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.

pack was large, and with its layout, it was more of a city than any other pack I

sure if other

walked through the gates and Leo rang the doorbell, but there was no

think she’s gone

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

and rang the bell. I felt him lowering his walls so I could enter his

Nothing.

with Kareena?’ He

into Leo’s mind.” You said you were going to

is everything ok?’ Jax’s worried voice

into the front door. 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.

upstairs! I’ll check down here.” I nodded as he ran through t

the door, I saw that it

I called, stepping into the room, when my

and that’s when I heard the tap running and I

walking over to the door. Nothing. I

the door, only

Fuck!

I called through

power blazed around me, wrapping around my hand and frying the entire lock and handle off.

but I couldn’t reply, the sight before

sent a chill down my spine, was the hand that hung out of the bath. The coppery smell of blood hit my nose as I approached the bath that was coloured pinky-red. A faint heartbeat could be heard,

called, as I stopped at the bath and stared down into the bloody water, my eyes

I plunged my

as I

bleeding, which meant she probably used a

knees beside her body. I needed to

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

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

shouted in

was mind- linking as I switched to chest

needed to save her at all costs. All he could think about was that he had failed

No Leo. You’re wrong.

were all seated in the hospital. It

perhaps things could have been worse… She had used a lethal poison to create those incisions, and she had also taken a high dose of wolfsbane orally. It had been a well-thought-out plan. They had to pump the

it would be useful… especially when I always thought magic could fix everything. Sometimes even something like CPR with no magic. involved,

side that she pushed on us. I mean, apart from Kat,

with a doctor and nurse tending to her. Leo’s injection had

Dan, Leo, and I were sitting in

lost her…” Leo said

quiet since

something had happened to her, but he would have blamed himself for not going

“Look, I’m going to go check up on Eric. He’s been really down. I mean, regardless of what Emmet did, he’s still his brother. He needs some

being considerate. He at least deserves comfort.” I said quietly, making a mental note to talk to Eric myself, too. Leo gave a small nod, simply sitting there, sometimes

care of one another,” Dan said, giving me a gentle smile. I could still see the pain in his eyes at the

saying the five, it

us.” Dan said, pointing to himself, then at

me a wink, before turning and

The six of us…

“And as a

what? What can we do to help her?” Leo

thinking some stuff over… like Shane, he always was a goddamn protector. He always went to protect everyone… remember the time