Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Chapter 34

34. Refusing to Fail

LEO.

“Your baby won‘t die, not on my fucking watch.” I promised her, my mind racing as I tried to think of the best course of action. 2

She was looking at me with her eyes flickering from silver to blue, her heart thundering as she clutched her stomach. Her lips parted, but she was unable to put two words together.

I knew my medical shit… Although werewolves could take a hell more than a human, the trauma of his kick could have damaged the placenta. 1

“You are going to be ok.” I murmured, lifting her carefully into my arms.

Her heart was racing, her entire body shaking, and I had 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. 1

I ran 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 had never let anyone down there, and I just fucking hoped she found it. I quickly unlocked the office passageway from my watch. My own heart was thundering as I looked at the woman in my arms. She

was frozen in shock, her hands shaking as she clutched her stomach, her eyes fixed on her bloody thighs.

She couldn‘t lose this baby; something told me she could lose the world but not this child. It would destroy her.

The lift opened and I ran to the exit. ‘Dad! Dad, I need you to get Kiara here right now, her sister needs her.‘ My voice broke as fear enveloped me. 22 I promised her that her baby won‘t die... I was fucking going to keep that promise. ‘Leo what‘s going on! What‘s happened to Azura?‘ Dad‘s panicked voice came through the link. ‘Call Kiara now.‘ I repeated, my voice strained with urgency. ‘She‘s going to lose this baby otherwise!‘

Baby... what... ok, on it!‘ ‘Winona hurry!‘ ‘I‘m on my way!’ Her breathless reply came.

‘We are ready for the patient. Room 30 second floor, Alpha.‘ My heart was fucking thundering in my ear as I ran to the hospital. My feet skidding on the tiled floor as I entered, before running to the stairs, taking her to the room that was ready for her. “Place her down!” Doctor Donna ordered as she stepped forward. 3 I did slowly, she was unmoving, but the tears were now streaming down her cheeks. She needed all the strength she could 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 said quietly, staring at the woman on the bed. 23

My wolf‘s approval filled my head, and a ripple of gasps filled my room. 3 Azura‘s eyes snapped to mine as the bond came to life, from the edge it had been teetering on for so long. I felt it strengthen once more as that powerful pull between us returned.

If she marked me, it would reinforce her abilities... But I was dying... 2

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

I stepped closer and knelt down by the bed.

“Mark me Azura. It may give you the strength you need to heal.”

I hoped so... I fucking needed this to work for her. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

She looked at me as if trying to comprehend what I was saying.

“There‘s damage to her placenta... She might miscarry...”

Their voices as they whispered amongst themselves, were like screams in my head. Azura also seemed to have heard them. Her head snapped to mine, the fiery determination of a woman who refused to give up returned in her eyes, and she gave me a slow nod.

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

Please be ok. “What...” Her voice was hoarse. “Do it.”

I looked into her eyes for a second before she moved closer. “For our baby.” She whispered before sinking her teeth into my neck Pleasure erupted through me as I felt the sizzling intensity of the bond erupt inside me like an

inferno, and then that powerful tug that sent an explosion of fireworks through me. Her lips brushed my neck, and if the situation wasn‘t so complicated, this would have been entirely different...

Our bond was completed...

My aura surged around me and I felt my power growing. I just hoped hers did too... 1

00... 1

I could feel her storm of emotions through the bond.

The fear for her child. 1

The self–blame that she should have been able to prevent that kick.

Disappointment in herself.

She retracted her teeth, her tongue brushing her mark fleetingly before she dropped back onto the pillows just as Winona ran through the door. 2 “Here!” She held out the box to me and I took it from her, flipping it open. I was met with a blast of freezing cold air. “Give me a needle.” I ordered “What is that Alpha?” Donna asked, 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 wasn‘t perfect, but what I did notice was that it healed external wounds, just not long–term injuries. I wasn‘t sure how well it would work on her, but from my testing, I truly hoped it did the job. “There‘s no such thing...” One of them murmured as I took the syringe and attached a needle to it.

I ignored them, looking at the woman on the bed. Even in pain, she was the most beautiful thing on the planet. 1

“Trust me.” I said to Azura. 1

I wasn‘t a healer; I wasn‘t strong enough to fucking prevent this... but... I moved her gown slightly, one of the doctors had already thrown a sheet over her legs before carrying out her internal examination.

Please fucking be ok

I forced my walls up, knowing she didn‘t need any extra stress right now. All I could give her was my reassurance and strength, which I let flow through the bond despite the fear I was fucking trying to hide. She didn‘t even fight or react, her hands on her stomach as I placed the needle on the side of her stomach, and injected her with the formula I had 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 slid the needle out when the syringe was empty, feeling lost. I had done what I could, and it was obvious the doctors could do nothing to prevent a miscarriage... I placed my hand on hers on top of her stomach, seeing Winona slip out of the room silently. I had given her everything I could... but it wasn‘t enough, I wasn‘t enough... fuck I never was... A haunting memory of long ago rēturned. 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... 9

I know dad never knew of that pregnancy... and I didn‘t plan to tell him, knowing it would just cause him more pain... 4

I tried... I always fucking tried but it was never enough. I looked down at the woman on the bed. Her eyes were closed as the doctor checked the baby‘s heartbeat.

I knew only a few minutes had passed, but it felt like hours. “Alpha, the heartbeat of the foetus is getting stronger, and she‘s stopped bleeding.” Donna‘s shocked voice came.

Both Azura and I looked up sharply as Donna gave some orders. “I‘ll do a scan, but I think the Luna is ok.”

The Luna. 3 Our eyes snapped to one another, her heart racing as she clutched her stomach.

It didn‘t take them long for them to get a sonography machine in and set up. She placed some gel on Azura‘s lower stomach, and I forced myself to remove my hand.

“It‘s going to be ok.” I said quietly, seeing the tension on her face. ‘He‘ll fucking pay.‘ 3

Her eyes snapped to mine but she didn‘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 turned the screen so both Azura and I could see the screen.

“Make sure you do.” I ordered.

I didn‘t know what to feel... an unexplainable feeling washed through me as I looked at the curled–up baby, and the powerful blimp of its heartbeat. My pup... 1

Thank fuck... 2

I let out a breath as a wave of relief flooded the room.

I looked back at the woman on the bed. Our eyes locked, and she opened her mouth to say

something, but before she could, the door burst open. In came two women. Kiara Westwood, and a cousin of mine, Raihana Somers, sister of Rayhan Rossi. 7 “Zu!” Kiara whispered, as she placed her hands on Azura‘s shoulder, her purple aura swirling around her. “Ki...” Azura whimpered, grabbing onto her sister‘s elbows. “I‘m here...”

I removed my hand from where it had been resting on her hip and stood up.

Her sister was here to save her. Dad and Alejandro were in the hallway, I could hear them talking. I really didn‘t want to see Alejandro... 3

And as much as I fucking wanted to stay here... I wasn‘t needed anymore.

I headed to the door, only for Kiara to speak.

“Leo, wait.”

I stopped two steps away from the door and turned. “What is it?” I asked emotionlessly. She hugged her sister tightly before she moved back, cupping her face. “She didn’t need me, she was already healed. Whatever you did... she‘s perfect.” 6 I closed my eyes in pure fucking relief.

I didn‘t let our pup die... fuck, at least I managed to save one person. 2 “Good.” I replied emotionlessly, not waiting for a reply, and exited the room.

The two brothers stopped talking when I stepped out. It had been like a decade since I had 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 curing those who had 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 looked me over as if he was fucking seeing me for the first time. Well yeah in a decade...

“Never knew I was such a fucking role model.” He smirked. 16

I raised an eyebrow. We looked nothing alike. 3 “You are far from one. Excuse me.” 2 I was about to walk off when he blocked my path. My eyes flashed as I glared at him menacingly.

“Do not fucking cross me. You are here for her, not me.” 2

“I would be here for you too, if you fucking let us. It‘s been years Leo... how have you been?” I looked into his onyx black eyes. He had aged... His once full black hair was now salt and

pepper. We were almost the same height... “I was better when I didn’t have to see your face,” I replied. “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 countered looking around as if he had just been fucking given something he had been deprived off... I had made sure they were not to step into this pack ever again... but I‘m the one who had called them... “Then don‘t. Just stay out of my fucking way.” I pushed past him. I didn‘t have fucking time for this. There were a lot of things I needed to deal with. ‘Leo.‘ Marcel‘s voice came through the link. 2

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

‘Don‘t leave when your Luna is in there.’

She isn‘t mine.‘ I replied, ignoring the pang of pain that crushed me inside. ‘You are only fooling yourself...‘ I ignored him, walking away.

She‘ll be ok... She had her family… +2

I stepped out into the fresh air, lighting a cigarette as I exhaled, staring up at the sky.

Fuck she was ok. 2

I leaned against the wall, propping my foot against the wall and resting my head back. The relief was unexplainable… however with it came a tidal wave of guilt, she had been pregnant when I had manhandled her... what difference was there between me and that bastard? 2

I sighed heavily taking a long drag on my cigarette.

‘Winona, where is Corrado?‘ s

‘I‘m sorry Alpha, I left him, but I‘m almost back there. 1.

‘Ok‘

‘Is... is she ok?‘ ‘Yeah, she is, they both are.‘ I needed to deal with Emmet... But I needed to do that when I was calmer, because right now... all I fucking wanted to do was kill him. 20