Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 12

Alaia

POV

It felt like I'd been asleep for years as I tried to open my eyes. My arms felt like lead, and I couldn't for the life of me, remember why.

I continued to work to open my eyes when I started to hear familiar voices. Was that Aaron, and Xander? What were they talking about? And laughing? What, were they best friends now or something?

I willed my eyes open and looked around. For a minute, I had no idea where I was until I heard the "beep....beep... beep..." of the machines.

"Why am I in the hospital?" I quietly asked.

Hearing me speak, both Xander and Aaron snapped their heads in my direction and leaned forward.

"How do you feel, Little One? Do you need a glass of water or anything? Are you in any pain?"

I chuckled and replied.

"No Xander, I don't need anything. You could help me sit up a bit, though."

He gently lifted my body before placing me back on the bed in a seated position. Aaron sat close by with a sly smile on his face.

I blushed at the attention before I looked up at Xander and thanked him.

"Anything for you, Little One," he replied.

"So, which one of you would like to tell me what's happening?"

The guys looked at each other before Xander ran his hands over his face and sighed.

"You're exhausted, sweetie. The doctor says that all the s**t that has happened the last couple of days has mentally and physically drained you and your wolf. I guess hearing your father, Alexi, and I discussing the challenge was the last straw. You fainted in my arms before Aaron, and I brought you here. I'm so sorry, baby."

I reach out and grab his hand, willing him to look up and into my eyes. Once he did, I let him know.

"None of this was your fault. All you did was pick up the pieces when I was broken beyond repair. So again, thank you."

I then leaned back and looked over at Aaron.

"So how long have I been out?"

"Just a few hours, it's a little after 4:30 right now," he said, looking at his watch.

Cool, that still left me time to figure out how to stop this stupid challenge.

As that thought worked its way through my mind, Alexi appeared at the doorway of my room. Xander immediately tensed up, and Aaron jumped to his feet and turned to his friend.

"Dude now's not a good time. She just woke up."

"It's alright," I said, "I don't mind if he comes in for a while."

Alexi gave me a small smile before he stepped further into the room.

He nervously cleared his throat before he asked: "Guys, I know this is a lot to ask, but would you mind if I spoke to Alaia alone for a bit?"

I expected Xander to refuse the request, but then I remembered the rules of the challenge. Alexi couldn't touch any part of my body whatsoever. Since he rejected me, I was no longer his. Another had found me, and now Xander had claim over me. If Alexi were to violate this rule, it would mean either death or banishment. It would be up to Xander to choose the punishment. Xander and Aaron both looked over at me to see my reaction.

"It's fine; you guys can wait right outside if you want."

Xander stood straight up before bending back over and placing a petal-soft kiss on my forehead. The sparks that shot through my body charged and energize me. I wanted more of him, but I knew it was not the time.

"I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything at all."

Xander turned then walked out the door, not even sparing Alexi a glance. Aaron also walked out and shut the door quietly behind him.

"You can come closer, you know. The rules say you can't touch me, but you can at least sit by my bed."

Alexi moved to the seat vacated by Aaron and sat down. We sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds before Alexi decided to break the ice.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Alaia. I had a feeling you were my mate when I hit eighteen last month, but I hoped it wasn't right. I felt so unworthy of you. When I saw you last night, I didn't know what to do. The last thing I wanted, was also the one thing I wanted most. I wanted you so, so bad, Alaia.

I just didn't know how I could face you once it was known that we were mates. The shewolves wouldn't have given you a moment's rest. Hell, they can't even handle us talking to one another without raging with jealousy, so just imagine what would happen when they saw you bearing my mark.

I realize now that I was just taking the easy way out. You're so much stronger than I ever gave you credit for. You showed me that when you accepted my rejection and walked out of my room with your head held high."

I seemed to have lost my voice as no sound made its way out of my mouth. Alexi had finally explained to me why all of this had happened, and I couldn't feel anything but sadness.

If only he had been stronger from the start. We could be happily mated now and preparing to start our lives together.

The Moon Goddess knew better, though. I don't know much about Xander; what I did know was that I wanted to be with him. I'd never before felt more at peace than I did when I was in his arms. I opened my mouth to express this to Alexi before he stopped me. "It's okay, Alaia, you don't have to say it. It's obvious the way you feel about him already. I just wish I could take his place. And I will, tonight after the challenge."

Alexi abruptly stood up and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Well shit...

***

About fifteen minutes later, my parents entered the room, followed by Aaron, Jordyn, Xander, and his beta Kade.

Mom rushed over and crushed me in a hug.

"My poor baby! A rejection, a second chance, and a challenge all in the span of twenty-four hours? It's no wonder you're exhausted. But don't you worry, we'll get you back to your old self sooner than you know it."

I laughed and smiled at her.

"Thanks, Mom, but I'm okay. I promise."

Before she could launch into more of her "mother hen" tendencies, Dad cut in.

"Both Xander and Alexi agree that the challenge is to move forward as planned. Knowing you, I'm sure you were trying to replace a way to stop it before it started, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I've asked them both to take the next few hours to prepare themselves, and since the outcome directly affects you, I'll ask the same of you.

Get ready, sweetheart, because no matter what happens, someone has to lose. It could turn out to be a fight to the death if they refuse to concede the victory. Someone may lose their life tonight, so please, prepare yourself as much as you can, okay?"

I wiped the stray tears I didn't even realize had fallen from my cheeks and nodded.

"Okay, Dad."

He gave me a quick hug before he took my mom's hand and turned to leave. Xander and Kade stood at the door, having a private conversation amongst themselves through their mindlink.

Jordyn sent me a smile and mouthed, "I love you, girl."

"Aaron, baby. Let's give her some time alone. I'm sure she's in good hands."

They both walked out, leaving me with Xander and Kade.

I gave them both a shy wave encouraging them to come closer.

"How are you, Luna?" Kade asked me.

"I guess I'm about as good as I can be. I know that the outcome I want isn't guaranteed and that honestly worries me."

"Well, you don't have to worry about your Alpha. He's waited years for you, and he damn sure won't give you up now that he's found you. Besides, I'm sure the whole pack back home is waiting to see the lovely lady who turned Big Bad Xander here into a lovesick puppy."

Xander growled at Kade, making him and I laugh.

Kade put his hands up in surrender before he conceded.

"I'm going to head out now and give you two some much needed alone time. 9 o'clock," he said to Xander before he walked out.

***

I looked up at Xander and patted the spot beside me on the bed. He smiles before he walks over, takes off his shoes, and lays down beside me.

Like magnets, our hands found their way to each other, and our fingers intertwined.

"How about we play a game, twenty-one questions?" I asked him, "That way, we can get to know one another."

"Sure, I'll start," he told me.

"What is your favorite food?" he asked.

I giggled when I told him "That's impossible to answer, I love all food. Have you seen these thighs?"

Xander's eyes darkened and he licked his lips.

"Yes, I've seen them. And I've dreamed about having them wrapped around my waist and around my face. I want to commit every golden-brown inch of those thighs to memory."

Dear sweet baby Jesus. This man just had to look at me, and my panties were soaked. The thought of his head, either one, buried between my thighs makes them instinctively clench.

I cleared my throat and said, "P-pancakes. Our head omega Mrs. Wilson makes strawberries and cream pancakes that I will fight over. They are my favorite..."

"Sounds delicious, I'll have to try them sometime," he said with a sexy smile.

"What's yours?" I ask.

"I'm not 100% sure yet, but I think it might be you. Your ankles and hands tied to my bed while I devour that juicy p***y of yours until you cry tears of joy."

He leaned over and placed his lips right next to my ear before he whispered, "I can smell you, baby."

I gasp and cover my face with my hands.

Xander roars with laughter before pulling me in for a tight hug.

"It's alright, Little One. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see how your body responds to my touch. This delicious little body was made to be mine and mine only. Mine to touch, mine to kiss, and mine to f**k until you can no longer walk straight. Once this is all over and I bring you back to our pack, you'll experience pleasure you've never known."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Do you know what a Dom is Little One?"

"No," I whispered.

He lowered his voice to the sexiest huskiest tone I'd ever heard before and explained.

"I am a Dom, or dominant. You will be my submissive. That means that I like to be in absolute control. When you're in our bed, you're to be 100% submissive to me. If you disobey, you will be punished. Punishment can be anything from bending you over my lap while I spank that pretty round a*s of yours until you cream down your legs, to withholding your o****m. It's all up to me.

When I tell you to c*m, you will. As hard and as many times as I want. When you feel like you've reached your limit, I'll push you over it. As your Dom, I'll make you reach the highest peaks of pleasure and pain before I bring you back down and soothe it all away. Your body will be my toy, and I'll play with it as rough and hard or as soft and gentle as I want. Would you like that, Little One?"

Would I like that? Would I like this tasty mountain of a man to use my body however he saw fit? Abso-f*****g-lutely, I would love it.

I'd never experienced anything like this, I'd never even kissed a guy, let alone had s*x, but now the idea of allowing Xander to take total control set my body ablaze. Amethyst, who'd been mostly quiet the last few hours, woke and began to purr and howl loudly. She's wanted to be taken by Xander just as badly as I did. "Your eyes have gone dark, Little One. Couple that with the thick smell of your juices, I'll assume that your answer is yes?" he said with a raised eyebrow.

It seemed that all my body's hydration had gone south, my mouth was like a desert and far too dry to even form the simplest of words.

I took my bottom lip between my teeth and gave Xander a nod, causing him to growl lowly.

"I'm going to destroy that mouth of yours, baby," he said while reaching up and pulling my lip free.

He then ran the pad of his thumb across the outline of my mouth before saying, "Open."

I immediately obliged and was rewarded with his thumb slowly entering and gently beginning to finger f**k my mouth. My body moaned in pleasure.

"Suck it, Little One, such a good girl you are," Xander said and I felt my n*****s become hard as ice, straining against my thin T-shirt. My body gushed, leaving pools of my pleasure between my thighs.

"Now there's just one more thing I have to do."

I just nodded furiously, Xander could do whatever he wanted, however he wanted.

He brought his face closer to mine, so close I could feel his warm minty breath fan over my cheeks and down my neck. Goosebumps erupted all over my body, and I began to s**k his thumb like it was the tastiest treat known to man. "I have to go beat your ex in this challenge."

He then pulled his thumb from my mouth, making me almost whine from its absence.

"Don't worry, Little One, I'll come right back, and when I do, You. Will. c*m. And hard."

Again, I just nodded my head.

"Let me hear that beautiful voice, baby."

"Y-yes," I managed to get out.

"Yes, what?"

In unison, Amethyst and I said, "Yes, Daddy."

Oh, Moon Goddess, what had I gotten myself into?