Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 41

Xander POV

Waking up with Alaia in my arms again was bliss. Despite her decree that there would be no strenuous activity, she completely wore me out. I decided to blame it on the three-week coma.

I brushed a stray hair from her forehead and looked down at her sleeping form.

Her mouth was parted just a bit, making me want to suckle on her petal-soft lips. She had these long, thick eyelashes I just had to reach out and touch. I ran the tip of my finger along the seam of her eye, causing her nose to twitch. She was so damn adorable without even knowing or trying. When I couldn't hold myself back anymore, I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on each of her eyes, then her nose.

She snuggled into her pillow a little more as a small smile played across her face.

As carefully as I could, I pulled my arm from under her head and eased out of bed. I had always been more of a morning person, while my little one would sleep until noon if we let her.

I decided to take a quick shower before I linked Kade and Matt.

Rise and shine, gentlemen. It's time for a friendly round of sparring or two.

What the f**k, Xan?! It's not even 6:00 AM, and I haven't had a decent night's sleep in weeks.

It sounds like you're up first, Kade. Thanks for volunteering.

Ugh! I'm not volunteering for s**t. I'm going back to bed. I can kick your a*s later after the sun is up.

Xander, we'll be at the training grounds in ten minutes.

Perfect. See you soon, Matt. And Kade, make sure you brush your teeth before you leave your room. I don't want to have to deal with your morning breath today.

I walked over to the small table beside the bed and left Alaia a quick note, letting her know where I was going. It was better than me waking her up. Number one: she hates having her sleep interrupted. And number two: she wouldn't be too happy about me going out training less than twenty-four hours after waking up. But I needed to get my strength back. As Alpha, I had no room for weakness. I had a pack to lead.

While walking through the halls, I passed a few omegas who were up cleaning or heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I stopped one of the kitchen workers before she disappeared around the corner. "Sarah?" "Yes, Alpha?"

"Please ask Mrs. Dyson to prepare the Luna her favorite pancakes this morning. If her breakfast could be ready at 8:00, that would be perfect. We'll eat in the dining hall today."

"Of course, Alpha. It's good to have you back with us. You gave us all a scare for a while there."

"Thank you, Sarah, I'm happy to be back."

She smiled before she turned and continued to the kitchen, and I headed out the back door to the training grounds.

***

It felt terrific being outside again and feeling the cool morning breeze on my face. I had always been a lover of the outdoors, and after three weeks inside, this was long overdue. Hey, Alastair. How about a run a little later on?

Will our mate be running with us?

She's carrying a pup, so no. She will not be running with us.

Boring. But fine. I do need to stretch my muscles.

You and me both. I'm thinking a little after lunch I'll let you out for a while. Now it's time for me to kick Kade and Matt's asses in this sparring session.

I stopped at the sparring circle and began a series of quick stretches. My muscles were tight and sore and really needed the workout.

A few minutes later, the guys slowly walked over the hill and into view.

Kade looked like he'd just been run over, twice, while Matt was just as fresh-faced as usual.

"Why do we have to be up before the sun? Sparring before dawn should be illegal," Kade grumbled at me.

"Stop bitching, Kade. I've just come out of a coma, in case you forgot, and I need to get back at it. How do you expect to give my job back to me if I'm too weak to do it?"

He looked me up and down before a smile broke out on his face. "Ohh, I see now. Bean wore you out last night, and now you feel like you need to redeem yourself. By sparring. With us. Before f*****g dawn!"

I wanted to deny it, but I couldn't. The truth was the truth, and if I couldn't share it with my closest friends, then who could I share it with? "You're a d**k, man. It's got to be the hormones, right? s**t, I don't know, but she was insatiable, and I had to struggle to keep up. Luckily, she finally passed out before I tapped out."

Clearly, I was a comedian now, because both of these assholes were bent over holding their stomachs laughing at me.

"I'm glad this is all so funny for you. In the ring, now. Both of you." I stripped off my shirt and walked to the middle of the ring, taking an offensive stance.

Kade soon followed and stood right in front of me.

"You sure about this, man? We wouldn't want you to have to tap out on us."

As soon as the words left his mouth, my fist connected with it.

"f**k!"

"Get in position, now!"

Kade removed his shirt and crouched down, preparing for my next move. "You split my f*****g lip, Xander."

"And you're bitching again. Matt, we ain't got all day. Get your a*s over here."

Matt finally entered the ring and took his stance.

"Do not go easy on me. Give me everything you've got. Understood?"

I didn't even realize that I had used my alpha tone on them until they responded with, "Yes, Alpha," in unison.

"Alright, let's get started..."

***

Alaia POV

I woke up and stretched my tired muscles, still sore from last night's activities. When I realized I was in bed alone, I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Xander wasn't here. That was strange. I wanted to get up and find him, but little bean had other plans. We needed to go pee. Now.

I decided that I'd take a quick shower while I was in the bathroom before getting dressed to find my missing mate.

When I finally came out, I saw his note on the bedside table.

Good morning, little one,

I've gone out for a little training with the guys this morning, but I should be back before breakfast. Meet me in the dining room.

XOXO Xander

At the mention of breakfast, my stomach rumbled, and I was hit with a wave of nausea. "I get it, you're hungry, too. Just give me a few minutes, and I'll get us some food," I said while rubbing my belly.

I dressed in a loose-fitted shirt and yoga pants before heading out to the dining room. When I arrived, I found piles of my favorite strawberries and cream pancakes, scrambled eggs, juicy sausages, bacon, fresh fruit, and yogurt. "This is heaven. This is absolutely my own personal heaven," I moaned.

Mrs. Dyson walked over to me with a glass of fresh orange juice and passed it over.

I took a sip, letting its crisp and tangy sweetness wash my nausea away.

"How are you this morning, Luna?"

"I'm great. I'm starving, but still great."

She laughed and began plating my breakfast for me. When she was done, she set it down in front of me. "I'll be making blueberry muffins a little later, Luna. Feel free to stop by to get one whenever you are free."

"Yes!" I squeaked with joy. Food always managed to excite me, and I wasn't afraid to show it. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Dyson. This all looks amazing."

"You're very welcome, Luna. Enjoy."

Just as I was beginning to cut into my pancakes, the guys staggered into the room, looking like they just walked off the battlefield.

I jumped to my feet and ran over to them.

Each one looked beaten to a pulp. They were covered in dirt and blood and sweat.

Panic instantly took over. "Xander? What happened? Why are you guys bleeding? Were we attacked again?"

I looked over at Matt, whose left eye was beginning to swell shut. Kade's lip was split open and swollen as well. Xander was covered head to toe in bruises, scrapes, and cuts. He looked like whatever had happened; he had suffered the brunt of it. "We're alright, bean," Matt said as he winced. "We were just sparring."

Maybe it was the hormones taking over, or perhaps I was just hungry, but I was absolutely livid. "Wait. I couldn't have heard you right. You did this to each other? Why would you do something so stupid? There are punching bags in the gym, damn it. Why would you use your f*****g faces?"

They were shocked to see my reaction, and I was as well. But I was already deep into my tirade, so, oh well.

I walked over to Matt and looked up at him while poking him in his chest. "Whose idea was this?"

His eyes went wide, and he looked away from my face. He really didn't want to tell me, but I didn't care. "Matt, tell me. Now."

"Come on, bean. Don't do this to me."

"Who, Matt?"

His back slumped before he let out a long sigh. "It was Alpha."

I shot Xander a fiery glance before looking back at Matt.

"Thank you, now sit."

He immediately sat down, which gave me a better view of his grossly swollen eye.

"You guys are absolute idiots." I placed my hands on Matt's cheeks and began to hum.

I heard Xander growl behind me, causing me to open an eye and glare over at him. "Oh, don't you even start with that s**t, Mr. Alpha. I wouldn't have to do this if you hadn't decided to start an early morning fight club. You and Kade sit, too, I'll be with you shortly." I pointed to two other chairs at the table before I turned my attention back to Matt.

When he was back to his usual, pretty self, I stepped back. "Now eat."

"Yes, Luna," he replied before piling food on his plate.

I then moved over to Kade.

"Luna, this really isn't necessary. I'll be healed by the end of the day. Don't waste your powers on me."

"Do you honestly think I want to see my boys looking like s**t all day?"

The question was rhetorical, but I still waited for him to answer.

"No, Luna."

"Exactly. Now shut up and sit still."

When I finished with him, I pointed to the food on the table and raised an eyebrow.

He quickly began to fix himself a plate.

I saved Xander for last. I turned to him and sat down in his lap. I grabbed his face and turned it right and left, looking over his injuries. "I can't believe you three."

"And I can't believe Matt ratted me out to you."

I pressed a finger on an oozing cut over his cheekbone.

"f**k, Alaia! That s**t hurts!"

"It was supposed to hurt. And I'm Matt's best friend and Luna; he had no choice. And you just woke up from a coma. Last night! What in the hell is wrong with you?"

"I have to fight Alaia; I'm an alpha. I don't have time to sit back and recuperate. I have to push myself back to the top."

"You don't Xander, not like this." I cupped his face, then leaned down and pressed my lips against his before starting my melody. Once he was perfect again, I bent over the table and fixed his plate before sitting it in front of him and standing to return to my own breakfast. "If you guys ever do this again, I'll kick your asses myself."

Just then, Katherine walked into the room and stopped by Xander's chair. "Alaia, dear. That was the best thing I've ever witnessed. I have never seen anyone handle these three so flawlessly. This pack couldn't be in better hands."

I saw an omega peek her head in from the kitchen before jerking back when she realized that she had been caught. She then laughed with another unseen woman before I heard, "Our Luna is a total badass."

"Thank you, Katherine. I won't have anyone bloodying up my guys unless it's me. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay."