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. 

more of a city than any other pack I have seen. Shane and Kareena’s house was in the quieter part where there were actually houses with gardens unlike the majority of the pack

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

We walked through the gates and Leo rang the doorbell,

you think she’s gone out?” I asked, unsure.

hadn’t left since the

guards were supposed to be here… and someone was supposed to be

more and

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

Nothing. 

Kareena?’ He

Ace’s voice came into Leo’s

head there after

is everything ok?’ Jax’s

 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

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

I saw that it

I called, stepping into the room, when my gaze fell on the bathroom door in the

when I heard the tap running and

walking over to the door. Nothing. I knocked again

Kareena?” 

of the door, only to realise

Fuck! 

called through the link.

of power blazed around me, wrapping around my hand and frying the entire lock and handle off. I pushed it open, freezing

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

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 heartbeat could

at the bath and stared down into the

shouted, panic making my voice shake as I plunged my arms into the bloody

as I placed her

wrists. They were still bleeding,

blade to

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

his heart thundering. “Leo, we need help! Now!” He

airway. I pinched her nostrils. shut, and gave her

shouted

was mind- linking

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

save her at all costs. All he could think about

carelessness had

You’re wrong.

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

doctors said if

been worse… She had used a lethal poison to create those incisions, and

to pump the poison from

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

aid, and the medical side that she pushed on u s. I mean, apart

to her. Leo’s injection

Leo, and I were

lost her…”

since everything had

know what Leo would have done if something had happened to her, but he

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

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 myself, too. Leo gave a small nod, simply sitting there, sometimes running his hand through

 Leo. To look out for one another, even if one of us is gone. We will take care of one another,”

six of you…” It hurt saying the five, it

to himself, then at

Dan gave me a wink, before turning and walking away,

of

quietly. “And as a team… I think we need to decide what to

what? What can we do

he looked