Heart of a rogue

Chapter 35

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse but filled with concern.

As the group began to regroup and catch their breath, Declan's gaze remained fixed on Leo, who had just returned to his human form. His eyes were a mix of anger and confusion, clearly struggling to process what he had just witnessed.

"What the hell are you, Leo?" Declan demanded, his voice filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Leo, his breath still coming in heavy gasps, met Declan's intense stare with a steady, unapologetic gaze. A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"I told you I wasn't just a normal wolf," Leo replied, his voice tinged with a hint of dry humor despite the gravity of the situation. His tone carried an edge of tired resolve, as if he was acknowledging a long-awaited question.

Declan's eyes widened, the implications of Leo's words sinking in. "You're... some kind of spirit wolf?" he asked, still struggling to reconcile the image of the massive, otherworldly creature with the Leo he knew.

Leo nodded slowly, his expression serious. "In a way. My abilities extend beyond the natural realm. I draw power from the spirit world, and when I shift, I tap into that power fully. It's not something I use lightly, but it was necessary to deal with that creature."

I knelt beside Leo, my hand gently touching his arm as I looked up at him with worried eyes. "Are you okay?" I asked, her voice soft and filled with concern.

Leo, now back in his human form, turned his gaze to me. "Of course, love," he replied with a reassuring smile, his hand resting on hers for a moment before he pulled it away.

The casual use of the word "love" had an immediate effect on Declan. His face hardened, and a low, frustrated growl rumbled in his throat. He clenched his fists, his eyes locked on Leo with a mixture of anger and betrayal.

The tension in the air crackled as Declan's anger reached a boiling point. "You think you can just waltz in here and use terms of endearment like that? She's my fucking mate!" His voice was a mix of fury and disbelief, each word like a knife aimed directly at Leo.

I tried to intervene, my hands reaching out to calm Declan. "Declan, please—"

"No, Lucille!" Declan cut me off, his gaze fixed on Leo. "This is between me and him. Touch her again and I'll fucking kill you."

Alani stepped in, her face set in a firm line as she placed a hand on Declan's shoulder. "Declan, this isn't the time. We need to focus on surviving, not fighting among ourselves."

But Declan's rage was uncontainable. He shoved past Alani, advancing on Leo with a menacing glare. "Don't think you can hide behind your fancy wolf form. You're nothing but a—"

Leo moved with fluid grace, dodging Declan's attempt to grab him. He met Declan's aggressive stance with a calm, almost detached demeanor. "You're no match for me anymore," he said coolly, his voice carrying an edge of steel. ''I don't want to fight you, it's childish.''

Abel and Joshua quickly stepped between the two men, Abel's voice firm and authoritative. "Enough. We need to focus on the creature and each other right now. This fighting won't help anyone."

Declan's frustration spilled over as he glared at Leo. "You think you can just come here and act like you're better than me? You've been fucking Lucille behind my back. Don't think I won't hold you accountable for that."

Leo's eyes blazed with barely contained anger. "She doesn't deserve you, Declan," he snapped. "She deserves someone who truly cares for her, not someone who's just going to fuck some other she-wolf because you can't control your urges."