Page 8

Azura

I awake to a dull ache in my back. I’m in a comfortable bed, and I can smell a citrusy fresh scent. I frown, opening my eyes and looking around what appears to be a hospital room. The walls are pale green, with the far wall being covered in forest scenery. I am hooked up to some drips. Sitting up, I yank them off and slide out of the bed. Sunlight is streaming through the window that is open a crack, and I can hear the faint sounds of laughter and chatter from outside.

I look down, realising I am wearing a pale green hospital gown. My clothes. Where are they? I scan the room, my heart leaping when I spot my luggage and coat on the couch in the corner. I rush over to it, wincing as a pang of pain rushes through my back. Oh, fuck.

What time is it? Or worse, what day is it, and where am I? Where is my phone?

I am about to grab some clothes when one of the two doors leading off the room opens, and a woman in a white coat with her brown hair pulled into a ponytail enters. Her grey eyes are full of concern when she spots the empty bed before she turns to me.

“Oh, you’re awake. Thank the goddess!” She places the file she is holding down and comes over. I stand up from where I am rummaging in my clothes, looking at the woman who is a few inches shorter than me warily.

“Where am I?”

“You are at the Sangue Pack, our Alpha, Leo, found you injured and brought you here. I’m Doctor Demiko,” she explains.

Her words make my heart thump violently. Leo… the Sangue Pack. I almost clutch my stomach in panic. He can’t know. I have to keep this a secret.

“How long was I out?”

“Just for the night. It’s not even noon yet.”

“I need to make a call. Where’s my phone?”

“I’m sorry, there was no phone on you, but you can use mine,” she offers. I nod, and she takes the sleek black device from the pocket of her white coat. Activating No Caller ID, my heart thumping, I quickly dial Mama’s number.

“Hello?” I let out a silent breath, hearing her voice.

“Hey, Mama, don’t kill me, but I lost my phone.”

“Seriously, Azura! We were worried.”

“I know, but you know me and phones.”

For once, I’m glad I’m a bit of a scatter-brained person with phones because I’m sure if I didn’t reply straight away, they would have been worried. Mama sighs in relief.

“Are you in Sweden?”

“Yes, Mama, I’m just calling from someone’s phone to let you know. I was so tired after the flight that I just crashed. When I’m rested and settled in, I will call you all, okay?”

“Okay, baby. Thank the goddess, you are okay. Get some rest.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Mama replies. I hang up and look at the doctor, who is filling in some forms, passing the phone back to her.

“Thanks,” I say as she takes it with a small smile.

“I hope you trust that we mean no harm.” She raises her hand in surrender, smiling warmly, clearly sensing my discontent. “I’m Jackie, and I’m the doctor who attended to you. The injury you had contained WB12. Luckily, it was a very small amount.”

One of the deadliest forms of wolfsbane out there. My baby. My heart thumps as I look at her.

“Did you do a blood test?” I ask. I’m in turmoil. I want to know if my baby is okay, but I also don’t want Leo to learn about it. I need to get out of here.

“No, we didn’t need to. The green pus is enough to let us know what it was, and we were able to treat you quickly.” She smiles before motioning to the bed. “Please sit down so I can check your vitals.” The baby…

“I… I need to leave,” I say quietly.

“Miss… you can’t leave yet. You’re not in any condition to leave the hospital. Besides, the Alpha said you are not to leave yet,” she mumbles. Leo.

“He isn’t the Alpha of this pack yet, correct? Where is the real Alph… fuck.” Marcel. Marcel can’t see me here!

“Alpha Marcel is on holiday, and although he may not have passed the official title down to his son, I assure you Alpha Leo is still very much in charge,” she whispers, glancing furtively towards the door. “Please, don’t say that again.”

“I… shit.” I run my hand through my hair.

I need to see if my baby is okay, and I can’t get that done here without Leo’s knowledge. It still feels weird to think this child is his, too… would he even care? I’m sure he’d just cast it aside, too. My heart squeezes, but I refuse to let my thoughts go down that path.

“Calm down, it’s going to be okay. You will be allowed to go soon,” she whispers, guiding me to the bed. How can I calm down when I am scared for my baby’s life?

“Is there any poison left in my body?” I ask quietly.

“No, we have treated it. You will soon be back to your normal self.”

I nod hesitantly. I need to get out of here, and I don’t care if it is risky. I need to go to Kia and make sure my baby is safe. I could fuck up my own life, not this unborn pup’s.

“Okay, so when can I leave?”

“I’ve told the Alpha you are awake… I’m sure he will let you go when he deems fit.”

“I’m not his property. I will pay for the medical expenses and offer my gratitude, but I need to leave,” I insist, my eyes flashing. I know it’s not her fault, and it isn’t fair for me to take it all out on her, but I need to get checked and there is no one else here. I run a frustrated hand through my hair.

“He’ll be here soon,” she replies politely.

She leaves the room, and I go over to my bag. I don’t want to face him. Sure he had saved me… but…

I’m getting out of here.

I pull on some black jeans and a bra before grabbing the first top I find. Once I had put the tank top on, I look around. Okay, let’s go.

I rummage around in my bag with one hand, looking for my essentials as I pull on some black sneakers with my other hand. I look for my wallet, but I can’t find either my wallet or passport. They aren’t here.

Fuck. No… shit, come on!

I empty my bag onto the floor, desperation filling me, and, in my panic, I don’t realise the door has opened until it clicks shut, and a familiar seductive scent fills my nose.

“Why are you always where you shouldn’t be?” His cold, deep voice asks, making my stomach flutter, and that familiar pang of pain squeeze around my heart.

“Where are my passport and wallet?” I ask, standing up. I don’t want to see him. He made a mockery of me and left me in pain that night…

“Wherever I want them to be. You’re in my kingdom now, and only my rules go.”

I force myself to turn around and face him. There he stands, his piercing icy blue eyes bearing into me. He looks as handsome as he did that night, and although I have tried to distort the image of how handsome he was, seeing him before me reminds me that he is too fucking handsome. Why did the Goddess make these men so fucking good-looking and, at the same time, total assholes? There is only one Alpha who I know who is equally sexy and charming. Rayhan Rossi, this fuckboy’s cousin.

His plump, shaped lips are slightly parted in that arrogant pout that I am sure he doesn’t even realise he has, and his hair is in a sexy, tousled mess. He is wearing all black, in jeans, a tee, and a jacket. Casual, but he still oozes power, danger, and dominance. I roll my eyes, cross my arms and try not to show how he consumes me by just being in the same room as me.

“You can be the king of the toilet or the entire world for all I care. I don’t abide by anyone’s rules. Give me my passport and wallet, I need to leave.”

“I will.” His eyes bear into mine, and something tells me he wants to say more. He steps closer, but I stand my ground as his gaze falls on my neck. “You haven’t accepted it.”

His rejection. I guess he really wants me gone. I never thought anyone could brutally reject someone after marking them…

“Why should I make things easier for you? You marked me, then you fucking rejected me, and I should just accept it because it’s what you want?” I ask quietly, trying to control the rage that is ready to unleash hell upon him. Our eyes meet, and I can hear his heart thudding as he tries to control whatever he is feeling. Does he want to kill me?

“Have you told anyone?” He asks dangerously, stepping closer.

I scoff. Don’t come closer… I’m not sure what I want to do if he does; slap him? Knee him? Rip his dick off? Tempting…

I don’t let my wolf’s pain or the other thoughts that swim in the deepest corners of my mind to surface. Leo Rossi is nothing to me.

“Why? Don’t want to be humiliated if everyone finds out you’re mated to me?”

He takes hold of my chin, and I feel the sparks of our wounded bond. His eyes flash, and he glares at me.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks, but I want to know how they all felt, knowing I’m the one who rejected you. Did it hurt them?” A cold smirk crosses his lips, and I shove him back, my eyes flashing as the pain returns once again.

“No. I didn’t tell them because they don’t deserve to worry over trash like you,” I spit, pulling free and grabbing my bag. “I’m leaving.”

“Go right ahead, this pack is impenetrable. No one comes in or goes out without my knowledge.”

I freeze.

Safe. What if…

My heart thumps, and I remember the little I have heard about the Sangue Pack, one of the most feared and most powerful packs in the country. Judah won’t come for me here… if… if I pretend Leo has kidnapped me, it might make Judah think I can’t do anything to help him. Leo’s reputation is vast. Everyone knows who he is. My mind is running a thousand miles per hour as I quickly weigh the pros and cons. I just need a bit of time...

“Do you really not want anyone to know we are mated?” I ask slyly.

“I’m not bothered,” he says carelessly, and I tilt my head. Don’t try to pull reverse psychology on me, Blue-Eyes.

“Oh… you do. You don’t want anyone to know…” I tut as I approach him. The tense clench in his jaw tells me I am right as his eyes flash dangerously. I am onto something. “And you want me to accept your rejection… how about a deal?” His murderous gaze meets mine, and I smirk.

“What do you want in return?” His icy reply comes.

“I need a little time to heal and lay low. I just… need a break from stuff. So if you allow me to stay in this pack for a month, I’ll accept your rejection. I’ll be gone from your life forever. No one will ever know about us. I just need some space away from everyone,” I say, trying to pick my words carefully. He frowns.

“No. Fucking no. I want you gone. Immediately.”

I sigh before I stare at him, unblinking. Moments earlier, I would have been happy to hear those words, but now…

“Then I think I’ll scream and shout from the rooftops that I’m your Luna, and this mark will grant me that title. I wonder what Marcel will think when he realises what you did. Damn, he’s still the Alpha, isn’t he? Shame you’re twenty-eight and still not. Does it hurt?” I taunt. I know I am hitting a sore spot, but I know the rumours. When his eyes blaze a steel blue, his aura surges around us, and he grabs hold of my neck, I know I have hit a very dangerous nerve.

“Cross me, and there’s not a corner on this earth where you can hide from me. I will find you, and I will fucking destroy you.”

“Then accept my deal. Allow me to stay here for one month, and I will keep our secret forever. I will reject you in secret, and Azura Westwood will be nothing more than a shadow of your past. One month is all I’m asking.”

“No.” His eyes flash, and I frown slightly.

“Then I think it’s time everyone learns the truth.”

“Don’t try me. Heed my fucking words: run, little she-wolf, as far as you can, because if I ever catch you, your worst fucking nightmare will become your reality,” he whispers dangerously, his grip on me painfully tight. A smile curls the corner of my lips, and I raise an eyebrow, running the tip of my nail down his chiselled jaw challengingly.

“Oh, but you’re wrong, Blue-Eyes, because I am the stuff of nightmares, and I’m here to create hell in your life. Not scared, are we?” Icy blue eyes meet my unblinking, bright blue ones.

“I’m warning you. Don’t mess with me,” he growls.

“Oh? But the thing is, I always do what I’m not supposed to.”

“Then you will regret it.”