Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 36

Alaia POV

Every day I felt my body grow weaker and weaker.

Amethyst had stopped responding to me almost six days ago, and I feared she was gone for good.

Maximus was becoming more and more erratic, and I was afraid that soon he would snap. He would come into the room every day to bring me scraps of food and water, but he didn't allow himself to get too close to me. I believe when I touched him the first night, I somehow reached Alexi, and Max didn't want that. All of his talk about me being his Luna was put on hold until he could find a way around my powers. And that frustrated him.

And to make matters worse, I was pretty sure I was pregnant with Xander's pup: My breasts were sore and sensitive. My stomach was a constant sea of turmoil, I couldn't keep anything down, and my sense of smell was on overdrive. I wanted to give up so badly, but I kept going for this baby. I had already lost Xander; I wouldn't lose his heir as well. Not if I could help it.

I kept my suspicions to myself. I didn't want Max to try and hurt my baby because it was Xander's.

A wolf pregnancy is only five months long, and I was guessing I was probably close to being a month and a half along already.

I would start to show soon and needed to get us out of here before that happened.

I was curled up on the bed, staring at the wall when Aaron's mindlink came through. I had given up trying to reach the outside world, so when I first heard his voice, I was sure I was hallucinating. The second time I heard him, I figured it couldn't hurt to try and respond. If I'm crazy, then fine, but I'd rather be crazy and have the voice of my brother in my head than nothing at all.

I was so happy to hear his voice, but at the same time, the conversation was draining. This wasn't a normal mindlink; it was channeled through our Amethyst pairing, which drew on my powers.

Amethyst had been quiet for so long; I knew she was fading as well.

But Aaron had given me the boost I had needed. He had told me that Xander was still alive and fighting for his life. So, I would fight right along with him.

It was time for me to go home.

***

"Hello, Kitten. I've got a surprise for you." Max had entered the room with a loud bang and woke me from my restless slumber. When I didn't move or respond, he stepped closer and leaned down in front of me. Max carefully picked up a few locks of my hair and moved it away from my face, mindful not to make contact with my skin. When my face was cleared enough for his liking, he leaned into my line of sight. "Don't ignore me, Kitten. You'll like this surprise, I promise."

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a response, so I just looked him in the eye.

I guess that will have to do. I've decided to allow you out of the room for a shower. I've also got some fresh clothes for you to put on. Would you like that?"

I would love it, and he knew I would. I hadn't been allowed to shower since I got here three weeks ago. My hair was a tangled mess, and I smelled just as terrible at the rogues who roamed the halls. I nodded my head in response. "Good. Come with me, and I'll bring you to the bathroom."

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand, but my knees gave out from under me.

Max grabbed a thin blanket from the bed and wrapped it around my body before scooping me up and carrying me bridal style from the room.

This was the most contact we had had since my arrival, and I knew this was my chance.

Amethyst, if you're there, please help me now. I really need you.

I closed my eyes and began to hum my melody. I didn't hear Amethyst, but I knew the tune by heart and pressed on without her.

I felt Max slightly stumble, but he shook it off and continued to carry me through the dingy hallway.

As the melody was coming to an end, Amethyst finally woke from her slumber and began to purr lightly.

Max's body froze, and he slowly placed me on my feet. I kept one hand on his arm and held on until the melody was over. When I looked up, his eyes were back to their stormy gray, and I knew that I had finally reached Alexi. He just stared down at me for a moment before he stumbled backward and onto the ground. He heaved a few deep breaths and clutched his chest, trying to steady his heart.

As I watched him struggle to calm himself, I slowly slid down onto the floor. My already weakened body was depleted. My only chance now was that Alexi could find a way to get us out.

Alexi's eyes focused on my face before he said my name. "Alaia? How did you do that?"

"I think Max thought that as long as we didn't have any skin to skin contact, my powers wouldn't work, but that's not the case. Any physical contact will work, really."

"Are you okay? I'm so, so sorry I couldn't save you. Has he hurt you?"

"No, he hasn't hurt me, but I'm also not okay. I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant, Alexi, and I've given everything I have to keep this pup alive. I don't have anything left." For the first time in weeks, tears ran down my face as I realized just how shattered I was. Alexi stood to his feet and looked around. "I know where we are. Can you link your pack? I can give them your location so they can come to get you."

"I think Max has blockers up. I've only been able to link Aaron, and that was through our Amethyst bond."

"Is he coming for you?" Alexi looked panicked when he asked me that, and I understood why.

As soon as Aaron saw that it was Alexi who'd kidnapped me, he would kill him on the spot. Without question. And that was only if he got to him before someone from my pack did. Blue Moon would t*****e him for what's been done. But I didn't want that. This wasn't Alexi's fault, and I didn't think he should be killed for it.

"Alexi, I know this wasn't your fault. And I'll make sure they know. Okay?"

"Alaia, you don't have to worry about me. Just focus on hanging on a little bit longer. Stay here, okay? I'll go see if anyone else is around, then I can get you out of here."

Alexi walked away, and I took the time to see what was up with Amethyst.

Amethyst? Where have you been? I've really needed you.

I'm sorry, doll, I've been trying to save my strength to communicate with Alastair. He and Xander have been getting sicker and sicker. I needed to reach out to him to make him keep fighting.

Are they getting worse?

Yes, and I think that's why we've been so depleted as well. We are connected in more ways than one. One can't survive without the other. We have to get back to them soon, or none of us will be around for too much longer. Just then, I heard a chorus of loud howls in the distance.

I knew instinctively that Aaron had found me.

Alexi ran back up the stairs and stopped in front of me.

"Alaia, stay with me, okay? The rogues are going to try and fight off anyone who comes onto the territory, and I don't want you hurt."

"What about Aaron? Will they attack him?"

"You know better than that, Alaia. Aaron is an Alpha and a warrior. He's going to be fine." Alexi scooped me up and sprinted down the stairs and out of the house.

Seeing it from the outside made me wonder how the 'house' was even still standing. It was more a shack than anything else, and I didn't understand why anyone would make this their base of operations.

"Aaron and I used to play here when we were younger. I was our very own fort. We could do any and everything. I guess I just wanted to go back to when things were simple."

Hearing Alexi explain this made me so sad for him. He had been hurt by the rejection just as much as I was, but he didn't have anyone to pick up the pieces.

While I was given Xander, Alexi had to go on alone, and bear the disappointment of those he looked up to most.

I made a silent vow to myself that I would do all that I could to make sure Alexi found happiness after all this was over. He deserved it.

"Try and link someone now, Alaia. If there were blockers, they wouldn't work this far from the house."

I nodded and tried to link Aaron and Kade. Maybe I could get them both at the same time, like a conference call.

Guys? Can you hear me?

Bean? Where are you? We're coming up on the location Aaron gave us now. We'll be there in two minutes.

Hearing that stupid nickname made me smile. I thought for a time that I'd never hear it again.

Bean? Really? Anyway... we're here, sis. The rogues are pouring out from everywhere, but there is way more of us than there are of them. Where are you? Are you alright?

I'm with Alexi. He's taken me out of the house to keep me away from the fight.

Alexi? Tell us where you are, Alaia. I'm coming right now.

"Alexi? Where can I tell the guys to come to get me?"

"Tell Aaron that he can find you at our old treehouse."

Aaron, he says come to the old treehouse. Do you know where that is?

Yeah, I know. Kade, I see your guys arriving now. Follow me, and I'll lead you to your Luna.

Alexi and I finally stopped in front of an old rotten treehouse in the middle of the woods. 'A&A's Hideout' was painted above what used to be the door.

"I remember when you and Aaron used to come here. I was never invited because I was a girl."

"We had to protect the integrity of our secrets; girls gossip too much," he said with a shrug.

This was the Alexi I remembered. Cool and cocky. I had missed this version of him.

I heard twigs breaking in the woods in front of us, and soon we were surrounded by warriors from the Opal Moon and Blue Moon packs. They were in both their wolf and human forms and looked to be more than a little pissed off. I wanted to ease the tension, so I took a shaky step forward before my legs gave out.

Seeing this must have ignited a rage in them because growls erupted from the group as Aaron, Kade, and Matt rushed toward us. As Matt reached me, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders before lifting me up into his arm. "Hey Bean, how you and the little bean holding up?"

"We've been better, that's for sure. But I'm so happy to see you, and it's not just because you're so damn pretty."

"Of course you're happy to see me. I'm your best friend."

He smiled down at me and walked into the woods. When I asked him to stop, he immediately protested. "We need to get you home, Alaia. The pack doctor is waiting to look you over, and we need to make sure the pup is okay."

"Just two minutes Matt, please?"

He let out a long sigh before he stopped walking and turned back to the treehouse.

Aaron and Kade were beating Alexi, who was lying on the ground, not fighting back, and completely unmoving.

"Guys, stop it! This is not his fault, and he shouldn't be punished for it."

"Bullshit, Alaia! He started all of this, and now I'm going to finish it. I can't believe I once thought he was my best friend."

I could see that hurt Aaron and Alexi both. They were once brothers, and now they were worse than strangers.

Kade was standing close by, clearly wanting to attack again, but out of respect for me and my previous statement, he didn't.

"Aaron, listen to me. It was his wolf, not him. Alexi was trapped here just like I was. As soon as he could, he tried to help me. And now I'm going to help him." I then turned to Kade. "Beta, please take Alexi into custody until we can figure out what can be done for him. He is not to be harmed any further. He will receive food, a shower, clean clothes, and medical attention."

Kade offered no argument, even though I knew he wanted to. "Yes, Luna."

Two Blue Moon warriors stepped forward and lifted Alexi onto his feet before leading him back through the woods.

"Aaron, please trust me on this. I wouldn't even ask if I wasn't 100% sure this was the right thing to do. Give him a chance."

He nodded once before he, too, turned and made his way through the woods and back to the house, followed closely by his warriors.

I looked up at Matt, who looked confused and angry at my decision. "Do you trust me, Matt?"

"Of course I do, Alaia."

"Good. I know this looks strange, but I promised to use my powers for good, and that what I'm going to do."

"Yes, Luna."

I relaxed into his arms before saying, "Please take me to Xander now. We need him."

I placed a hand over my belly before being led to the car and my other half.