Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

69. Burning Emotions 

AZURA 

My heart shattered watching Leo on his knees, cradling her body to his chest. Not one sound left him, but the pain and anguish that radiated off him was something I didn‘t even need the mate bond to feel. It filled the air and I had never seen him so… vulnerable. 

The man that tried not to show emotions, who was always strong and cold, was now broken. Devastated by the loss of his loved ones. I wished I could turn back time and stop this from happening. I wish I could take his pain and make it my own. 

Why her? 

I wish I had called her last night... she must have been hoping I got her message. 

Jackie... 

I simply knelt behind him placing my arm around his shoulders, hoping it gave him some reprieve from the pain and heartbreak he was experiencing. His thudding heart was beating far faster than it should. 

Closing my eyes, I tried to squash the guilt that was consuming me. 

I brought Judah to them... I cost him his sister… and a best friend. 

I made sure my walls were up, and never had I ever reinforced them as much as I did now. I didn‘t want to let him know how I was feeling. Not wanting to add to his pain. 

Biting my lip, I held him tightly from behind, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to control the burning pain that was rushing through me. 

Breathe… 

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn‘t even notice the door open behind me, until Emmet‘s angry shouts reached me. 

“Don‘t touch her!” 

My eyes flew open to see Eric and another guard holding him by the arms, his hands were bound, and although he couldn‘t awaken his wolf, he was staring at Leo with such hatred that it made up for the lack of his wolf‘s rage. My own anger flashed through me, hating how he was staring at Leo. 

“Watch your tone.” I growled. 

He sneered at me, as he looked me over as if he had just seen me. “Ah… the one whose fault all of this is...” 

A pang of pain rushed through me. My fault... 

Leo‘s eyes flashed as he looked up, brushing strands of Jackie‘s hair back. “Be happy I‘m allowing you to see her when you don‘t even fucking deserve that.” He said, his voice dead of emotion and ice–cold. His aura suddenly grew as his eyes flashed. “And one more word against Azura...” He left his threat hanging. 

“She was my mate! Who died because of your lack of capability! You both are at fucking fault!” Emmet spat, “Let me see her!” He struggled against the men holding him, but he was weakened. “Don‘t do this Emmet!” Eric growled; his voice strained. Leo stood up, lifting Jackie‘s body gently and placed her on the table. Planting a kiss on her forehead. He turned to Emmet, his arm possessively moving me behind him as if he didn‘t even want Emmet to look at me. “I am the one who is allowing you to fucking be here, so show some respect to her and stop acting like a fucking prick.” Emmet sneered, “That‘s my mate, I may have hurt her in my anger but I‘m not the one responsible for killing her. That‘s on you, Leo!” 

Leo‘s anger filled the room like a beast ready to destroy, his blazing steel blue eyes glaring at Emmet as he advanced on him. “For her sake, I am not going to fucking rip you apart but remember she was the only fucking thing keeping me from killing you. With her gone... I‘m not seeing a fucking incentive.” 

of shifting, I could see his claws, and hear the deepening of his voice. “For someone who just lost their mate, I can‘t figure out why you aren‘t running to her side to hold her.” Leo snarled venomously, clenching his fists as he glared at the man before him. “She was ready to reject you and move on with

if it was him or the bond... He had just lost his other half, but Leo had displayed far more emotions. It was clear that Emmet was not feeling the loss as

was. 

Eric and the guard moved Emmet closer to Jackie. Eric was crying as his eyes fell on her corpse. I moved away from Leo, placing my hand on his shoulder as he looked

I gave

and made my way over to him when Emmet

looked over his shoulder at

punching him across the face, making blood spray from his nose. His heart was beating, and Emmet simply laughed. “So much for respecting Jackie.” “Leo come on.” I said going over to them, I glared down at Emmet, as I forced Leo off him.” He isn‘t worth your time.” “Get him out of here, he doesn‘t deserve to spend time with her.” Leo hissed,

“Go … but this is all the elites are good for... causing death... To protect them, once more a few more of us

the reason she was dead... I cast Judah‘s shadow over this pack... I am the reason

I made the mistake of getting

I looked up when Nikki came running over, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran straight to Leo, flinging her arms around his neck. 4

eyes flashed as I looked at them, both devastated at the loss of someone special, but I still wanted to

the excruciating pain in my head was about to burst. Why did I even think I could make a place here? I could hear them speaking, but I couldn‘t focus. I took a shuddering breath, and I broke

run. 

was fighting against me. I was the reason behind this. All I do is take the lives of those around me. I stumbled into the fresh air, my heart pounding as I fell to my knees heaving, the blinding light around me felt too much. Go away! Let me stay in the darkness.

all his fault. I was going to kill him. Judah had fucking messed with me for far too

I was unable to stop the scream of anguish as the pain erupted, and I just wanted it all

“Azura...” 

gasped when I felt Leo‘s touch, I looked up, my eyes widening as I saw him fight against the energy radiating off

Flames? 

pounded as my gaze dipped down, and I realised that the blinding light

emanating from me. 

A flame–like aura... 

away the crippling edge from the pain and guilt

my fault.

fought against the surging

wanted to believe that, to feel

Breathe...” His voice sounded strained, his heart thumping as he held me in his arms, as he knelt on the ground. 3 Placing my hand on his chest, my eyes fluttered

me... so similar to that of my siblings‘. Why

and Leo caught me as

will destroy her Leo. “I hissed, trying to find an outlet for my emotions. I glared up at him, only for my anger to dissipate when I looked into his eyes. “Understood... but if you stayed a moment longer, you‘d have noticed that I only touched her to get her off me.” He said quietly. Gazing into his blue eyes, I wanted to argue, but I was just being selfish. He had

me feel

that‘s the first time