CHAPTER 25

25. A Reply AZURA. "As I presumed... it seems you know far less than you thought about your ex.” Leo murmured, frowning.

His eyes were cold as he stared at the screen.

"I don't get it, how is this even possible, are you sure that file isn’t corrupt or false orsomething?" I asked.

"No, years ago I began to gather all possible data on the werewolves in this country, just for my own knowledge and I remember thisparticular family's story intrigued me." He sat back smoking his cigarette.

"Are you sure it's not wrong, maybe a glitch-" "I have an excellent memory, don’t question my intelligence.” He growled.

“Ok fine, Mr I’m so damn smart.” I muttered.

2.

"Good, at least you're learning to listen." He replied, his voice almost antagonising.

My eyes flashed, and I looked him square in the eye.

"Don't try me, I don't listen unless I want to." Neither of us looked away, a clash of wills, with both of us refusing tobend.

"Maybe that's what got you into this mess to start with, your lack of logic and your rash temper are enough to land you inthis kind of shit." He said icily.

2 I hated how he had a point…

I didn't want to admit it and I wouldn't, but I didn’t like the way he seemed to see right through me.

"These files are from just under a decade ago, I'm curious to see what the current Shadow Wolves database says.” Hepressed some buttons on his keyboard, and I narrowed my eyes.

"Are you hacking into their database?" "Do you want to know or not?” “I do…

but-" "So this is on both of us." "No, it's not.

Why not go to the Shadow Wolves Pack and ask them?” I frowned.

He looked at me with a cold, arrogant expression, "So instead of doing something I can do righthere within a few hours, you expect me to travel to the Shadow Wolves Pack and waste an entire fucking day? "It's called doing things the right way?" Yeah, I was one to talk, especially after everything I had done.

He sat forward, taking a drag on his cigarette, his eyes locked with mine.

"Here's a news flash, Little She-Wolf, I don't follow rules." I hated how my stomach knotted in pleasure at his deep, sexy voice.

Why did I have a thing for bad boys? No, I don’t like Leo.

Nope never.

4 It didn't matter if he had those sexy lips, or those eyes that were sodamn sexy or- 1 Stop Azura! I frowned, trying to rearrange my thoughts when he spoke.

“Do you have any pictures of him?” He asked.

“No. holds © this.

I deleted what I had when I broke up with him, but he hated pictures so the ones I had were very rare.” I shrugged.

“Great.” He muttered, sounding very sarcastic.

"I need to check if he's chipped you." "How?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“An X-ray, it’s pretty simple.”

Xray.

My heart began thudding.

Although the radiation couldn't damage my baby due to our healing, it would show up on the X-rayand I did not want Leo to know about this baby.

Not yet Deep down I knew at some point I would have to, because although he didn’t want me, he would be a good father…

"No." I replied, firmly pushing the thoughts away before that sadness came over me once more.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" "He didn't know I was here, so obviously whatever you got in place stops any unwanted -” “It’s one fucking X-ray.

My jammers hold off any unwanted signals, but unless you never plan to venture out of this pack, we need to make sure hehasn't chipped you." My heart was thudding, and I didn't know what to say.

Think quick, Azura…

He was watching me intently…

and he sure wasn’t dumb…

“I dated him for a while…

and I can assure you that he was not tech savvy.” “Yet you don’t seem to know enough about him to convince me.

It’s one fucking X-ray.

What’s the issue?” He asked sharply.

Fuck fuck fuck! "Let's do that at another time." I suggested not wanting to discuss this further.

"What are you hiding?" My heart thudded and I tried to calm myself, but I knew he was watchingme intently.

"Nothing." I lied, swallowing hard and looking back at the screen.

"Oh yeah? It doesn't seem like it." "I don't need to explain myself to you.” I growled, standing up, ready to storm off.

I needed time to hatch a plan to get out of this.

"You're not going anywhere." His voice was cold as he grabbed my arm, yanking me back tothe desk and pushing me down onto it.

I gasped as I glared up at him, bracing my hands behind me to stop myself from falling on my back.

Leo towered over me, smoking his cigarette as he looked down at me and grabbed hold of my chin.

My stomach fluttered, sending a jolt of pleasure to my core.

Fuck why was he so damn sexy? "Let's try that again.

What are you hiding from me? And it's in your fucking best interest to tell me thetruth so I can fucking help you, Azura." He said menacingly, his long legs on either side of mine..

Help me…

This had nothing to do with Judah…

but I couldn’t tell him…

"Like I said, it's nothing." I retorted, pulling out of his grip, and trying to stand up.

I pushed him, trying to put enough space between us so I could regain my balance, but I almost fell back onto the table and grabbed hold of hisshirt to stop myself, yanking him down with me.

1

I heard it.

–

The increase in his heart rate…

the way his gaze dipped to my lips as he braced his hand on the table next to me.

"Don't tempt me to punish you, Little She-Wolf." He whispered huskily.

We were too close; his scent was getting to me.

No matter how much he said he hated me and my pack, I could see the rawhunger in his eyes that he thought he was doing a good job of masking.

Oh, this boy wanted me bad.

1 My heart thumped and a sinful thought came into my mind…

What if I distracted him with a kiss and then ran away? 1 Nikki.

Yeah, I couldn’t do that.

Think Azura, think! "I need to pee!" I said suddenly.

Leo raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that, but it worked, breaking the moment between us and I pushed him away and rushed back to the bedroom.

I slammed the door behind me and hurried to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

Wow Azura, you really are so charming.

I groaned as I slid down the wall and rested my head against the door behind me.

What should I do…

Goddess…

even if I got the necklace, it would only hide the heartbeat, it would still show in the X-Ray.

Oh fuck I'm screwed in more damn ways than one.

“Grab your stuff.

I'm taking you back to your previous apartment." Leo's voice came on the other side of the door, making me jump.

Fuck he was so silent.

"Ok" I replied, rushing to the toilet, and flushing it before I washed my hands.

Back to that apartment…

I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but I really didn’t want to be stuck down here with only Leofor company.

---- - He had led me through another door and up via a lift until we were in aprivate office.

I realised when he led me out that this was his apartment.

It smelled of him, Nikki, and Corrado…

A family I really didn’t want to wreck.

He made his way out of the apartment and down the stairs to the apartment I had just left yesterday.

It was spotless, and the voodoo doll was nowhere in sight.

2 Leo placed the bags of clothing down on the coffee table and looked at me.

"I have some shit to deal with tonight, but tomorrow – first thing – you will get that X-ray done.” I guess it gave me a littletime to hatch a plan.

I nodded but said nothing as we both looked at one another, a tense silence falling between us.

He was obviously waiting for me to say something.

"Ok" I said picking up the tablet I had brought along with me from his underground room.

His eyes fell on it and he looked up at me.

"I'll have a phone set up for you by tomorrow, I’ll have your contacts all encrypted as well, so there’s no way he’ll realise if you’re contacting them orvice versa." My heart skipped a beat just imagining being able to use my phone without some creepy incoming texts.

"Really? Oh, I could kiss you! I hate-" I froze, realising what I had said.

“I meant like, thank you.

It's a figure of speech, I didn't mean that I could actually…” Why do you always do this Azura? Why thehell do you go put your foot in your mouth every goddamn time? He was simply watching me make a fool of myself with that emotionless hard expression of his, with an eyebrow raised arrogantly.

O "Ok yeah, Azura shutting up now." So smart of you Azura…

“Winona will bring you food…

try to not cause trouble?" I simply pouted at that, nodding like the good girl I sure as heckwasn't.

My cheeks heated from my ridiculous comment.

“Good.

I will probably be back really late, so if you do need to contact me, tell Winona.” I nodded and he turned away,about to leave when I called him.

"Oi Blue Eyes!" He stopped and looked at me over his shoulder.

“Thank you.

For helping me out." Our eyes met, that intense spark simmering between us before he nodded and turned away.

"Anytime." 2 His one word ignited a storm of emotions inside of me before the door shut with a small thud.

Anytime.

Even if he didn't want me as a mate, he was still helping me, and Ididn't feel so alone ...

I felt protected…

I had family, but right now there was so much I just didn’t want them to know…

I walked over to the sofa and dropped onto it, turning the tablet on.

I logged onto my email, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the email from ‘The D Rossi’ 3 Dante had replied! My heart thumped as I quicklyclicked on the message.

'Hey, I don't think one apology covers everything you did, but I’ll take it since I now have proof in writing of what you have attempted.

5.

We haven't talked in a while, and I guess you've got some stuff going on, but you’re not alone.

Always remember, no matter what crap comes your way, that the first person who comes to your mind will always be therefor you.

5

Ok those are my words of wisdom lo…

Moving on…

As for that necklace, you don't need it, I mean I could send it to you, but there won’t beany use for it.

However, if you still want it, let me know.

9 Pictures of Italy? I’m here due to work.

There's nothing pretty to look at, trust me, but I'm attaching one below of the best thing I’ve seen around here.

Love, your current favourite Rossi male.' & I pouted as I stared at his letter.

I didn't need it? Why didn't I need it? Did it mean Leo figures this out? Please no…

Right below the message was a picture of none other than himself.

2 Cocky much? He had the angular jaw famous in the Rossi men, plump lips like his mama and those glossycurls that I hated because I was jealous of them of course.

I stuck my tongue out at the picture before placing the tablet down as I mulled over Dante’s message.

2 Current favourite Rossi? Was that a hint at Leo or my baby? Urgh I loved this guy,but the way he talked messed with my head.« It can't be Leo...

but who said I'll give my baby the Rossi name? I suddenly sat bolt upright, placing my hand on my stomachas the sudden realisation that I was carrying a Rossi hit me like a freight train.

An actual goddamn Rossi.

Imagining an arrogant little snarky mini-Leo, I shuddered.

Oh, I’m really screwed…