Page 15

Azura

“ H e contacted me, wanting to meet me. I just need a break.” I shrug, trying to fight my nausea. I am lucky it only comes now and then and that I’m not vomiting buckets, unlike Raven with Katara.

The girls know a lot of what happened with Judah since Kataleya and Song both had not wanted me to get involved with him, to begin with. I wish I had listened, but I never really ever do, do I?

“Fuck, Azura, you need to tell someone,” Skyla says, her eyes flashing a deep plum purple that turns darker the closer it gets to the pupil. Her anger is clear within them. “He needs to die.”

“Skyla,” Kataleya murmurs soothingly, placing her hand on her sister’s shoulder.

Skyla closes her eyes, exhaling deeply as she fights her emotions. Malevolent, her cat, meows, brushing her shoulder, and Skyla’s eyes open as she smiles down at her little fur ball. Those two have been together for years. Alejandro had gotten it for her when she was little; ten years on, they are still the dangerous green-eyed duo.

I am the eldest of us four, it is my job to take care of them and be there for them, but instead I am giving them more stress. Skyla has her own troubles to deal with.

“I do agree, you need to tell someone about him. What’s holding you back?” Song asks, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s a lot… I just wanted to let you guys know I’m okay, and if anyone asks, you spoke to me, and I’m perfectly fine. Song, can you get me some images of Sweden and email them over to me in case Mama or anyone asks me about it?” I can’t really tell them much when there is a chance that he has something in this room recording me. “Look, I got a new number, adding it to this chat right now. Save it and miscall me with yours. I may not have much data, but I have downloaded the chat app for emergencies, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember your numbers.”

Besides, I have no idea if Judah is watching my social media accounts. I don’t want him to know I have access to anything.

“Oh, perfect,” Song says as Sky miscalls me straight away. My phone rings, and I smile.

“Okay, great, now we’re in touch again.” I also need something from Dante… but how do I ask him? I look at his sisters, and an idea comes to me. “There’s something I need from you, Kat.” She raises her eyebrows innocently and nods.

“Of course, anything. What is it?” I smile at her. They are only seventeen, but she is so mature. Probably the most mature of the four of us.

“Dante, I need you to ask him for something since he will trust you.” I hesitate, wondering if they’ll question me if I ask for it. Her face falls, and she looks at me worriedly.

“Azura, Dante’s not in England. He flew to Italy three days ago and won’t be back for a month.”

“Shit.”

“What is it?”

“I need to ask if I can borrow something from -”

I hear the apartment door open and frown. I am only in my lingerie. Who would just come in here like that? How the fuck did they get in? And then he appears, Leo - in nothing but pants, his sexy tattooed body on full display, making my core automatically clench with desire. He is looking at me, but the look on his face tells me something is very wrong. Even when his eyes flickered as they lingered on my breasts, it was only for a second.

“Got to go,” I say, snapping the laptop shut.

“We have got to go,” Leo says, his voice dangerous. His eyes run over me before he looks around the messy bedroom and grabs my pants. “Put them on. You need to leave. Right now.” My heart thunders as his words echo in my mind.

“Why?” I find myself asking as I slip my jeans on, my hands shaking slightly as the urgency in his voice gets to me. I don’t have a plan. What if Judah finds me? No, I just need to focus, I’ll find -

“Azura, are you listening?” He asks coldly, yanking me up from the bed. I gasp when I’m slammed into his chest. Flickers of sparks rush through us, his scent invading my nose. I freeze when he pulls my pants up over my ass, making my heart skip a beat as he looks down, zipping them up.

“Why do I have to go? I can’t go yet, I haven’t made a plan where to go.” He frowns, grabbing my bag and shoes super-fast.

“I don’t care. I need you out.” His words sting. Then, he grabs my arm, pulling me to the door.

I try to tell myself it is fine. Go home, and just tell someone. I don’t have any other option. After last night’s drama, I need to leave anyway. Maybe it is for the best, but he needs to at least let me grab my stuff!

“Leo, listen to me!”

“Fuck, keep your voice down,” he growls, trying to pull me out of the apartment.

“No. Do not fucking manhandle me, I told you that already! What the fuck is going on?” I need time, and I need to know why he is acting like this!

“Listen to me, little she-wolf, either you come quietly, or I will force you,” he growls menacingly, grabbing my upper arm as he pulls me from the room.

Fuck, he is strong. He almost has me at the stairs when we hear footsteps and Corrado comes into view, instantly making Leo let go of me.

“What are you doing with Azura, Daddy?”

“You should never have told him your name,” Leo mutters quietly. “Corrado, go back up.”

“No, Daddy! Grandad is coming!”

Marcel is here? Now his behaviour makes sense. It is obvious he doesn’t want Marcel to see me, and I don’t either.

“I can just stay in the apartment and away from your Dad, then just leave when the coast is clear?” I suggest quietly as Leo looks around, assessing the best way out. Corrado runs to one of the windows, excitedly looking out of it. It would buy me some time if he listens and let me wait in my apartment! Why is he so fucking stubborn?

“No. I don’t want to risk it. Here’s your passport, Eric will drop you at the edge of the territory. Go wherever you want; Sweden, home, I don’t really care. Just stay the fuck out of my life,” he says, making me freeze.

Our eyes meet, and that crushing pain returns with a vengeance, my heart thumping violently. It is stupid of me to feel like this, but I suddenly feel alone and so damn lost. I’m not fucking alone. I have a family, I remind myself.

He frowns, his gaze sharp as he scrutinises me as if wondering what is on my mind.

We hear the ding of the lift coming up, and Leo swears,

“Fuck.”

“That’s what happens when you have only one damn lift,” I mutter.

He doesn’t reply, glancing towards the lift before he pulls me back to my apartment and enters, kicking the door shut behind us. I close my eyes, pulling out of his hold.

“Stop pulling me around like I’m a damn doll!” I hiss.

He ignores me, instead advancing on me until I am pushed against the wall. I don’t dare shout, not wanting to be heard. I can hear Corrado’s faint shout and Marcel’s laugh. Shit, I am in a pickle. And, to make it worse, Leo is invading my personal space. I hate how he makes me feel, the way his scent intoxicates me, the way those icy blue eyes seem to look through me.

He has Nikki. I would never do that to anyone… but then why am I not rejecting him?

I gasp when he places one of his hands on the wall, caging me between himself and the wall, the other finger placed to his lips, warning me to keep my voice down.

“What are you running from? This time don’t lie because my patience is already thin,” he asks quietly. Leaning closer now, he places his other hand on the other side of the wall, trapping me completely. Do I tell him?

“You don’t care, so why should I tell you?” I whisper breathlessly, trying not to focus on the heat radiating off his body.

“If you don’t tell me, it’s your fucking loss, but you’re right. I don’t care. I just want you gone from my life,” he says coldly. “Last chance. Who are you running from?” I close my eyes.

Do I tell him? No, I can’t tell him. Why though? Because I’m scared he won’t care? I know he won’t care… but… to hear it after I tell him my troubles. I don’t know if I can handle it.

“It’s… no one really… I can handle it.” He raises an eyebrow coldly.

“Fine, whatever the fuck you want -”

“Leo?” He clenches his jaw, his eyes blazing a steely blue.

“Fuck. Stay here and stay the fuck quiet. Eric will get you out of here the first chance he gets,” he warns, his eyes telling me not to mess with him right now. I nod, about to move away, but he doesn’t remove his hand.

“Leo!”

“Daddy’s in there!”

“Leo, you need to go,” I whisper, shoving him back and taking a deep breath. He frowns, looking at me.

“Are you certain you don’t want to tell me what is going on?” He asks one final time, rubbing his hand down his face.

“No. You don’t care, and I’m just a Westwood who you resent, remember?” I’m not able to stop myself, the words escaping before I can stop them.

The one question that burns within me is if he found out about this child, would he hate it, too?

He looks at me, his gaze cold.

“I guess that’s a no,” he says quietly, turning and walking to the door. He pauses, looking over his shoulder at me, and jerks his head towards the bedroom. Is this the last I’ll see of him? I quickly move away, my heart thumping as I slip in. I hear the door open, listening quietly.

“Son. I missed you.” Marcel’s voice comes.

“Why are you back early?” Leo’s cold reply follows.

“Why? Because I decided to. Raj actually told me some interesting news. He said we had an outsider welcomed into our pack by your selflessness and was staying as a guest. I just wanted to know who it was.”

“That is none of your business. So you came home to check up on me? I am not a child.” Leo’s voice is cold and dangerous, but I have a feeling he’s holding back. His voice drips poison. He’s trying to rein it in, but what worries me is what Marcel just said. Did Raj tell him anything else about me? I hope not.

“It’s Azura! That’s her room!” Corrado exclaims, making me close my eyes.

“Azura?” Marcel asks, his voice sharp. “Who is she?”

“Does it fucking matter?” Leo growls.

“Babe, why aren’t you dressed yet?” Nikki’s voice comes. “Alpha Marcel, welcome home.”

“Thank you, Nikki. Now, tell me, do you know anything about this Azura?”

“It’s none of anyone’s business. Let’s go downstairs,” Leo cuts in.

“Leo, it’s only your Dad,” Nikki murmurs.

“Azura!” Corrado calls. “My grandad is here! Daddy, let me go in!”

What do I do? Fuck, what do I do? Shall I shift and stay in wolf form? No, don’t be stupid, Azura, you can’t do that.

“Leo, who is in that room?”

“Babe, I’m sure Azura won’t mind meeting the Alpha.” Nikki’s voice comes.

“Azura!” I hear Corrado, and his voice is close.

I take a deep breath, knowing Leo is going to be pissed, but I have no other option than to step out of my bedroom just as Corrado comes to a stop in front of the bedroom door.

“Hey, kiddo.” I smile.

I look up to see Marcel, Nikki, and Leo enter. Leo is frowning deeply whilst Nikki is looking me over. Then I remember I am just in pants and my bra. Well, hey, I wear this look often enough. Deal with it, girl.

“Azura?” Marcel looks shocked and confused.

Well, I think it is time I divert the topic away from why I am here, and so, plastering a huge smile on my face, I give him a big wink.

“Yup. None other than the Westwood Devil herself.”