Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 33

Alaia POV

Xander was right. As soon as I finished my breakfast, Kimmy and Katherine swooped in and dragged me back upstairs and to my dressing room.

The vanity was covered in makeup and hair care products, and I cringed a bit at what the next few hours would hold for me.

"Okay, Alaia. Have a seat."

"Wait, why? It's only 10:00 AM, we have seven hours until everything is scheduled to start!"

"We would have had eight hours if you and my brother weren't playing kissy face at the breakfast table all morning."

"Alaia, I'd like to have a full body treatment done for you today. A brown sugar scrub, mud mask, and seaweed wrap. I want that flawless skin of yours to sparkle. Then we'll move on to hair and makeup. We're a bit short on time but if we hurry, we can get everything done." Katherine calmly told me.

"Well, no girl will turn down being pampered, so let's do this. Where do you need me?"

A woman who introduced herself as Ingrid came in and set up a large table in the middle of the room. She then unceremoniously stripped me down to my underwear and literally picked me up and placed me on the table.

I saw Kimmy snicker out of the corner of my eye but I chose to ignore her and let Ingrid do what she needed to do.

"Okay Luna...it's time to make you glow!"

***

Five hours later I had been scrubbed, wrapped, plucked, and waxed to within and inch of my life. I had had both a manicure and a pedicure and now it was time for hair and makeup.

I sat in front of the vanity and closed my eyes as the makeup artist and hair stylist went to work.

I finally opened my eyes when I heard someone sobbing. Looking into the mirror I saw my mom bawling her eyes out behind me. "Mom, what's wrong? And what are you doing here?"

"Nothing is wrong, you're just so beautiful baby! And why wouldn't I be here? Katherine and I have been planning this all week."

"Really?"

"Of course sweetie. They only thing better than having one former Luna planning the ceremony is having two! Your dad, Aaron, and Jordyn are here as well. We're all so proud of you honey." She broke down again and I had to stand up and wrap her in a tight hug.

"Thanks mom, now stop crying or you'll make me start and my makeup is almost done."

Just then, Jordyn came into the room and immediately started crying as well.

"Really J? What happened to being a kick-a*s Luna, huh? Kick a*s Luna's don't cry."

"You're right, babe. No more crying, I'm just really happy for you. And I love seeing you so happy."

I kissed her on the cheek and gave her a quick hug before I spun around and sat back in my chair to finish getting ready.

Finally when it was time to get into my dress I started to get butterflies in my stomach. This was a big f*****g deal!

I was about to vow my life to an entire pack of wolves, I'd have to lead by example and take care of them always.

I started to feel hot, like really really hot. My heart was racing and the room was beginning to spin.

Is this a panic attack?

"Alaia, babe? I need you to breath okay? We're all here and you can do this." Jordyn said while rubbing circles on my back.

I took a few deep breaths but it wasn't helping. I started to feel nauseous and really began to panic, I didn't want to let all these people down.

Then through the haze, Amethyst began to purr our healing melody.

After a few moments I began to calm and when I could breath again I hummed along until everything was back to normal.

Everyone stood looking at me cautiously, like they were waiting for me to explode or something.

"Okay, I'm alright now guys. I'm so sorry if I scared you, I don't really know what happened but I feel much better."

"Is that one of your 'Amethyst Powers'?" Jordyn excitedly asked.

"Yea, it is. We're healers and the song I was humming is a part of it. It's pretty cool actually."

"Hell yea it is! So you ready to finish getting dressed?"

"I'm ready."

***

After what seemed like FOREVER, I was finally done and it was time for me to head down.

I took one final look in the mirror.

My hair was straightened of all it's curls and hung down by my waist. I had on Katherine's beautiful white satin dress that had been tailored perfectly to fit me.

I never needed foundation or concealer so I just wore a dark smokey eyeshadow and a simple black eyeliner and mascara to make my eyes pop.

My lips were painted rose and a small sprinkling of bronzer finished off my look.

I looked like myself but older and more sophisticated. I looked like a Luna.

I walked out the room then headed down.

Xander was already dressed and waiting for me in the common room.

When I saw him my knees went weak. He had on an impeccable navy blue suit, a crisp white shirt, and chocolate brown dress shoes. He decided against a tie and left his top two buttons undone. His thick black curls were combed in his signature tousled messy look that always made me want to reach out and run my fingers through them.

There were no words to describe how incredible he looked. So I just said the first thing that came to mind.

"Damn, Daddy..."

Xander's eyes flashed black before he licked his lips and began to quickly walk over to me.

Unfortunately he was intercepted half way by Katherine who swiftly pulled him towards the back door.

"Do not touch her, she is absolutely perfect and we can't have you wrinkling or smudging all of our hard work. Save it for afterwards."

With that, she pushed him out and closed the door behind him.

"We'll just give my son a few moments to cool off before we get started. But you look absolutely stunning, Alaia. I completely understand his reaction." "Thank you, Katherine."

She smiled warmly at me before she turned to the room.

"Okay, Ladies. Let's go usher in a new Luna!"

***

I stood in the middle of the stage and looked out onto all of the faces in the crowd.

I don't remember any of what Xander had said so far in the ceremony, nor how or when I came to be standing here.

All I know is that I will soon be responsible for all of them. And for some strange reason, I wasn't nervous anymore. I was ready.

Xander took my hand in his and smiled down at me, waiting for me to give the silent signal that he could continue. I nodded then smiled back at him. It was time.

"Alaia Miller, do you vow here tonight to always protect and honor the members of the Blue Moon pack to the best of your abilities until your final breath?"

"I vow to do so."

"And do you vow to always support you Alpha, and to stand by his side? To guide him when he goes astray and help him stand when he is weak to the best of your abilities until your final breath?" "I vow to do so."

"Lastly, do you vow to use your powers only for good, and for the betterment of your pack? To never use them for selfish gains or for the manipulation of others? Do you vow that the Amethyst wolf will remain a positive source of light, until your final breath?" "I vow to do so."

Xander took a large golden dagger and sliced his right palm, then did the same to mine.

We interlocked our fingers and when our palms rested against one another my mind was bombarded with voices of my pack.

It was our mindlink. I could hear each and every one of the Blue Moon pack members welcome and congratulate me. This was one of the proudest moments of my life.

In the crowd, the pack began to all take a knee and bow their heads in reverence.

A strong gust of wind began to circle Xander and I as the bond from the pack continued to flow to me from him.

When it was over, we turned to the crowd and Xander proudly announced "Blue Moon pack, please rise and honor your new Luna, Alaia Miller."

Cheers and howls filled the air and my mind. Although it was just the pack sending their well wishes, it was all of them at the same time and it became a bit overwhelming.

Quiet down please. I'm honored to be your Luna, but I'm new to our mindlink and cannot process so many voices at once.

All at once, the entire pack said "Yes, Luna."

"What was that?" Xander asked.

"What do you mean? I just mindlinked them."

"The entire pack, baby. No one has ever linked more that ten members at once, you just linked over five hundred." "Whoa..."

"You just keep surprising me, Little One. Come on, let's go eat."

***

I walked around the party speaking to various members of the pack before I found my family seated at one of the tables.

I went over and quickly wrapped my dad and Aaron in a hug, I had missed them so much.

"How are you guys? Do you miss me yet?"

"Are you kidding? It's so peaceful at home now, I'm loving every minute of it!" Aaron joked while petting my head.

"Aaron, stop petting me. As an Alpha, I don't think you want anyone to see you get your a*s kicked by the neighboring packs Luna."

Dad took the opportunity to turn me towards him and stop the bickering before it really had a chance to get started.

"Alaia, I'm so proud of the woman you have become. Of course I would have preferred for your mate to have been from Opal Moon so I could always have you close, but Alpha Xander is a good man and leader. I couldn't think of a better match for you if I tried." "Thanks, Dad. I think he's pretty perfect too."

I turned to Aaron to ask him about Jordyn when I hear a terrible scream behind me.

I turned around and saw Xander down on one knee, with black veins popping out of his neck and face. His usually tanned skin was red and inflamed, almost like someone had poured acid on it.

His eyes had gone completely black and looked ready to pop out. My heart clenched when I saw him reach for his throat, he couldn't breath. I had to do something, I had to get to him.

I rushed over as quick as I could, reaching him right as he collapsed onto the ground.

As soon as I touched him, my hands began to tingle.

Dark magic. Xander had been poisoned.

Amethyst, we have to heal him! Now!

I tuned out the screams and chaos behind me and closed my eyes. I ran my fingers through Xander's hair and rubbed his face while I hummed to him.

The poison that was working through his system was strong, it was refusing to subside but I continued on, desperate to save my mate.

I placed my forehead against his and as fat tears ran from my eyes I hummed with everything I had. I poured myself into the melody, my lungs began to burn, I was barely breathing but still I continued.

I felt a harsh pair of arms wrap around my waist and pull me up and away. I wanted to fight them but I had no energy. I had given my all trying to save Xander. I didn't know how spent I was, until he was no longer in my arms. My body was limp in the stranger's arms. When I finally opened my eyes I saw that we were being attacked. There were rogues everywhere, pouring in from every direction. Leaping down from trees and swarming in from the woods in both their wolf and human forms.

Many of the warriors from my pack along with Aaron, Jordyn, and my father shifted and began to s***h at every rouge in sight.

Others opted to fight in their human forms, and soon the entire area was a blood bath.

All of the beautiful decorations my mom and Katherine had worked so hard to put together were strewn on the ground, splattered with black and red blood stains.

Helpless shewolves and pups huddled together or ran for cover trying to replace the smallest hint of safety.

I could see the faces as they screamed and howled, but I still couldn't hear anything. It seemed that all but one of my senses were turned off. I could only see. See the destruction before me.

My mind was in turmoil, my pack was under attack and I didn't know if my mate was still alive.

I glanced over and saw Matt and Kade in their wolf forms standing over Xander's still body, fighting off the rogues.

I prayed that he would be alright, that I had done enough to save him, and that the pack could stand long enough to get him to safety.

Hold on, Doll. We will get through this, but only if you can be strong.

I can't, not without him...

Alaia! He can't without you! If you give up, our mate dies. Trust in our abilities, we will make it out of this.

A large sack was pulled over my head and the last bit of the battle was lost to me. I let myself be carried away to the unknown, trusting that this would not be the end for me, or the end for us.