Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

107. Darkness

AZURA.

My eyes snap open and I feel nauseous. Damn… Something isn’t right… I didn’t even eat anything weird. I frown as I sit up. My heart is thumping as I look around the dark

room.

What woke me up?

Why is it so dark?

It isn’t just dark, it’s really really dark.

Sure, I can see perfectly but there are no lights on outside. Strange. I kick the blanket off, wondering once more what had awoken

I glance at the clock. It’s late…

Did Leo get back?

‘Baby?’ I call, glancing at the bathroom –

but it’s dark.

I guess he won’t be back so soon. I hope

everything is going according to plan for

them.

Running my fingers through my hair, I

reach for the lamp and tap it. I frown as it

doesn’t turn on…

“What is going on?” I murmur, trying to shake away the unease I’m feeling. It must be a power outage. Just a power outage

Azura.

Damn, what if Corrado wakes up?

I get out of bed, walking toward the bedroom door. Suddenly I get the strange feeling that I’m being watched and I turn sharply, scanning the dark room.

Goddess, Azura, get it together.

I leave my room to check up on Corrado,

mind linking Marcel.

‘Marcel?’

No response.

Hmm… He’s probably gone to sleep and kept

his walls up.

‘Winona?’

Nothing again.

I sigh, walking down the hall.

‘Marcel?’ Weird, usually you can push through a person’s barriers when they’re asleep… I knew that because since I got my wolf, Liam was always the biggest receiver of that from me.

Disturbing him for a late-night hot drink or freshly baked cupcakes was always tempting.

Who should I contact about the outage? Someone must be around. Should I go out and ask one of the guards? They are probably already working on it.

I pause, feeling that same sense of being watched, when I see Corrado’s bedroom

door is open. I break into a run, fear

enveloping me, and I push open the door only to see Corrado fast asleep in bed. I let out a sigh of relief, thinking I really am being paranoid.

For a moment, I feel lightheaded from the spurt of energy used and feel nauseous once again. I walk slowly to the bed, adjusting the duvet around my little boy. I sit down on the edge, sighing. I don’t know why I’m on edge, but maybe it’s the power outage… I mean, does this mean the pack security system and barriers around the pack are all down?

I stroke Corrado’s brown locks back, bending down to kiss his cheek gently. Turning to the open curtains, I look out into the distance. I can see some lights are on. So it’s just the mansion then. That is a relief at least.

Goddess, now who do I annoy about the power? I honestly didn’t expect Leo’s Pack to have to deal with something like this. Maybe I’ll grab my phone and ask him.

I stand up, and it feels like the floor lurches.

I feel… I place a hand on my stomach, exhausted and sick.

Exhausted like I had no energy… just the way I felt back at the masked ball I attended.

The sudden unease I had felt the moment I woke up returns and I scan the room. My instincts are telling me something isn’t right … Raising my hand, I let my power swirl around my hand. There is something going on here…

Anyone!’ I slam through the link, but again, I’m just hitting a blank. “Fuck!”

hiss.

grab my phone. I head to the door when I hear a scream down the hall,

chest as I recognise

Winona!

to the door, but I freeze,

Corrado. I can’t leave him here! If

if something happens

should I do? What is

hear sounds downstairs, but

growl of a

that follows tells

attack.

and going to Winona. I hear footsteps coming down the hall and guilt fills me when I slowly

sorry Winona… I’m coming… Just give me a little time. I try my power again as I hear the footsteps fade, but I’m unable to summon it. My vision darkens and I stare at the window. Is it just me or did I

someone out there?

then I see it again, a shadowy silhouette behind the blinds, and I quickly hurry to the bed and grab Corrado,

thing in my mind is the

unlock the door just as the window shatters behind us and Corrado wakes

whimper of shock.

rush down the hall. I try to

Fuck!

stay quiet, ok

heart thumping as

strained

I shout, spinning around only to see that the hallway

say, when I

down to Marcel, something tells me that

my own strength ebbing away as it

something in

the hall to the

hidden area that-

and I skid to a stop, almost slamming

“Eric?”

“Luna.”

“Go help Marcel!”

Come with me.” He says,

seems too calm…

fills me and my gaze

feel as if a bucket of ice-cold

been thrown over me.

I look up at him, my mind spinning, but my

a relieved smile on

off.” I

buy my bluff; he smiles and

Come on, I have orders to keep you all safe.” He shakes

as he steps forward, reaching for Corrado and I make the mistake

Shit…

watching me, and his

Luna, I’m

of a

between us and

to Eric. “Mommy, Daddy

me now. You

now, my cherub… not

heavy at all!”

back down.

from downstairs, and I

me, aside from Marcel I

the enemy…

shouldn’t you go

liking the way he’s now blocking

path.

as if pondering over what

before he

my eyes blazing and I tug at the core of my power. I feel the pull inside as I send a blast of power at Eric. He ducks at the last

as he turns

“Mommy!” Corrado exclaims

letting him down and pushing him toward the office door. “You… you were helping Emmet, weren’t you?” I

“Took you long enough to figure it

I do? Oh wait, I

eyes blaze

can still use

we put in your

smiles.

tiredness makes

messing with the fucking Westwood Devil. Nothing will keep me

opens behind me, making my heart

come to me!” I

“M-mommy…”