Page 10

Azura

H e has a family…

I stare at the marble tiles of the shower walls, letting the water pour down my body.

Nikki is his woman, and the boy…

I close my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool wall.

He has a son…

Why don’t I know this? Sure, I never cared about the latest news, but it was never something that was mentioned. Sky or Kat would have mentioned it… but then again, Leo has moved away from his family entirely.

Nikki seems damn nice, and I have gone and slept with her man.

He was your mate, Azura.

Would he have broken up with her if I wasn’t a Westwood? I don’t know… why did he mark me then?

Does he love her? Probably…

What he felt for me was just because of the bond…

I am the other woman.

My heart squeezes, remembering the story of my biological mother. Her mate cheated on her. In fact, I even have a brother, thanks to his infidelity, a brother who has been desperately trying to get to know me, but it’s been me who just hasn’t wanted to. I’m not ready. I feel bitter… he is the reason Indigo ended up giving up the will to live. I know the story from Mama and Dad. From the first time when they told me that I wasn’t their biological child, like Kia and Liam…

OVER NINE YEARS AGO

I stared at Mama and Dad, feeling worried. They were on either side of me in my bed, but they wanted to talk to me about something. Did they find out I cut the squares in Liam’s underwear because he refused to allow me to taste whiskey? But… I made sure I had an alibi… hmm. Something wasn’t right.

No, wait, oh my god, they must have realised I emptied the pot of worms on that dumb boy’s head! But he was calling me names! No, wait… what if they realised I’m the one who made Jayce and Theo flood the bathrooms? Or wait, what if it -

“Hey, stop overthinking it, Wildfire,” Dad said, tapping my nose.

“I just want to say, whatever it is, I didn’t do it. I’ve done nothing at all.”

“We haven’t said anything yet,” Mama added, looking amused.

“I know, but it might be a trick, so whatever you think I’ve done, I haven’t done what you think I’ve done.”

“You usually have done what we think you have done, but it’s nothing of the sort. There’s something we want to tell you,” Mama replied, wrapping her arms around me tightly as she smiled. I snuggled into her, letting out a breath of relief, wondering what it was. “You know Mama Indy, right?”

“Yes, Mama. You always go on about her because I look like her, right? Are you missing her tonight?” I asked softly, looking up at her. Her eyes filled with sadness, and she kissed my forehead.

“We always are,” she responded softly, looking at Dad, who put his arms around us.

“Yeah…” Dad agreed.

Dad always got sad when he looked at her picture, too. I knew Mama and Dad’s parents were married, although Mama and Dad had never really mentioned it directly. I had heard things. They turned out to be mates, too, so everyone had to accept that their love was meant to be, even if it was very shocking to imagine it… naughty Dad and Mama having a secret love affair.

“What we are going to tell you, Angel, is only because you deserve to know the truth. It doesn’t change anything,” Dad said, kissing my head.

I frowned but nodded. This is weird…

“When the battle that took Indigo’s life occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted to help us against the evil. It cost her her life.”

I frowned. “Wow, but what about her baby then? Didn’t she care about it?” Mama tensed, and then I saw her and Dad exchange looks. Dad gave her hand a squeeze.

“She did, but she had been through a lot in life, and she wanted to do something to protect everyone because, without us winning, things would have been terrible for us. When she was killed… Marcel and your mother took her to Grandma Amelia. You know her, right?”

“Yes, I do. Grandma Amy, how can I not? You all make sure I remember her all the time,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I think I would have loved her. So then, what happened?”

“Well, Grandma Amy had some magic that we never knew she possessed, and, using it, she placed the baby that was still fighting for life into me instead,” Mama explained. I furrowed my brows, staring at Mama’s tummy.

“Then the baby lived?”

“She did, and she became a beautiful little soul with lots of spark,” Mama added, her eyes glistening with tears. Mama’s tummy…

“Then, where is she now…” I asked. That battle happened before I was born.

Wait… did they mean…

“Right here,” Dad said softly, hugging me tightly.

My heart thudded loudly in my chest as I realised what they meant. I was Mama Indy’s baby…

My mind felt funny. It felt like it was being squeezed.

No, I can’t be… but I don’t look like Mama and Dad…

I knew it was the truth…

She didn’t care enough about me. She didn’t care if she died. What if I had died? I don’t care if she’s my mama! I don’t want her to be!

“Baby…” my mama calls, but I didn’t know what to say.

“I’m still your favourite, right?” I asked, looking at them intently.

“Always,” they said in unison.

“Then, I don’t understand why you had to tell me. You two are my parents, the ones who take care of me and raise me. I don’t care if… she was meant to be my mama because she didn’t care if I died anyway.” I shrugged lightly. I didn’t want to know anymore. I saw the flicker of hurt in Mama’s expression, but I didn’t care… I was only their daughter.

“We always have and always will love you, but you have the right to know about Indy, too.”

“Okay.” I shrug.

That night they had slept by my side… although I know they loved Indigo… I didn’t feel that same way. I was horrible, maybe… I didn’t dare tell Mama or Dad how I felt, but she didn’t care if I died. Maybe I’m not a nice person…

Especially as I grew up, I learned more about her abusive mate who destroyed her mentally. I know not everyone can escape an abusive relationship, but I thought a mother’s love was greater than anything. She didn’t care if I lived or died. My parents are Elijah and Scarlett Westwood, and I will never be like her.

This baby is my world now. Even if I want to go into combat and become a pack warrior. I have taken classes in every fighting and weapon class the academy offers, along with Herbology, doing the higher level and learning about poisons and antidotes. I am ready to go onto the battlefield if the need arises. I may have messed up, been a prankster and every teacher’s worst nightmare, but in the lessons I liked, I did my best. That dream isn’t forgotten, but right now, my priority is my pup, and I had almost risked its life by thinking Judah wouldn’t try something stupid. I have to be careful…

And what Mama Indigo had been through at the hands of her cheating mate… I never want to ruin another person’s relationship.

I switch the shower off and step out, towelling myself dry before I enter the bedroom and pull on a black sports bra with matching Brazilian briefs. The image of Leo, Nikki, and Corrado returns to my mind once again. I begin blow-drying my hair, mulling over everything. Is Nikki Corrado’s mother? She isn’t an Omega, so how….

Why do I care? Leo and I are nothing. He rejected me, remember?

I sit on the bed once my hair is done, applying some moisturiser to my arms and legs. Spotting the tablet and laptop that sits on one of the shelves that surround the huge headboard, I am tempted to use them. Should I try getting in touch with the girls? Just share what’s going on? I need to tell someone…

I pick up the tablet and switch it on. It’s fully charged, and it looks brand new. Do I trust it?

No. I can’t talk about my pregnancy on a device and internet that Leo might be watching. Isn’t he said to be tech-savvy? Yeah, definitely not.

I stand up, walking out into the lounge and over to the double doors that lead out onto the balcony. Opening the doors, I step out, inhaling as I lean over the balcony wall and look down at the pack. It is beautiful… more modern than our area, yet it looks stunning.

I sigh, staring out. As much as I would want my child to have a father, it doesn’t need to be my fated mate, or anyone for that matter. I have my family and friends who love me. I don’t need someone who doesn’t want us.

Is the fact that I am a Westwood that bad? I want to ask him, but… what’s the point? He has his life set.

I think I see something on the ground below and lean down, spotting a burly-looking man petting two dogs. Cute things. I always wanted a pet, but seriously, I wouldn’t be able to take care of it or give it time. I am having a baby… which means I will have to pay attention to it and give it time… I will be a mama…

For a moment, as a cool breeze passes through my hair, I feel the weight of reality hit me, and I close my eyes. Responsibilities…

I turn around, leaning back against the rail and stare up at the night sky as I tilt my head back, closing my eyes.

You’ve got this, Azura. You’re known as the Westwood Devil. You can handle anything.

It is then that I sense someone is watching me. This feeling…

I know who it is as my eyes snap open, and I stare at the balcony far above. His scent is faint, but it is definitely him.

“Stop perving, you old man. I can sense you.”