Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire

Chapter 128

Beautiful Bond Ch 128. Splash

*A short novella that begins a couple of days after Leo and Azura return from their visit to the Blood Moon Pack*

BEAUTIFUL BOND

Chapter 1 – Splash

MARCEL.

The alarm goes off and I stretch, sitting up in the guest room of my brother Alejandro’s mansion. I run my hand through my hair, frowning as I stare at the small pattern on the black and grey bedding. I came here two nights ago and I know for me it’s just an escape. Isn’t it pretty funny how I always yearned to have a complete family and now that I have that, I’m unable to spend as much time around them as I would like to?

Because of her, my mate.

The thought of the blond this early in the morning isn’t a good idea. Not when she’s not here to take care of me.

I do need to return home today, though; I have stayed here long enough. Although I know I’m always welcome, it isn’t fair on Kiara and Alejandro either. Maybe I need a trip abroad… Yeah, I’m resorting to running from my fated mate, but you can’t blame me when she acts like she can’t stand to be in the same room as

Getting out of bed, I go to the bathroom to wash up before pulling on some sweatpants and a tank top and then head out for a run.

An hour later, I’m running around the entire perimeter of the pack. I pass the occasional guard, but apart from them giving me a respectful nod, they say nothing. I visit often and I always make sure I take my morning run.

“You left early.” A deep voice comes from behind me and I turn when my younger brother Alejandro falls into step beside

We may be brothers, but we are opposites in many ways. We’re both tanned with muscles and salt and pepper hair, but his is black and white, whilst mine is brown and white. He’s covered in tattoos from the neck down, and a couple of piercings whilst I’m covered in scars. Scars from a morbid past, one that I don’t really like to delve into.

“Yeah, well, I needed to clear my head.” I reply, but a second later I wish I hadn’t.

Alejandro c*cks an eyebrow and I know he isn’t going to drop it. Alejandro is six years younger and although he is the King, he loves to be a nosy a*s.

“And why the f*ck do you need to clear your head?” Alejandro asks. He’s dressed similarly to me, but with a few chains around his neck.

I don’t respond, focusing on the sound of our feet hitting the ground, the beating of our racing hearts, the occasional sound of an animal, and the rustle of the flowers and the leaves in the trees. It’s relaxing.

“Now I really f*cking wanna know.”

Ah, ever the charmer. I raise an eyebrow.” And if I don’t want to tell you?”

He smirks. “I’ll find out one way or another, besides I have my assumptions.”

“Oh? And what would they be?” I ask, slowing down a little, the smell of the flowers filling my nose.

“A woman.” He smirks. I come to an abrupt stop looking at him sharply.

How the hell did he know that?

“So, I’m f*cking right.” He adds smugly.

So it was a random guess…

“It’s nothing of the sort.” I deny it, as I begin jogging again, but I’m a lot slower now.

“A little late to play f*cking dumb now, so who’s the lucky woman? Have I seen her?” He asks, “Wait, she’s not from my Pack right? I mean, you have been coming down a lot more recently, not that I’m f*cking complaining.”

“No, she isn’t. I actually come to get away from her.” I mutter, hating how broody I sound. I am a f*cking mess. Not only have I fallen for her before I even realised she was destined for me, but she then turned out to be my mate, which made it so much harder.

“D*mn… I actually didn’t expect you to be head over f*cking heels… So, who is the lucky woman who has finally won you over after all these f*cking years?” He asks, jogging with ease beside me. Neither of us are putting any effort into the run anymore.

“A woman who has been in my pack for years, but it’s complicated.” I frown.

“Oh yeah? I’m all f*cking ears.” He says. Obviously he isn’t going to let it go he got the A to Z of every little detail. until

“She’s pretty young.” I begin, taking my hair tie out and running my fingers through my hair.

“How young are we talking?” Alejandro asks, reaching for a packet of cigarettes from his pocket. He lights one, watching me intently.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Young.” I say, not knowing how to tell him she’s only twenty-seven…

“Oh? Why do I feel like its Karma coming back to bite you in the a*s. Remember that s*it you said to me back in the

caverns, about Kiara being young enough to be your daughter? So tell me is there like a fifteen – twenty-year age gap between you two or some s*it?” He snickers.

Yes… I did say that because Kiara was twenty-two years younger than me…

“More.” I say shortly. His smirk fades and he looks at me seriously.

“How young are we talking?” He asks.

“About thirty-three years.” I say curtly.He’s expressionless for a moment before he takes a long drag on his cigarette. ”D*mn.”

“Yeah. D*mn.” I reply.

His reaction is enough of a sign that it was just too big of a gap.

I left the Night Walkers Pack shortly after breakfast, not in the mood to linger. I didn’t bother to explain to Alejandro that she’s also the Nanny to my grandson, or that she’s my fated mate. I think that was enough information sharing. He didn’t push either. I know he wanted to say something as I was leaving, but I didn’t really give him a chance.

I drove back home, running my hands through my hair repeatedly, some country music playing on the radio of my jeep. There’s not much I can do to avoid her entirely; Corrado’s sixth birthday is coming up, and that is a place where we would both would inevitably have to cross paths.

I shake my head, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel as I reach the Sangue Pack entrance, and I pass through security. I look at my watch. It’s late afternoon. I’ll pop down to Leo’s and see how they’ve been. I reach their villa shortly after, if you can call it that. It’s huge, and it screams Leo. From the modern elegant tech-savvy interior, to the architectural design of the building, it is completely Leo’s style.

I ring the doorbell. Although they have given me the passcode, I will only use it for emergencies, I don’t want to walk in on something that I do not want to see. My son and Azura can get it on pretty much anywhere.

The door is pulled open by a very wet

Corrado. He’s in a pair of swim trunks and smiles up at me brightly.

“Grandad! Oh come on in, I missed you!” He says, wrapping his arms around my leg.

I smile slightly as I untangle him and bending down wrap my arms around his small chubby frame tightly.

“I came straight here because I missed you all, too.” I say, ruffling his hair. “I see you were having a swim?”

“Yes, Daddy has gone for work. He won’t be back until it’s very late, he said! Phinnie is sleeping and Mama and Winnie are outside too!”

Winnie… Winona my mate.

“Come on, Grandad!” He pulls me out towards the back of the house and although I’m uncertain if it’s a good idea, a part of me wouldn’t mind seeing her, and of course, greet Azura.

We are almost to the back garden; the French doors are open and I hear the women talking.

“… think I should go check who came?”

Winona’s soft uncertain voice came.

“Oh na, it’s cool, Rosaline got it.” I hear Azura reply.

She knows it’s me… she’s a little devil but I’m not going to argue, if it means I at least got to see her once before she runs off, I’m cool with that.

“Grandad is here Mommy!” Corrado exclaims, running out ahead of me and I hear a small gasp just as I step out, and my eyes fall on the woman standing by the pool.

She’s slender with a s*xy model-like figure. She’s wearing a white and blue tropical leaf print one-piece swimsuit, which has a modest skirt. But even then, it’s the first time I’m seeing her in such little clothing… Her golden blonde hair which is glowing under the sun, is knotted at the top of her head, and I stop dead in my tracks when my gaze falls on the sparkling droplets of water that trickle down her sun-kissed thighs.

I swallow hard as that same hunger that she always ignites within me breaks through to the forefront of my mind and I try not to focus on the pleasure that rushes south.

I step out into the sun and almost as if she’s scared; she steps back, but I don’t think she realises she was right at the edge of the pool and she slips, a small yelp leaving her pouty lips before she falls backwards and tumbles into the water with a giant splash.

“Oops,” Azura says, from where she’s lounging on a deck chair in a bikini and sunglasses. Corrado gasps as Azura sits up. “You might want to give her a hand.” She stands up, smirking as she takes Corrado’s hand. “Come on, My Cherub let’s go get some snacks.”

“But Winnie!”

“Don’t worry, Daddy Marcel has her, I mean Granddaddy.” She snickers, as she leaves, shutting the doors behind her.