Page 9 of Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire (The Rossi Legacies #1)

Azura

“ O ne month. It’s all I’m asking for, and then I’ll be a good little she-wolf and walk away without unleashing hell,” I reply, trying not to let the mockery in my voice show. I grip his wrist, forcing him to let go of me. He releases me, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.

An image of Judah smoking his joint comes to my mind, and the vast difference between the both of them hits me hard. Leo oozes power and danger, yet, despite the pain, I don’t know if it is the mate bond, but I feel better around him. Sure, the pain he has caused me still hurts, and that emptiness that has grown inside of me is still there, but… I know I will be safer here until I find a way to deal with Judah.

“You will behave, and you will not tell anyone why you’re here. Marcel won’t be back for a few weeks, and I want you gone before then. Deal?” Marcel? Something about him using his Dad’s first name tells me things aren’t great between them.

“Fine, I will be gone before your dad is back.”

Our eyes meet before he turns and walks out, slamming the door behind him. I let out a breath, not realising how overwhelming it was to have him here. I place a hand on my stomach. With Leo agreeing, it’s brought me enough time to think of a plan, and maybe I can ask the doctor to do a check. But will she be trustworthy enough not to tell Leo? Her Alpha?

The door opens and the doctor re-enters, holding a tray of food. Her gaze instantly goes to my neck.

“Are you okay?” She asks, coming over with fear in her eyes.

“I’m fine, relax.” I give her a wink, walking over to the small sink basin where a mirror hangs above it. Fucker. He left a mark on my neck. “He just has a shitty attitude, but it’s fine. My family knows him, so I’m staying here for a bit.” I shrug. I should have asked Leo what we were going to say, but staying any longer than necessary in his presence is hard, too.

“Oh, I’m glad everything is okay. Please get some rest. I’ll ask the Alpha and have an apartment arranged for you. I have got some food for you to eat for now.” She is so adorable.

“Doctor Demiko, right?”

“Yes, you can call me Jackie. What’s your name?”

“Azura.” I wink, flashing her a small smile. “There’s something you could help me with, but I don’t want Alpha Leo finding out because I don’t want my family to know.” Her smile falters.

“I’m sorry, but if it is something that can compromise -”

“It’s nothing that could possibly affect the Alpha. It’s something personal,” I say with the best dramatic sigh I can muster as I shake my head and sit down on the bed, trying to look pitiful and turn my big eyes on her. She hesitates, then sighs and nods. Thank you, Goddess, for these eyes. They always work.

“Oh, of course. If it’s something I can help with, I will do my best to do so,” she offers gently.

“It’s because you’re a doctor that I’m asking for your help,” I answer quietly, keeping my eyes sorrowful. The moment she places her hand on my shoulder, concern filling her eyes, I know she has bought it, hook, line, and sinker. Oh, this poor angel. But, honestly, I do need help. I am nineteen, pregnant, and injured. Surely, she’d feel for me.

“I’m pregnant, but I don’t want anyone to know… I just… I just need to know if my baby is okay since I’ve been poisoned,” I explain, hoping she understands. Her face drains of all colour as she jumps to her feet.

“I’ll run some additional tests. We didn’t realise -”

“Is there a chance the poison harmed my baby?” I whisper, real fear filling me. Her heart is thumping as she struggles to calm herself down.

“I… I can’t say. I will run some further tests, and we will do a scan. I will check -”

“But I need you to promise you won’t tell anyone,” I cut in. She nods as she looks at me and tilts her head.

“What about your mate?” She looks at my neck, and I place my hand over my mark. What do I say? I need her to understand that this has to be a secret. Feeling horrible, I decide to weave a story.

“My ex… he isn’t a good person. If he finds out… things won’t be good.” It isn’t an entire lie, Judah is a psychotic dick. Even if the baby isn’t his, he would harm it. She seems to understand and nods.

“I will have everything set up. I will return soon,” she says before she hurries to the door. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Her words are like a wave of relief, and something tells me she will keep her promise. She just has that vibe about her.

Three hours later , I feel entirely at ease. The baby is fine. Strong and growing perfectly. I am now just waiting for someone to come show me to a place to stay. Jackie said no one would learn of my pregnancy, and she would be here to take care of me. Now all I need to do is find a way to deal with Judah and leave as soon as it is safe to do so.

A knock on the door makes me look up, and Jackie steps inside. She is no longer in her white coat. She looks more carefree and younger in jeans and a powder pink top. With her is a gorgeous woman with black hair, wearing a lace bodysuit and black flared pants.

“Hi. Azura, isn’t it?” She smiles slightly.

“Yeah, hey.”

“I’m Nikki, Jackie’s sister, and Leo told me you need a place to stay. I’ve got a great apartment all ready for you, stocked with snacks, streaming services, and everything else you will need. Come on, leave your luggage. One of the boys will come to get it soon.”

“Thanks, that will be great,” I say, standing up. My injuries are getting better. The pain has eased as time passes, but I’m still not one hundred percent.

The three of us leave the room and walk down the halls, which are very modern, clean, and stylish for a hospital. If it wasn’t for the occasional doctor or patient, I would have thought we were in a hotel. We leave the building and step out onto the paved streets.

“Where is she being housed?”

“Floor below mine,” Nikki replies. Their eyes meet, and I know they are mind-linking.

“Lucky! We will be neighbours,” Jackie smiles.

I don’t really care where it is going to be as long as I have a place to stay for a bit without Judah getting through to me. I know I don’t have long because he will lose his shit fast, and in about two weeks, unless I find a way to hide my pregnancy, Leo may hear the heartbeat if I am near him. Although I plan to stay far away from him, I know it would be unrealistic to think we will never cross paths.

After five minutes of walking, we finally reached a luxurious block of apartments. The mirrored walls of the entire building stand out, and it is the largest building around. We enter, and Nikki leads the way to the lift, keying in a code, and the lift doors shut. She isn’t mated, unlike her sister; her neck is bare from any mark.

“So, what pack are you from?” She asks me.

“That’s a secret.”

“Oh, please, tell me, I can keep a secret.” She rolls her eyes.

“Hmm, but if I tell you, I’ll have to silence you,” I joke, crossing my arms.

“Whatever. It’s just that we don’t really have visitors from other packs. Like ever.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry, I just can’t say,” I respond, but I don’t engage her, not wanting her to pry any further.

The doors open, and we step out into a lavish hall. Four doors go off from here, and a curved staircase to the side leads to a higher floor.

“That one is mine and my mate’s.” Jackie smiles, “If you ever need anything, you are welcome to call me.”

“Emmet won’t like that,” Nikki murmurs in a sing-song voice, walking off towards a door next to the stairs.

“He’ll be fine,” Jackie replies with a small smile.

We have just reached the door when I hear the sound of footsteps and laughter, turning just in time to see a little boy running down the stairs.

“I won! I won!”

“Careful,” Leo’s deep voice calls just as a young boy, no older than six, comes into view, looking over his shoulder as he runs dangerously fast. He is obviously not paying attention to the fact that he has already reached the bottom step, stumbling and falling face forward. I rush over, catching him before his face hits the marble.

“Easy there, kiddo,” I say, finding myself staring into a pair of hazel eyes. He smiles up at me sheepishly.

“Thank you!”

“Corrado, I have told you to be careful countless times,” Leo’s cold voice makes me look up, my heart thumping when our eyes meet. He looks away first, coming down the rest of the steps.

“Don’t worry, Daddy, she saved me,” the young boy says, pointing at me as he rushes over to Leo.

Daddy.

I stare in shock as Leo lifts the boy into his arms. Our eyes meet, and despite the fact that we are nothing to one another, I can’t deny that the one word burns in my mind. My heart thunders as I try to make sense of it. I look away, ready to escape into the apartment, when Nikki steps out into the hall again.

“Oh, hey, babe. I was showing Azura the apartment,” she says, walking over to Leo. Reaching up, she kisses his cheek before turning and smiling at me.

Leo doesn’t speak, and neither do I, but the crushing pain in my chest makes me simply stare blankly at them. He has a family, and he had slept with me…

I hate people who cheat, and somehow, I have become the other woman in this sick situation. Things just can’t get fucking worse; he has rejected me and had a family before me.

So, why does it hurt so much?