LEO
I flip open my laptop and take a seat on the couch. I am sitting in the mansion library, waiting for the meeting to start. I frown deeply and massage my jaw. I have made sure to secure the connection and set up the meeting before handing it over to Alejandro, but I’m not fucking looking forward to it. I just want this shit over with.
Azura’s thoughts flit through my mind, and I can’t help but smile slightly as I look at my hands. She doesn’t fucking care… she really does accept me for who I am. I still can’t get my head around it. How the fuck do I process that? How can someone just step into my life and accept everything about me? How has one feisty girl become my fucking world? I wouldn’t want to change her either. We are both fucking made for one another… just the way we fucking are.
I can currently hear her thoughts as she lies in bed, mulling over our conversation. Her curiosity regarding the meaning behind the organisation name… something about making sure Sky doesn’t take pictures of me, it might not be safe to have them out there, and something else about role-playing. I smile, putting my walls up to give her the privacy of her own mind. Although I fucking love to hear her interesting thoughts, it isn’t always fair on her. If she is lacking in keeping those walls up, then I will be the one to help her with them. Sometimes, at least.
My screen flashes on as Alejandro starts the meeting, and I click the 'join' button, spotting several others joining the meeting, too. Alejandro is already sitting there in what appears to be his office chair, a cigarette in hand, like he just doesn’t give a fuck about anything. Elijah is next, and Liam as well; I didn’t realise he is on the council… but I know Elijah is considered more one of the elders now. Dad enters, too. He is frowning and looks a bit uneasy. I wonder what that shit is about. Rayhan follows with his fucking over-the-top hair… Kenneth Arden, of the Shadow Wolves pack… Flint Kane of the Blood Claw Pack, Junaid Muhammed of the Full Moon pack, and several other Alphas who I know by name only. There are three from the Coven as well, a man I don’t know by name and then there is Janaina and Magdalene, both of whom have aged since the last time I had seen them.
I look at the Alphas, my face an emotionless mask. So, these are the Elite… the strongest Alphas in the country… They all watch me intently, some even unnerved. Kenneth Arden is watching with a smirk on his face, almost as if intrigued by my presence. I don’t miss the way Liam is frowning. Guess he is still fucking butt hurt over what I did to Azura.
"Leo," Elijah says, giving me a nod. I give him one back.
"Thanks to everyone for making the fucking time to attend this meeting. Before we start, allow me to introduce everyone…" Alejandro begins as he goes around introducing all the bastards. "And of course, this is my nephew, and soon to be the official Alpha of the Sangue Pack."
"You could pass as father and son," one the Alphas say with a small smile.
"I say the same shit," Alejandro smirks.
"We’re nothing alike," I reply coldly.
"Mated to sisters, too," Rayhan adds his incredibly unhelpful input. Bastard.
"Oh? Elijah, congratulations. It seems your daughters are made for Rossi men. You don’t have any more, do you?" Another Alpha asks with a smirk. I think he is from the Ethereal Moon Pack.
"No," Elijah almost growls.
"Just a granddaughter," Kenneth smirks, making Elijah’s eyes flash.
Alejandro snickers, "Let’s not rile him up. We all know the Westwood women love the Rossi men. Now, on to business." He only fucking changed the topic since Elijah was getting pissed off. "As I’ve already filled you all in, this is regarding the situation about the being that we don’t actually know what he is. Leo had this being in his custody and was thought to be dead, only for him to somehow come back to fucking life after a couple of days, kill two of his pack members, and injure several more whilst managing to escape," Alejandro continues before turning to me. "Leo?"
"There’s little else I can add to what you already know. When I did some analysis of the attack before he escaped, there was some smoke-like energy around him… I’ll play the video." I click a button until the video comes on. I have blurred out Shane’s and Jackie’s faces, but it fucking hurts to watch this. I look down, unable to look at the screen again. A few of the Alphas murmur something, and I focus on watching their expressions.
"I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s not a demon," Janaina says, and Magdalena nods.
"No, I haven't seen anything like it, but seeing this… we will continue searching." She frowns as I switch the video off.
"He’s fast, very fast," Junaid adds thoughtfully. "His movements aren’t that of a werewolf’s."
"He is fast indeed. Inhuman movement to be precise," Kenneth muses, his eyes sharp. I don’t like the guy; I don’t even know why he is on the council, but just his entire fucking vibe irks the fuck out of me.
"I do have a few questions for you, Arden," I say, sitting back as I watch him. "When I did my research, I found that this man goes by the name of Judah Gallahan. The only known Judah Gallahan belonged to the Shadow Wolves Pack, but he apparently died over fifty years ago; the entire family, in fact, was wiped out. Perhaps you remember them?" Kenneth frowns, but he does look like he’s thinking about it.
"Now that you mentioned it, I do vaguely remember it. After all, it was a rather dreary story; they all died of poisoning in a fire."
"Hmm… yet here he is…" Liam frowns. I’m not so sure…
"There is a chance that maybe he just stole the fucking name. Could you look into that further? And do you have any photos of that family? I just want to know if there’s somehow a link," I say to Kenneth.
"That’s a good idea, I'm sure you can get that shit sorted, right, Kenneth?" Alejandro adds. Kenneth nods.
"I will get on it right away and report back with any findings."
"Is it possible that he's a hybrid? Maybe a vampire-werewolf?" Flint asks, running a hand over his beard.
"There’s a possibility… but even a vampire or a vampire hybrid wouldn’t be able to play dead…" Elijah remarks. Magdalene nods.
"Agreed - although vampires can let their bodies shut down for a certain amount of time, their skin would immediately turn a dark grey with deep veins, which wasn’t the case with this being."
"He smelled like a werewolf. That’s not something a vampire can do, correct? Unless magic is involved, of course," I insert, taking out a cigarette and lighting it before I turn my attention back to Kenneth. "Arden Corp is quite advanced in its scientific research; it has even delved into experimentation on living organisms, hasn’t it?" It is an accusation that makes the entire council tense, and I can tell that Kenneth has taken offence. His eyes flash.
"Alpha Alejandro, I will not tolerate disrespect from -"
"It’s a fucking question, Kenneth, answer it and we move on. Reacting like this isn’t going to help matters," Alejandro growls, cutting him off. I wonder if Kenneth was about to call me a rogue or scum.
"It’s a fair question. Sometimes we all make mistakes or may be involved in not the smartest ideas," Elijah says sharply. Frowning, I know now is the fucking time to put forward my own example into that. I may not like these men, but their eyes and men will help cover more ground, faster.
"I agree with Elijah. I myself created a certain weapon which should never have left pack grounds. If there is anything you can provide, we all know Alejandro’s big on forgiveness," I reply casually. It is obvious only Dad, Rayhan, and Alejandro got the sarcasm in my voice. Alejandro smirks as we both take a drag on our cigarettes, his expression clearly relaying one fucking word. ‘Fucker.’ I smirk back. "Correct me if I'm wrong," I mock. He simply sits back, shaking his head.
"Anything coming to mind?" He asks Kenneth. He shakes his head.
"Nothing of the sort. We have… done research on certain bloods and DNA, however, there has been no experimenting on living beings."
Lies. Arden Corp does far more than they fucking let on.
Alejandro nods.
"Very well. Check up on the Gallahan family, and if you can find photos on them, including that of Judah Gallahan, let us know immediately. Don’t fucking waste time to relay the message." From his warning, I have a feeling Kenneth has withheld information in the past.
"There is one thing that Delsanra mentioned from her time with Endora… it isn’t that much, but…" Rayhan begins, his eyes flashing and anger crossing his face. That may be the one fucking thing we have in common; the burning hatred for Endora that will never completely vanish.
"What did she say?" Dad asks as everyone waits for him to continue.
"She said Endora mentioned that there are far more species than we’ll ever know of." Yeah, I figured as fucking much. The question is, what? Rayhan frowns as he continues, "She spoke of some who were in the shadows, whatever that meant."
"Hmm, I will look into that." Janaina muses, "I still want her to become an elder of the Coven."
"Not happening," Rayhan counters, and I wonder what that is all about.
"Do any of the ancient books not mention it? I’ve checked the few we have, and there’s nothing," Liam intervenes smoothly.
"Nothing." Alejandro shakes his head.
"We haven't gone through the ones here thoroughly, but so far, nothing," I add.
"We’re still looking as well," Rayhan says as he runs a hand through his hair. "Same with the clothes he was wearing when you caught him, it led nowhere. Delsanra tried to open a portal, but it didn’t work. Either the clothes weren’t his, or something else was off." I nod.
"I don’t think we will find the answer so easily, but until we do, we can at least try to locate and contain him, even if we need to lock him in with barriers. The man is dangerous, and he will harm any who stand in his way." I frown, thinking the meeting hasn’t given any further answers than what I already know. "I have a few strategies put in place…"
I move on to explain how and what we are doing to trace Judah. By the end of the meeting, I am almost fully satisfied that we will catch him. The packs have security and scouts sent out in their surrounding areas, and with his image in everyone’s hand, surely someone will come across him. I have also input face recognition through the human cities within miles all around. If he makes an appearance and is caught on any public security camera, I’ll get a notification. We will find him for sure. That is the confidence that the council holds more than I do, but I still feel like we are missing something big. With all my technology and the number of people I have on the job, not only from the pack but from my cartel… it is fucking weird that there is still nothing. Even reaching out to my trusted allies… I just have to stay fucking positive.
"Would you like someone from the coven to come and place protective barriers around your pack?" Xavier, the man from the coven, asks me.
"I’m making sure no one steps out of or into this pack unless with complete security. As long as we are on pack premises, he can’t get in even if he tries. I appreciate the offer," I reply confidently, giving him a nod of thanks. I didn’t really expect them to offer, but something about my words makes me frown. He escaped from the holding centre, but instead of escaping, he came to the pack… for Azura…
Why does he fucking want her so much? Could it somehow be to do with her ability? Or is it just me over-analysing shit? I mean, how the fuck would he have known when her powers were pretty much dormant?
"I have a question, Leo. How exactly did you cross paths with someone so dangerous that now those around you are at risk? Care to share?" Elijah asks seriously.
"Actually, Elijah -" I raise my hand and cut Alejandro off. I do not want Azura’s name in this shit, and I do not need him to defend me.
"That’s none of your fucking business," I reply coldly.
"It is our business when it involves my sister and his daughter. You are putting her life at risk because of your actions," Liam growls.
"Liam," Elijah warns, but the younger man simply shakes his head.
"If anything happens to her because of you…" He leaves his threat open, and I scoff. "You’ve hurt her enough."
"Maybe if you were a better fucking brother, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt," I counter arrogantly; he’ll probably think I'm talking about what I did to her, but I mean Judah…
"You’re so -"
"Ladies." Alejandro smirks, "Let’s not fight like a bunch of women. If you want to talk this shit out, I would be up to seeing a one-on-one match."
A few chuckle, but I don’t bother with them. This is my fight now. I’m the fucking shield between the world and Azura. A few petty insults and accusations are not going to fuck with my head when I have my Psycho Queen by my side.
"I’ll take care of my woman; you can back the fuck off," I say quietly, glaring at the blond man.
"Watch it, Leo. You still have a long way to go," Liam snarls.
"No shit," I remark, smoking my cigarette carelessly, knowing I am just pissing him off.
"Leo, please," Dad sighs as Rayhan smirks slightly.
"We’ll have everything figured out; I am actually out with a team right now." He says, "We’ll get to the bottom of this and catch Judah."
"And the fucker’s out, too," Alejandro adds, referring to Dante.
"We are yet to have the honour of meeting the Alpha Prince," Kenneth remarks. Alejandro shrugs.
"He doesn’t really like to fucking mix." Kenneth is obviously disappointed.
"Well, I will look into the information you have requested immediately, Alpha Alejandro. It is indeed a pleasure to have met the Alpha of Shadows that we have so much yet to learn about… I will look forward to seeing you at more meetings. I presume we will see you, of course?"
"My father will retain his position as a member of the council even after I take over the Sangue Pack," I reply clearly. Like fuck you want to know about me, you fucking weirdo. He raises an eyebrow before nodding, and I reach forward. "Have a good evening." With that, I leave the meeting and snap my laptop shut. I frown deeply, running a hand through my hair.
What the fuck is Judah? What am I missing?
I sit back, smoking, just when my phone rings. Taking it out of my pocket, I frown, seeing it is Jin.
"Yeah?" I ask.
"We have a code red situation regarding the drugs we sold."
"What is it?" I ask, my heart racing as I stand up.
Jin exhales, "You might want to sit down."
"Spit it out," I growl.
"They’ve been tampered with, Leo. People are dying."