Alexi POV
As Alaia walked into the room, I sucked in a breath. I didnt want to have to face her yet. It hurt when I rejected her, but it damn near killed me when she accepted it without even putting up a fight. I didnt get a moments sleep last night; I just sat in bed, thinking over my decision to reject the Moon Goddesss most perfect gift. She deserves someone better, I told myself over and over. I wasnt a good guy, I was tainted, and Alaia didnt need to have to deal with all of my conquests sending her evil looks or petty remarks.
She was too pure, too perfect. She was perfectmy angel.
This thought had rung over and over in my head. Max had shut himself off to me, and I feared I would never hear from him again. I had rejected his mate, his perfect mate.
She was perfect, so, so perfect . . . I repeatedly said out loud.
Before I knew it, the sun was coming up and had started to stream through my window. I wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and never leave my room again, but as the future beta, I knew I had to attend the Alpha meetings that day.
When her golden-honey eyes landed on me, my mind went blank. I could form only one thought, one word. Perfect.
I watched as she took a couple of steps toward me before her eyes swept up to just over my shoulder.
As curious as I was, I couldnt tear my eyes away from her face to see what it was that had drawn her attention. I watched her eyes move slowly down then back up. Her breath began to hitch as she stuck her tongue out slightly and licked her delicious lips.
Then I smelled ither arousal. Alaia was standing right in front of me, looking at someone else, and she was turned on.
A growl ripped from my chest, which pulled her attention back to me. She looked down, seemingly ashamed, and I took the opportunity to spit out, Why are you here, Alaia? I wanted to know what would possess her to reject me, then come and tease me with her scent. I stood up and grabbed hold of her arm. I was going to pull her out of the office and find out what game she was playing.
Before I could turn to walk out the room, I heard a heart-stopping growl behind me, immediately proceeded by, MINE!
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron walk into the room and say, Well, this just got interesting.
I was lifted off the ground by my neck and stared into the eyes of an extremely pissed off Alpha Xander Black of the Blue Moon Pack.
What the actual fuck? I thought to myself before I started to blackout.
***
Alaia POV
I stood there, speechless and unmoving. Alpha Xander was holding Alexi up at least three feet off the ground by his neck. Alexi was a beta, and a strong one at that, but he was clearly no match for a seething and possessive alpha. I watched as Alexi went limp before Xander loosened his grip and let him fall to the floor.
Xander then turned those pools of onyx on me before growling, You. Are. Mine! He grabbed me by my waist and lifted me like I weighed nothing, then pulled me to his chest with one arm while he cradled my head with the other hand. Xander buried his face in the crook and my neck and inhaled deep. Still shocked and more than a little confused, I placed my hands on his rock-hard chest and let out the breath I didnt realize I had been holding.
Thats when I smelled it againfreshly baked bread. Amethyst was howling in pure bliss in my head.
Wait, why was his scent on my pillow this morning?
Who cares, doll? Hes our mate! Our mate wants us, he claimed us!
With all the strength I could muster, I pushed Xanders face from my neck and wiggled in his arms to have him place me down. I saw a small flash of hurt in his eyes, but he quickly obliged and placed me back on my feet.
By this time, Aaron was standing right next to me and was looking just as confused as I was. I looked up at him and watched his facial expressions as he tried to process what hed just seen.
I saw when something finally clicked into place, and he roared, Is this your mate? The one who rejected you? Aaron grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him before he stepped up to Alpha Xander, causing another deep growl to slip past his lips.
Rejected? I heard both my dad and Xander cry out in unison.
So, I was surrounded by my highly pissed off father and brother, a seemingly super possessive Alpha who claimed I was his, and a blacked-out mate.
This was all becoming too much, but instead of walking out, I decided to face it head-on. Aaron, Alpha Xander is not my mate, and he did not reject me. That honor goes to the one and only Alexi.
Youve got to be kidding me, said my dads Beta, Lucas, with a groan. Youre telling us that my son rejected you?
Well, I didnt want to announce it to the entire crew in attendance today, but yes. Alexi and I found that we were mates last night before my birthday party. Once he realized this, Alexi took me to his room, where he proceeded to reject me. I accepted his rejection.
Anger rolled off the men in the room in waves, but it seems that I felt the wrath from Xander the most.
Lucas bent down and slapped his son across the face a few times in an attempt to wake him.
When Alexi came to, he looked around the room in a daze before his eyes landed on me.
Upon seeing this, Xander growled and again tried to lunge at Alexi; Im sure to kill him this time. Luckily, the men were able to hold him back while Lucas and Aaron helped Alexi up and into a chair.
As the haze started to clear, Alexi looked over at his dad and asked, What the hell happened? I remember trying to take Alaia out of the room to talk, and this idiot attacked me, he said, pointing at a now seething Xander.
I heard the rumble from Xanders chest, and instinctively stepped a bit closer to him and took his hand in mine. Xander quickly started to calm himself, and looked down at me, offering a small smile.
When Alexi saw the interaction, he jumped up and yelled, Get your hands off my mate, you fucking mutt!
Before I could register what was happening, Id been pushed behind Xander, who then moved in front of Alexi so quickly, if I hadnt been a wolf, I wouldnt have seen it. Xander leaned down, looking Alexi right in the eye. She. Is. Mine. From what I gather here, you rejected her. You were given this incredible gift, and you threw it away. You caused my mate pain; you made her cry. I could snap your neck here and now for that, but I wont. Out of respect for Alpha Jonathan and Beta Lucas, Ill spare you. But if you ever come near my mate again, or try to take her away from me, you wont live long enough to regret it.
The air in the room was thick with authority emitted from Xanders alpha aura. He turned back to me and again pulled me up and into his chest, inhaling my scent. Are you alright, my little one? I heard him ask while keeping his head down in my neck.
Yes, Im okay, I whispered back, still shocked, and not 100% sure what was going on. My hand came up and began to run through Xanders silky smooth curls, making his chest rumble with a deep sexy purr.
Its just as soft as we thought.
I nodded my head in agreement as a small smile played at my lips.
Xander took a couple of steps and sat in a nearby chair, pulling me into his lap. He placed a protective arm around my waist before turning back toward the group.
I tried to get up, but Xander firmly took hold of both my hips in his strong hands, immediately stopping all thoughts of relocation. Sparks shot up my body from the contact, and I internally sighed in contentment. My body relaxed into his touch as I leaned back and rested my head on his shoulder. I glanced over and saw Alexi looking at the two of us with so much hatred; it almost hurt. It made me sad to see before Amethyst reminded me that he rejected us. I closed my eyes and just breathed in my mates scent.
I still needed to find out what happened last night. I had a ton of questions, and at that point, zero answers. Xanders scent was all over my bed, but I wasnt worried. Being close to him felt like home, so I decided just to be content with that.
So, Alpha Jonathan, shall we begin? Xander said.
I looked up at his face, and he sent me a wink and a dazzling smile that instantly made me melt. Damn, this man was delicious. I took Amethysts loud purring as confirmation that she agreed.
Wait, you expect us to have the meeting with her here? Alexi asked, venom dripping from every word.
I looked up and saw him still shooting daggers in my direction.
What the hell was his problem? He rejected me!
As the future Luna of the Blue Moon pack, my mate has every right to sit in on these meetings if she wants. Its really up to her; what my little one wants, my little one gets, Xander said while looking me square in the eye.
My mouth fell open a bit when I heard his words. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the tip of my nose, and I sighed in contentment.
Oh, come on! said Alexi from across the room.
Alexi! Dad boomed. If you expect to become Beta of this pack one day, youll learn to respect our allies. If Alpha Xander or his Luna feels that she should sit in on these meetings, then she will.
The tone was undeniable, and all Alexi could do was bow his head in submission. Yes, Alpha, he said after a few seconds.
Well, if were all ready, gentleman, and lady, my dad said, sending me a quick smile, lets get started.