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. 

pack I have seen. Shane and Kareena’s house was

stylish. I’m sure if other packs actually saw this place… they’d be jealous.

 house. We walked through the gates and Leo rang the doorbell, but there was no answer.

you think she’s gone out?”

hadn’t left since the funeral.

inside the majority of the time… the guards were supposed to be here… and

knocked once more and rang the

lowering his walls so I could enter his mind. ‘Kareena?’ He called

Nothing. 

with Kareena?’ He asked through the

came into Leo’s

head there after the hearing,

everything ok?’ Jax’s worried voice

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

I’ll check down here.” I nodded as he ran through t o the lounge whilst I ran to the stairs, taking them two at a time and following my nose, I

I saw that

stepping into the room, when my gaze fell

tap running and I felt relieved. Thank

to the door. Nothing. I

Kareena?” 

the door,

Fuck! 

called through the

and frying the entire lock and handle off. I pushed it open, freezing in m

Leo called, but I couldn’t reply, the sight before me

into a bath that was overfull already, but what sent a chill down my spine, was the hand that hung out of the bath. The coppery smell of blood hit my nose as I approached the bath that was coloured pinky-red. A faint

stopped at the bath and stared

as I plunged my arms into the bloody water, lifting the body from

just as I placed her on the

her wrists. They were still bleeding,

a poisonous blade

calm, dropping to my knees beside her body. I needed

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

I kept going, quickly opening the airway. I pinched her nostrils. shut, and gave her mouth-to-mouth, feeling

breathing!” I shouted in panicked

was mind- linking

focus on Leo right now, but the

needed to save her at all costs. All he could

his carelessness had

You’re wrong.

we were all seated in the hospital.

if

to create those incisions, and she had also taken a high

They had to pump the poison from her body too.

be useful… especially when I always thought magic could fix everything. Sometimes even something like CPR

the medical side that she pushed on u s. I mean, apart from Kat, me and Sky did it for the sake of it… You may not be here Kia, but you’re

injection had helped

Dan, Leo, and I were

her…” Leo

quiet since

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

a small smile. “Look, I’m going to go check up on Eric. He’s been

deserves comfort.” I said quietly, making a mental note to talk to Eric myself, too.

Six and Leo. To look out for one another, even if one of us is gone. We will 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…

saying the five, it seems even he

said, pointing to himself, then at me. “Welcome to the

me a wink, before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there,

six of us…

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

what? What can we

frowning as he looked at his