Page 23

Leo

I leave the cave and step out into the car park, trying to clear my head. Locking the door behind me, I slide to the ground, resting my head against the cold metal of the wall behind me as I take a drag on my cigarette.

Winona? I call through the link.

Yes, Alpha?

Winona, she is one of the few I have taken in. She wasn’t born in the Sangue Pack, but she is still someone I trust, one of the rare few I trust completely around my son.

What’s Rosaline cooked tonight? Rosaline is my cook. She lives two floors down from me, and she makes the best food for Corrado and me. When I had put out the notice for the position, I remember choosing the one whose food Corrado loved the best after tasting it all. I still remember his smile of happiness.

She made chicken pasta and stuffed taco cups.

Perfect, bring a tray down to my garage. I’ll let you down when you’re outside.

Of course. She doesn’t question me. She never does, and I am grateful.

Oh, and Winona?

Yes, Alpha?

Bring a woman’s toiletry pack or some shit with basic supplies. A pause follows before she replies,

Is the dinner for one or two?

One.

Understood. Anything else, Alpha?

No, I think that’s it.

I stare at the fleet of supercars that I own. I have it all; power, money, cars, a son, and a girlfriend… but even then, something is missing, something that is starting to poison my mind, just as I had heard the bond would do, making even the most powerful of men succumb to the will of their females. I never wanted to become a slave to this shit. Besides… it is fucking cruel to give false hopes of something I could never offer to anyone. It is the reason I never wanted to mark anyone, but then I already fucked that shit up and marked her.

Alpha, I’m at the lift.

I get up, walk to the lift, and key in the passcode. After a few moments, the lift opens to reveal Winona holding a large tray containing Rosaline’s delicious pasta and two stuffed taco cups with minced meat, cheese, and jalapenos. There are also two cold bottles of juice and a trifle bowl.

“Thanks, I’ll take it,” I say, taking the tray from her.

“And the supplies,” Winona adds with a small smile, holding the bag out to me.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Alpha,” she replies. I give her a small nod, about to close the lift when I look back at her.

“How’s Corrado been?” Her smile vanishes and she shakes her head.

“He didn’t eat and has been in a strop since Azura left.” I nod. “Would you like any food for yourself, Alpha?” She sure isn’t dumb.

“No,” I say before turning away and closing the lift.

Even my son is fucking attached to her. She isn’t mother material. She is wild and crazy more than anything, but she is good with him.

I quickly slip inside and open the bedroom door, then see she is in the bathroom. I silently place the tray next to the bed and drop the bag onto the mattress before I exit the room, shutting the door behind me.

I glance around, picking up the weapon I am working on and a few other items, locking them away. I pick up her damaged phone and drop it into one of the lockable drawers that won’t open without my thumbprint and code. Satisfied that I have gotten rid of anything that I don’t want her to see, I leave the room and head up to my office from the lift. I have a few hours before I need to go see Jackie; I’ll shower and see if Corrado is still awake.

I enter Corrado’s bedroom, only to see he is fast asleep, but I can tell he had fallen asleep upset. His lips are dry, and there are tear stains on his face. I frown, crouching down and wiping his cheek. Sorry, kid.

I sigh, lean over and kiss his forehead before I stand up and leave the room. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and enter my own bedroom. The smell of Nikki’s seductive fragrance fills the room. The lights are dimmed, and Nikki is sitting on the bed in red lingerie and a black silk gown that is fully open, showing off her curves, while she scrolls through her phone.

“Babe, you’re back, finally. Did you not get my texts?” She gets up from the bed, but once again, I don’t want to do this. As sexy as I know she is, she doesn’t appeal to me anymore. It is fucking weird how it works…

“I was driving. Didn’t get time to check my phone.”

She wraps her arms around my neck, her expression darkening, and I know she can smell Azura on me. She instantly lets go of me and steps back, ruffling her hair.

“So, you took her?”

“Yeah, I took her.” And it was fucking hot.

“Leo, who is she?”

“Azura,” I reply unhelpfully as I take off my jacket and head through the open arch to the dressing room area.

“I know her name, who is she to you?” Her voice is accusatory. She crosses her arms, looking at me sharply. I don’t want to do this shit right now.

“What are you trying to say?” I ask, raising an eyebrow as I grab a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt.

“I…” She purses her lips as she looks at me, trying to control her emotions. “You don’t drive strangers. You don’t look at other women. Leo… you and Azura… why do I feel like there’s more?” Her voice is low but clearly irritated.

“I’ve had a long day, Nikki. I don’t want to do this now.”

“Then when? You’re always fucking busy or avoiding it! Tell me, Leo, do you love me? Do you still care for me, or is someone else in your eyes now?”

Did I ever love Nikki? Yeah, somewhat. I cared for her, and she became a daily part of my life, a partial distraction from the shit that consumes my mind, but is there someone else now? Yeah, obviously, the bond fucked that all up.

“Leo!” She blocks my path, looking up at me with tears in her eyes, tears that fill me with guilt. I am hurting her, too… “Azura, is she important to you?” She whispers, clutching my shirt. My eyes flash, and I look down at her, not sure what I should fucking say. “Leo, you cheated on me, which meant I wasn’t enough, right? And since then, it’s like you’re done with me.”

“I didn’t exactly cheat,” I mutter coldly, brushing past her.

“Fucking someone is cheating. You didn’t even check me out today! I’m wearing lace!”

Yeah, because you’re not the one on my mind… I stub out the cigarette and am about to enter the bathroom when she grabs my arm.

“Leo, what is going on? We’d been friends for years before we began dating. I’m begging you, just tell me what’s going on with you. How many secrets will you keep from me?” I know what I have to do…

“That night… tell me, what day was it?” I ask quietly. She frowns, thinking for a moment.

“The Blood Moon. I’ll never forget,” she says bitterly. I nod.

“Yeah, me neither. She is my mate, Nikki. That night, I found my mate.” She gasps. Her heart is thundering as she lets go of me, backing away. Tears begin streaming down her cheeks as she covers her mouth.

“You… slept with your mate…” she whispers, dropping onto the bed. “Goddess…” I stay silent, running my hand through my hair.

“Yeah.” She looks up at me sharply, her eyes flashing.

“Azura. Is she your mate?” I don’t reply as she jumps up from the bed, her eyes flashing again. “You brought her here… her mark… oh, fucking hell, tell me it’s not true! Did neither of you have shame that I was right here? Were you hooking up with her behind my back? What a skank she is!”

“Hey,” I growl warningly, grabbing hold of her arm. My eyes flash as anger rushes through me. “I was the one who fucking cheated on you. She didn’t even fucking know you existed or what you were to me until she saw us together,” I growl, my grip on her tight. “I rejected her, and it was by fucking chance that I found her injured and brought her here, and although it’s none of your business, I haven’t fucking slept with her since she’s been here.” Her heart is thumping, and I can see the fear in her eyes.

“But you said you didn’t want your mate... then... why is she here?” She asks, her voice softer as if scared I am going to snap, and I fucking am.

“That’s none of your fucking concern, and I think it’s for the fucking better if we end this. We’re through.” Her eyes widen in shock as she grabs hold of my biceps.

“Leo, look at me. No, you can’t end it. You said you rejected her, you’ve kicked her out. Let her go, we can -”

“You have until the end of the week to move out. Take any apartment you want.”

“Leo, no, no, don’t do this. She’s weird, and you rejected her, which means you obviously don’t want her. You said you never wanted to find your mate.” Her voice is full of pain as she holds on to me tightly, and as much as her insult to Azura pisses me off, I know she is hurting, too. Our eyes meet, and I realise we are already over. From the day I laid eyes on Azura in that club…

“We’re over, Nikki.”

Her heart is pounding as she locks her arms around my neck and pulls me down. She is about to kiss me, but I turn my head away, unable to allow her one final kiss. Her lips meet the corner of my lips as she whimpers in pain. I don’t know why I did it. It is just one kiss… but… I don’t want the feel of Azura’s lips to leave mine.

A sob escapes her as I look down at her.

“It gets easier,” I say quietly. I reach up, brushing a few tears from her cheek, but even then, it is Azura’s tear-filled eyes from earlier that come to mind. “And one more thing… no one is to know Azura is my mate.”

I turn away and enter the bathroom to shower. I see her break into tears as she drops onto the floor, so I shut the door, blocking her out. I ended it, and although it was the end of a two-year relationship, I feel lighter.

I know that the day will come when Azura will leave… but regardless, I feel better. There is no point in staying in another relationship when she has already ruined the taste of all others for me.

I look at Jackie just as she is about to speak, but I don’t bother replying, pulling my shirt back on.

“I’ll see you around.” She nods, biting her lip.

“Leo, where did Azura go?” I tense, wondering if Nikki has already told her.

“That’s none of your concern.” She nods, looking down.

“Is she safe?” Odd question. I turn back to her slowly, looking at her sharply.

“Why do you ask?” She swallows and shakes her head, her heart thumping.

“She said her ex wasn’t a good person.” Interesting.

“Oh? What else?” I ask, looking at her keenly. Her heart is racing far too fast, and she steps back in fear.

“Nothing else. She just didn’t want him finding her,” she mumbles. Hmm. I frown deeply.

“Next time, if anyone tells you anything, you are to fucking report to me. Understood?”

“Y-yes, Alpha,” she says, fidgeting.

I don’t wait for a reply as I leave the room, making sure no one sees me as I slip away. Jackie’s words from earlier fill my mind, but I push them away. I won’t think about them for tonight. All I want to do is shift and go for a run, but I can’t. I have things to do. It is time I fucking found this ex of Azura’s and show him exactly what happens when you mess with me.