Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Chapter 43

43. Everything Is In Place

LEO.

It had shaken me when she had unknowingly let her barrier down. The sheer level of desperation, fear, pain, and agony when I rejected her and then walked away from her hit me hard…

So fucking hard.

I have not felt such an intense level of pain since I was a child, but knowing this was her feelings, made it a thousand fucking times harder.

She had been unable to breathe as she clutched at her neck, trying to survive the violent pain that had torn through her. It fucking killed me to see things from her eyes, making me hate the fact that I did that to her. Seeing her crumble to the floor, as she watched me walk away was fucking ruthless.

I had broken her and weakened her wolf right after taking everything from her... I had done the very same thing Rayhan had.I promised her something only to rip it away from her the very next. The heartbreak, the fear, and the sadness as she realised what happened consumed me with guilt. The vulnerability as she realised that she wasn‘t wanted, wondering what she had done wrong? Nothing, she had fucking done nothing wrong. I had blamed her for something that was not even linked to her, and nothing I did could turn back time.

She was so fucking strong, but inside that tough shell, and behind that ‘devil don‘t care attitude was a vulnerability that had been hammered on all her life and I… I had fucking hurt

her.

Fuck How do I process that? How do I forgive myself when I refused to believe Rayhan deserved forgiveness?

Everyone says if you make a mistake and acknowledge it, you deserve forgiveness and a second chance... But if I couldn‘t forgive Rayhan, then I couldn‘t suddenly just change my tune to make myself feel better. I promised her I‘d talk to Rayhan, and I will, but it didn‘t mean I‘d forgive myself for that brutal rejection. 2

There were some things that were just not forgivable, and what I did was one of those +

I had my walls up since then, not knowing how to process it all. Once we had got off the call, I first had her take an Xray to make sure he had no tracer on her, luckily it was all clear. I had then given her a small pair of stud earrings, with a tracker in one, and a camera with a microphone in the other.

Calling Winona to keep an eye on Corrado, I grabbed a jacket with a hood and changed into some black sweatpants before heading down to my cave with Azura. “Here.” I held out a bulletproof body suit, something that I had worked on myself. The material felt similar to a diving outfit, more flexible and easier to wear than bullet–proof vests.

She looked at the full black suit and raised an eyebrow.

“What is this?”

“Wear it underneath your clothes, it‘s bulletproof, I don‘t want to take any chances.” “First you told me to get some baggy clothes, now this?” She asked, taking it and raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, because the baggier your clothes, the more you can hide.” I replied with a pointed look, as I looked down at her, I loved her in that skirt…

She crossed her legs, making my eyes flash, and I looked up only to realise she was trying not to smirk. 1

‘‘You were saying?” She teased. “You already fucking heard me. Go Change.”

She smirked, turning and strutting off.

I wanted to see that ass naked and as much as I wanted to bury my cock in her, I knew it was a fucking dream that won‘t come true. She looked over her shoulder at me almost as if she knew where I was looking, but she was no longer smirking. A glimmer of confusion flashed in her eyes before she entered the room and shut the door. 1

Walking over to the far wall, I accessed a built–in touch screen. After my thumbprint and a spoken password in voice recognition, it opened to reveal a room full of weapons that I had created and improved.

Judah was fucking dead.

I crossed the room and unlocked one of the lockers on the far wall and took out a box of bullets. They were lethal... Although I was still working on perfecting the formula of the poison that I had created, it would still do the job perfectly. These bullets were meant to kill instantly, and although I had never tried them... I was certain they‘d work. The only thing left to perfect was to make sure that the substance did not remain in the body once it had shut down. I was about to grab a few items for Azura when I froze and looked down sharply. 1

Killed instantly...

My heart raced as I mind–linked Dan.

‘Dan the body we had found with Azura Westwood, despite the distress it was in, did the post mortem say anything else? You said he seemed to have died instantly, correct?‘

Yes.‘

‘And there was no trace of any poisons?‘ ‘I‘m afraid not Alpha.‘

‘I‘m going to send you some files, see if you can trace the three substances listed from his body using the correct methods to bring them out‘ 1

‘Sure thing.‘ I had gotten him to run some tests on what had been used to kill him. I was not planning on taking any risks not when it came to her, but there had been nothing to help, even the database didn‘t seem to recognise him. I didn‘t know how right I was, but if my hunch was anything to go by, then this shit might just be more fucked up than I ever thought.

I‘d ask how and who later… for now I had a bastard to find and kill.

I grabbed a few items before exiting the weapon room, letting the door slide shut and once again blend with the rest of the wall.

I had just sent the files over to Dan when moments later, Azura came out dressed in black pants, a pofo neck top that covered the suit and a leather jacket, her hair in a ponytail. As always, she looked sexy as hell.

“One of my men, Li Sheng will be in a taxi. He‘d appear human thanks to a scent disguiser. He will take you to the first location. Do not converse in any way that will feel suspicious. I don‘t trust this guy or if he has a way to listen in on stuff.” I said, quietly stepping closer.

She nodded.

I didn‘t want to involve her like this or even use her as a decoy, but it was the only way to get closer to him.

“I‘m not going to be far behind... Rest assured we will find her... I do think we should tell Alejandro the basics, just so he can keep an eye on his daughters. I will be the one dealing with Judah, but just in

case.” I said quietly. She looked up at me defiantly, back to her usual self but that intense snippet of her memory still didn‘t leave me.

“Then you can tell him. Why should I?” She stated.

I frowned.

“You‘re fucking annoying.” I said coldly. “But fine, I‘ll do that.”

“Just…” She frowned, and I raised an eyebrow.

“I won‘t give away anything else, I‘m not fucking stupid.”

“Perfect then. I wish I could hear this conversation.” She replied airily, with a toss of her hair.

I‘m sure you fucking would.

I passed her the few items I had gotten for her, quickly telling her how to use them if she needed to.

“I‘ll be a behind you, and we have the mind link so don‘t worry alright?”

“I‘m not worrying.” She replied, rolling her eyes, You are... you‘re just hiding it as you always do... “Good then.” I replied arrogantly, stepping closer to her. She looked into my eyes defiantly, that frown still on her gorgeous face. I gripped the side of her face and neck, becoming serious. “I will not let anything happen to you and our pup.” Her eyes softened, confusion settling in, but I didn‘t give her a chance to say anything more. Leaning down, I pressed my lips against her forehead. It felt intimate… but the urge to reassure her was real. 1 I moved back slowly looking down at her. “As for those videos... don‘t worry about them. Now that I have a copy, I‘ll have them blocked from the net, when the same content goes up it will be flagged, and I will make sure they are pulled down. We got this.”

“Thanks.” She replied. Our eyes met and when her gaze dipped to my lips, I smoothly stepped back, motioning her to leave. ‘She‘s leaving the pack. Keep tracking, I will be leaving in a few.‘ Operation Lunar on the move.‘ Ace‘s voice came.

‘Ace.‘ I warned.

‘Hey, I didn‘t say Luna.‘ His reply came.

‘Operation Selene?‘ Shane suggested. ‘Operation Fated.‘ Ace added 6

‘Quit it. Get moving and focus. Jin is following her and Li Sheng is already waiting for her.‘

‘Ok, we‘re on it.‘ Ace‘s reply came. 2

I got into one of my cars that I used when I wanted to keep a low profile, and hooked up my phone to my headpiece before driving out. Here goes nothing “Call Alejandro.” I said clearly. “Calling Alejandro.” The computers‘ voice came.

I waited, half of me wished he didn‘t pick up at all.

“Alejandro.” He answered. “Yeah, I fucking know, I‘m the one who called you.” I replied icily. 1 Silence.

“Leo?” He did his best, but he was unable to hide the shock in his voice.

“No, it‘s the King of England.” I replied sarcastically. 2 Well depends on what aspect, I held far more power than Alejandro knew...

“Fucker.” 1

So, he wasn‘t going to ask why I called, but I didn‘t like the emotion in his voice. I needed to get this over with

“I called for a reason.”

“I would fucking assume so.”

“Don‘t ask me any questions, but I would suggest you have someone watching your daughters at the academy.”

“Why?” He asked sharply, but even the coldness in it couldn‘t disguise his worry. “Just trust me, there‘s someone who has made Azura and her friends a target. I will make sure Azura is safe, but watch your girls.” “So, you called in concern for your sisters?” He asked tauntingly.

Why the fuck did he have to be so fucking antagonising?

“I don‘t consider them my sisters.” I replied coldly. My mind flitted to Kataleya, remembering the shit she had suffered when she was a kid. I had felt bad for her. No child deserved that !! Just keep an eye on them.” 1 “Understood. Thanks, and before you hang up, I just wana say it‘s good to hear your fucking voice.”

I didn‘t reply, hanging up as I stared ahead. Alejandro... It was weird how years of hatred and anger building up were beginning to ease up. Almost as if I was looking at things from their point of view... 1 I put my foot down on the accelerator, my mind on Azura, 1 clicked on her camera, seeing her hailing a taxi.

Perfect... That was Li Sheng.

‘I got her.’ Came his voice through the mind link.

‘Great.‘

Years ago, when I had told Alejandro how I felt he had gotten me and Rayhan into a room together to talk shit out. They both got my point, but it had felt too late...

I felt like I had been trying to be heard for years, but no one fucking cared... I remember them asking if they could come to the pack and apologise, but I was the one who said to them no. But they still did after I had left, Kiara had healed those who had suffered and Rayhan had apologised to those who were willing to see him anyway. But I always held that hatred within me, always trying to control it as it continued to fester inside of me. My priorities were changing, and I didn‘t have control over them...

Because of her. 1

Or was it because of what I did to her?

Azura…

Marcel and many others said I‘d get it when I had a mate... imagine your mate being tortured and abused how Delsanra was. The anger I was feeling towards Judah... but what would I do? Would I find all his friends and allies in blind rage who had a hand?

Yes.

But if it was someone forced to do something just like Azura had been forced to kill someone, would I punish her?

Just like I‘m sure Alejandro and the others wouldn‘t blame her for being blackmailed into doing something because they knew who she was. But me? I wouldn‘t blame Azura. Even when I refused to accept her or want her, I still saw her as a victim. Even putting Azura in the same context as Delsanra, I knew my answer. No, I wouldn‘t, it just didn‘t feel humanely right... Especially punishing those who had been forced to commit those crimes. No, what he did was wrong.

So fucking wrong.

But I had given her my word that I‘d talk to Rayhan, and I knew I‘d have to deal with that shit at some point or another. An hour had passed, and I had kept far back but within linking range when Azura sent another message. “He wants me to meet him at a motel on the outskirts of the city. Motel Slumber, it‘s off Silver Crescent Lane down by the fuel station. He said to travel on foot.‘

‘Ok, just head there, I‘m not that far behind and so are my men.‘ ‘Got it. Thanks. ‘Stop thanking me.‘ ‘Hmm well I‘m such a sweet, good girl with manners, I can‘t help but thank you.‘ Her voice was mocking and I smirked slightly, pulling my hood up as I drove slower. I‘d get out soon too. ‘You a good girl? From what angle?‘ ‘You haven‘t seen The Face.‘

“The Face?

‘My innocent puppy dog look.‘

‘I don‘t think with a face like that you can ever look innocent...‘ Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

It was far too fucking sexy. Especially since all I can think of are your lips around my cock as you look up at me with eyes full of lust...

T‘ll show it to you later.‘

Later... I couldn‘t help but smirk.

She was confident we’d deal with this shit, and we definitely would.

‘Looking forward to it.‘ I replied. 2 That same silence fell between us, we both wanted to say something, but just like me, I don‘t think she knew where to start...

I gave a few orders to the others, thinking a motel was a pretty ideal place for the plan that I had in mind...

My phone flashed on, and I clicked on it to see that it was Dan. “Hey, Alpha, was rechecking and comparing the data a little deeper, but I can‘t make sense of it or what exactly you want me to look for. But I think there is a connection between what you sent me earlier. It‘s fucking weird but there‘s something.”

I frowned.

“Send me the file over I‘ll take a look.”

“Got it.” I hung up frowning deeply. I knew whatever had been used killed him pretty much instantly, and what irked me was that I

had created something pretty much similar but that was not something I had released into the world and the plan was to keep them for emergencies within the pack. Only to be used as a final solution… I don‘t know why, but I felt fucking uneasy.

Seeing the incoming email, i glanced at the road for a second before picking up my phone and opening the email.

My eyes scanned the report. My heart thundered as traces of three substances stood out. Their names staring at me glaringly. Making me simply stare at the email. 1. This...

I put the phone down, running my fingers through my hair before I pulled my gun out of my jacket pocket Was it a coincidence that it was the exact fucking same I used in the poisoned bullets I had been working on? And if so, how was it fucking possible?

I scanned the sheet carefully; it was almost the exact same build–up that I had put together... But I hadn‘t told – Wait...

I suddenly felt cold, my gut twisting as I realised when I first began working on these bullets, I had mentioned the concept to one other person. A person who was pretty smart too. Someone I had trusted enough... but someone I didn‘t really know as well as I thought I did.

Fuck

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my eyes blazing as one name screamed alarm bells in my head.

Emmet. 3

‘He‘s here.‘ Azura‘s strained voice came.

‘Stay calm, I‘m right there with you.‘ I replied, pushing the thoughts away. I‘d deal with that shit later, but for now, my girl needed me. 6

I parked up and got out of the car, breaking into a jog. There must have been a reason he had chosen this place... But whatever the reason, I wouldn‘t let him get away... not this time. ‘Is everything in place?‘ I asked my men through the link.

‘Oh yeah.” Jax‘s growl came. I smirked slightly

‘Perfect.‘