Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 14

Alexi

POV

It was time. Nine hours ago, I let my ego take over, and now I was about to fight an Alpha for his mate.

I wouldn't admit it to anyone but myself, but Alaia was, in fact, his. The moment she walked out of my room, she became his.

My pride was hurt when she didn't fight for me, fight for us, for what we could have been. Didn't she want me as much as I wanted her?

Now it was that pride that I was fighting for. I may never get to claim and mark her, but no one would ever say that Alexi Kostov ran away. I was a beta and a warrior. I'd fight to regain my pride or die trying. I walked to the center of the sparring circle and faced Alpha Xander and his Beta to his left.

Aaron stood to my right, with my dad and Alpha Jonathan standing side by side between Aaron and Kade.

It was three Alphas with their three Betas.

The air was thick with anticipation when Alpha Jonathan began to speak.

"Alexi Kostov, per your request, you are here to challenge Alpha Xander Black for the right to mate my daughter Alaia Miller. Is this correct? Do you still wish to follow through with this challenge?" "Yes, Alpha."

"So be it. The rules are as follows:

1. The circle has been blessed. No one outside of it can mindlink anyone on the inside. There will be no unfair advantages.

2. There will be no shifting in this fight.

3. There will be no use of weapons of any sort.

4. The battle lasts as long as it lasts; no outside party can stop it once it starts.

5. You must always remain within the sparring circle.

6. If at any point, you feel that you are unable to continue, you either concede to your opponent or face death.

7. Lastly, once the fight is over, the loser is to renounce any and all claim to Alaia Miller immediately.

That's it, gentlemen. Please step back to the edge of the circle, and we will begin."

All six of us stepped back with Xander and me staying within the circle, and the other four stepping just to the outer edge.

"Alexi, Alpha Xander...fight!"

***

Kade POV

As soon as Alpha Jonathan announced the beginning of the fight, Alexi and Xander began to circle one another.

There was a clear height advantage of at least 4" for Xander. Although shorter, Alexi still had plenty of muscle and would put on a worthy fight, of this I was sure.

Still circling one another, they were trained on their opponents' movements. Waiting for the other to strike first.

It was Alexi who finally stepped forward and threw the first punch.

This tactic was something that Xander and I had learned early on. When you didn't know the strengths or weaknesses of your opponent, you let them strike first. It allowed you to gauge the potential power of their punch. I saw Xander shake off the blow and could see the recognition in his eyes. Alexi was a strong fighter, just like we were.

Now it was Xander's turn to return the favor. He stepped forward with lightning speed and hit Alexi with one of his favorite combinations. Two right hooks to the rib cage followed immediately by a left.

I watched as Alexi's eyes widened once his body registered the impact. Xander was strong, insanely strong.

Now that they both knew what to expect from the other, the fight would really begin.

They stepped forward at the same time. Alexi threw a jab with his right, which Xander smoothly dodged.

Xander answered with a right jab of his own, and using a trick taught to him by yours truly, he anticipated Alexi dodging to the left and shot out another jab with his left hand that connected with Alexi's nose. We all heard the telltale crunch of his nose breaking.

Blood began to pour from Alexi's nose, but he just shook it off.

Xander had drawn first blood, but before this was all over, much more would be spilled.

Alexi leaped into the air and wrapped his left arm around the back of Xander's neck. When he landed, he pulled Xander forward into a backward headlock before hitting him with three sturdy right hooks to the kidneys. "He's gonna feel that tomorrow," I said aloud to no one in particular.

Xander broke free and began to bounce on his toes, shaking off the pain radiating up his side.

Alexi charged forward again, and he and Xander went back and forth trading blow after blow. For another ten minutes, this went on.

There were bruised ribs, black and swollen eyes, and a myriad of other cuts and scrapes.

It looked like Alexi was beginning to slow when I noticed the change in his posture. I knew what he was going to do before even he did.

Alexi jumped and began to spin, feeling that a powerful roundhouse would be just what he needed to gain the upper hand.

Big mistake.

Xander saw the move coming, and as he had done to me earlier, he grabbed Alexi's ankle and calf before using his momentum against him and slamming him to the ground with so much force they could feel the aftershock throughout the forest. Xander then straddled a near unconscious Alexi and began to rain blows to his face and torso. Alexi tried to block them, but his energy was all but gone.

I could see the others outside the circle, starting to grow agitated. We all knew the fight was coming to an end; we just didn't know how it will end.

As he continues to beat Alexi voraciously, Xander growled, "Do you give up yet? CONCEDE!"

"For f**k's sake Lex. Don't do this, man, please!" Aaron yelled from the sidelines.

I saw the light begin to fade from Alexi's eyes.

Xander was still relentless with his blows when finally Alexi raised one weak hand in surrender. He conceded and almost instantly blacked out.

Xander rolled off Alexi's weak and broken body and lay on the ground, panting and gasping for air.

I'd never seen him like this before.

But then again, this is the first time he'd ever fought for his mate; and won.

As Beta Lucas rushed into the circle to check on Alexi, Aaron took off towards the house.

I heard Beta Lucas heave a sigh of relief, then he said, "Thank the Goddess, he's still alive."

He lifted his son, and before he walked away, he turned to Xander.

"Alpha Xander, thank you. I know you were holding back at times when you didn't have to. You could have easily taken my son's life at the end, but you didn't. I am forever grateful to you for that."

He then turned before he set off to take Alexi to the pack hospital.

I walked up and stood over Xander, who was still lying on the ground.

"Congratulations, Alpha."

"Thanks, Kade."

"So how many broken bones did you rack up?"

"Who knows, man; that f*****g kid can punch."

I laughed before I reached out to help him to his feet.

Once Xander was upright, Alpha Jonathan walked up to us.

"Alpha Xander, that was impressive. As a father, a fighter, and an Alpha, I have nothing but respect for what you did here in this circle tonight. I know that I don't have much say in the matter, but I give my full blessing to you and my daughter." The two alphas then shook hands before Alpha Jonathan also headed towards the house. "Well, it looks like its time for you to bring our Luna home. The pack is waiting..."