Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

91. A Close Call

AZURA.

We simply walked around the pack for a bit. Leo looked super pissed, and I knew he’d tell me what was on his mind when he was ready.

But the minutes were passing, and I could feel his irritation rising. Even with his impeccable skills at keeping the block up, he was still letting snippets seep through the cracks. He was on his fourth cigarette already, and I had had enough. I need him to talk.

“Ok. What’s wrong?” I asked, coming to a stop, and gripping his upper arm. A soft wind blew through my hair as I forced him to turn to face me.

He had his jaw clenched; those plump lips set in that pissed-off pout of his.

Oh, Goddess, this man was so fuckably perfect. Was that a word? It was in my books. But right now, I was more concerned about his emotions, he was still struggling to control them. What exactly had happened?

I tilted my head, waiting for him to speak as I stepped closer, cupping his face.” Tell me, what’s wrong?” I whispered.

He exhaled, his arms locking around my waist, and gave a half smile. “This pup’s getting in between us now.” He murmured, looking down at my stomach, and I nodded.

“Yeah… it’s growing faster now.” I whispered, leaning up I kissed his jaw, waiting. “Now talk to me, Blue Eyes. Don’t change the subject.”

He sighed, frustrated, clearly knowing he couldn’t delay from telling me any longer.

“Well… I fucked up. I didn’t ask Emmet if anyone in this pack was helping him. I should have asked for names… I mean, I could have the entire pack put under alpha command and ask them, but that will cause way more fucking damage to a Pack that is already crippled. Their trust isn’t the same… not after everything we’ve been through. It will fuck em up.”

Fuck. He forgot to ask Emmet that one vital question… Even I didn’t think of that, and neither did the five… we were all so in the moment! But I understood what he meant about the pack… “Babe, you can’t beat yourself up over that! I get that it sets us back a little, but none of us thought of that. So please, it’s ok, we got this.” I caressed his jaw with my thumbs, it was obvious that my words didn’t ease his irritation.

He exhaled, looked away, and passed me. “I shouldn’t have fucked up. I made…. Fuck.”

He was blaming himself unfairly. I pulled his head down, cupping the sides o f his jaw, my finger brushing his ears and kissed him deeply.

‘No. You didn’t. It’s ok, we will figure it out. Together.’ I whispered through the link, letting my emotions flow through to him.

He relaxed a little, yanking me closer, as he leaned down over me, kissing me harder.

Mine…

We broke apart after a few moments and he was slightly calmer. “We’re going to get the answers.” I said. It hasn’t been that long since we have been together… but it felt like ages…

“Yeah… we will. It was just a lead fucking wasted.” He said quietly, his head tilted a s he looked me over slowly. “How did I get you?”

I smirked, my stomach fluttering. “Mm, well… I’m a Westwood woman. We all know that the Rossis love us. Especially the broken, damaged ones just need us.”

“Oh yeah? Cocky much?”

“What can I say? You’re rubbing off on me…” I said, satisfied to see that sexy smile back on his face.

Oh fuck, I was in love and I had it so bad.

Everything he did made me giddy. It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced before him

“Yeah?” He asked softly, that gorgeous smile still on his face. I rolled my eyes and pushed him away. Don’t say anything!” I warned, thinking these walls were so damn hard to focus o

“Come on, let’s go see Kareena.”

He nodded, his smile faded before I ran off. He caught up with ease, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his face in my neck as he tickled me.

“You ain’t so fucking fast.”

“Leo!” I laughed, unable to stop as I writhed in his arms, gasping when his fingers caressed my waist teasingly.

“Fuck, you smell good.” He groaned into my neck as we headed to Kareena and

Shane’s house.

it was more of a city than any other pack I have seen. Shane and Kareena’s house was in the quieter part where

and stylish. I’m sure if other packs

the double-story house. We walked through the gates and Leo

she’s gone out?” I asked,

hadn’t left since

don’t think so. She’s been inside the majority of the time… the guards were supposed to be here… and someone was supposed to be inside with her.”

walls so I could enter his

Nothing.

one with Kareena?’ He

voice came into Leo’s mind.” You said you were going to head there after the hearing,

ok?’ Jax’s worried

The door trembled at the powerful impact, but it was made to withstand a werewolf’s strength. He stepped back and this time he kicked it. It splintered as it went flying, creating an intense blast and if Kareena was asleep or didn’t hear the door, she sure

panic through the bond. “Check upstairs! I’ll check down here.” I nodded as he ran through t o the lounge

the door, I saw

into the room, when my gaze fell on the

heart thumped, and that’s when I heard the tap running

to the door. Nothing. I knocked

door,

Fuck!

here!’ I called through the

around my hand and frying the entire lock and handle off.

reply, the

was running into a bath that was overfull already, but what sent a chill down my spine, was the hand that hung out of the bath. The coppery smell of

at the bath and stared down into the bloody water, my

making my voice shake as I plunged my arms

as I placed her on

still bleeding, which meant

dropping to my knees beside her body. I needed to perform CPR right now! Placing one

his heart thundering. “Leo, we need help! Now!” He blinked, snapping

I kept going, quickly opening the airway. I pinched her nostrils. shut, and gave

breathing!” I shouted in

I knew he was mind- linking as

but the fleeting glimpses of his thoughts told me I needed to save her at

No Leo. You’re wrong.

to Leo, we were all seated in the hospital. It was late in the afternoon, and we

create those incisions, and she had also taken a high dose of wolfsbane orally. It

could fix everything. Sometimes even something like CPR with no magic.

mean,

doctor and nurse tending to her. Leo’s injection had helped heal her faster, and the doctor had expressed how impressed he

Leo, and I

her…” Leo said

had been quiet

know what Leo would have done if something had happened to her, but he would have blamed himself for not going

his shoulder. “But we didn’t, and that’s all that matters…” He stood up, stretching before giving us a small smile. “Look, I’m going to go check up on Eric. He’s been really

a mental note to talk to Eric myself, too. Leo gave a small nod, simply sitting there,

one of us is gone. We will take care of one another,” Dan said, giving me a gentle smile. I could still see the pain in his eyes at the loss of Jackie and

saying the

said, pointing to himself,

wink, before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there,

The six of us…

Jax said quietly. “And as a team… I think we need to decide what to

her?” Leo asked, frowning as

I’ve been thinking some stuff over… like Shane, he always was a goddamn protector. He always went to protect everyone… remember the time he took a bullet for me? Or the time he pushed you