Page 34

Leo

“ Y our baby won’t die. Not on my fucking watch,” I promise her, my mind racing as I try to think of the best course of action.

She is looking at me with her eyes flickering from silver to blue, her heart thundering as she clutches her stomach. Her lips part, but she is unable to put two words together. I know my medical shit… although werewolves can take a hell of a lot more than a human, the trauma of his kick could have damaged the placenta.

“You are going to be okay,” I murmur, lifting her carefully into my arms. Her heart is racing, her entire body shaking, and I have never fucking seen her look so vulnerable. You fucking will be ok.

I need our top gynaecologist ready to check on a patient with blunt force trauma to her abdomen, I said through the link, the urgency in my voice crystal clear. I run from the apartment to the lift. Winona, I need you to go down through my office to my underground quarters. Just go through my office, I’ll open the entrance for you now. Go down via the lift. In the main room, there’s a drawer with the number 78X0 on it on the left side. The second compartment in the fridge contains a box of syringes. I need you to bring them to the hospital right now!

Yes, Alpha!

I have never let anyone down there, and I just fucking hope she finds it. I quickly unlock the office passageway from my watch. My heart is thundering as I look at the woman in my arms. She is frozen in shock, her hands shaking as she clutches her stomach, her eyes fixed on her bloody thighs. She can’t lose this baby; something tells me she could lose the world but not this child. It will destroy her.

The lift opens, and I run to the exit.

Dad! Dad, I need you to get Kiara here right now. Her sister needs her. My voice breaks as fear envelops me. I promised her that her baby wouldn’t die… I am fucking going to keep that promise.

Leo, what’s going on? What’s happened to Azura? Dad’s panicked voice comes through the link.

Call Kiara now, I repeat, my voice strained with urgency. She’s going to lose this baby otherwise!

Baby… what… okay, on it!

Winona hurry!

I’m on my way! Her breathless reply comes.

We are ready for the patient. Room 3C, second floor, Alpha.

My heart is fucking thundering in my ears as I run to the hospital. My feet skid on the tiled floor as I enter before running to the stairs, taking her to the room that is ready for her.

“Place her down!” Doctor Donna orders as she steps forward.

I do, slowly. She is unmoving, but the tears are now streaming down her cheeks. She needs all the strength she can get. What should I fucking do?

“I’m going to do an internal examination.”

“Check her levels.”

“She’s lost a lot of blood.”

I need to do something… Think, Leo…

“I, Leo Rossi, take back my rejection and accept Azura Rayne Westwood as my mate and Luna...” I say quietly, staring at the woman on the bed. My wolf’s approval fills my head, and a ripple of gasps fills the room.

Azura’s eyes snap to mine as the bond comes to life from the edge it had been teetering on for so long. I feel it strengthen once more as that powerful pull between us returns. If she marks me, it will reinforce her abilities… but I am dying…

She is strong enough to survive without me. After the story Dad had told me about her mom and her own birth, I know losing this child would be far worse.

I step closer and kneel down by the bed.

“Mark me, Azura. It may give you the strength you need to heal.” I hope so… I fucking need this to work for her. She looks at me as if trying to comprehend what I am saying.

“There’s damage to her placenta… she might miscarry…”

Their voices as they whisper amongst themselves are like screams in my head. Azura also seems to have heard them. Her head snaps to mine, the fiery determination of a woman who refuses to give up returns in her eyes, and she gives me a slow nod.

I stand up before lifting her head from the cushions, perching next to her on the narrow hospital bed. With my other hand, I pull my shirt back, allowing her access to my tattooed neck. Please be okay.

“What…” Her voice is hoarse.

“Do it.” I look into her eyes for a second before she moves closer.

“For our baby,” she whispers before sinking her teeth into my neck.

Pleasure erupts through me as I feel the sizzling intensity of the bond erupt inside me like an inferno, and then that powerful tug that sends an explosion of fireworks through me. Her lips brush my neck, and if the situation wasn’t so complicated, this would have been entirely different. Our bond is completed. My aura surges around me, and I feel my power growing. I just hope hers does, too…

I can feel her storm of emotions through the bond. The fear for her child. The self-blame that she should have been able to prevent that kick. Disappointment in herself.

She retracts her teeth, her tongue brushing the mark fleetingly before she drops back onto the pillows just as Winona runs through the door.

“Here!” She holds out the box to me, and I take it from her, flipping it open. I am met with a blast of freezing cold air.

“Give me a needle,” I order.

“What is that, Alpha?” Donna asks, passing me a wrapped needle after a moment.

“Something I’ve been working on… it should speed up the process of healing.” My aim to try to find a cure. It isn’t perfect, but what I have noticed is that it heals external wounds, just not long-term injuries. I’m not sure how well it will work on her, but from my testing, I truly hope it does the job.

“There’s no such thing…” one of them murmurs as I take the syringe and attach a needle to it. I ignore them, looking at the woman on the bed. Even in pain, she is the most beautiful thing on the planet.

“Trust me,” I tell Azura.

I’m not a healer; I wasn’t strong enough to fucking prevent this… but…

I move her gown slightly. One of the doctors has already thrown a sheet over her legs and begun carrying out her internal examination. Please fucking be okay.

I force my walls up, knowing she doesn’t need any extra stress right now. All I can give her is my reassurance and strength, which I let flow through the bond despite the fear I am fucking trying to hide.

She doesn’t even fight or react, her hands on her stomach as I place the needle on the side of her stomach and inject her with the formula I have created. Scarlett Westwood was the research specimen behind this. After the battle a decade ago, I had taken some of her blood for research out of interest, trying to see the scientific build-up of her cells. Right now, I hope the product of that research works more than ever…

If I could… I’d exchange my life for this baby’s.

Come on…

I slide the needle out when the syringe is empty, feeling lost. I have done what I can, and it is obvious that the doctors can do nothing to prevent a miscarriage. I place my hand on hers on top of her stomach, seeing Winona slip out of the room silently. I have given her everything I can… but it isn’t enough. I’m not enough… fuck, I never was…

A haunting memory from long ago returns. Just like Mom… she was pregnant when Endora began doing tests on her. She wanted to make the baby into a Wendigo before birth, thinking it would be more powerful… creatures created by Endora’s sick mind and magic. I know Dad never knew of that pregnancy, and I didn’t plan on telling him, knowing it would just cause him more pain…

I tried… I always fucking tried, but it was never enough.

I look down at the woman on the bed. Her eyes are closed as the doctor checks the baby’s heartbeat. I know only a few minutes have passed, but it feels like hours.

“Alpha, the heartbeat of the foetus is getting stronger, and she’s stopped bleeding,” Donna’s shocked voice comes. Both Azura and I look up sharply as Donna gives some orders.

“I’ll do a scan, but I think the Luna is okay.”

The Luna.

Our eyes snap to one another, her heart racing as she clutches her stomach. It doesn’t take long for them to get a sonography machine in and set up. She places some gel on Azura’s lower stomach, and I force myself to remove my hand.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say quietly, seeing the tension on her face. He’ll fucking pay.

Her eyes snap to mine, but she doesn’t say anything, nodding slowly.

“Perfect… Alpha, that serum… I think it worked... we will keep assessing her to see that things don’t take a downward turn.” Donna turns the screen so both Azura and I can see it.

“Make sure you do,” I order.

I don’t know what to feel… an unexplainable feeling washes through me as I look at the curled-up baby and the powerful blimp of its heartbeat. My pup… thank fuck… I let out a breath as a wave of relief floods the room. I look back at the woman on the bed. Our eyes lock, and she opens her mouth to say something, but before she can, the door bursts open.

In come two women. Kiara Westwood and a cousin of mine, Raihana Somers, sister of Rayhan Rossi.

“Zu!” Kiara whispers as she places her hands on Azura’s shoulder, her purple aura swirling around her.

“Kia…” Azura whimpers, grabbing onto her sister’s elbows.

“I’m here…”

I remove my hand from where it had been resting on her hip and stand up. Her sister is here to save her. Dad and Alejandro are in the hallway. I can hear them talking. I really don’t want to see Alejandro…

As much as I fucking want to stay here… I’m not needed anymore. I head to the door, only for Kiara to speak.

“Leo, wait.” I stop two steps away from the door and turn.

“What is it?” I ask emotionlessly. She hugs her sister tightly before she moves back, cupping her face.

“She doesn’t need me. She’s already healed. Whatever you did… she’s perfect.” I close my eyes in pure fucking relief. I didn’t let our pup die… fuck, at least I managed to save one person.

“Good,” I reply emotionlessly. Not waiting for a reply, I exit the room.

The two brothers stop talking when I step out. It has been about a decade since I have seen him… since the day I told them that they were too fucking late with their apologies. Sure, they came to the pack and apologised, even cured those who had lasting damage from Endora’s abuse, but it had been too late. They could cure physical pain… but what about the mental pain? Alejandro looks me over as if he is fucking seeing me for the first time. Well, yeah, in a decade…

“Never knew I was such a fucking role model,” he smirks. I raise an eyebrow. We look nothing alike.

“You are far from one. Excuse me.” I am about to walk off when he blocks my path. My eyes flash as I glare at him menacingly. “Do not fucking cross me. You are here for her, not me.”

“I would be here for you, too, if you fucking let us. It’s been years, Leo… how have you been?” I look into his onyx-black eyes. He has aged… his once fully black hair is now salt and pepper. We are almost the same height…

“I was better when I didn’t have to see your face,” I reply.

“Shame, you’re just going to have to deal with it. I’m here now, on your invitation, and I don’t plan to leave right away,” Alejandro counters, looking around as if he has just been fucking given something he has been deprived of. I had made sure they were not to step into this pack ever again… but I was the one who called them…

“Then don’t. Just stay out of my fucking way.” I push past him. I don’t have fucking time for this. There are a lot of things I need to deal with.

Leo. Marcel’s voice comes through the link.

What do you want? I ask without turning back to him.

Don’t leave when your Luna is in there.

She isn’t mine, I reply, ignoring the pang of pain that crushes me inside.

You are only fooling yourself…

I ignore him, walking away. She’ll be okay… she has her family…

I step out into the fresh air, lighting a cigarette as I exhale, staring up at the sky. Fuck, she is okay. I lean against the wall, propping my foot against it and resting my head back. The relief is unexplainable… however, with it comes a tidal wave of guilt. She had been pregnant when I had manhandled her… what difference is there between me and that bastard? I sigh heavily, taking a long drag on my cigarette.

Winona, where is Corrado?

I’m sorry, Alpha, I left him, but I’m almost back there.

Okay.

Is… is she okay?

Yeah, she is. They both are.

I need to deal with Emmet… but I need to do that when I am calmer because right now, all I fucking want to do is kill him.