Page 52

Azura

“ Y eah, I get what you mean. Before Emmet, I had a boyfriend… in fact, I never liked Emmet back then. He just… we just clashed. Our mentalities were different, although both of us were friends with Leo. That was until the bond… and it’s so strong… it consumes you. And I know a bond with an Alpha is even more intense. Anyway, when the bond snapped into place, everything changed. My boyfriend and I broke up. Although I knew it really affected him, it was the obvious thing to do when you find your mate, and he didn’t make it harder for me… soon I found myself falling for Emmet. Then, when I was completely smitten, deeply in love, that’s when it all began… I’m sorry I lied to you and in front of Eric, too. I just, I just didn’t know what else to do.” She hugs herself, staring at the water in the pool. “I’m going to reject him. I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to do it. I should have done it ages ago when he first began hurting me to vent his anger.”

I look at her, my heart pounding. I never wanted another Indigo to suffer, and seeing the strength in Jackie makes me proud.

“You know… my biological mother was a victim of abuse, too, at the hands of her mate. When I realised what Emmet did that night, I lost it. I felt like I was seeing her in you. Her mate ultimately led to her death. She was said to be a feisty, confident young woman, yet years of living with an abuser wore her down until she was just a shell of the woman she once was,” I say quietly.

“And seeing that situation between Emmet and me triggered you… I don’t blame you, and I’m grateful that you at least stood up for me. You did the right thing… even when I asked you not to…” she murmurs. She stiffens and turns to me sharply before taking a furtive glance around.

“Are you okay?” I ask, concerned. She nods, taking hold of my wrist.

“I just… I think it’s time I did the same. Break a promise for the better. After all, you are the sister of Kiara Rossi, the queen.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. I frown, looking at her, wondering what she is about to say when we hear the sound of a thud.

“… care!”

Nikki?

We both stand up and look towards the back of the garden. What is she doing here?

“That was an order, which you should have followed,” Winona’s gentle yet firm voice follows.

“I don’t follow your rules. You are just an Omega who works for Leo! Remember that, scumbag!” Nikki yells, her voice filled with irritation and disdain. Jackie gasps, and I feel my own anger rising. Alejandro had abolished the rank system years back, and it is obvious from Jackie’s gasp that it is something that isn’t meant to be happening here either.

Where are they? I scan the garden and spot a flash of red from beside the small cabin. Nikki…

“I know I’m an Omega, but Alpha Marcel gave me a job to do, and I made it clear that the dress code was anything but red, and you knew why. Is this why you called me here?” Winona asks.

“Really?” Nikki scoffs.

It is obvious that against someone like Winona, Nikki isn’t going to back off, and it is clear neither did Jackie as she hurries towards the sound of their talk.

“Yes,” Winona says quietly.

“I don’t really, like, care. If I want to wear red, I can. Besides, I look better… Leo is mine, not that skank he knocked up.”

“That is our Luna!” Winona’s shocked voice comes.

“Nikki!” Jackie exclaims at the same time, just as the two women come into view. Nikki, who is standing there with a bottle in her hand and her arms folded, gives me a dirty look.

“Oh, look who it is: the skank herself,” she spits.

I raise an eyebrow, quickly looking Winona over. She looks visibly upset, and I don’t miss the mark on her shoulder. My eyes flash dangerously. Nail marks… my gaze snaps back to her.

“Let’s make this clear, once and for all,” I say calmly, walking over to the shorter woman in red. She looks back at me defiantly, and my eyes blaze silver.

“You aren’t anyone important here,” Nikki says, tossing her hair. “You saw Leo, right? I mean, no matter what I do, he still has a soft spot for me.”

“Do not do this, Nikki. Please,” Jackie pleads as she hurries over to the distraught Winona.

“You know, if you want to play bitch mode, I’m more than happy to entertain you,” I say, crossing my arms. “First of all, I’m the mate, so whether we’re together or not, I have priority over you. Secondly, stop calling me a skank, or any other name, before I rip every last hair off your head because I swear on the Goddess, piss me off, and I will order a few kilos of superglue and dunk it on your head, so don’t test me,” I warn, my voice calm and sinister. I am right in front of her now. Our eyes lock as she tries to challenge me.

“Whatever.” Yeah, that’s all you got?

“You know, I tried to stay away from Leo when I found out he had you by his side… so, really, do explain how I’m the skank. He dumped you. Your issue is with him, not me. Remember that.”

“You can’t talk to me like that, he doesn’t even want you. Weirdo,” she retorts, just as I am about to turn away. Oh, bitch, you did not…

“Oh, yeah?” I snap now, turning back to her. “Why can’t I? And do not fucking call me names!”

“If Leo saw your true colours -”

“Bitch, please, I don’t sugarcoat shit for anyone. Do you think Leo doesn’t know the real me? I’m not you, acting all sweet and shit in front of him. I’m always the real me! I’m damn pissed at how you treated Winona and those marks on her shoulder. Something tells me Leo will be more fucking pissed at the fact that you hurt her than about me offending you,” I growl.

“Let’s leave. I don’t want the night spoiled for you.” Winona tries to calm me down, discreetly trying to cover her shoulder with her hair. I reach over, taking hold of her wrist and trying to calm my own emotions at the same time. They had worked hard on this evening; she is right, I shouldn’t spoil it…

“Yeah, walk off. Just remember, even after finding you, Leo chose me. He came right back and straight into my bed… The sex was still as good as ever. I mean, not once did he seem to remember you... ouch,” she taunts in her sing-song voice, making me stop dead in my tracks. She hit a sore spot, and she knows it as she lets out a laugh.

“Azura…” I hear Jackie’s voice, but I am far too pissed to care.

I turn, letting go of Winona, ready to slap that bitch. I storm over to her, raising my hand just as her eyes widen, realisation hitting her, but before my hand connects, a tattooed one grabs hold of my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. Intense sparks course through me, but they don’t drown out the pang of pain that squeezes my heart.

He is protecting her.

“Stop,” he commands, his voice emotionless and cold. A small smirk crosses Nikki’s face as I turn my gaze to Leo.

“You two really are perfect for one another,” I say bitterly, and with that, I rip free from Leo’s hold. No one, and I mean no one, can tell me to stop.

My heart is thundering as I look at Nikki’s arrogant smirk. I turn away, and, as expected, I see her relax a little. In a flash, I spin around and punch her straight in the nose. A sickening crunch tells me I have broken something. She yelps in pain, stumbling back. The blood spurting from her nose is pleasantly satisfying.

Leo’s eyes flash, widening in surprise as he looks at me. I look back at him, my heart thumping violently.

“You really can go to hell, Leo. I fucking hate you,” I spit.

“Azura, listen to me.” I am about to turn away but stop and look back up at him.

“Just shut up. I’m done. I’m fucking done with you,” I say quietly, stepping closer.

His eyes flicker with emotions, but before he can speak, I raise my knee, aiming right where the sun doesn’t shine, and knee him hard. He growls as he staggers back, his eyes blazing a steel blue before he doubles over from the pain.

“I hope those piercing just got buried right in, or better, ripped off!” I hiss, before shoving him hard and storming past both Jackie and Winona.

I am done. I am fucking done.

“Azura!”

I ignore Leo, speeding up. I want out. I want to be gone from here right now.

“Azura, fuck, at least listen!” Leo’s growl comes as I walk past the bench, but before I can get any further, he grabs my arm, spinning me into his arms. Why the fuck is he so strong?

“Let go of me!” I hiss, ready to rip him apart if he doesn’t let me go, but instead, his other arm tightens around me as I struggle against him.

“Not until you listen. Can you fucking stop acting fucking crazy?” He growls.

“I am! Okay? I’m fucking crazy, so just let me fucking go!” I shout, digging my nails into his chest, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

“Azura, fuck! You’re fucking misunderstand -”

“No. No, I’m not because she’s right. You rejected me and came back to her,” I say, my chest clenching. “Let go of me.”

“Not until you listen.”

Our eyes are locked, our hearts racing, and even in my anger, I can feel his body moulded against mine so perfectly… yet not for me…

“There’s nothing to hear. You already made it clear the other night.”

“That’s different. This situation with Nikki is -”

“The very fucking same, so unhand me before I rip your dick off,” I growl, my eyes blazing.

“No. What are you going to do?” He challenges equally stubbornly.

With all the force I can muster, I hook my leg around his ankle and yank. At the same time, I pull back, shoving him towards the pool. His gorgeous ice blue eyes fly open as he goes toppling backwards, but before my smirk can cross my lips, his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm as he pulls me straight into the water with him…