Leo Rossi: The Rise of a True Alpha (The Rossi Legacies Book 2)

KAREENA.

Possessive much?

"I won't be the only woman in a dress tonight, Jax. No one is going to be looking at me." I shake my head as I-make my way over to his car.

The moment I went into heat is replaying in my mind and I don't think being in close proximity to him is wise

I'm checking him out, I'm too aware of his scent and the fact he's watching me is messing with my head.

I don't want to be a burden to anyone tonight.

I reach for the passenger door only for Jax's arm to brush mine as he beats me to it and opens the door for me instead.

I look over my shoulder at him, my heart hammering when his green eyes dip to my lips.

I turn away first, during my heat all I could think about was him...

I'm falling... I know that... and it terrifies me.

"Thanks," I say, allowing him to open the door, for a moment he places his hand on my waist sending a ripple of pleasure through me. Shit...

It's different, it's not just the bond.

I turn suddenly, totally miscalculating just how close he is standing.

"I..." I trail off when I'm inches from his chest.

"Yeah?" He asks.

He's serious tonight... well he's serious half the time but ... is he in a bad mood?

"Nothing," I say, shaking my head. What was I going to say, anyway?

I touched his dick... I wonder if he's angry about that?

And I can't help but think of how good he felt in my hand, but it also makes my cheeks burn.

I get in the car, very aware of how tiny this dress is when my thighs touch the cold leather seat.

He gets into the driver's seat and drives out, there's silence between us and it's deafening. I keep my eyes glued on the window although I'm not paying attention to anything out there.

At times I can feel his eyes on me, and it's fucking with my head badly, I feel nervous, and worried yet... excited and desired...

I can't help but smirk at my thoughts.

Desired... yeah right.

I'm delusional.

I look over at him suddenly, and our eyes meet.

"Do you want to say something?" I ask, his gaze flickers to my boobs before he looks away smoothly and I see his Adam's apple bob in his throat when he swallows.

I'm about to turn away when he speaks.

"Are you so against moving on, that you will continue to suffer through Heat, every other month?" he asks quietly, the slight tremble in his voice, and the way his jaw is taught only reinforces my anger.

My heart clenches, "Our situation is different, Jax, have you ever been in love? No, I don't think you have. Have you lost a mate? No, you haven't. Moving on isn't easy. I know I've been a hassle to you and you're clearly reaching your limit when it comes to your patience with me and I'm sorry-"

"We've known each other for years, Kar, yet you still don't know me."

"Yeah, I guess I don't," I say quietly.

"And that's what fucking gets to me, you don't even fucking kno-"

"Not now Jax, let's just enjoy the party and not ruin the mood for Li Sheng's night," I say sharply, trying to remain calm, getting out of the car the moment he parks - cursing under his breath.

I run my fingers through my hair inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm myself. This is not the place to lose our shit, nor do I want it to be the memory that everyone remembers on Li Sheng's birthday.

He slams the door louder than necessary before he falls in step beside me, the tension between us is so damn thick. Well, there's no need for me to be near him tonight, the moment I greet Li Sheng I'm going to avoid him like the damn plague.

The VIP lounge of one of Leo's exquisite clubs is bathed in a red hue of light and the music is loud, yet not so loud that it's pounding in your head.

There are plenty of men and women from the pack here - excluding the old and young - and it's clear they are all having fun. Plenty are drinking and chatting whilst others are already hitting up the dance floor.

Our group is all here already; Dan, Ace, Sera, Jin, Mishiko, Leo, Azura and of course the birthday boy himself.

The girls look fine in their sexy dresses; they wave at me as we approach, and I glance at Jax who walks beside me.

What if this was real?

He glances at me, a slight frown on his face that reminds me how incompatible we are.

He's so different from Shane, who even when serious had a warmth around him... I'm not comparing them in that way but how is it possible to fall in love with two souls who are so different?

He cocks a brow, and I look ahead, glad he's quiet.

I smile when we stop before the rest. I give Leo a respectful nod as he stands there, smoking a cigarette, his piercing eyes that remind me of an X-ray machine seem like he's looking into my mind, reading my thoughts.

I turn to Li Sheng first, "Happy Birthday, Li Sheng, I say with a smile as I step closer to him and give him a hug.

"Thank you, Kareena, I'm glad you could make it, you look beautiful." Li Sheng compliments, smiling down at me. "It's truly good to have you here."

I smile, knowing I've missed enough get-togethers.

"Thanks, I'm glad I'm here," I say quietly, and I mean it.

I greet the rest of them with hugs before I step back.

"Well, you can finally fucking say you're in your late twenties now, not so much a pup anymore." Jax taunts making Ace snicker.

"Yeah, just like two years until we can say he has joined the cool club and can be called a man," Ace remarks with a grin.

"I was a man long ago, and you boys aren't that much older, especially you, Jax." Li Sheng replies with amusement.

Li Sheng has just turned twenty-eight, he is the youngest followed by Shane who would have been nearly twenty-nine if he was alive today... Then it is Leo and Jax who are both thirty-one, with Ace at thirty-two and Jin at thirty-seven. Who knows how old we will be when death comes for us....

I look around the club for a moment as Azura comes over and hugs me again.

"Someone is looking sexy!" she says. "Don't you boys agree?"

Her arms are still around me and I realise it's a hug I didn't know I needed but I find comfort in it.

"I agree, you all look amazing," Jin says kissing Mishiko's head.

"As long as you don't look at them directly," Leo smirks, making his friends chuckle.

"That's not fair!" Sera exclaims.

"Yeah, whatever, let them say whatever, it's these boys who will be crying when they ain't getting nothing tonight." Azura counters.

I smirk at that, now that is the perfect blackmail.

"Come on, let's go dance," Azura says motioning for Sera and Mishiko to come too.

Sera shakes her head, "ll pass! You girls go."

"Drinks first!" I say with a small smile.

"Drinks... Oh yeah! Oi Weo Boy. You got some absinthe?"

Azura whispers.

The boys snicker as Ace slaps Leo's back.

"Damn that one is my favourite and I'll make sure it never gets old! Right, Weo?" Ace grins.

Leo casts him a cold glare and I can't help but smirk, not long ago we all saw a super cute video of her at the King's wedding calling him Weo, and well... since then the boys take the piss out of him all the time. I myself wouldn't dare call him that, but it's super funny to hear. "Na, it isn't for fucking kids," Leo replies mockingly to Azura, despite grabbing the back of her hair and kissing her.

Azura's eyes narrow. "Do we look like kids?"

"I'm not sure, maybe the fact you can't pronounce my name properly makes me think you're still a fucking pup." He says pointedly.

"Then don't kiss a kid," Azura says, pulling back when Leo tries to kiss her.

"You'll get your fucking absinthe," Leo growls dangerously yanking her close and kissing her. I look away, they're a lovely couple and although at times they argue, it's cute.

I walk over to the bar, and order the night special watching as the bartender pours the green liquid into my glass.

Absinthe...

I glance at Azura who is making out with Leo right now.

She knew she could just ask for it.

It's ok to be in a relationship where you argue at times...

No one's perfect...

Well, Shane pretty much was.

I smile softly as I look down at my glass.

Absinthe... the only alcohol strong enough to make a werewolf drunk.

"Shall we go dance?" Mishiko asks, patting my shoulder as she comes over. "Or would you rather dance with someone else?" she whispers.

I glance at the men, Jax is leaning against the wall as they talk about something, and I shake my head.

"No, I wouldn't," I reply as I stand up, we make our way to the dance floor.

Just enjoy the evening, I won't be a burden to anyone or ruin the mood.

I close my eyes, listening to the beat of the song and begin moving my body to the rhythm.

A couple songs pass by and Jin comes over.

"Mind if I take my woman?" he asks.

"Not at all," I reply, seeing Azura is now dancing with Leo whilst Sera is sitting down with the others. She isn't one to dance.

"Want to Dance?" Hayden, one of the high-rank guards asks.

I smile at him, "Sure." I reply.

I know Hayden, I wouldn't say we're friends, but we've trained together and with him being one of the higher-ranked ones we've worked together in the past a couple of times. "You look beautiful, Kareena," he compliments when the next song comes on.

"Thanks," I say, taking a step back to put some space between us.

I'm ok to dance, but I don't want him in my personal space. A slower song comes on and I close my eyes letting the words sink in enjoying the moment, when he takes my hand spinning me around and against his chest. Ok back up.

'Let's not get too free.' I say with a small smile.

I pull away and he tilts his head.

'You don't need to be so uptight Kareena, it's just a dance.' He says in what is definitely a condescending manner.

I'm about to reply when he grabs my hips pulling me close once more.

'Everyone knows you and the Beta are nothing to one another.'

For a moment hurt flashes through me but it changes to rage, my eyes flash as anger rips through me.

'Doesn't mean I fucking want your hands on me! Back off!' I snarl. I don't want to cause a scene but I'm raging.

I'm about to push him back when suddenly he is ripped off me, the crowd of those dancing around us parts and silence falls.

My eyes snap to Jax whose menacing aura is swirling around him, his chest heaving and his eyes blazing yellow as he glares at Hayden...