Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Beautiful Bond Ch 128. Splash

*A short novella that begins a couple of days after Leo and Azura return from their visit to the Blood Moon Pack*

BEAUTIFUL BOND

Chapter 1 – Splash

MARCEL.

The alarm goes off and I stretch, sitting up in the guest room of my brother Alejandro’s mansion. I run my hand through my hair, frowning as I stare at the small pattern on the black and grey bedding. I came here two nights ago and I know for me it’s just an escape. Isn’t it pretty funny how I always yearned to have a complete family and now that I have that, I’m unable to spend as much time around them as I would like to?

Because of her, my mate.

The thought of the blond this early in the morning isn’t a good idea. Not when she’s not here to take care of me.

I do need to return home today, though; I have stayed here long enough. Although I know I’m always welcome, it isn’t fair on Kiara and Alejandro either. Maybe I need a trip abroad… Yeah, I’m resorting to running from my fated mate, but you can’t blame me when she acts like she can’t stand to be in the same room as

Getting out of bed, I go to the bathroom to wash up before pulling on some sweatpants and a tank top and then head out for a run.

An hour later, I’m running around the entire perimeter of the pack. I pass the occasional guard, but apart from them giving me a respectful nod, they say nothing. I visit often and I always make sure I take my morning run.

“You left early.” A deep voice comes from behind me and I turn when my younger brother Alejandro falls into step beside

We may be brothers, but we are opposites in many ways. We’re both tanned with muscles and salt and pepper hair, but his is black and white, whilst mine is brown and white. He’s covered in tattoos from the neck down, and a couple of piercings whilst I’m covered in scars. Scars from a morbid past, one that I don’t really like to delve into.

“Yeah, well, I needed to clear my head.” I reply, but a second later I wish I hadn’t.

Alejandro c*cks an eyebrow and I know he isn’t going to drop it. Alejandro is six years younger and although he is the King, he loves to be a nosy a*s.

“And why the f*ck do you need to clear your head?” Alejandro asks. He’s dressed similarly to me, but with a few chains around his neck.

I don’t respond, focusing on the sound of our feet hitting the ground, the beating of our racing hearts, the occasional sound of an animal, and the rustle of the flowers and the leaves in the trees. It’s relaxing.

I really f*cking wanna

the charmer. I raise an eyebrow.” And if I don’t want

“I’ll find out one way

down a little, the smell

an

did he know

I’m f*cking right.” He adds

it was a

nothing of the sort.” I deny it, as I begin jogging again, but

play f*cking dumb now, so who’s the lucky woman? Have I seen her?” He asks, “Wait, she’s not from my Pack right? I mean, you have been coming down a lot more recently, not that I’m

I sound. I am a f*cking mess. Not only have I fallen for her before I even realised she was destined for

didn’t expect you to be head over f*cking heels… So, who is the lucky woman who has finally won you over after all these f*cking years?” He asks, jogging with ease beside me.

been in my pack for years, but it’s complicated.”

all f*cking ears.” He says. Obviously he isn’t going to let it go he got

my hair tie out and running

we talking?” Alejandro asks, reaching for a packet of cigarettes from his pocket. He

say, not knowing how

like its Karma coming back to bite you in

there like a fifteen – twenty-year age gap between you two or some s*it?”

say that because Kiara was

shortly. His smirk fades

we

moment before he takes a long drag on

“Yeah. D*mn.” I reply.

enough of a sign that it was just too big of

after breakfast, not in the mood to linger. I didn’t bother to explain to Alejandro that she’s also the Nanny to my grandson, or that she’s my fated mate. I think that was enough information sharing. He didn’t push either. I know he wanted to say something as I was leaving, but I didn’t really

running my hands through my hair repeatedly, some country music playing on the radio of my jeep. There’s not much I can do to avoid her entirely; Corrado’s sixth birthday is coming up, and that is a place where we would both would

and see how they’ve been. I reach their villa shortly after, if you can

emergencies, I don’t want to walk in on something that I do not want to see. My son and Azura can get it

is pulled open by a