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

WINONA.

Outfits... Check.... Food... Check... Décor... Check!

"How's it going?" I turned when the deep, powerful voice of Alpha Marcel came from behind me. My heart skipped a beat as I watched him tie the top of his hair back into a hair tie as he walked in, his top rising a little and showing off the sinful V of his Adonis belt. I quickly looked away, just as he placed his hands on the top of the sofa rest behind me.

He was an incredibly handsome man, and when he looked at me, I felt very self-conscious, half of it due to the fact that I had walked in on Leo and Azura in the kitchen making-

My cheeks burned as I tried to get rid of the image from my mind of Azura bent over, with Leo right behind her. Oh, goddess!

Alpha Marcel chuckled, and I felt my cheeks heat further. To make matters worse, I had slammed right into him, only to fall flat on my behind, and then my gaze fell to the front of his pants, noticing the rather obvious well-endowed package that he was blessed with. I had gotten to my feet and ran from the mansion as fast as possible!

He was still finding it amusing, although I had no option but to return when I collected Corrado. After all, I was helping him with arranging the Alpha and Luna ceremony. Something which was a first for this pack, considering this was the first time the title would be passed down.

"It's going well, I've ordered the clothing you wanted me to. I hope they all like them," I replied, not daring to turn and look into those warm brown eyes.

I could smell his appealing scent and I could feel he was far too close, feeling the heat of his body, as he leaned over looking at the laptop screen I was working on. It made my heart race trying not to pay attention to him.

"I'm sure they will, you should have taken me up on my offer and gone to my office." He frowned as he walked around and picked up a list of things we had to take care of, half were already ticked off.

"I'm ok here, thank you." I replied, my only wish was that he didn't make me go to the kitchen today.

I needed time to recover from that!

"Did you order yourself a dress?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I brushed a strand of my hair back, trying not to pay attention to the few strands of his that refused to be pulled back into the hair tie. "I have the black dress from last time, I don't need another," I replied with a small smile. I placed the laptop in my lap and quickly skimmed through the sexy lingerie I was purchasing for Azura from a risqué designer store. Oh, and some fishnet tights, I think Leo liked those on her.

My cheeks burned in embarrassment once again, and I quickly pushed the thought away.

I loved clothing, I loved buying things for others and getting to dress them up but not when it came to me. I liked to blend in.

I hit the purchase button, entering Leo's card details, when I was sure I had everything covered.

"I really don't want to say that's an order... So could you please order yourself something. This is a joyous occasion, my son is finally becoming Alpha."

Smiling softly, I watched him, I was happy too. Leo was the one to find me and give me a home, and seeing him become the man he is today, made me happy. He had always been a good man, but he wasn't happy. Today, he had found happiness with Azura. "He will be an amazing Alpha," I said, smiling gently.

"He will, I'm proud of him. Despite lacking as a father, myself, he still turned into a man worthy of the title." He said, looking out towards the dark window.

"You are a good father, Alpha Marcel, you remained patient with him, and you tried your best. You weren't put in an easy position either, your life has been full of trials too." I said quietly, unsure if I had overstepped my boundaries.

"Not an excuse to fail as a father..." He gave me a half smile before looking at his watch. "Want a drink? I think I could use some coffee."

"I'll make it," I said standing up until I remembered the fact that to make coffee... I would have to enter the kitchen.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I wished the ground would open and swallow me up! And that only got worse when the Alpha smirked, clearly amused at my expense. I was certain he knew what was on my mind.

"Um..."

"I'll go make it," he said, not removing that rather cocky smirk from his handsome face as he headed to the door, pausing when he reached me and tapping my nose gently. "Ah, you're so innocent."

My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and I saw the way his eyes flickered to my lips, making my stomach flutter nervously. I may be a virgin, but I knew the look of a man who wanted something. His smirk vanished, and he frowned deeply, leaving swiftly. It confused me on so many levels.

I was just a plain Jane and there were so many women in this pack wishing to get their hands on Alpha Marcel... I knew it was because of that stupid black dress.

That night he had looked at me, as if it was the first time he was seeing me. I knew that men, especially Alphas, had a high sex drive, and whatever it was that the Alpha wanted, it was probably only something casual. But casual or not, that was never something I'd entertain; it was wrong on so many levels.

First and foremost, after everything Leo had done for me, I would never do this to him, I would never betray him or be an insult to his mother. The Luna who had died far too early. I would never try to take her place, not even as a one-night stand. Secondly, I was turning twenty-seven next month, while Alpha Marcel was sixty, not that age was ever an issue for our kind, but this was something I would never encourage. What would Leo think?

It was getting harder, as we had now moved to the mansion, and I was given a room beside Corrado's, a room right opposite Alpha Marcel's. Seeing him daily didn't help, and we were often left alone too. He made me nervous... in a good way. But it was still wrong. I heard footsteps, and quickly focused on pulling open the website to the bakery where I would order the cake for the Luna ceremony. The Alpha placed down two cups, and I realised he had made me tea. "Oh, thank you." I said. I was rather surprised that he remembered I like tea. He took a seat on the sofa not too far from me.

Goddess, don't leave us alone; please, someone come in.

He didn't speak as he watched me fill in the details for the cake. "You would make a good event planner." He remarked while drinking his hot coffee.

I looked at him and blushed lightly at the compliment. "Thank you, when I was younger, that's what I wanted to do."

"You still can. You're still pretty young."

I looked at him, my smile faltering, and shook my head. "I won't, I'm happy doing this just for this family. Besides, I don't think I could focus on anything other than Corrado. He's my priority and my happiness."

He nodded, and I placed my laptop down and picked up my cup of tea, it was still piping hot as I took a careful sip. Oh, it was really good, I never knew the Alpha could make such tasty tea. I think it was one of the first times that someone had actually made me tea...

He sighed as he sat back. "Understandable, but with Leo having Azura here too, then there's me, Rosaline will be moving closer too, and there are others here too. You're a young woman, Winona, and you deserve to do whatever you want. There's no crime in building your own life and following your dreams too."

Nervousness flitted through me and I quickly drank my tea, not knowing how to reply, my eyes stinging at how hot it was.

Ouch!

I coughed lightly when I had downed it all, only for Alpha Marcel to slap my back lightly, rubbing it as I coughed. I felt my tongue and throat, which I had scalded, heal slowly. My heart was pounding, and it wasn't because of the hot tea. I was very aware of Alpha Marcel's hand massaging my back, right over my bra strap.

Kill me now, Goddess.

"I never realised I made such bad tea." He joked lightly.

"Oh no, it was absolutely delicious! I never knew Alpha Marcel could make such delicious tea. It really was tasty." I refuted, feeling guilty.

He smirked as he slowly removed his hand from my back. "At least the tea appealed to you." I thought I heard him murmur, but I wasn't sure. I frowned slightly, but he simply drank his own coffee and placed his cup down.

"Leo wouldn't want you to hold back Winona, if there's something more you wish to do, do it." Our eyes met, and I nodded slowly, not knowing how to refuse him.

I looked down at my lap. My pleated black skirt and white blouse were simple, looking at me, one wouldn't think I loved fashion or art. I couldn't refuse the Alpha's suggestion anymore as it would be disrespectful, but it didn't mean I'd follow it.

"I know, he's a lovely person who has always been kind to me and taken good care of me. Given me a home, and a purpose when I had nothing and no one." I replied, not wanting him to feel bad.

He nodded slowly, and I felt the lounge was suddenly far too small. His eyes were on me, and I could feel their intensity. "Was the relationship between you two always... platonic?" He asked quietly.

I froze, my heart thundering as I realised what he had just asked me. I didn't know if I should be shocked or hurt.

"Shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it-"

"Alpha Leo and I simply have a relationship built on trust, gratitude and above all, respect. He gave me a life, he's an alpha, and I'm an omega. I have never considered him anything more. How could you ask me that Alpha Marcel, especially since Azura is here?" I whispered horrified, as I stood up, my heart thumping at what he had just insinuated. What if Azura thought the same? How do I tell her there was never anything?

"Why would you even think that? Have you seen me?"

"Winona I'm sorry, I was just asking because..." He stood up, towering over me. His alpha aura making it so much harder for me to focus or breathe.

"Because what, Alpha? Your words have upset me, and I know I'm no one and I shouldn't say this, but how could you think like that of Leo and myself? I'm just Corrado's nanny, nothing more. When he asked me to take care of Corrado, I felt like I had found a purpose in life." I whispered, trying to fight back my tears.

"I know. Like I said, I'm only asking for my own knowledge." He spoke firmly, his voice deep and serious, making my heart flutter nervously.

He closed the gap between us, and I felt trapped, my chest heaving as he gazed down at me with eyes that no longer looked soft or warm but instead deep and mesmerising, laced with a hunger that suddenly made everything so much clearer.

He wanted to know if there was anything between Leo and me, so he could... he could...

He raised his hand, brushing a few strands of my hair off my face making the pit of my stomach flutter and twist. My beating heart only racing even faster.

"Alpha stop." I commanded in a shaky voice, with all the courage I could summon, and to my surprise, he blinked and tensed as if realising what he had just done.

His frown returned, and he turned his head away slightly.

"What am I doing?" He muttered, turning his back on me. "I'm sorry, Winona, I misunderstood..."

"I can never hurt Alpha Leo like this." I whispered before I quickly left the room as fast as I could, not daring to look back as I broke into a run.

What have I done?

"Winona!" I heard him call just as his phone went off, "Shit!" I heard him mutter. But I knew it was the alarm for the meeting, he wouldn't come after me, he had to attend it.

Thank the Goddess...

I never meant to entice the Alpha... If Leo knew... He'd hate me. What if he makes me leave the pack? Where would I go? The relationship between the father and son was only on the mend now, I couldn't be the reason to ruin it all.

I rushed into the night air, my heart thundering as I hurried away, letting the tears fall. Deep down, although I had refused him, it confused me... the way he made me feel was... exciting, different even...

But he was an Alpha and I was just... me.

I'm sorry Alpha Marcel, but I can't give you what you want.

Ever.