Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Chapter 23

23. An End LEO.

I left the cave and stepped out into the car park, trying to clear my head. Locking the door behind me, I slid to the ground, resting my head against the cold metal of the wall behind me as I took a drag on my cigarette. ‘Winona?‘ I called through the link. ‘Yes, Alpha?‘

Winona, she was one of the few I had taken in. She wasn‘t born in the Sangue pack, but she was still someone I trusted, one of the rare few I trusted completely around my son. ‘What‘s Rosaline cooked tonight?‘

Rosaline was my cook, she lived two floors down from me and she made the best food for me and Corrado. When I had put out the notice for the position, I remember choosing the one whose food Corrado loved the best after tasting it all. I still remember his smile of happiness.

‘She made chicken pasta, and stuffed taco cups.‘

‘Perfect, bring a tray down to my garage, I‘ll let you down when you‘re outside.‘ ‘Of course.‘

She didn‘t question me, she never did and I was grateful.

‘Oh, and Winona?‘

‘Yes, Alpha?‘

‘Bring a woman‘s toiletry pack, or some shit with basic supplies.‘ A pause followed before she replied.

‘Is the dinner for one or two?‘

‘One.

‘Understood. Anything else, Alpha?‘ ‘No, I think that‘s it.‘

I stared at the fleet of supercars that I owned. I had it all; power, money, cars, a son, and a girlfriend... but even then, something was missing. 4 Something that was starting to poison my mind, just as I had heard the bond would do. Making even the most powerful of men succumb to the will of their females. I never wanted to become a slave to this shit, besides... it was fucking cruel to give false hopes of something I could never offer to anyone... 2

It was the reason I never wanted to mark anyone, but then I had already fucked that shit up and marked her.

‘Alpha, I‘m at the lift.‘

I got up, walking to the lift and keyed in the passcode. After a few moments the lift opened, to

reveal Winona holding a large tray containing Rosaline‘s delicious pasta, and two stuffed taco cups with mince meat, cheese and jalapenos. There were also two cold bottles of juice and a trifle bowl.

“Thanks, I‘ll take it.” I said, taking the tray from her. “And the supplies.” Winona added with a small smile, holding the bag out to me.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Alpha.” She replied, I gave her a small nod, about to close the lift when I looked back at her.

“How‘s Corrado been?”

Her smile vanished and she shook her head.

“He didn‘t eat and has been in a strop since Azura left.”

I nodded.

“Would you like any food for yourself, Alpha?”

She sure wasn‘t dumb. “No.” I said before turning away and closing the lift.

Even my son was fucking attached to her.

She wasn‘t mother material... She was wild and crazy more than anything, but she was good with him. 5

I quickly slipped inside and opened the bedroom door, then saw she was in the bathroom. I silently placed the tray next to the bed and dropped the bag onto the mattress, before I exited the room, shutting the door behind me.

I glanced around, picking up the weapon I was working on and a few other items, locking them away. I picked up her damaged phone and dropped it into one of the lockable drawers, that wouldn‘t open without my thumbprint and code. Satisfied that I had gotten rid of anything that I didn‘t want her to see, I left the room and headed up to my office from the lift. I had a few hours before I needed to go see Jackie, I‘d shower and see if Corrado was still awake.

I entered Corrado‘s bedroom, only to see he was fast asleep, but I could tell he had fallen asleep upset. His lips were dry and there were tear stains on his face. I frowned, crouching down and wiping his cheek. 2 Sorry kid.

I sighed, leaned over and kissed his forehead, before I stood up and left the room. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and entered my own bedroom. The smell of Nikki‘s seductive fragrance filled the room, the lights were dimmed, and Nikki was sitting on the bed in red lingerie and a black silk gown, that was fully open, showing off her curves, scrolling through her phone.

“Babe you‘re back, finally. Did you not get my texts?” She got up from the bed, but once again I didn‘t want to do this. As sexy as I knew she was, she didn‘t appeal to me anymore. It was fucking weird how it worked... 2 “I was driving, didn‘t get time to check my phone.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck, her expression darkening, and I knew she could smell Azura on me. She instantly let go of me and stepped back, ruffling her hair.

“So you took her?” 2

“Yeah, I took her.”

And it was fucking hot. 3

“Leo, who is she?”

“Azura.” I replied unhelpfully as I took off my jacket and headed through the open arch to the dressing room area.

“I know her name, who is she to you?” Her voice was accusatory.

She crossed her arms, looking at me sharply. I didn‘t want to do this shit right now.

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I grabbed a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t–shirt.

“I..” She pursed her lips as she looked at me, trying to control her emotions. “You don‘t drive strangers, you don‘t look at other women, Leo... You and Azura... Why do I feel like there‘s more?” Her voice was low but clearly irritated.

“I‘ve had a long day, Nikki, I don‘t want to do this now.”

“Then when?! You‘re always fucking busy or avoid it! Tell me Leo, do you love me? Do you still care for me, or is someone else in your eyes now?” 2

Did I ever love Nikki?

Yeah, somewhat. I cared for her, and she became a daily part of my life. A partial distraction from the shit that consumed my mind, but was there someone else now? Yeah, obviously, the bond fucked that all up. 2

“Leo!” She blocked my path, looking up at me with tears in her eyes.

Tears that filled me with guilt.

I was hurting her too... “Azura, is she important to you?” She whispered, clutching my shirt. My eyes flashed and I looked down at her, not sure what I should fucking say. 1

“Leo, you cheated on me, which meant I wasn‘t enough, right? And since then, it‘s like you‘re done with me.”

“I didn‘t exactly cheat.” I muttered coldly, brushing past her.

“Fucking someone is cheating. You didn‘t even check me out today! I‘m wearing lace!” 1

Yeah, because you‘re not the one on my mind... I stubbed out the cigarette, and was about to enter the bathroom, when she grabbed my arm. “Leo, what is going on? We‘ve been friends for years before we began dating. I‘m begging you, just tell me what‘s going on with you. How many secrets will you keep from me?” a

I knew what I had to do...

“That night... Tell me, what day was it?” I asked quietly.

She frowned, thinking for a moment.

“The Blood Moon, I‘ll never forget.” She said bitterly.

I nodded.

“Yeah, me neither. She was my mate Nikki, that night I found my mate.” 2

She gasped, her heart was thundering as she let go of me, backing away. Tears began streaming down her cheeks as she covered her mouth. 3

“You... slept with your mate...” She whispered, dropping onto the bed. “Goddess...”

I stayed silent, running my hand through my hair.

“Yeah.”

She looked up at me sharply, her eyes flashing. “Azura. Is she your mate?” 1

I didn‘t reply as she jumped up from the bed, her eyes flashing again. “You brought her here... her mark... Oh fucking hell, tell me it‘s not true! Did neither of you have shame that I was right here?! Were you hooking up with her behind my back?! What a skank she is!” 14

“Hey.” I growled warningly, grabbing hold of her arm. My eyes flashed as anger rushed through me. “I was the one who fucking cheated on you, she didn‘t even fucking know you existed or what you were to me, until she saw us together.” I growled, my grip on her tight. “I rejected her, and it was by fucking chance that I found her injured and brought her here, and although it‘s none of your business, I haven‘t fucking slept with her since she‘s been here.”

Her heart was thumping and I could see the fear in her eyes.

“But you said you didn‘t want your mate... Then... Why was she here?” She asked, her voice softer, as if scared I was going to snap, and I fucking was.

“That‘s none of your fucking concern, and I think it‘s for the fucking better if we end this. We‘re through.” 10

Her eyes widened in shock as she grabbed hold of my biceps.

“Leo, look at me, no you can‘t end it. You said you rejected her, you‘ve kicked her out. Let her go, we can–” 1

“You have until the end of the week to move out. Take any apartment you want.” 2

“Leo, no, no don‘t do this. She‘s weird and you rejected her, which means you obviously don‘t want her. You said you never wanted to find your mate.” 3

Her voice was full of pain as she held on to me tightly, and as much as her insult to Azura pissed me off, I knew she was hurting too. Our eyes met, and I realised we were already over. From the day I laid eyes on Azura in that club... 1 “We‘re over, Nikki.” . Her heart was pounding as she locked her arms around my neck and pulled me down. She was

about to kiss me, but I turned my head away, unable to allow her one final kiss. Her lips met the corner of my lips, as she whimpered in pain. I don‘t know why I did it... It was just one kiss... but... I didn‘t want the feel of Azura‘s lips to leave mine. •

A sob escaped her as I looked down at her.

“It gets easier.” I said quietly. I reached up, brushing a few tears from her cheek, but even then, it was Azura‘s tear–filled eyes from earlier that came to mind... “And one more thing... no one is to know Azura is my mate.” 5

I turned away and entered the bathroom to shower. I saw her break into tears as she dropped onto the floor, so I shut the door, blocking her out.

I ended it, and although it was the end of a two–year relationship, I felt lighter.

I knew that the day would come when Azura would leave... but regardless, I felt better. There was no point in staying in another relationship when she had already ruined the taste of all others for me.

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I looked at Jackie just as she was about to speak, but I didn‘t bother replying, pulling my shirt back on. 7

“I‘ll see you around.”

She nodded, biting her lip.

“Leo, where did Azura go?” 1

I tensed, wondering if Nikki had already told her. “That‘s none of your concern.” She nodded, looking down. “Is she safe?” 1

Odd question.

I turned back to her slowly, looking at her sharply. “Why do you ask?” She swallowed and shook her head, her heart thumping. “She said her ex wasn‘t a good person.”

Interesting

“Oh? What else?” I asked, looking at her keenly. Her heart was racing far too fast, and she stepped back in fear. “Nothing else, just she didn‘t want him finding her.” She mumbled.

Hmm.

I frowned deeply.

“Next time, if anyone tells you anything, you are to fucking report to me. Understood?”

“Y–yes Alpha.” She said fidgeting.

I didn‘t wait for a reply as I left the room, making sure no one saw me as I slipped away.

Jackie‘s words from earlier filled my mind, but I pushed them away.

I won‘t think about them for tonight... All I wanted to do was shift and go for a run, but I couldn‘t, I had things to do. It was time I fucking found this ex of Azura‘s, and show him exactly what happens when you mess with me. ||