Page 144 of Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire
“Ooo,” Corrado says, turning and staring at my stomach. “But, Azura, your belly isn’t big… where is the baby?”
“It’s still little yet,” I reply with an amused smile. He really is such a cutie. I see Leo massaging his neck as Corrado’s face falls.
“Where’s the baby’s daddy?” He asks before looking at Leoworriedly. He steps closer to him. “Can we still keep her? Please, Daddy, you can be Azura’s baby’s daddy, and I will be a good big brother! We will take care of her!” He whispers. This is going to hurt him… do we need to do this?
“Corrado, it’s… no, we can’t.” Leo places his hands on his shoulders. Corrado’s face falls, and he looks absolutely devastated. Leo glances at me – a silent request to help. If it didn’t involve this cherub, he could have gone to hell.
“Come here,” I say, smiling gently at the child and forcing myself not to let my emotions show. I reach for him, and Corrado shuffles towards me, looking confused.
You really don’t know how to do this shit,I shoot through the link. Heck, even I don’t know what to do.
“Corrado, this baby is your daddy’s… which means youaregoing to be a big brother,” I begin, realising that no matter what angle we do this from, it is going to hurt him.
“I’m going to be a big brother!” He gasps, his eyes widening before they sparkle with excitement. “Daddy! I’m going to have a baby brother or sister!” He exclaims, looking at his dad excitedly.
“Yes, you are, kid,” Leo replies, smiling faintly at him as he ruffles his hair.
“So Azura and the baby can come live with us. The baby can share my room!”
Yeah, explain shit to him now.
Our eyes meet before he looks at Corrado, but when I think he’ll be able to explain it, he simply looks away, frowning.
“Corrado.” I reach for him once more, and he looks up at me with even more adoration than before.
“Yes, Azura?”
“I won’t be staying here; I’ll be returning to my own pack… but I promise you I will send you lots of videos and pictures. And we can video-call and visit. I promise,” I explain, my heart breakingas I watch the little boy crumple before me. His excitement is dissipating, and it is replaced by sheer sadness, his eyes glistening with tears that begin welling up in his eyes fast.
“Why?” He whispers, raising his fisted hands to his eyes as he begins crying. “Doesn’t Azura want to be my mommy, too? I promise to be good. Does Azura not love me? I won’t ask for anything, Azura, I promise I’ll be a good boy.” I can’t stop my own tears from streaming down my cheeks as I drop to my knees in front of him and hug him.
“No, baby, it’s not you… I promise I love you so so so much,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“Then why won’t you be my mommy, Azura?” He sobs.
“Corrado… enough. Come on,” Leo’s voice comes, thick with emotion, as he pulls Corrado from my arms even when I don’t want to let go of him.
“But, Daddy…”
“That’s an adult decision, Corrado. Azura is leaving tomorrow,” he says quietly before he stands up, lifting his son into his arms and walking away. He pauses at the door and glances back at me; the look of regret is clear in his eyes. I can hear Corrado’s sobs as he asks what he did wrong.
“We have to go to Azura, please, Daddy… don’t let Azura go. Don’t let our baby go away. I be a good big brother, Daddy. I promise…”
Corrado’s words break my heart, and they are the only thing that I can focus on as I kneel there, silently crying my heart out.“Doesn’t Azura want to be my mommy, too?”
I clamp my hands over my mouth to stifle my sobs. I can’t breathe properly… the pain is almost suffocating me.
Of course I want to be your Mommy. I would have been the happiest person in the world, as would this baby, to have you in our lives…
Then why don’t you fight for what you want, Azura?
I freeze, staring at the floor in front of me, suddenly feeling cold at my own question. Why don’t I fight?
Because it just hurts too much…
Maybe I’m not as strong as I always thought I was. Since when do I cry over something?
Fight for what you want.
