Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

121. Turn of Events

LEO.

I stare at him unblinking, as those words. sink in.

Fuck, after the fact the two had some sort of connection that they denied and now this? What more do they fucking want?

“So, what’s the issue? You two can deny it, but you both have feelings for one another? Isn't this the fucking push you need?” I say, my eyes dropping to Mom’s mark on his neck. It is the only thing I really remember her by, the only physical sign of her existence aside from the fleeting memories I hold. We had nothing, no pictures, no videos. … nothing.

“She ran. I guess the Moon Goddess really created an incompatible pair.” Dad says.

“Oh, for Goddess’s sake, no she did not.” Azura snaps. “She’s scared, because she cares for Leo. She doesn’t want to hurt him... that is the issue here because I am sure as hell that she wants you. What sane woman wouldn't?”

I cock a brow as I look at my gorgeous mate, who has a hand on her stomach, clearly in pain but hiding it well. I feel on edge too, excited even, knowing our pup is going to be here any day. I can’t wait… I smile softly before I turn back to Dad, “I'll go talk to her. Where is she?”

“Upstairs, she’s a fast runner...’

“She always has been.” I smirk slightly. I remember the first day I saw her in the orphanage. She had tried to run, and she was fast for a little runt. The urge to ask Dad for a photo of Mom's mark before I go up fills my mind, but I’m unable to...I feel Azura’s intense gaze on me and I smoothly look up and give her a sexy smirk, but she doesn’t fall for it, her eyes boring into me. She's fucking sexy, a little psychotic, but she fucking knows me...

Swallowing the odd lump in my throat, I compose my emotions and walk past Dad, heading upstairs.

“You know, I Know you're a Rossi, but why can’t at least one damn Rossi just meet their mate and not have any issues crop up?”

Azura says to him, making him chuckle.

“Well... that’s a good question, but believe it or not, things were pretty different with Petra...” Dad trails off and I’m glad my back is to him. It’s not that I’m not happy.

If this is how I feel about Mom’s mark going, it just shows how much harder it must have been for Kareena to get rid of her own mate’s mark. She had her tattoo done today, and it’s not small. It runs over her shoulder and right beneath it; she had Shane’s name placed.

She had to mark Jax first, for Jax to be able to mark her and remove Shane’s. It had only been the four of us there and once it was done; we left her and Azura to have a moment. Jax was quiet after. The entire mood had been somber, but I hope this is the start to her healing.

to her room, and I knock on

“Winona?” I call.

She answers, her voice

I have

Silence.

the door opens, and she smiles,

She asks softly.

“Is Azura alright?”

bed hasn't even been

she’s doing ok.” I say, “Dad told me you two are

can see the fear in her eyes and the guilt as she shakes her head, almost

and she’s clutching her hands in front of her, almost as if asking for forgiveness. “I owe you my life. I promise I'll never do

the same time, the

sigh, running

with so many emotional women recently? Because you're the alpha, I tell myself, and the

to come out and say it. He likes you, you obviously fucking feel something for him,

saying this... after questioning my own given mate back

brushing her tears

isn’t that easy.”

know, but I’m trying to

Is he too fucking old? If that’s the issue then I get it.” I

frown deepens, and she shakes

that about your

you started telling me what I should and shouldn't fucking say? Oh yeah... since you got

I lean against the door frame,

that, I want to see him happy, and if you’re the one who he’s fucking mated to and wants, then why are you going to withhold that happiness from him? Take your time Winona... but don’t hold back on my account. I have my woman and life

a bit of a life too... you’ve always taken care