Page 16

Azura

A nd with those words, I walk over to him confidently and give him a big bear hug, praying that this works. I feel Leo’s aura rolling off him in waves, but just when I think he is going to slit my throat in anger, Marcel lets out a hearty laugh.

“It’s a true honour! I need to hear what is going on, but how about I let you finish getting dressed…” he trails off as his eyes fall on my mark, frowning deeply. “I didn’t know you are mated?”

“Oh, I am. Kinda.” I wink.

“Azura is really cool, but she can’t cook,” Corrado adds helpfully. I pout as I look at Mini-Leo. Did he really need to add that part?

Marcel chuckles, “Well, we won’t need Azura to cook. We have plenty of people who can cook! But I’m happy to see you here. Surprised but happy.” He places his hand on my head, and I can see the happiness in his eyes. I smile back, seeing Nikki turn and walk off. Leo glances at me but doesn’t say anything.

I have a feeling he knows I won’t say anything before he follows her, and I hear their footsteps receding. I hate how that hurts.

“Well, I will let you get dressed. Come down to mine when you are ready! Come, Corrado, I have brought you some gifts.”

He picks up his grandson, and the moment I shut the door after them, I let out a breath of relief and run a hand through my hair. Oh, for fuck’s sake, I am so screwed. My heart thuds when a sudden thought comes to me. What if Marcel mentions to someone that I am here? Goddess, help me.

I need some air. Entering my bedroom, I push open one of the windows, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself, not to mention the nausea that is getting to me. After a few minutes, I begin looking through my things for something decent to wear.

“For fuck’s sake, Nikki, stop it!” I freeze when I hear Leo’s voice through the window, my heart thundering.

“Why were you in her room? Why is she here? Something isn’t right, and you’re hiding it from me! Who the fuck is she?”

“I’m not fucking doing this with you! She’s no one.”

Thanks, dickface. But what did I expect? Him to tell her I’m his mate?

“Is she? Then why were you in her room? She was in her bra!”

“Oh, for real, Nikki? We’re fucking werewolves. I’ve seen hundreds of she-wolves in their bras or without.”

Wow, that’s one way for you to make a point, Leo, fucking perv.

“In her room, Leo. With the door shut. I’m not fucking stupid! I want to know who she is.”

“You heard her, she’s a fucking Westwood. Happy?”

“Exactly! Why would you allow someone from a family you dislike here? There’s something going on!” She shouts.

I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. I am becoming the cause of problems in their relationship… I will go to this lunch, and then I’ll figure something out. Maybe I need to go to Alejandro and Kiara. Plan or not, I have to go.

“Leo!”

“I’m not having this fucking conversation with you.” His voice is fainter, and I hear the distant sound of a door shutting.

I look at the beige top in my hand, feeling disappointed in myself. I have wasted enough time mulling over things and coming up with zero solutions. I walk over to the bed and sit down, taking a moment to collect my thoughts.

Going to Alejandro would fuck up a lot… Dante would have been my next option, but he isn’t here. What do I even tell Alejandro and Kiara? “Hey, so I’ve got some pretty wild sex tapes that my ex secretly made last year that he is threatening to release on the net. Oh, and the same fucker has something on my girls, two of whom are your underage daughters? Oh, and I accidentally killed someone, and then I was forced to help get rid of the evidence?”

Yeah, shit Is going to go down. This could get Dad pushed off the council, too…

I run my hand through my hair before I stand up and begin gathering my things. The sooner I get out of here, the better. I shove all my things into my bag, gathering my phone and stuff and putting it into my shoulder bag. I’ll ask Leo to let Eric get me out of here. I am causing problems not only for Leo by being here but for everyone.

I place my hand on my stomach, feeling the crushing pain in my chest once more. I need to reject him before I leave. Face to face if I can because I want to see the pain in his eyes when I destroy the bond completely. Anger rushes through me, and for a second, I want to unleash hell, but I simply take a deep breath.

My phone beeps, and I pick it up, my stomach lurching at the unknown number. My heart thunders as I unlock the device. Is it Judah? But after looking at the text, I close my eyes in relief.

‘Make sure you do not tell Marcel anything. I will handle it.’

Leo. It is Leo. Thank the goddess. The phone beeps again with a second message with the story I am to tell Marcel…

An hour later , I am at Marcel’s mansion after pulling on a baggy pair of jeans that I hold up with a belt, a beige cropped long-sleeved top, and twisting my hair into a messy knot on top of my head. I know it looks silly as my hair is very silky and straight, making strands of hair stick up in all directions refusing to bend, but, hey, I’m not trying to please anyone.

Leo and Nikki are here, and if they had argued before, there is no sign of it now. He looks effortlessly handsome as ever in black jeans and a dark grey short-sleeved shirt, leaving his muscular tattooed arms on display. He is wearing shades and has a cigarette between those lips of his. He leans against the wall of the mansion as Marcel puts slices of meat on the barbeque.

“Azura, look what Grandad made!” Corrado calls, hurrying over to me the moment I step into the garden. I know Leo told me to stay away from him, but the boy approached me, and I don’t plan to ignore him…

“What has he made?” I ask.

“Milkshakes with fresh strawberries and bananas.”

“Oh, damn, really? I love anything with milk!”

“Me, too!” Corrado says, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards Marcel.

“Ah, Azura, come. I wasn’t sure what you would like, so I have made a variety,” Marcel says with a grin. He may be sixty, but he looks much younger, with his long brown hair pulled into a messy bun. His skin is tanned, and he has a very rugged look about him. Typical Rossi genes.

“Thanks, it all looks really yummy, but aren’t you tired after your journey? You really didn’t need to do this.”

“Azura doesn’t know how to cook this.” I look at Corrado. Does this kid really find it so weird that I couldn’t cook? It seems he would keep on mentioning it until all of England knows I can’t cook.

“Tell me, kiddo, does everyone you know how to cook?” He looks over at Leo and Nikki. Nikki is at the table, texting away on her phone.

“Yes. Daddy can cook the best, and Nikki makes healthy food. It doesn’t taste that good because it is healthy food, but it looks really good,” he whispers loudly. I’m not sure he knows werewolf hearing is a thing. I smile, tugging his chubby cheek.

“And then there’s your Grandad, who seems to be a pro,” I add, and he nods.

“Yes.”

“Here, have some milkshake,” Marcel passes us both a glass. “Leo, Nikki?”

“No thanks,” Nikki says with a small smile that looks a bit forced, with Leo simply ignoring him. How rude.

I look between the father and son. From what I remember, Leo wasn’t like this towards his Dad… I mean, it’s just the rest of the Rossis he has a problem with, right?

“Thank you, it’s yum,” I compliment, taking a big gulp.

“You have a moustache, Azura!”

“I rock the look, right?” Corrado laughs, and I can feel Leo’s glare burning into my back.

“So, tell me, Azura, what brings you here?” Marcel asks, flipping the lamb chops over. I see Nikki raise her head slightly, paying attention.

I remember the message Leo had sent earlier, and although he has decided on the story, I don’t like it. If I really want to mess this up, I know I could, and there is fuck all he can do about it, but I need him not to lose his shit. So, I sigh heavily, clutching my glass with both hands as I lick my lips. Okay, girl, work those eyes. I blink slowly, looking down at the milkshake before I look at Marcel.

“My mate,” I say sadly, making the corners of my lips dip downwards. Only one person is immune to this facade of mine, and that is Mama…

“Your mate?” Marcel asks sharply. I nod, taking a small sip of my milkshake. Damn, this is so yummy. If Nikki doesn’t want any, perfect, more for me!

“Yes. He marked me, and then he left me, and since he’s from this pack, Leo is trying to make him come around and accept me,” I say quietly. The lie leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I don’t know if Leo is trying to earn brownie points in his Dad’s book, but I hate it. Not to mention that it hurts. For a moment, I let my real emotions show on my face as I look up at Marcel. “Please, don’t tell anyone I’m here. My parents think I’ve gone to Sweden, and I don’t want trouble.” Marcel is frowning, his chest heaving as he turns to Leo.

“Who is it?” He asks dangerously. Leo raises an eyebrow, but it is the words he speaks that cut like a knife.

“I’m handling it. We can’t force anyone to do anything. Remember, Marcel? Or is the daughter of an Elite so precious that she just can’t be rejected?” His icy reply comes.

“Leo,” Marcel warns.

“I’m handling it. I’m trying, despite that little fact,” Leo replies coldly.

Like hell, you are fucking handling it.

“You better handle it, and swiftly.”

“Excuse me.” I smile, placing my glass down and wiping my mouth on a tissue as I walk towards the mansion. I need a minute.

Entering the mansion, I open a few doors before I find the bathroom. Stepping inside, I shut the door behind me, closing my eyes as I lean against it.

The daughter of an Elite. It is funny how differently he thinks of me. If only he knew who I really am.

The daughter of an Elite? No. I am just a freak who should have died. But either way, it is the same thing, right?

Some dislike me for my birth, others dislike me because of my personality, and then there is Leo, who hates me for being the daughter of two amazing people. My parents have done nothing to him. They don’t deserve his hatred. And if they are the reason he doesn’t want me, then it’s his loss because they are fucking amazing.

I look into the mirror, trying to calm the storm within me. I know Marcel won’t tell anyone, but I really need to get out of here. I leave the bathroom after splashing my face and head back to the garden.

“I look so cool.”

I stop in my tracks, spotting Leo crouching down by Corrado as he slips his sunglasses onto his face. A small, proud grin crosses Corrado’s cute little face as he turns to Nikki.

“Nikki, do I look cool?”

“Awe baby, you do! Super cute!” She smiles at him, and I simply stand there, feeling so out of place.

You’re leaving tonight, Azura. End of story.

Placing a blank expression on my face, I saunter into the garden just as Nikki walks over to Leo, locking her arms around his neck. I don’t know why it stings when he grabs hold of her hips.

“I’m sorry, babe,” she whispers, and if I thought the day just couldn’t get any worse, she kisses him straight on those plump lips of his.

I turn away, doing my best to control the pain in my chest, my eyes stinging as I take silent, steadying breaths. Shit, it hurts. A whole fucking lot.