Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

8. A Compromise

AZURA.

I awoke to a dull ache in my back, I was in a comfortable bed and I could smell a citrusy fresh scent. I

frowned, opening my eyes and looking around what appeared to be a hospital room. The walls were a

pale green, with the far wall being covered in forest scenery.

I was hooked up to some drips. Sitting up, I yanked them off and slid out of the bed.

Sunlight was streaming through the window that was open a crack, and I could hear the faint sounds of

laughter and chatter from outside. I looked down, realising I was wearing a pale green hospital gown. My

clothes. Where were they?

I scanned the room, my heart leaping when I spotted my luggage and coat on the couch in the corner. I

rushed over to it, wincing as a pang of pain rushed through my back.

Oh fuck.

What time was it? Or worse, what day was it and where was I? Where was my phone? I was about to

grab some clothes when one of the two doors leading off the room opened, and a woman in a white coat

with her brown hair pulled into a ponytail entered. Her grey eyes were full of concern when she spotted

the empty bed, before she turned to me.

“Oh, you‘re awake. Thank the goddess!”

She placed the file she was holding down and came over. I stood up from where I was rummaging in my

clothes, looking at the woman who was a few inches shorter than me warily.

“Where am I?”

“You are at the Sangue Pack, our Alpha Leo found you injured and brought you here. I‘m doctor

Demiko.” She explained. Her words made my heart thump violently.

Leo...

The Sangue Pack, I almost clutched my stomach in panic He couldn‘t know. I had to keep this a secret.

“How long was I out?”

“Just for the night, it‘s not even noon yet.” “I need to make a call, where‘s my phone?”

“I‘m sorry, there was no phone on you, but you can use mine.” She offered.

I nodded and she took the sleek black device from the pocket of her white coat.

Activating No Caller ID, my heart thumping, 1 quickly dialled Mama‘s number.

“Hello?”

I let out a silent breath, hearing her voice. “Hey Mama, don‘t kill me, but I lost my phone.”

“Seriously Azura! We were worried.”

“I know but you know me and phones.”

For once I was glad I was a bit of a scatter–brained person with phones, because I was sure if I didn‘t

reply straight away, they would have been worried. Mama sighed in relief.

“Are you in Sweden?”

“Yes Mama, I‘m just calling from someone‘s phone to let you know. I was so tired after the flight that I just

crashed. When I‘m rested and settled in I will call you all, ok?”

“Ok baby, thank the goddess you are ok. Get some rest.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Mama replied.

I hung up and looked at the doctor, who was filling in some forms, passing the phone back to her.

“Thanks.” I said, as she took it with a small smile.

“I hope you trust that we mean no harm.” She raised her hand in surrender, smiling warmly, clearly

sensing my discontent. “I‘m Jackie, and I‘m the doctor who attended to you. The injury you had

contained WB12. Luckily it was a very small amount.”

One of the deadliest forms of wolfsbane out there. 1

My baby My heart thumped as I looked at her.

“Did you do a blood test?” I asked.

I was in turmoil. I wanted to know if my baby was ok, but I also didn‘t want Leo to learn about it.

I needed to get out of here.

“No we didn‘t need to, the green pus is enough to let us know what it was and we were able to treat you

quickly.” She smiled be

+ vou quickly,” She smiled before motioning to the bed. “Please sit down so I can check your vitals.”

The baby...

“I... I need to leave.” I said quietly.

“Miss... You can‘t leave yet, you‘re not in any condition to leave the hospital. Besides, the Alpha said you

were not to leave yet.” She mumbled.

Leo.

“He isn‘t the Alpha of this pack yet, correct? Where is the real Alph... fuck.”

Marcel. Marcel couldn‘t see me here! “Alpha Marcel is on holiday, and although he may not have passed

the official title down to his son, I assure you Alpha Leo is still very much in charge.” She whispered,

glancing furtively towards the door. “Please don‘t say that again.” “... shit.” I ran my hand through my

hair.

I needed to see if my baby was ok and I couldn‘t get that done here without Leo‘s knowledge. It still felt

weird to think this child was his too... Would he even care? I‘m sure he‘d just cast it aside too.

My heart squeezed but I refused to let my thoughts go down that path. “Calm down, it‘s going to be ok.

You will be allowed to go soon.” She whispered, guiding me to the bed.

How could I calm down when I was scared for my baby‘s life?

“Is there any poison left in my body?” I asked quietly. “No, we have treated it. You will soon be back to

your normal self.” I nodded hesitantly. I needed to get out of here, and I didn‘t care if it was risky, I

needed to go to Kia, I needed to make sure my baby was safe. I could fuck up my own life, not this

unborn pup‘s. “Ok, so when can I leave?”

“I‘ve told the Alpha you are awake... I‘m sure he will let you go when he deems fit.”

“I‘m not his property, I will pay for the medical expenses and offer my gratitude, but I need to leave.” I

insisted, my eyes flashing.

I know it‘s not her fault and it isn‘t fair for me to take it all out on her, but I needed to get checked and

there was no one else here. I ran a frustrated hand through my hair.

“He‘ll be here soon.” She replied politely.

She left the room, and I went over to my bag.

I didn‘t want to face to him... Sure he had saved me... but...

I‘m getting out of here. I pulled on some black jeans and a bra, before grabbing the first top I found. Once

I had put the tank top on, I looked around.

Ok, let‘s go.

I rummaged around in my bag one–handed looking for my essentials as I pulled on some black sneakers

with my other hand. Looking for my wallet, but I couldn‘t find either my wallet and passport. They weren‘t

here.

Fuck.

No... shit, come on!

I emptied my bag onto the floor, desperation filling me and in my panic, I didn‘t hear the door open until it

clicked shut and a familiar seductive scent filled my nose. “Why are you always where you shouldn‘t be?”

His cold, deep voice came, making my stomach flutter and that familiar pang of pain squeeze around my

heart. “Where are my passport and wallet?” I asked standing up.

I didn‘t want to see him... He had made a mockery of me and left me in pain that night... “Wherever I

want them to be. You‘re in my kingdom now, and only my rules go.”

I forced myself to turn around and face him.

There he stood, his piercing icy blue boring into me. He looked as handsome as he did that night, and

although I had tried to distort the image of how handsome he was, seeing him before me reminded me

that he was too fucking handsome. Why did the Goddess make these men so fucking good–looking and

then, at the same time, total assholes? There was only one Alpha who I knew who was equally sexy and

charming. Rayhan Rossi, this fuckboy‘s cousin. 4

His plump, shaped lips were slightly parted in that arrogant pout, that I was sure he didn‘t even realise he

had, and his hair was in a tousled sexy mess. He was wearing all black; jeans, a tee, and jacket. Casual

but he still oozed power, danger, and dominance. I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms and tried not to

show how he consumed me by just being in the same room as me.

“You can be the king of the toilet or the entire world, for all I care. I don‘t abide by anyone‘s rules. Give

me my passport and wallet, I need to leave.” 2

“I will.” His eyes bore into mine, and something told me he wanted to say more. He stepped closer, but I

stood my ground as his gaze fell on my neck. “You haven‘t accepted it.”

His rejection

I guess he really wanted me gone. I never thought anyone could brutally reject someone after marking

them...

“Why should I make things easier for you? You marked me, then you fucking rejected me, and I should

just accept it because it‘s what you want?” I asked quietly, trying to

control the rage that was ready to unleash hell upon him. 1

Our eyes met, and I could hear his heart thudding as he tried to control whatever he was feeling.

Did he want to kill me?

“Have you told anyone?” He asked dangerously, stepping closer.

I scoffed.

Don‘t come closer... I wasn‘t sure what I wanted to do if he did; slap him? knee him? Rip his dick off?

Tempting.. I didn‘t let my wolf‘s pain or the other thoughts that swam in the deepest corners of my mind

to surface.

Leo Rossi was nothing to me.

“Why? Don‘t want to be humiliated if everyone finds out you‘re mated to me?”

He took hold of my chin, and I felt the sparks of our wounded bond. His eyes flashed and he glared at

me.

“I don‘t care what anyone thinks, but I want to know how they all felt knowing I‘m the one who rejected

you. Did it hurt them?” A cold smirk crossed his lips and I shoved him back, my own eyes flashing as the

pain returned once again. “No, I didn‘t tell them because they don‘t deserve to worry over trash like you.”

I spat, pulling free and grabbing my bag. “I‘m leaving.” “Go right ahead, this pack is impenetrable. No one

comes in or goes out without my knowledge.”

I froze.

Safe.

What if...

My heart thumped and I remembered the little I heard about the Sangue pack. One of the most feared

and most powerful packs in the country, Judah wouldn‘t come for me here... if... if I pretended Leo had

kidnapped me, it might make Judah think I couldn‘t do anything to help him... Leo‘s reputation was vast.

Everyone knew who he was...

My mind was running a thousand miles per hour as I quickly weighed the pros and cons

I just needed a bit of time...

“Do you really not want anyone to know we were mated?” I asked slyly.

“I‘m not bothered.” He said carelessly, and I tilted my head.

Don‘t try to pull reverse psychology on me Blue–Eyes. “Oh... You do. You don‘t want anyone to know...”

Itutted as I approached him, the tense clench in his jaw told me I was right as his eyes flashed

dangerously. I was onto something. “And you want me to accept your rejection... how about a deal?” His

murderous gaze met mine and I smirked.

“What do you want in return?” His icy reply came.

“I need a little time to heal and lay low. I just... need a break from stuff. So if you allow me to stay in this

pack for a month, I‘ll accept your rejection. I‘ll be gone from your life forever, no one will ever know about

us. I just need some space away from everyone.” I said, trying to pick my words carefully. He frowned.

“No, fucking no. I want you gone. Immediately.” I sighed before I stared at him, unblinking. Moments

earlier, I would have been happy to hear those words, but now... “Then I think I‘ll scream and shout from

the rooftops that I‘m your Luna and this mark will grant me that title. I wonder what Marcel will think when

he realises what you did. Damn he‘s still the Alpha isn‘t he? Shame you‘re twenty–eight and still not

Alpha. Does it hurt?” I taunted. 1

I knew I was hitting a sore spot but I knew the rumours.

When his eyes blazed a steel blue, his aura surged around us and he grabbed hold of my neck, I knew I

had hit a very dangerous nerve.

“Cross me and there‘s not a corner of this earth where you can hide from me. I will find you and I will

fucking destroy you.”

“Then accept my deal. Allow me to stay here for one month, and I will keep our secret forever. I will reject

you in secret, and Azura Westwood will be nothing more than a shadow of your past. One month is all

I‘m asking.”

“No.” His eyes flashed, and I frowned slightly.

“Then I think it‘s time everyone learned the truth.”

“Don‘t try me. Heed my fucking words: Run little she–wolf, as far as you can, because if I ever catch you,

your worst fucking nightmare will become your reality.” He whispered dangerously, his grip on me

painfully tight. A smile curled the corner of my lips, and I raised an eyebrow, running the tip of my nail

down his chiselled jaw challengingly.

“Oh but you‘re wrong, Blue–Eyes, because I am the stuff of nightmares, and I‘m here to create hell in

your life. Not scared, are we?” 4

Icy blue eyes met my unblinking bright blue.

“I‘m warning you, don‘t mess with me.” He growled. “Oh? But the thing is, I always do what I‘m not

supposed to.”

“Then you will regret it.” 3