LEO
I let the shower water run over me, washing away the soap suds from my body. I am unable to remove the images of both Shane and Jackie’s bodies from my mind. Those final memories of their bodies will always remain in my mind.
Anyone could have died, and no matter who it was, I would have felt it. No matter how much I try, I’m still not doing enough.
Judah Gallahan is someone I am going to figure out. I will find out exactly what the fuck he is. To stay dead, pretend to be dead for that long... he holds certain traits of a vampire, but he isn’t one; he doesn’t fit the box. I have seen vampires and have been around them when Endora had managed to capture a few. There aren’t really many in England in comparison to the States, but there are a lot of differences between Judah and vampires. However, I wouldn’t rule it out completely. I need to start somewhere...
Switching the shower off, I lean my head against the wall for a moment, sighing heavily.
They are gone. Fuck... it still hurts.
Sliding the door open, I grab a towel and roughly dry myself off before I walk to my wardrobe area and take out some boxers and sweatpants. I am heading out to the lounge when I hear the sound of Corrado and Azura talking. Has he still been awake all this time?
"... lumpy sandwiches, Mommy, but I know Daddy will like this goopy dish." I see him examining something that clearly smells like nachos as Azura stands there next to him, hands on her hips. The small curve of her stomach is noticeable from this angle. Our pup is growing, and I can hear its heartbeat, too. I smile faintly, leaning against the door as they converse.
"It’s nachos, not goop!" Azura protests, prodding the nachos with a finger before she licks the salsa off her finger. Fuck, girl...
"Oh, yes, it just doesn’t look as nice as Daddy’s nachos... but don’t worry, Mommy, Daddy will love them." Azura grins.
"I didn’t have any doubt until you put that doubt in me. But your dad has no option but to eat this!" She looks up, noticing me, and I smirk when her eyes sweep over my shirtless torso. Her heart is racing as I slowly walk over to them.
"Daddy! Mommy made nachos!"
I pick him up and look at the tray she has prepared. Nachos, topped with plenty of cheese, salsa, and jalapenos. Coffee for me, milk for the two of them, and some other small snacks. For my girl, this is a big effort.
"It looks good," I say, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her close. "As long as I don’t get food poisoning," I add teasingly, making her smack my waist and glare up at me. Always resorting to violence... Smirking slightly, I kiss her lips, feeling Corrado staring, and it takes a lot to keep my tongue to myself. We move back, our eyes locked, and I feel a wave of strength wash through me. Their presence helps.
Corrado giggles and makes kissy sounds as I pick up the tray and take it to the table.
"I’ll be right back; I'm just going to change into something else," Azura adds. I watch her leave, my eyes on her ass only for Corrado to giggle again. I raise my eyebrow, sitting down.
"What are you finding so funny?" I ask, grabbing the remote and switching the TV on. He giggles, covering his mouth.
"Daddy and Mommy just kiss all the time. Lucy at school said if you kiss, you make a baby. Is Mommy having lots of babies now because you kiss so much?" His eyes widen as he scans the room. “Where will we keep all the babies?" What the hell do kids talk about? I smile slightly, ruffling his hair. In his Batman pyjamas, he looks super cute.
"It takes a lot more than a kiss to make a baby, and before you ask what that means, it means there’s a certain time of the... moon cycle that is also needed to make a baby." I take a bite of nachos. This actually tastes pretty good, although I feel like I have no appetite. I realise we haven't eaten since the McDonald's we bought earlier. A frown creases his cute little face as he ponders over what I have just said.
I put on a cartoon just as I hear footsteps and her scent reaches my nose. I turn, spotting her running her fingers through her hair. My breath catches in my throat. She is wearing a workout shirt of mine that is hanging off her, and a pair of my boxers that leave her sexy legs on display. Well, fuck... There is just something about her in my clothes that is a total turn-on...
She looks up, smirking as she leans over the back of the sofa, kissing my lips.
Like what you see? She taunts seductively, pulling away and planting a big kiss on Corrado’s head.
Oh absolutely, I reply, caressing her thigh as she walks past and takes a seat on the other side of Corrado, wrapping her arm around him.
"So, what am I missing? What are you father and son chatting about?"
"Oh, how babies are made. Daddy told me all about it," Corrado says seriously, making her eyes widen into saucers. Damn, she has big eyes... I smirk slightly. Despite the pain that lingers in my chest, these two are taking the edge off, making it a little more bearable.
"Shocked?" I mock her as she turns her attention back to Corrado.
"Did he now? What did he say?" She asks.
"He told me about the moon cycle, and that only at a certain time can you make babies," he repeats. Well, at least he’s damn smart and paid attention. Azura laughs, giving him a squeeze.
"Yup, the monthly cycle really means a lot."
"So, it's special like the Blood Moon..."
"Yeah, it definitely consists of red..." I smirk, earning myself a look from Azura. Corrado nods.
"Oh, we are never told this at school. Oh, dear. So, how many sisters and brothers will we have? Because if there’s lots and lots, we need a big house! I help you take care of them, okay?"
"Awe of course! But I don’t know, I think just the two of you might be enough?" She says, looking at me. "Unless your dad wants many more." I wrap my arm around her, placing the nachos in my lap and feeding her a piece.
"Not sure, but two sounds good enough. By the way, these don’t taste half bad."
She bites into it, and I am very aware of the big pair of eyes watching us from the middle. She takes it, her lips brushing my fingers, and smoothly licks the salsa from my fingers. Yeah, I think this has just become my favourite meal right after her... She moves back, her heart pounding as Corrado claps his hands.
"Wait, we need to find more Winnie’s then! To help with more babies... do you think Jackie will want to help take care of our babies?"
My heart clenches as I look at Azura, and she reaches over, running her fingers through my hair. I’ll let her handle this one...
"Jackie has gone to the Moon Goddess, baby," she whispers, lifting him into her lap.
He looks confused as he stares between us before his smile vanishes and he buries his head into her shoulder. She strokes his back and head, her eyes full of tears that she refuses to let fall. Silence follows as we sit here. She soothes our son as I wrap my arm around her tightly, too, before she slowly makes light conversation about the cartoon that is playing.
Slowly he begins speaking, but he is quieter, and when we head to our bed, Corrado is the first to jump in. Azura gets in next, wrapping her arms around him, and I slip in on his other side, slipping my arm under her neck, placing my arm over them both. Then he mentions her.
"Is Jackie happy with the Moon Goddess?"
"Yes, she is. She’s on the moon now," Azura whispers, both gazing out of the window.
I watch them, wanting to protect them forever. This is my family... I know if they weren’t here tonight, I wouldn’t be able to handle the pain that is crippling me inside...
-----
That night, the nightmares of my past return in full force, and each time Azura wakes up. I know she saw them too, and I wish there was a way to block her from suffering through my nightmares. In the end, I don’t sleep, simply laying there awake, wanting her to get her rest.
Two days later, the funeral has just taken place. I’m the one who has delivered a short speech, with neither Kareena being able to nor anyone for Jackie either. Nikki didn’t even offer to. The burial has taken place and most of the pack has dispersed. Dad, Raj, Kesha, Eric, Nikki, and the five and their mates are still here. Kareena is sitting on her knees before Shane’s body, crying her heart out. I walk over to her, crouching down and placing a hand on her back. It isn’t the first time I’m talking to her since his death, but it doesn’t get any easier.
"I'm truly sorry," I say quietly, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
She looks up at me, an image of someone who is truly devastated. She will die unless she moves on. A witch can break the bond, but it won’t fully take away the pain unless she takes a chosen mate. I just hope she is able to stay strong enough to move on... but deep down, I’m not sure if she is strong enough to live without him. Sera wraps her arms around her, hugging her tightly, and I stand up. Gazing down at the graves, a soft wind blows, and I realise they truly are gone...
Azura steps forward. Her presence beside me is comforting. She looks up at me and says,
"Gone but not forgotten."
"Yeah, they never will be," I say quietly, kissing her forehead softly. I turn my head to the cloudy sky, searching the heavens.
Mom... takes care of our pack members for me...
-----
Evening has fallen, and everyone is at Marcel’s for the wake. Kareena seems to have stopped crying, but I know she’ll need a lot of support going forward. Azura, Sera, and Kesha haven’t left her side, and I can tell she is grateful for it. I have just stepped outside for a smoke when Dad follows.
"Leo, can I have a word?" He asks as a sharp breeze ruffles our hair. I glance up as I light my cigarette.
"What is it?" He sighs heavily, swirling the drink in his glass.
"We don’t know what that man is... to not be breathing for days... we need to call for assistance."
"I know. I talked to Alejandro yesterday. I’ve already sent him what data and images we had, including the footage of the attack." I feel sick, having been unable to watch the footage myself but I know I will have to soon. He looks surprised but nods in approval.
"Perfect. Can I ask why now?" I raise an eyebrow.
"This is above my ego. I thought I had killed him and managed to get rid of him... but clearly not. We need to figure out what the fuck he is."
"Are you sure he isn’t a vampire?"
"Yeah... if he was, when we stabbed him, I would have known. Maybe some kind of hybrid. I’ll figure it out," I say, smoking my cigarette. Sighing he looks at me.
"Are you okay, Leo? Jackie and Shane were both close to you. Especially Jackie."
"I’d be lying if I said I'm fine. Shane was one of my closest men, too."
I see the questioning look in his eyes, but he doesn’t question it. Sooner or later, I will have to mention my truth. The full truth of Schurke Wolf. He places his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, son, for your loss. You have handled this with strength. I am proud of you Leo, always remember that. I love you, son." Our eyes meet, and when he wraps his arms around me, I hug him back.
"Thanks... Dad." I am unable to say the words out loud, but I hope he understands that I care for him, too. In the end, he is still my father. The only family I have through it all...
"If there is anything I can do, do not hesitate to let me know," he says when I pull away.
Taking a drag on my cigarette, I look up at him calculatingly.
"There is something actually..."
"Oh?" I nod as I look out into the dark sky.
"If it's alright with you, can we move to the mansion? I may not always be home, and I need to make sure that Azura and Corrado are safe." A smile crosses his lips, and he nods.
"I will welcome you all home with open arms, that is nothing you need to ask me. This home is yours, son, and I could wish for nothing more than to have you come home."
I look into his eyes, the intense emotions clear in them, and I realise he has been waiting to hear those words for years.
I'm sorry I'm late, Dad... I was clouded by my hatred and resentment... but... I'm here now. I’ll make amends and I’ll fix my mistakes. I promise... if I live, I will make it up to you all. I promise.