, hugging him back, his familiar scent reminding me of home. I wanted to cry and throw a tantrum for him to fix. But I wasn’t a child anymore, and this wasn’t his problem to deal with. He had enough to handle with six kids and a pack to take care of.

“Talk to me Zu.” He whispered, kissing the top of my head.

I didn’t reply, simply hugging him tighter.

“Am I your favourite sister, Liam?” I asked, looking up at him, using my best doe eyes on him and trying to sound cute.

He smirked, amused, and cupped my face, kissing my forehead.

“Without a doubt.” He gave me a wink and I smiled.

“You’re my favourite too.” I said quietly, taking a deep breath as I stepped back. “Do you know where my old collection of voodoo dolls are that I didn’t want to throw away?”

He looked at me worriedly. “Umm, are you really going down that path?”

“I am tempted to learn some dark magic… I think I wouldn’t mind causing a few people some pain.” I’m sure I had a Leo Voodoo doll somewhere.

Leo Rossi.

was known to be ruthless, cutthroat, and

man whose heart was frozen in

man who cared for

he did just made them all

to head out for a bit.” I told Liam,

Luckily for me, today was her day off. She hated me, and I disliked going there if she was around. I parked my bike, ignoring the looks that a group of girls who were sitting

had gone to school with me, and well I can’t deny that I did prank them once, ok maybe twice? Let’s

a harmless prank,

closed.” A grumpy

Just my luck.

Granny June was here.

not closed. Three of the old crones who hated me were here

wish I had checked with Justin

you’re dirtying my

I’m only

“Leave.”

those pastries, the faster I’m out of here?” I slipped my hand into my jacket pocket and

barely disguised contempt,

Freaks of nature.

was born there was still the handful who didn’t change and didn’t approve of how I was born. Usually where I would snap back at them with everything I

will wait here until someone shows

smell of the various baked goods suddenly made me

should just

her eyes dart to the window, as

have nothing to give you.” She said suddenly, picking up the tray of freshly baked croissants she had brought out and

why we have to tolerate her.” One of the hags muttered from behind

my smile fading before I turned away, pushing open the bakery door. The urge to find some bugs to infest the bakery tempted me, but I

to self—make a Granny

into the fresh air, my stomach lurching nauseatingly, about

She’s a psychotic freak.” I heard an old woman who sat at the table outside with her

how good Granny June’s bakes were I

Don’t do this now.

was rising, and I knew I was on the brink of losing

Don’t.

onto my bike, trying to ignore

a freak.” The

towards

say that again?” I

move along.” He growled standing

lie. Say

said I

not caring that two passer byes had stopped

“Azura come-”