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 house was in the quieter part

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

through the gates and Leo rang the doorbell,

she’s gone out?” I

since

were supposed to be here… and someone was supposed to

once more and rang the bell.

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

Nothing. 

was the last one with Kareena?’ He asked through the mind link.

came

to head there after the hearing, an hour ago…

is everything ok?’ Jax’s worried

Leo’s eyes flashed 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

sense his panic through the bond. “Check upstairs! 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 ran

open the door, I saw

gaze fell

when I heard the tap

over to the door.

Kareena?” 

tried the handle of the door,

Fuck! 

called through

and frying the

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

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 heartbeat could be heard,

the bath and stared down into the

panic making my voice shake as I plunged my arms into

just as I placed

ran along her wrists. They were still bleeding, which meant she probably

blade to

mind was spinning as I tried to remain calm, dropping to my knees beside her body. I needed to perform CPR right now! Placing one

seemed frozen for a moment, his heart thundering. “Leo, we need help! Now!” He blinked, snapping

I kept going, quickly opening the airway. I pinched her nostrils. shut,

breathing!” I shouted in panicked

I knew he was mind- linking as I switched to

now, but the fleeting

costs. All he could think about was that he had

his carelessness had almost cost us…

You’re

be fine.” I said to Leo, we were all seated in the hospital. It was late in the afternoon, and we were exhausted.

if

 create those incisions, and she had also taken a high dose of wolfsbane orally.

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

useful… especially when I always thought magic could fix everything. Sometimes even something like CPR with no magic. involved, could save a

I mean, apart from Kat, me

nurse tending to her. Leo’s injection had helped heal her faster, and

Dan, Leo, and I

her…”

since everything

to her,

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 some closure.”

Go, and thank you, for being considerate. He at least deserves comfort.” I said quietly, making a mental note to talk to Eric myself, too. Leo gave a small nod, simply sitting there, sometimes running

 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

you…” It hurt saying the five, it

six of us.” Dan said, pointing to himself,

me a wink, before turning and walking away,

of us…

Jax said quietly. “And as a team… I think

can we do to

frowning as he looked