Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 59

Alaia

POV

After we returned home from our trip to Opal Moon, the days passed quickly, and soon it was Wednesday, the day of the Lunar Eclipse.

I could sense Alexi was nervous, although he tried to hide it by showering me with all love and affection he could.

After breakfast that morning, Xander pulled Alexi and me into his office for what he called a quick meeting. When we arrived, Matt and Kade were also there waiting for us.

Xander motioned for us to sit down before he spoke. "So, I know the ritual is tonight, and I wanted to do this before that got underway." Xander pulled his golden dagger from his drawer and set it on the desk. "Alexi, I have every confidence that you will pull through this just fine. But right now, you do not belong to a pack. If you were to die, your body would be disposed of as a rogue would. You would be in an unmarked grave in the woods since you couldn't be buried on my or any other packs grounds."

"I never thought that much about it, but I guess that makes sense. I don't really plan on dying tonight, though, so..."

"Doesn't matter. We're making you a member of Blue Moon right now. Stand up and step over here."

Alexi stood and walked to stand before Xander.

"Alaia, I need our Luna here as well."

I went and stood next to Xander as he reached over and picked the dagger up.

"Alexius Kostov, today, I, Alpha Xander Black of the Blue Moon pack, open the doors for you to join us. I, along with my Luna, offer you shelter, family, and an eternal bond that will be with you for all your days. Do you hereby swear to honor your Alpha and Luna for the rest of your days and to the best of your abilities, as required of all members of the Blue Moon pack?"

"I swear to do so."

"And do you swear to protect the life, happiness, and wellbeing of your Luna, with your last breath, for the rest of your days, and to the best of your abilities, as also required of all members of the Blue Moon pack?"

Alexi smirked before he answered. "Oh, I absolutely swear to do so."

Xander and I both tried to hide our smiles at hearing that.

I took Alexi's right hand and placed a thin cut across his palm before doing the same to Xander's. They then pressed their palms flat against one another's, allowing the pack link to flow from Xander to Alexi. Alexi's eyes clouded over as the voices of the Blue Moon echoed through his mind in welcome.

As Alexi's eyes cleared, Xander removed his palm and smiled. "Welcome to the family, brother."

***

Alexi POV

After I left the office, I decided to spend most of the day in the gym training. It had always been the best way for me to take my mind off things that are bothering me. I was worried about the ceremony much more than I let on, but I refused to show it. I didn't want to place any extra stress on Alaia; with her being pregnant, she didn't need to carry my problems on her shoulders. But I was afraid of the ritual not working. It wasn't that I was scared to die; it was more so that I was afraid of the idea that my time with my angel was coming to an end. I wished I had recognized how perfect she was for me years ago. It should have been her that I was with instead of all those random shewolves. But, there was little that I could do about the past anymore.

I pumped through over a hundred push-ups, then moved to sit-ups, then squats. My muscles were on fire. I didn't want to continue, so I got on the treadmill and set it to the highest setting. I ran until my lungs burned, then kept on running. Sweat poured from my body and stung my eyes. My legs were beyond sore and screaming for rest. But I had to be strong. If I had any chance of surviving tonight, my body had to be strong. I needed to push through the pain. Stopping wasn't an option.

I didn't even notice when Alaia came into the gym and called out to me. I pushed harder and faster. She was soon standing next to me, looking up into my face. I saw her mouth moving but didn't register what was being said. I kept going. It wasn't until I saw a lone tear slide down her face that I was pulled from my trance. I yanked the kill switch on the treadmill and placed my feet on the sides while the belt slowed to a stop. I grabbed my towel, then stepped over to her.

"I'm sorry, angel. I was in my own world. What's wrong? Why are you upset?" I wiped the tear from her cheek and kissed her forehead.

"Why are you doing this to yourself, Alexi? How will you have the strength to survive tonight if you push like this? Do you want to leave me, is that what this is?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and it broke my heart.

"Angel, that's not it at all. I'm trying to make myself stronger for you. So I can stay here with you. Nothing but death could keep me from you."

"Then come with me now. Give yourself a break and just, please, spend this time with me. I need you with me now." Alaia lead me from the gym and to her bedroom.

It was being upgraded to allow for the three of us to occupy the space, but at that point, it was still just shared by Alaia and Xander.

I followed behind her into the bathroom, where she turned on the shower and proceeded to remove my clothes. When I was undressed, she stepped back and pulled off her own until she stood before me totally bare. She again took my hand and pulled me behind her into the large shower.

The water was on its warmest setting, and she positioned me directly under the spray. The heat beat down onto my over-worked muscles and offered them some of the relief I was too stupid to provide myself. She took a fresh bath sponge, and after applying soap, washed my aching back. She then turned me and locked her eyes onto mine as she ran the sponge up and down my front, covering me in suds. She was so tender with her touch. No one had ever handled my body this way.

When she was done, she placed the sponge aside and reached up to cradle my face. "After you are clean, we are going to hang out on the couch and watch movies, okay? For the rest of the day."

"Okay, angel."

"I'm going to need you to hold me close, Alexi. I have to feel your touch. I need it."

"I'll be right there, for as long as you need."

"And tomorrow morning, we're going to make breakfast together, and then we will begin to plan our wedding."

"Sounds good, baby."

I heard a sob escape her mouth. "No, you promise me, Alexi. Please..."

I didn't even know that tears had begun to fall from my eyes until I tasted them on my lips. My angel was begging me to live, and I didn't know if I could.

"Promise me, Alexi."

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat before I found my voice. "I promise Alaia."

She pulled me down and pressed her lips against mine. Tears ran down both our faces as we savored the taste of one another. This kiss was fiery, it was passionate, and it was final. And in case I couldn't be the man she needed me to be and keep my promise, this kiss would be goodbye.

So I gave her all that I had left to give.

***

Alaia POV

Alexi and I spent the remainder of the afternoon alone in my bedroom. Xander knew how important this time was for us, so he made sure we were only disturbed when a late lunch was brought up. We curled up together on the couch and binged our favorite comedy movies. True to his word, Alexi held me close the entire time. We were never separated for more than a few seconds, and this gave me so much peace.

Eventually, the sun began its descent, signaling that it was time to start preparing ourselves. I just laid in his arms on the couch, unmoving. I needed to listen to his heartbeat and feel his warmth. I didn't want to have to move. "Angel?"

"Not yet. Please, just a few more minutes."

"It's starting soon, baby. We have to go."

I knew he was right, but it didn't make this any easier.

He leaned forward and placed his face in my neck, leaving a light kiss where his mark should be. "You're strong, Alaia. You can do this. And when it's all over, we will start our lives together. Babies, wedding, everything you want."

I could do this. I could do this. I could do this. I just had to keep repeating it, then maybe I'd believe it. I stood from the couch and grabbed Alexi's hand, pulling him up with me. "Come on. We can do this."

We walked hand in hand out of the bedroom and down to the first floor.

Xander had the backyard prepared for the ritual, so we made our way out the back door. Off to the side, Xander, Matt, and Kade were standing next to a cleared space. There were four large stakes in the ground holding thick heavy chains. These would be used to keep Max in place once Alexi had shifted. "Hey, guys. Are we all ready?" Alexi asked. He was trying to appear confident, but I could feel his hand shaking in mine.

Xander gave a small smile and walked over. "We're ready whenever you are. You're strong as hell, Alexi, don't ever forget that. You push through this and come back to us. You can be a real cocky pain in my a*s, but this pack needs you. And most importantly, Alaia needs you."

Alexi laughed. "I'll do my best, Alpha."

Kade and Matt walked up to offer words of encouragement as well before they placed the chains on Alexi's wrists and ankles. Once they were done, both stepped back and shifted into their wolf forms as an added layer of protection. I noticed that they both stood right at my sides, towering over me and on guard.

Just relax for a bit, guys. Everything will be okay, I linked them.

They gave a small nod, then sat back on their hind legs, prepared for what was to come.

Seeing as this may be my last opportunity, I walked over to Alexi and gave him one long, final kiss. I didn't want to have any regrets once this night was over. "You remember your promise to me."

"I remember, angel."

"Good. And you keep it."

"I promise. We've got this, don't worry so much." He gave me his most beautiful smile, then crouched on the ground in preparation to shift.

I put my hand on the top of his head and concentrated on removing the suppression that I had placed on Max all those nights ago. Once I felt the wall I had built fall down, Alexi's eyes flashed black for a moment, letting us know that his wolf was back with him. "Step back, little one. I'll need to open Alexi's veins right before he shifts, but I don't want you too close," Xander stated.

I did what he asked, never taking my eyes off Alexi.

When I was a safe distance away, Matt and Kade came to stand in front of me. I looked up at the moon and watched as it slowly disappeared from sight. Before the last cast of its light was gone, Xander stepped forward and ran his silver-tipped blade down both of Alexi's arms.

Max howled in pain but didn't come forth. It was like he knew what was happening and refused to allow it.

But we knew better. Xander knew better. He stood in front of Alexi and called out to him. "Shift. Now!"

As his alpha, Max had no choice but to comply with Xander's order, and the familiar sound of popping and dislocating bones filled the air. Within seconds, there was a huge, reddish-brown wolf standing where Alexi once was.

Seeing him in this form for the first time frightened me, and brought back memories of those weeks Max kept me locked away. I quickly shook the fear off. He was no longer in control, and I knew without a doubt that Max could never hurt me. He growled and fought against the chains, and blood gushed from the wounds Xander had opened. Because they had been created with silver, they would take much longer to heal.

But Max didn't care. His focus was solely on Xander, who stood before him, unmoving. Max wanted to get to Xander; he wanted to kill him. But like a true alpha, Xander stood in his human form and showed no fear. It was almost like he was watching this all play out on TV.

Finally, Max began to feel the effects of the blood loss, and his focus no longer was Xander. His eyes searched the scene before him, and eventually, he looked over and locked eyes with me. Then the moon went completely dark.