Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire novel Chapter 54

54. A Disappointing Failure

MARCEL.

The evening that I had hoped would go well, had gone downhill. Both Leo and Azura had returned soaked from what was obviously a dip in the pool, but with it, their moods had gone down. Not once did they even talk after that, obviously avoiding one another.

I was now ready to make the announcement to pass Leo the position of Alpha, a title he deserved, and one I wished I had given him years ago.

“Well, I still think I want to just sit back and just spend time with my grandchildren now... and so, tonight, I will pass that title to my son, Leo–”

‘Stop, what the fuck do you think you‘re doing?‘ Leo‘s voice was harsh as he spoke through the link, his eyes flashing when our eyes met.

‘Giving you something I should have years ago.‘ I replied through the link. ‘It‘s too fucking late to fix that shit. I told you I fucking forgive you, but I don‘t want it. Don‘t do this. “Daddy will be Alpha!” Corrado‘s voice came, but Leo‘s words had shaken me. “Now I know why there‘s a special knife.” ‘Leo, you deserve this.‘

‘I said I fucking don‘t want it.‘ He replied venomously, and I was taken aback.

Leo stood up, his demeanour was cold and hostile.

“Leo...” I didn‘t know what to say. This wasn‘t how tonight was meant to end…

“I don‘t need the title to be Alpha. I no longer fucking want it, keep it.” He said coldly, staring me dead in the eyes before he turned and walked away, leaving complete silence behind... I didn‘t know what to say, unable to ignore the pain I felt. I could feel all those pairs of eyes on me as I slowly sat down again. 2

The hope I had felt that maybe things could be better... had just come to an abrupt end. Raj was making conversation, and he soon managed to replace the shocked silence with the hum of chatter.

“Grandad... why did Daddy say no?” Corrado asked, “I‘m not sure son.” I replied, patting his back as Winona came over. “Come on Corrado, do you want to go to the dessert table?” She asked him. I glanced at her, grateful that she had come over, and she gave me a small smile. ‘He‘ll come around, Alpha.‘ She said through the link as she helped Corrado down from his seat.

‘I hope so.‘ I replied before they both walked away...

The night had ended in disappointment, and the plan that had sounded great this morning,

ended up a total failure. Everyone had slowly retreated, and I didn‘t miss the sympathy in the eyes of many. After all, Leo had rejected the title outright... I sighed heavily, running my hand through my hair.

I had gone wrong... somewhere... The silence felt loud... just like it always did in this huge house.

Even though I knew Corrado was now fast asleep in Leo‘s old room upstairs, he had been upset and confused after Leo walked out. Although Azura, Winona, and Song had tried to cheer him up, it was obvious Azura herself wasn‘t completely there. In the end, Winona had taken him away to turn in for the night. Song and Azura would be staying the night here too. Neither refused when I suggested the idea.

The sound of someone walking in the hallway came occasionally, as the staff were clearing the garden and house up. I was now in the kitchen, making myself a cup of coffee. I felt far more tired than I should have, it felt like I was losing it all.

Hope. I had let myself hope and even that had been ripped away from me... I truly felt like I had only ever had a few years with Leo. Under Endora‘s reign, it was all a blank or what I remembered was a hazy blur. The snippets I remember were tense, and I just remembered a child who always held a fire in his eyes. As he got older, from the age of six, he began pulling his weight and acting far older than he was... When I first created this pack, we had become closer... and I hoped he got the childhood he had been deprived of, but that all changed once Rayhan had come here.

Now when I thought I‘d get him back... I lost the chance. Even if he said he had forgiven me, I wonder if it was just because he really just didn‘t care anymore.

I tried to reach him several times through the link after he left, but he had his block up.

I frowned, realising the coffee machine wasn‘t working.

Great.

The sound of footsteps and Winona‘s light, citrus scent reached my nose. She always smelt refreshing. 1

I didn‘t turn as she entered; I had asked her to come to see me when she was finished putting Corrado to bed. Azura‘s words before she had retreated to bed weren‘t forgotten.

‘I know it‘s not my place, but a member of your pack was disrespecting Winona today. And although I think I broke her damn nose, I don‘t think Leo will be holding her accountable for her actions... So I hope you do. Winona‘s shoulder had scratches too...

I frowned as I pushed the button a few more times. Why wasn‘t this stupid thing working?

I shook it, cursing internally, before a pale, slender arm reached out and switched the socket

1. on.

Right...

“It was switched off Alpha.” Winona said, smiling politely. “You asked for me?” I looked down at her. She was still in that black dress, and it was easy to forget that she was the same Winona I knew. I looked away smoothly, watching the coffee machine for a second,

before turning back to her and nodding.

Crossing my arms, I leaned against the worktop.

“Yes, I did. Azura mentioned something that happened earlier, regarding someone disrespecting you.” I began. Instantly, she rubbed her arm, looking away for a second

“It‘s sorted Alpha, Azura defended me, and it really wasn‘t much.”

“I will be the judge of that. Tell me exactly what happened.” I commanded lightly.

My gaze fell to her bare shoulder, and reaching over I brushed her hair back, feeling her tense at my touch, My eyes taking in the faint marks of nails, left behind...

She healed slowly after all.

Winona was one of Leo‘s additions to the pack. He had found her when he was twenty. He had come home, visiting England due to setting up some business or other, and he had found her being bullied at a human orphanage. She had come of age and was being forced to leave, although she had nowhere to go. Along with having nowhere to go, she couldn‘t shift. She hadn‘t been a rogue, but she also had no idea what pack she was from.

With nowhere to go and living in fear, Leo had dropped her here with the pack before leaving once again.

Although one would think she was an Omega, I wasn‘t so sure. Due to the fact she couldn‘t shift, I think people simply assumed that. Besides that, the rank system was long abolished.

“It was my fault, I asked Nikki why she wore red when I made it clear the Lu–Azura was going to wear red.” She said, tugging on the sleeve of her dress, avoiding looking me square in the

eye.

“Nikki.” I frowned.

I had been surprised to see her show up, but it was obvious she had been there to cause problems. I felt disappointed in her.

“Will you explain exactly what happened earlier?” I asked, taking the coffee mug and passing it to her. “Take a seat.”

She looked down at the mug, her eyes full of worry, but when she saw me making myself a second mug, I was sure she understood that I was not going to take no for an answer...

“...and then Alpha Leo told us to clear the area...” She finished, after spending the last fifteen minutes telling me exactly what had happened. I sat back frowning, as I looked at her. She looked almost disappointed in herself.

I shook my head exhaling.

“That is... I wasn‘t expecting that from Nikki. I will make sure she is confronted about this myself.”

She nodded and sipped her coffee. Watching her, I realised she was forcing herself to drink it.

“You don‘t like coffee.” I stated.

She froze, looking up at me sharply.

“I uh...”

“You could have refused, Winona.” I said, reaching over I took the cup from her, placing it aside.

Her heart was racing.

“I‘m sorry, I just, I‘m a tea person...”

I raised an eyebrow. “Well, I‘ll remember for next time.”

“Next time?” She asked startled

I smirked. “Am I that bad company?” “Not at all Alpha! I just... I’m sure you have many others you can have coffee with.” She said quickly. “Yeah, I guess... but then, not even my son wishes to be around me it seems.” I said quietly, looking down at my hands.

The faint scars that ran up my hands and arms caught my attention for a second. They were mere lines now. Scars that left no memory... Yet the internal scars were the ones that Leo was suffering from.

“I‘m sorry Alpha... I‘m sure one day he will come around. Please don‘t blame yourself.” She said quietly, giving me a small smile that lit up her pretty face.

It was weird... tonight it was almost as if I was seeing her for the first time... Those large brown eyes, her angelic features, it was strange how I have looked at her countless times, but never really seen...

She blushed under my gaze, and I hid a smirk, rather amused.

“It‘s late. Stay the night.”

She froze, her eyes widening, her face flushing, and if that wasn‘t enough, her heart started thundering loudly, and I almost chuckled.

As much as I wanted to tease her, it wasn‘t really appropriate.

“I‘m sure Corrado would be happy to have you here when he wakes up, especially since his father just left. He was clearly upset over it all.”

“Yes... did we make a mistake tonight?” She asked, the flash of guilt in her eyes making me feel disappointed for her too.

“I honestly don‘t think we did anything wrong, but both are far too stubborn. Leo isn‘t helping matters either... We did what we could, even if it didn‘t work out the way we wanted. We did it with good intentions, and that‘s the important thing. Thank you, Winona, for all your help.” I said with a small smile.

Yeah, I did think I had messed up, but I was not going to allow her to blame herself. I just hoped that Leo really did realise what he was doing before it was too late...