Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

29. Do I Trust Him
AZURA.
“Try me.” His words rang in my head, and I wanted to. Somehow, I wanted to blurt it all out and have him fix it...
It was weird, the way he made me feel like I could rely on him. It confused the heck out of me because I always handled
everything myself. 1
He looked so yummy in that black shirt and grey pants. His toned thighs, narrow waist and those delicious muscular biceps...
This guy was born with incredible genes and those blue eyes ... goddess never had I liked the colour more.
But the way he was behaving was unnerving me... I could feel his anger. I just wasn‘t sure if it was because I left the room, or
fucked up his delta‘s face, or because maybe seeing me injured pissed him off?
Stop kidding yourself Azura... He marked you, rejected you, and watched you collapse before walking away... 1
The memory felt like a harsh slap in the face, and I broke our eye contact, moving away from his touch.
I pushed the painful thought away and took a deep breath.
“I was in here when I heard two loud bangs and they sounded a bit weird; so I thought I‘d go see if Jackie was ok, I barely got out
the door when I saw Emmet storm out their door....” I nudged him away with my shoulder and slid out from where he had me
trapped. “He entered the lift and I hurried to their door, Jackie opened it thinking it was Emmet. That‘s when I saw that she had a
bruise on her cheek and around her neck. It wasn‘t even just finger marks; he had dug his claws into her skin and then... she just
said to me not to tell the Alpha.”
I turned and looked at him, he was standing there, one hand to his chin, the other in his pocket and he was frowning deeply,
obviously wanting me to continue. So I looked him square in the eye and carried on.
“When I went down there, he was around the side of the building about to go through some door, and I called him. He told me to
mind my own business, and I confronted him. He got pissed and threatened me. Then I defended myself by losing my shit and
attacking him like the psycho I am.” I finished with a shrug. 4
No reaction.

That frown remained, as his eyes dipped to my forearm, where I was bleeding a little, although it was already healing up pretty
well. It wasn‘t a big deal... if he saw Emmet...
“So although he‘s your Delta, he could use some work...” I mumbled as he advanced on me but despite the fact he was oozing
dominance and power, it wasn‘t threatening, even if my heart was racing. I knew that was because of something entirely
different. 1 He took my wrist in his hand before raising it to his mouth, and to my surprise, he ran his tongue along the graze,
sending a riveting jolt of pleasure straight to my core. s
LIIS UUL
I yanked my arm away, frowning at him, despite feeling my cheeks heat up. “What are you doing!” I growled. He cocked a brow,
taking out a cigarette and lighting it. . “Alpha saliva heals, or don‘t you know that?” – “I do, but just because I had a graze doesn‘t
mean you are going to go around licking it.” I frowned, although it left a cooling touch in its wake. “I saw a cut and I licked it. End
of fucking story.” He growled, smoking his cigarette. 3
“I have a graze on my ass, are you going to lick that too?” I shot back, before freezing as his eyes met mine. 12
You really are the classiest woman in the world, Azura. Is there ever a time I didn‘t put my foot in my damn mouth? “Do you want
me to?” He replied mockingly. Leo‘s pierced tongue on my ass? 2
Hmm yes, please. 2
Wait no.
I glared at him.
“No thanks,” I muttered, stalking out of the bedroom. I did not want to be in there when everything that was coming into my head
was far from decent. I knew I was frustrated, and I always got carried away when I‘m overwhelmed. I heard him follow me silently
before I turned to him. “So, uh, do you believe me?”
“I can tell when someone lies.” He said simply. “I‘ll have someone come to check up on your injuries, get some rest.”
He didn‘t answer me... Would he do nothing?
“I‘m not lying.” I tried, unable to hide the frustration in my voice.
He paused his hand on the door handle, turning and looking at me, and I knew this was my last chance.

1
“I‘ve heard of stories where people hide abuse, where even the best of Alphas don‘t notice it happening beneath their noses.
Women or even men, who keep it a secret because they love their mates too much to let them go.”
He turned back to me, watching me with that sharp, calculating look in his eyes. “Seems like you know someone who has been
through that.”
I wasn‘t going to hide it because of my own pride, because if this got him to see that Jackie needed him, then I was ready to tell
him.
29 Del Trust Him
“Indigo, my biological mother... She let her mate treat her like shit just so he stayed by her side. She was so blinded that without
him, she lost the will to live.”
And she didn‘t care if I died or lived... 2
I looked away from those ice–cold eyes, hating how vulnerable I sounded.
“I‘m just... Jackie is a good person, I don‘t want her to go down that path.”
I looked down at my nails.
He approached but I didn‘t look up trying to compose my emotions. When he placed two fingers under my chin, forcing my face
up, our eyes met. “Friend, brother, or pack member... if someone is abusing their mate, I will deal with them. Rest assured Little
She–Wolf, I know you‘re not lying, you‘ve told me what you saw. Now I‘ll handle the rest. Get some sleep once you‘re checked
over.” 4
He cared for others, but it kind of hurt that he had also hurt me.
This isn‘t about you Azura, but Jackie. I didn‘t want another woman to become Indigo.
I gave a small nod, trying to pull away from his touch that was making my heart pound and head feel light. But he refused to let
go, curling his fingers under my chin and forcing me to look at him. He searched my eyes for something before I pulled away and
turned my back on him.
He didn‘t say anything, and I sensed him moving away. I could only breathe when I heard the door click shut...

–
LEO.
I left the room, taking my phone out.
‘Becky, can you come to the 7th floor of my apartment block? There‘s an important guest in the apartment across from Emmet‘s.
Check her over. She was in a fight, and may have a few fractures.‘ 1
‘Of course Alpha Leo. I will be there in ten.‘
“Thanks.
I ended the link, looking at the video Eric had sent. From their body language it was clear they were arguing. Then Emmet
grabbed her and my eyes blazed, the urge to cross the floor and rip that door off its hinges and
Stop.
I was thinking like a deranged beast... One that reminded me of someone I hated to the fucking core. 10
Emmet will get what‘s coming to him, but it‘s too late. I would handle this in the morning. I hooked up her door to my phone,
every time she left, I‘d know... I think I would pay Marcel a visit, I‘m certain he had answers I could use. 1 ‘Jax are you there?‘
‘Yeah Alpha, I just got back, any issue?‘
‘I want you to keep an eye on Azura Westwood. She‘s on the 7th floor across from Emmet‘s place.‘
A slight silence followed as I entered the lift and headed down.
“Yeah, of course.‘
‘No one aside from Winona is to go to her room. Make sure no one sees you, especially Emmet.
‘Understood Alpha.‘
I left the apartment building, smoking a cigarette as I made my way to Marcel‘s, a place I hated coming to... I hated the fact that
he would always choose them over me. 2 I rang the door, although I knew the code, I refused to walk into a place that I did not
consider mine.

The door was opened by a shirtless Marcel, a towel around his shoulders. It was obvious he had just showered after his workout.
“Leo.” A smile crossed his face as if he was happy to see me, and I simply brushed past him. “I had a few questions.” I replied
coldly, looking at him.
He closed the door and nodded.
“Ask away.” He said, crossing his arms. “What‘s the story behind Azura Westwood‘s biological mother?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “Why would you be interested in Azura‘s life?”
“I‘m not, and don‘t antagonise me. You already know that she was my mate.”
“Is your mate.”
Our eyes met, and I held his cold gaze.
“I rejected her.” 1
He looked almost sympathetic before nodding and jerking his head towards the lounge.
“Come on in.”
I followed, refusing to take a seat and instead walked over to the window overlooking the front garden, as I smoked my cigarette.
“I thought Azura left but I heard not long ago that she‘s back?” “Plans changed. She‘ll be leaving soon, don‘t worry.” I reply,
looking at him indifferently. 1 He nodded, sitting down and observing me with a tilt of his head. “She‘s a strong woman with a
good heart, albeit a little adventurous, Leo. She‘s perfect for
you.”
“Yeah, of course, a Westwood can‘t be anything but perfect in your eyes. I don‘t really fucking
care. I asked about Indigo Malone, not if Azura is perfect for me or not.” 3
Marcel sighed before looking at his hands. 2
Il fine she had a mate who abused and cheated on her. In fact, she even miscarried a few times
because of his abuse.”

So was that why this situation with Jackie triggered her, because it reminded her of Indigo?
“It was terrible, and when it came to light, Alejandro lost it. Fred was one of his most trusted men, and the fact that this was
happening under his nose made him lose it. He made the hard decision to send him on a suicide mission... and he died. Just like
everyone knew he would. Alejandro felt the pack link break and Indigo felt the loss of a mate.”
I didn‘t know that...
“So Alejandro punished him by killing him off... So ultimately, isn‘t he responsible for Indigo‘s death, because everyone knows
that not many can survive the loss of their fucking mate?” I smoked my cigarette, raising an eyebrow.
Marcel frowned.
“It‘s not like that.” He said sharply, but he looked a bit unnerved.
“It fucking is. He ended two lives that day, fuck almost three. A logical person would have put him in prison, not for his sake but
for his mate‘s. So, the way I see it, this brother of yours has made a lot of fucking mistakes.” 5
“Everyone makes mistakes, Leo, but Alejandro did it for Indigo, hoping she‘d find someone–” “Did he know she was pregnant?” 2
“Yes, but that‘s–“.
“So he still fucking risked her and Azura‘s lives? Because everyone knows the loss of a mate can fucking break you. She went
into that battle wanting to die right?” He was frowning as he looked at me, almost as if he didn‘t know what to say. 2
“Can I assume you are worried or angry for Azura?” He was watching me intently.
“Why would I be?” I denied. 1
This entire conversation left a bitter taste in my mouth? There was more to Azura Westwood than met the eye, and the urge to
learn and figure her out was growing. I liked puzzles, and she brought a few.
The topmost being her fucking ex. I actually wanted to see exactly what this fucker had, that had made her fucking date him. 5
“I‘ll be leaving.” I strode to the door when he spoke up.
“Leo, take her as your Luna. I assure you she will make you happy and Corrado loves her already.” He said quietly. 3 I didn’t
bother turning back or answering. Shutting the door behind me, I left.

I replayed the video once again as I made my way home, not wanting to think about what Marcel had said. I watched the clip,
seeing her brace her feet on the wall before flipping over and landing behind him. 1