Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 7

Aaron

POV

It was about an hour into the party, and I hadn't seen the birthday girl yet. If anyone knew where she was, it would be Jordyn, so I walked over and asked. "Hey, babe. Have you seen Alaia?"

She scrunched her nose in thought before replying. "No, not since we got dressed together. Do you want me to go look for her?"

"No. I can replace her. We're twins remember; she can't hide from me." I gave her a quick kiss before I headed into the house to start the search. When I reached her room, I could feel something wasn't right. I knocked on the door, but it was just silence on the other side. But something was telling me this was where she was. "Alaia, I know you're in there, so open the door, please."

Still, I got no reply. I was getting more and more worried, so I pulled out my emergency key and put it in the lock. As I twisted the knob and tried to open the door, I felt resistance on the other side. What the hell? I applied gentle pressure and slowly widened the crack enough for me to squeeze through.

As soon as I stepped in, my heart stopped. I looked down to see my beautiful sister curled up on the floor.

She'd spent so much time straightening her hair, but now it'd began to matt and curl around her face, soaked with her tears.

I bent down and asked, "Alaia, what happened? Why are you lying on the floor?"

When she looked up into my eyes, my heart broke. My sister was hurting, and I didn't know why. I did the first thing I could think of and scooped her up into my arms. As I began to walk her to her bed carefully, I heard her whisper, "He rejected me." Instantly my body tensed, and my wolf, Ajax, came to the surface, ready to destroy whoever did this to her. "Who rejected you?" he growled.

He wanted a name, and he wanted it right then. No one rejected my sister and lived to see another day.

Alaia simply shook her head, the pain of rejection still too much for her. I sighed and fought for control before I placed her in bed and pulled the covers up. I then climbed in behind her, held her close, and just let her cry.

Before long, her breathing was slow and shallow, and I knew she was asleep. I gently removed myself from the bed and made my way back downstairs.

When I reached the bottom, Jordyn came up to me. "Hey, where have you been? The party's almost over." She saw the look on my face and knew something wasn't right. "Where's Alaia?"

I took a deep breath before replying, "She's upstairs asleep. She was rejected."

"What?!" Jordyn roared. "Where is the son of a b***h? I'll f*****g kill him for hurting my girl. Who was it? Was it one of the visiting alphas? I knew I didn't like them, just wait-" She spun around, ready to go back to the party and open the gates of hell. Before she could take two steps, I grabbed her and pulled her to me. I placed my head in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply, calming myself down and her too in the process. "I don't know who it was, babe," I said, still holding her. "She was too broken even to tell me his f*****g name! Maybe in the morning, she'll be able to tell us what happened." I grabbed her hand before saying, "Come on, let's go back to the party. At least one of the birthday pair should be in attendance." Jordyn nodded her head before we set off.

I could play the happy birthday boy then, but the next day I was going full alpha on some unsuspecting soul.

***

Unknown POV

I walked around the party, feeling a sense of unease. I knew I was in no danger, as many of my pack warriors were here with me, and the Opal Moon pack had always been close allies, but still, something seemed off. I took a sip of my drink and noticed plenty of shewolves giving me the eye, trying desperately to get me to see them.

At twenty-one, I hadn't found my mate yet, and I had no desire to fool around with any randoms. I ignored their pathetic excuse for flirting and turned to my best friend, Kade. "Isn't this supposed to be a birthday party?" I said. "Where are the guests of honor? I know I've seen their son, Aaron, around, but I don't think I've seen his sister yet."

"Beats me," Kade replied, before adding, "but the Opal Moon shewolves? Man!"

I laughed before I rolled my eyes at him. "Be careful, man. We don't leave until tomorrow night, and I don't want you starting any s**t, messing with some chick who doesn't belong to you."

He feigned innocence as hew replied, "I would never!"

"Yeah, sure," I stated before making my way to the buffet. After grabbing my food, I sat down at my table and began to people watch.

The Opal Moon pack was huge, and I'd learned one of the reasons for their continued growth was the exceptional leadership of their Alpha, Jonathan. I'd spoken to him and his Luna briefly upon my arrival, and they were nothing if not gracious hosts. Once I found my mate, I planned to lead as well as the two of them had.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Aaron had returned to the party, but I'd still not seen his sister. Why was I so focused on this girl?

At this thought, my wolf Alastair began to stir.

What's going on, man?

She's here.

Yeah, who is this "she" you speak of? Because if she's not my mate, then I don't-

Mate!

I shot up from my chair and looked around.

Mate, mate, mate! Alastair chanted in my head in between howls.

Chill out, man. Are you sure she's here? I don't see anyone remarkable, I thought, doubt slowly starting to creep into my mind. She's here, you d**k!

Goddess, dude, chill.

I continued to scan the crowd. Alastair was usually just as cool and calm as me, so I knew that if he said she was here, she was here.

Kade came back to join me and asked, "What's up, bro, what's got you all tensed up?"

"He's found her," I replied.

Kade gives me a 'huh' look before I dragged my hand through my hair.

"Alastair, he says our mate is here, but I can't replace her."

"Oh, s**t. Congratulations, man. Is she one of the Opal Moon chicks? I bet she's sexy as fu-"

I cut his thought off with a deep growl.

Kade looked over and apologized. "My bad, man. I just got excited for you."

Alastair still paced back and forth in my mind, and he rolled his eyes and mumbled, "i***t," as he continued sniffing around for our mate.

I walked past the dance floor, and I smelled the faintest hint of caramel. Alastair picked up on the scent almost immediately and carried me straight to the packhouse and up the stairs. The smell was getting stronger and stronger until it pulled me to a stop at one of the bedroom doors.

When I stopped at the door, Alastair yelled at me. What are you doing? Mate is in there. Go get her! Now!

It took all my strength and composure to push him to the back of my mind and gently knock on the door.

I waited for a response, but when I didn't hear anything, Alastair chimed in. Go. Get. Our. Mate.

I slowly opened the door, and the intoxicating smell hit me full force. I walked farther into the room and saw the beautiful figure lying on the bed. My only thought at that moment was, Damn an angel; this girl is a Goddess.

Alastair agreed with a loud and happy howl.

"I've finally found her..."