Leo Rossi: The Rise of a True Alpha (The Rossi Legacies Book 2)
Precious Bonds Chapter 5

JAX

Pain slams through my left flank, jolting me awake and I'm out of bed in a flash.

Fear thumps through me as I realise what's going on

Kareena.

Something's happened to her!

'Kareena!' I call through the link.

Fear rushes through me as I run out the door of my bedroom and out of the apartment.

Im fine... I'm sorry, I was just ah.. she groans as she trails off and worry only fills me more, but at least she's somewhat ok. 'What happened?' I growl.

There's no response and the pain in my side remains.

She's injured.

'I was.' she groans. 'I was moving the desk from the office and'- she cuts off and a sliver of irritation rushes through me. What did she do?

I keep running and reach the house in a couple of minutes.

I reach down when I realise I haven't brought my keys, I'm only in my boxer shorts.

'Kar!'

I'm about to break the door down when it's opened by Kareena. Her face is flushed yet pale at the same time and the smell of blood makes my eyes snap downward to the blood that covers half her fucking body.

Anger and concern rip through me and I step inside, tearing off her blood-soaked top and wrapping it around her waist to stem the bleeding. For a split second, my gaze dips to her breasts, clad in a light blue bra before I look away smoothly. "What the fuck were you thinking?" I ask instead, irritation flashing through me.

"I'm fine!" She says, her heart thundering as she steps back, she's limping and she's clearly fucking not ok.

"Yeah, I can fucking see that," I growl. One quick look around the hallway gives me a clear picture of what happened.

She was moving the desk upstairs and clearly fucking failed.

That shit was heavy. Shane and I were the ones who had brought it into the house a couple of years back.

She doesn't respond, which only angers me more.

"What the fuck do you think you were doing?" I ask."

Your life may not fucking matter to you, but there are some of us who want you to fucking live and take care of yourself. Is that asking for a fucking lot?" She looks at me in disbelief.

"Are you for real?" Does she expect me to not get pissed? "You don't know shit." She says coldly as she leans against the hallway wall.

I know for a fucking fact if she was up to it she a storm out or away, just like she always does.

"I know enough to see that you can't take care of yourself! Think of your son, if not anyone else!"

"I was just trying to move the desk! I didn't fucking think I'd get hurt!" She hisses, trying to keep her voice down.

"Oh yeah? You could have called me Rina! Any fucking time you need me, I've told you I'll be there!" I snarl, unable to hold back my own anger.

Her face is pale as she stares at me as if she's seen a ghost.

She doesn't respond, and I close my eyes, trying to control my shit.

"Forget it. I'm talking to a fucking brick wall." I mutter, reaching for her.

"Let me check the wound."

"Fuck no, get the fuck out." She says quietly. She may be quiet, but her entire body is shaking.

"Kar-"

"I said, go!" she growls, her eyes black. "You know nothing! I'm giving you two minutes to leave."

She glares at me before she staggers to the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind her.

Fuck.

I look at the white wooden table that has a dent in two areas. The wall behind it is damaged and one of the steps...

Why does she always have to act so fucking independent?

When will she fucking realise we're fucking there for her?!

Ignoring her warning, I lift the desk, unable to shake off the look of hurt in her eyes.

Did I go too far?

No. I fucking didn't. It's been like two fucking years.

She needs to realise Shane Jr needs her, her friends need her.... I need her.

I get the desk up the stairs, I'll fix the splintered side and clean it up later... Where did she want to put Shane's desk, anyway?

I'm assuming her room.

It stings, two fucking years and she still has no damn space for me in her life.

I look ahead and come to a halt, seeing a few boxes in the hall outside the middle room where I sometimes stay. Her bedroom door is open too. What the fuck was she doing?

I glance into her room. The entire room's been pulled apart, but one entire wall is covered with the shelves from Shane's office... She's been busy.

The bed is full of clothes and the wardrobes are standing wide open... empty.

There's nothing in there, none of Shane's or her clothes.

My heart thunders as the first thought that comes to me is she's leaving.

I run my hand through my hair.

No, she's moving stuff in here. She wouldn't leave.

I scan the room, my eyes falling on the open suitcase on the bed.

Shane's clothes...

I turn around and cross the hall to the guest room. It's in a similar state, but the difference is, there are more of her things in here... her makeup drawer. Her jewellery boxes.

I cross the room and pull open the wardrobe. My clothes are still there, although they're pushed aside, and the rest of the wardrobe is full of her clothes...

An influx of emotions rush through me as I realise she was moving... not out but into this room.

A wave of relief floods me and I'm unable to explain the lightness I suddenly feel.

Was she taking another step to heal?

She was moving out of her and Shane's room...

It makes no fucking sense, but why does that make me feel... happy?

A wave of guilt rushes through me.

Is it her healing and moving on I feel good about or is it for my own fucking selfish reasons?

I'm fucking sick. This was never about me.

Im sorry, man.

I leave the room, another dose of guilt hitting me as I remember what I had said to her downstairs... She's not done anything reckless since I marked her. I shouldn't have said that...

Fuck!

I check up on Shane, who is fast asleep, before heading downstairs and opening the kitchen door. I spot her at the sink, rinsing the blood from her hands. She's wrapped a bandage around her waist and stomach. She switches the tap off and dries her hand on the towel.

"I told you to leave." She says coldly.

"Look... I'm sorry." I say quietly. Her back is still to me, and I can hear the thundering of her heart.

"I don't care. Just go, Jax. Now."

I step into the kitchen and walk over, refusing to listen to her.

"No. Not like this. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that shit-"

"No. You shouldn't have, but you did." She says, spinning around and glaring at me. "You don't even fucking know what happened!"

"I know, fuck I know! I just didn't want you hurt! I was fucking worried!" I say, gripping the counter on either side of her as I look down at her, trapped between my arms.

"Well, don't be! I can take care of myself." She says, her heart thumping. "Get out."

I tilt my head. "No, not like this, I'm not leaving until-" She flinches, groaning as she slumps back against the counter and I'm about to ask if she's ok when the most delicious, intoxicating scent I have ever smelt fills my nose.

Her eyes flutter shut, her pouty sexy lips part as her head tilts backwards, her breasts heaving as she grips the counter behind her, whimperingMy eyes blaze yellow as a jolt of pleasure and desire rushes through me, and a low growl escapes my lips as I look down at her.

Hunger, like never before, consumes me as I reach for the back of her head, fisting my hand in her lush brown hair, unable to stop myself from burying my nose into her neck. Devouring that sinful scent. Oh, my little mate is in heat...