Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Chapter 18

18. A Memory

LEO.

I looked at my phone. The message was crystal clear, but even then, I had to fucking read it a few times.

‘I‘m going to be leaving. With Marcel here, I don‘t think it‘s smart for me to linger. Arrange me a car, or at least let your security know to let me out.‘ She was leaving Just how I fucking wanted... There was no relief, nor fucking excitement at the fact that she was.

Yeah, because once she‘s gone, Marcel will have a shit–ton of questions for me to answer. Why didn‘t I fix stuff with her ‘mate‘, and then Corrado would do my fucking head in about why I let her go.

Stop fucking with yourself Leo, you know that isn‘t the reason. 2 I lit a cigarette, taking a drag on it as I stared at the phone, letting out a string of smoke slowly. But it was for the better that she left. Her being here was fucking with me. I texted her back that I‘d come to get her, but she asked for an hour in return.

Fine. I tossed the phone onto the desk and placed my feet on it, resting back in my chair. Was it really Marcel that was pushing her to leave, or was it because of the kiss between Nikki and me? She hadn‘t reacted. Did I want a reaction? Yeah I fucking did, and she didn‘t seem to care, or so I fucking thought until she fucking stabbed me.

She had gotten pissed, and I was sure the kiss had been the fucking trigger. 3

Azura Rayne Westwood... (Flashback – Just Over a Decade Ago)

I walked into the garden of Alejandro Rossi‘s mansion, not wanting to see Rayhan the bastard again. I was damn bored, I wanted to get to the battle, see exactly how strong I was. A chance to unleash it all

and not have to fucking hold

back.

These lot took so fucking long to say goodbye.

Alejandro‘s twins were out here playing with the Westwood pup.

“I got the ball, Sky! You are slow!” She teased, sticking her tongue out. Skyla frowned as she ran over, knocking the ball from her hand.

“Not that slow.”

Crazy kids. I glanced over at Kataleya, who was standing there lost in thought. I knew what she had been through, I fucking hated it when people did shit like that to kids. I scanned the area, making sure we were alone, before I walked over and crouched down by her side.

“You know, if you keep on making that face, your lips are going to forever stay fucking down. You might end up looking like your dad, and that‘s not a pretty look.” I teased, lightly prodding the corner of her lips. 4

She blinked, coming out of her reverie, and forced a smile as she nodded. “I‘m ok.” She said quickly, almost as if it was a automatic mechanism.

I‘m ok. Something I always said to Dad when I was child... The times when he was himself and he worried...

I‘m fine, I‘m ok, I‘m great... Lies to keep him from feeling burdened. “It‘s alright not to be ok all the fucking time, you know?” I said quietly, like the fucking hypocrite I was. ! I never took my own fucking advice, always acting like fuck all bothered me. “Oi, boy!”

I turned to see the Westwood pup standing behind me with her hands on her hips. She was a cute kid with big blue eyes, but I swear she gave me a vibe that told me she was not to be trusted.

“What?”

She leaned closer and shielded her mouth with her hand, as if not wanting anyone to hear.

“I can see your smelly knickers.” She whispered loudly, making Skyla laugh

manically. I raised an eyebrow. What the fuck were these kids fucking bred on? “First of all, they ain‘t knickers. Second, what the actual fuck?” I said, standing up and glaring at the pup. She simply shrugged.

“Well I was only trying to help you.” She retorted, about to pick up the ball when I grabbed it and walked over to the steps, spinning it on a finger. “Give our ball

back.”

“Ask nicely.”

“Give it back, knicker boy!” 1

“I ain‘t fucking giving it back now.” I growled, tossing the ball lightly against her forehead. 1

I saw Liam step out into the garden, ready to intervene as I caught the ball with ease.

“That didn‘t hurt, try again.” She challenged, catching the ball and tossing it back at me.

Did she mean it, or was it a threat? 2

I resisted a smirk, bouncing the ball off her forehead again as lightly as I could. Liam stopped a few feet away, clearly fucking worried for his sister, but to my surprise, he didn‘t intervene.

“Zuz.”

“Not now, Liam. I said – again.” “You sure pup?” “I. Said. Again.” She challenged, her chest heaving as she threw the ball back at me.

Yup, she was fucking pissed. I wonder what‘s happen if I carried on. Would she end up crying? I kept bouncing the ball lightly off her head, but it was beginning to look a little red. Was no one going to stop me? I didn‘t want to stop by myself, that would make me look like a fucking wuss.

“Azura, enough, come on, let‘s go inside.” Liam tried again. Why the fuck was he listening to a kid?

“No, I said again.” She said firmly, her large eyes glaring at me.

The little psycho. I saw Alejandro step out from inside from the corner of my eyes, as I raised my eyebrow at the determined kid in front of me. “Again.”

I frowned. “You‘re fucking weird.” I stated coldly, tossing the ball at her head

again.

“Again.” She commanded, and this time I realised she wasn‘t even blinking. The first sign of a serial killer. 7

“This kid‘s fucking psychotic.” I remarked.

“Again.” She repeated, making me frown. Ok no, her fucking head was red, it was going to bruise if I carried on. “Nah, I‘m bored.” I said carelessly, tossing the ball to the ground and letting it roll away..

“Cut this shit out.” Alejandro growled.

She stared at me for a moment, and for a split second I felt fucking bad, she was going to cry. I hate making kids cry. We stared at one another before she quickly ran after the rolling ball.

Maybe not.

“Leo started it.” Skyla chimed in, frowning at me.

That little shit. “Yeah once, she‘s the one who told me to hit her again.” I shot back, taking my lighter from my pocket. Liam sighed. “Azura is just...” “A weirdo.” I finished helpfully, pulling out a cigarette. “I thought you weren‘t going to come here?” Alejandro asked me, crossing his arms as Azura returned with the ball. Damn she was totally ok, maybe I didn‘t need to worry. She walked off, and I shrugged as I looked at Alejandro.

“I changed my mind; I was bored as fuck waiting around.” I replied, placing the cigarette between my lips. I was about to light it, when something hit the back of my head hard, knocking the cigarette from my lips.

I growled menacingly, turning in a flash. Kataleya gasped, and it was the only thing that held me fucking back. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

As for the little psycho, she simply stared at me, anger now clear in her eyes. “What the fuck was that?” I hissed.

Alejandro was next to me in fucking seconds. He didn‘t trust me. “What the – was what?” The psycho pup shot back, stopping herself from swearing. My eyes flashed and I felt angry, but more so because of the fact Alejandro had jumped to my fucking side. Yeah, he‘d never trust me, no matter how much he fucking pretended to care, but it was half my fault I guess; I did make Rayhan the bastard‘s pup cry not that long ago, although he was the one I was trying to scare. I turned my attention to the pup, glaring at her. “The actual fuck? You psychotic–” “Stupid person!”

“Leo did that to Azura first, Daddy!” Skyla added defensively. Liam picked the deranged pup up protectively, as if she was not a fucking psycho but a precious little shit. 1

“Put me down!” She screamed.

See?

“Come on Zuzu, calm down.” Liam tried to soothe her.

“No! He hit me first!” “But weren‘t you saying again, again‘?” Liam asked gently, trying to calm his sister, who was struggling to get free. “I don‘t care! Give me the ball!” She shouted.

I stood up, ready to get the fuck out of here. I was done. Alejandro placed a hand on my shoulder as if he thought I was going to attack her or some shit. “She‘s a kid. Are you seriously going to start a fucking fight? Why the fuck were

you using her as a target?” He asked, frowning. Once again, he had me fucking wrong. Nothing new here. My eyes blazed a steely blue as I shrugged him off. “She‘s a fucking maniac.” I growled. “You‘re the maniac!” Azura shouted, glaring at him murderously. “Get out of my sight, or I will poke your eyes out and cook them!”

Haha kid, I wouldn‘t mind picking on you a little longer, but I think I‘ve fucking overstayed my welcome. “Azura!” Her brother tried to calm her, unsuccessfully. “Oh yeah?” I growled.

“Yeah!”

(End of Flashback) One thing I learned from back then, and what happened over lunch, was not to trust that fucking calmness of hers. The calmer she appeared to be, the higher the chance that she wasn‘t ok.

I wish I had the power to read her mind, did Nikki really bother her to that extent? Or was she just fucking pissed at me for some other shit? 2

Either way, she wanted to get out of here, and I was going to show her out. I could have had Eric or Emmet show her out, but I just needed to see her one last fucking time...

She hadn‘t accepted my rejection yet, the pull of the mate bond was so powerful and I needed it fucking gone. I‘ll tell her to reject me.

I‘ll make sure this thing between us is destroyed.

Just the thought of it unnerved me, for some fucking reason. I ran my hand through my spiky hair, trying not to let my thoughts divert elsewhere.

Azura and I were never going to work. An hour passed faster than I anticipated, even though I had done nothing but sit here.

I had to go get her.

I stood up, feeling the weight of reality sitting on my shoulders.

My phone beeped, and I looked at the reminder that crossed the screen. 1 Fuck, had a month passed already? Slipping my phone into my pocket, I left my office, only for Nikki to jump up from the sofa. She never disturbed me when I was in my office. My rules that she obeyed, but sometimes it just let the dark thoughts consume me freely without a distraction. If it was Azura in her place, she would fucking throw out all the rules I had in place.

It would make for one crazy life. How the fuck did the Goddess pair us? “Leo, are you going out already? You changed?” She looked me over, and I frowned.

Obviously, I fucking changed. The psycho fucking stabbed me and I had blood everywhere

“Azura is leaving.” Azura… I rolled her name on my tongue. I liked how it sounded, even if she was a fucking maniac.

“She‘s leaving?” Nikki looked surprised, and maybe a tad fucking happy.

“Yeah, things didn‘t work between her and her mate. So I’ll be showing her out.”

“Thank goddess.” She crossed her arms, and I raised an eyebrow. 1

“Did you have an issue with her?” I asked, taking a drag on my cigarette.

“Not really, she‘s a little weird.”

Her words irritated me, and I raised an eyebrow. “Not following the fucking stereotype doesn‘t make a person weird.” Fuck Leo, keep your mouth shut. Nikki looked surprised at my comment as she walked over to me.

“So, are you saying you don‘t find her weird?”

“I don‘t really have an opinion about her.” I shrugged coldly.

She nodded slowly. 2 “Ok whatever, I‘ll come with you to bid her farewell.”

I needed to talk to Azura alone, I‘ll send Nikki off once she has said her goodbye. We had just left the apartment when Corrado and Winona appeared at the top of the stairs.

Corrado was near tears, as Winona struggled to calm him. “What‘s going on?” I asked sharply. “I want to go to Azura‘s!” Corrado frowned. I guess me telling him he couldn‘t see her went out the fucking window. They had played together at Marcel‘s and i knew he fucking liked her. “Azura is leaving today, want to go say goodbye?” Nikki asked him.

“I don‘t want her to go.” He whispered, stilling suddenly. Something stirred inside of me as I stared at my son. He had never taken to anyone as he had her... Why did she have to be one of them? 3 “Leo, you coming?” Nikki‘s voice brought me out of my reverie.

“Yeah.”

“Alpha.”

I turned to look at Winona.

“What is it?” I asked. “Can I bid her farewell too?” “Sure, I don‘t get why an entire fucking entourage is needed to get rid of one woman, but fine.” 4

A smile crossed her face as she thanked me, waiting for me to go down the stairs first.

I reached the bottom only to see Corrado with his arms around Azura‘s neck, as she crouched on the floor in front of him, hugging him tightly. “Please don‘t leave, Azura.”

“I’m sorry kiddo, I got to go.” She replied. Her black hair, which had been put up into a sexy bun, was half out, and my fingers itched to brush it back. “Please.”

As if sensing me watching her, her large blue eyes snapped up to meet mine, eyes that were filled with so much fucking emotion that if Corrado‘s voice wasn‘t enough, the pain and sadness in her eyes were enough to tug at something deep inside of me.

I forced myself to look away and turned, smoking my cigarette.

“If you‘ve packed, let‘s fucking leave.” ~