Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

90. A Close Call 

AZURA. 

We simply walked around the pack for a bit. Leo looked super pissed, and I knew he’d tell me what was on his mind when he was ready. 

But the minutes were passing, and I could feel his irritation rising. Even with his impeccable skills at keeping the block up, he was still letting snippets seep through the cracks. He was on his fourth cigarette already, and I had had enough. I need him to talk. 

“Ok. What’s wrong?” I asked, coming to a stop, and gripping his upper arm. A soft wind blew through my hair as I forced him to turn to face me. 

He had his jaw clenched; those plump lips set in that pissed-off pout of his. 

Oh, Goddess, this man was so fuckably perfect. Was that a word? It was in my books. But right now, I was more concerned about his emotions, he was still struggling to control them. What exactly had happened? 

I tilted my head, waiting for him to speak as I stepped closer, cupping his face.” Tell me, what’s wrong?” I whispered. 

He exhaled, his arms locking around my waist, and gave a half smile. “This pup’s getting in between us now.” He murmured, looking down at my stomach, and I nodded. 

“Yeah… it’s growing faster now.” I whispered, leaning up I kissed his jaw, waiting. “Now talk to me, Blue Eyes. Don’t change the subject.” 

He sighed, frustrated, clearly knowing he couldn’t delay from telling me any longer. 

“Well… I fucked up. I didn’t ask Emmet if anyone in this pack was helping him. I should have asked for names… I mean, I could have the entire pack put under alpha command and ask them, but that will cause way more fucking damage to a Pack that is already crippled. Their trust isn’t the same… not after everything we’ve been through. It will fuck em up.” 

Fuck. He forgot to ask Emmet that one vital question… Even I didn’t think of that, and neither did the five… we were all so in the moment! But I understood what 

he meant about the pack… “Babe, you can’t beat yourself up over that! I get that it sets us back a little, but none of us 

thought of that. So please, it’s ok, we got this.” I caressed his jaw with my thumbs, it was obvious that my words didn’t ease his irritation. 

He exhaled, looked away, and passed me. “I shouldn’t have fucked up. I made…. 

Fuck.” He was blaming himself unfairly. I pulled his head down, cupping the sides o f his jaw, my finger brushing his ears and kissed him deeply. 

‘No. You didn’t. It’s ok, we will figure it out. Together.’ I whispered through the link, letting my emotions flow through to him. 

He relaxed a little, yanking me closer, as he leaned down over me, kissing me harder. 

Mine… 

We broke apart after a few moments and he was slightly calmer. “We’re going to get the answers.” I said. It hasn’t been that long since we have been together… but it felt like ages… 

“Yeah… we will. It was just a lead fucking wasted.” He said quietly, his head tilted a s he looked me over slowly. “How did I get you?” 

I smirked, my stomach fluttering. “Mm, well… I’m a Westwood woman. We all know that the Rossis love us. Especially the broken, damaged ones just need us.” 

“Oh yeah? Cocky much?” 

“What can I say? You’re rubbing off on me…” I said, satisfied to see that sexy smile back on his face. 

Oh fuck, I was in love and I had it so bad. 

Everything he did made me giddy. It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced before him 

“Yeah?” He asked softly, that gorgeous smile still on his face. 

I rolled my eyes and pushed him away. Don’t say anything!” I warned, thinking these walls were so damn hard to focus o 

“Come on, let’s go see Kareena.” 

He nodded, his smile faded before I ran off. He caught up with ease, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his face in my neck as he tickled me. 

“You ain’t so fucking fast.” 

“Leo!” I laughed, unable to stop as I writhed in his arms, gasping when his fingers caressed my waist teasingly. 

“Fuck, you smell good.” He groaned into my neck as we headed to Kareena and 

Shane’s house. 

The Sangue pack was large, and with its layout, it was more of a city than any other pack I have seen. Shane and Kareena’s

incredibly modern and stylish. I’m sure if other packs actually saw

through the gates and Leo rang the doorbell, but there was no

gone out?” I

left since the funeral.

She’s been inside the majority of the time… the guards were supposed to be here… and someone was supposed to be inside with her.” Leo frowned, looking

and rang

could enter his mind. ‘Kareena?’ He called her through the link. ‘Kareena?’

Nothing. 

was the last one with Kareena?’

Ace’s voice came into Leo’s

were going to head there after the hearing, an

everything ok?’ Jax’s

and he slammed his shoulder into the front door. The door trembled at the powerful impact, but it was made to withstand a werewolf’s strength. He stepped back and this time he kicked it. It splintered as it went flying, creating an intense blast and if Kareena was asleep or didn’t hear the door, she sure

here.” I nodded as he ran through t o the

open the door, I saw that

my gaze fell on the bathroom door

the tap running and I felt relieved.

called, walking over to the door. Nothing. I knocked

Kareena?” 

door, only to realise it

Fuck! 

called through

around my hand and frying the entire lock and

but I couldn’t reply, the sight before

of the bath. The coppery smell of blood hit my nose as I approached the bath that was

stopped at the bath and stared down into the bloody water,

I shouted, panic making my voice shake as I plunged my arms into the bloody water, lifting the body from

just as I placed her on

cuts ran along her wrists. They were still bleeding,

poisonous blade to create

tried to remain calm, dropping to my knees beside her body. I needed to perform CPR right now!

moment, his heart thundering. “Leo, we need help! Now!” He blinked, snapping out

I pinched her nostrils. shut, and gave her mouth-to-mouth, feeling her heart

shouted

was mind- linking as I

couldn’t focus on Leo right now, but the fleeting glimpses of his

to save her at all costs. All he could think

his carelessness

Leo. You’re

to Leo, we were all seated in the hospital. It

doctors said if

could have been worse… She had used a lethal poison to create those incisions, and she had also taken a high

been a well-thought-out plan. They had to pump the poison from her

never thought that it would be useful… especially when I always thought magic could fix everything. Sometimes

mean, apart from Kat, me and Sky did it for the sake of it… You

the hospital room with a doctor and nurse tending to her. Leo’s injection had helped heal her faster, and the doctor had

Jax, Dan, Leo, and I were sitting in the

almost lost her…” Leo

since everything

what Leo would have done if something had happened to her, but he would have blamed himself for

placed a hand on his shoulder. “But we didn’t, and that’s all that matters…” He stood up, stretching before giving us a small smile. “Look, I’m going to go check up on Eric. He’s been really down. I mean, regardless of what Emmet did, he’s still his brother. He needs

in agreement. “Yeah… Go, and thank you, for being considerate. He at least deserves comfort.” I said quietly, making a mental note to talk to Eric

take care of one another,” Dan said, giving me a gentle smile. I could still see the pain in his eyes at the loss of Jackie and Shane… the guilt…

the five, it seems even

us.” Dan said, pointing to himself, then

gave me a wink, before

six of

fill that gap…” Jax said quietly. “And as a team… I think

can we do

he looked at his friend.