Hearts On Fire
Chapter 14:

Amaya: “What are you talking about?”

Azar: “I don't know how we can make this work.”

Amaya: “You're joking right? You're serious?”

Azar: “I am. Listen…this is only until we replace a solution.”

Amaya: “What solution?”

Azar: “For this whole mess.”

Amaya: “You should’ve told me long ago that you considered this a mess.”

Azar: “That's not what I meant. Let me explain.”

Amaya: “You have one minute.”

Azar: “I told you already that I'm afraid to mark you. I don't know what will happen to you and you being in the heat makes it unsupportable for me to be around you without doing anything. I need to stay away. You'll stay here in the house, I'll go away for some time.”

Amaya: “And where will you go?”

Azar: “I'll talk to my dad. As you know I’ll soon take his place and become the alpha of all alphas. He has a lot of meetings and packs to visit. I'll ask to go instead of him.”

Amaya: “No.”

Azar: “This is for the best and maybe in the meantime I'll replace some answers.”

Amaya: “Things can't get solved by themselves. Not if you choose to be a coward and walk away.”

Azar: “This is only temporary.”

Amaya: “Do you hear yourself? Do you know how stupid you sound? What's temporary? I can clearly see that you don't want me so just reject me and then, problem solved.”

Azar: “I'll never reject you, you're my mate.”

Amaya: “Now you listen to me. You don't get to call me your mate anymore. You can't continue acting like this. Either you want to be with me or not.”

Azar: “It's not that simple.”

Amaya: “Yes it is. Do you know what you did to me? You gave me hope. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere. Like I belong next to you. That I'll finally have my chance to be happy. To have someone to love me. All my life I've thought I deserved everything that's happening to me. That my family and others have a reason to hate me. That I'm really an abomination. A disgrace to all of them and now I see that you're ashamed of me too. The greatest, the most powerful wolf has a weak human for a mate. You probably thought you'd get someone as nearly as strong as you but you got me instead. Just admit it, I'm a disgrace to you.”

Azar: “Doll…no.”

Amaya: “Let me speak. Do you know what was the only thing I ever wanted?! Well I'll tell you. All I ever wanted was to be loved. That someone will love me the way I am and you gave me that hope. Why did you bring me here in the first place?! Only to prove to me that I'm that disgusting?! That I'll never be happy?!”

Azar: “You're far away from true, doll.”

Amaya: “Shut up!! I fell in love with you!! I hate you!! You're right, you better go. I hate you. You made me happy for a few days only to crush me like no one before.”

In Azar’s head: I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, doll.

Blaise: “Happy now?! Look at what you've done. Do you feel it? That's our mate’s pain. You did this to her.”

In Azar’s head: This is for her sake.

Blaise: “She's suffering because of you. How can that be for her sake? Do you hear it? Do you hear her crying? She has suffered all her life and instead of protecting her, you're giving her misery.”

In Azar’s head: We’ll replace a way.

Blaise: “You better hurry before we lose her. We don't deserve her either way.”

In Azar’s head: You're right…we don't. (in the garden)

Fenrir: “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Azar: “I don't think I have any other option. I need to go away.”

Fenrir: “Okay. Your mate will be staying at your house?”

Azar: “Yes. I know she doesn't want it but I also know she'll listen to Miranda and Thorne. We still don't know much about her family. She's convinced that they're out searching for her. I can't risk her leaving. My house is the safest place for her to stay.”

Fenrir: “You're right, don't worry. I'll have the pack warriors around it. She'll be safe. We won't let anything happen to her while you're gone.”

Azar: “I'll be back in a few weeks. I just wish I could know if I'm making the right choice.”

Fenrir: “I wish I could give you that answer. I know you're ready to take my place. I just didn't wanna add pressure to you with everything happening with Amaya but if you think this is what will help you clear your head then go for it.”

Azar: “I don't know, but I'll try. I better get going. Take care of her.”

Azrael: “Where is our son going?”

Fenrir: “He left.”

Azrael: “Left where?!”

Fenrir: “He'll be visiting and controlling other packs instead of me.”

Azrael: “What about Amaya?! Didn’t Khiara say she’s in heat?! He can't leave her.”

Fenrir: “That's exactly why he's leaving.”

Azrael: “And he didn't even say goodbye to his own mother?!”

Fenrir: “He knew that you would be against him leaving.”

Azrael: “When is he coming back?”

Fenrir: “In a couple of weeks.”

Azrael: “What about Amaya?”

Fenrir: “She'll be staying at his house with her friend and Thorne.”

Azrael: “At least one smart move. He didn’t reject her, right?”

Fenrir: “No. He just wants to figure out what to do and try to regain some self-control.”

Azrael: “Remember us during my heat?”

Fenrir: “How could I ever forget?”

Azrael: “No wonder he's losing control.”

Sammy: “Why did Thorne just tell me that Azar left?!”

Azrael: “Tell me about it.”

Sammy: “He's crazy. Fenrir I swear to God he's as stupid as you.”

Fenrir: “What did you just say?”

Sammy: “You heard what I said. He's making the same mistakes you did and now you're telling me he left while Amaya is in heat?! How was Azzy acting during it?”

Fenrir: “Why does everyone need to remind me of that?!”

Sammy: “Exactly. Remember all the scandals you two made and I'm afraid these two will be worse. What if she decides not to wait for him to come back?! Not to mention she's human. She doesn't even have to wait for him and what are we going to do then?! Azar will burn everything down and you know how males become overprotective and crazy jealousy?! We all know how Fenrir was!!”

Azrael: “Let's just hope it won't come to that. (Amaya’s room)”

In Amaya’s head: The next few days were all a blur for me. I couldn't even know how much time was passing. I was so hurt by Azar’s actions. I understand where it all came from but I wish he fought for me. For once in my life to have someone by my side who's willing to fight for me…to stay by my side for better or for worse. Yet like all the others, at the first obstacle he decided to give up on me. At least that's how I saw the whole situation. The only reason why I stayed here is because I had nowhere else to go. I wanted to leave but I realized that the small apartment Miranda and I were renting is no longer hours and I have no money to pay it or anything else. Truth be told I wouldn't even make it on the streets but I couldn't do that to Miranda. She was determined to follow me wherever I decided to go and she needs to be with her mate. I can't be selfish and tear them apart as I knew there was no chance for me to leave without her leaving with me. She tried to persuade me that everything is going to be okay. That he’ll be back soon and we’ll solve everything. All I knew is that he went to visit some other packs and he'll be back in a few weeks but he was right. I was in heat. Even though others couldn't see any change, I could feel it and day by day, it was becoming worse. I didn't even wanna get out of bed anymore. I was now in physical pain. If he ever at least for a second cared for me, he wouldn't leave me like this all alone. Sure, Miranda and Thorne are here all the time and Khiara stops by every night and then. They were all trying to make me feel better but it was not the same. I only need him just to hold me and he's not here. The first one I trusted. The first one who gave me hope that it's possible that I'll be loved. The only thing I ever wanted and again he just showed me how worthless I am. That even my mate can't love me. (in the hallway)

Miranda: “I'm scared for her.”

Thorne: “I know. She'll be fine, have a little bit of faith.”

Miranda: “Why did he leave her like this?”

Thorne: “He didn't leave her. He's just trying to figure all of this out. You know we are all afraid of what can possibly happen to her when he marks her. Tell me one thing since you went through it with me. The marking…does it hurt?”

Miranda: “It does.”

Thorne: “See?”

Miranda: “But it doesn't last long. It quickly turns into a nice feeling.”

Thorne: “For you because you're a wolf like the rest of us, we heal fast but Amaya doesn't. Azar has every right to be afraid to mark her with his canines.”

Miranda: “You're right, I know. But maybe he could just stay closer. Look at her, she's in pain, she needs him. She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep. Nothing seems to help and him being far from her makes it even worse. (two weeks later in the kitchen)”

In Amaya’s head: I finally managed to eat a bit. I think the pain is going away. At least the physical one. Maybe it's passing. I hear someone coming. Is that Azar?! He came back!! (in the living room)

Christine: “Your house is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better.”

In Amaya’s head: Fuck.