Once Rejected, Twice Desired (Book 1 of Blue Moon Series)
Once Rejected, Twice Desired Chapter 71

Alexi POV

It was hard leaving Alaia at home, but I knew there was no way I could get around it. The moms practi single man before I was forever tied to the love of my life.

I couldn't wait to make her my wife, but today was for us guys to have a good time. "What's on the age Kade and Aaron hadn't wanted to share any details about the night, but I was hoping, since we were a "I've got us a suite at the Waldorf. It's not like we'll really use it much, but I figured we'd send you two "Okay, then what's the plan after we check-in?"

"You'll see," was all I got in return.

"Kade, as your Alpha, I can command you to tell me what the plan is tonight," Xander reminded him. Yes! Now we were getting somewhere.

"Yeah, I know. And that's exactly why only Aaron knows. We knew you'd try to pull the alpha card." Aaron turned to the two us from the front seat and smiled.

These d***s had really covered their bases, and now we just had to wait to find out.

"Just relax. Tonight will be epic, and we will make sure you're back in one piece to marry my sister." I just sat back and put my earbuds in. There was no use arguing with them, not when they had put so

***

After check-in, we went up to the room to shower and change. We hadn't originally planned to be here activities.

Kade found a place for paintball a few blocks away, so we decided to head over and shoot at each oth anything I could do about it now.

rew Xander and me out. I'm surprised we had time to pack a bag and have breakfast. But I wouldn't let it get to me. Not today. Today was my last day as a

r today?" I asked the group.

on the road, they would give just the smallest hint.

th a bang," Aaron said.

work into keeping the secret.

rly, but since we were, we had to improvise until night came. We still had plenty of time before it would be dark out, so we opted to start with some lighter

a while. It was a lot of fun, besides the paintball I took to the cheek that felt like a shotgun blast. Alaia wouldn't be too happy about this, but there wasn't

We grabbed a quick lunch afterward and went back to the room for another shower. It was time for the super-secretive plan Aaron had pulled together.

An hour or so later, we all piled in the truck and headed over. Aaron pulled into a shady-looking parking lot and hopped out. We walked down a dark alley and stopped in front of a cheesy looking strip club. It had the usual neon lights and grunge look you'd expect. Both myself and Xander looked at the building, then over to Kade, Matt, and Aaron.

"Well, it looked a lot better when I Googled it. Let's just go in and see if the inside is any better," Aaron suggested.

We walked in and found the place was packed. The bar that lined the left wall was full of people, as were all the tables and chairs that littered the floor. There was a second level that looked like it was for VIP booths and private dances.

Matt looked extremely uncomfortable with all the women around. As soon as they saw him, they'd be attached to his hip, and it didn't look like the idea excited him too much. Kade, on the other hand, was in his element and found the first half-naked woman dressed as a bunny and had her escort us to our reserved table. We were on the second floor, in a spot the overlooked the stage below but didn't leave us completely exposed to all the dancers and patrons.

Matt quickly found a seat and settled in. He did not look okay.

"You alright, man? I think if you stay in the booth, you should be fine. There shouldn't be too many women coming up here," I told him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that something feels off being in here. It's not my usual scene."

Kade then interjected. "That sounds like more private dances for me. We have a few 'special' bottles coming up, so you guys relax and have a good time. I'll be back."

"What's so special about them?" Xander asked.

"They are extra strong so that wolves can actually catch a buzz. There's also a regular bottle as well. We're not trying to kill Alexi tonight." He then walked off and into a room across the hall.

"He's going to catch something one day," I said to no one in particular.

Just then, our "special" bottles were delivered by a small waitress who was also dressed as a bunny. She had on a black strapless leotard that had a little white puff, which I guessed was her tail, on her butt. Her outfit was crazy tiny and pretty much left nothing to the imagination in regards to her body. She had smooth brown skin that made her striking green eyes stand out. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she had bunny ears perched at the top of her head. "Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to Eden. My name is Taylor, and I'll be taking care of you tonight. If you need anything, just press the red button here on the wall, and I'll be right over. Beside your drinks, can I get you anything else right now?"

Aaron and Xander quickly answered that we were alright, but when I looked around at Matt, I saw him violently shaking in the corner.

What was going on here?

"Thanks, Taylor. We're good for now," I said, letting her know she could leave.

Once she was out of the booth, I reached over and touched Matt's arm.

Xander and Aaron seemed to notice something wasn't right, because they were soon standing right beside us. "Matt? What's going on," Xander asked.

He didn't answer; he just kept shaking and breathing erratically.

I wondered if he had been poisoned or something on the way in.

"Matt! Look at me," Xander finally commanded, which pulled him back to reality.

Matt raised his head and looked off past the three of us, where the waitress had just been standing.

"What the f**k is wrong with you?"

"Mate."

Matt POV

Walking up to this club, my hands started to sweat, and my heart raced. It felt like I was having a damn heart attack, and I couldn't understand why. I had been around women all my life, so why was this one place making me so nervous? When the doors opened, there was way too much sound from the music and voices. The smells of food, liquor, and cheap perfume bombarded me, and I just wanted to sit down.

By the time I got to our booth, I had thought my heart was going to explode. I tried to sit in the corner and pull myself together. I didn't want to ruin the night for the guys, but nothing was working. Then she walked in, and I was hit with the most incredible smell ever. It was like a cinnamon and vanilla swirl. It made my mouth water.

When I looked over at her, I was floored. I had never in my life seen something so exquisite-every single detail of her was perfection. And that voice? Hearing her speak was like hearing angels sing. She was everything.

She made eye contact with me and smiled before she turned and left the booth. She didn't react to me. That could only mean one thing: she was human.

I wanted to rush after her and claim her then and there. She was mine, and she had been made for me. No other man should see her body, that was something that was for me only! But she was human. If I did what my mind, body, and soul begged me to do, I would scare her. And I never wanted her to be afraid of me. I was having an internal battle with myself. I needed her, but I had no idea how I could get to her.

I heard the guys talking to me, but I was far too focused on keeping my cool and figuring out how to have Taylor.

She had such a beautiful name.

"What the f**k is wrong with you?" Xander finally boomed out.

I spoke the one word I knew they would understand. "Mate."

"Ahh, s**t! Is it the waitress? But she's human," Alexi stated.

"I understand that, Alexi. But she is still mine. She should not be here. She should be with me. I'm going to find her. And if anyone in here touches her, I'll rip their hands from their dead bodies."

I stood up, but all three of them blocked my path. "Matt, you need to be smart about this. We are not on our land; this is human territory. You can't just go claim a human and think it's okay."

"Well, what do you expect me to do, Xander? That's my mate down there. I've been looking for her for years, and she's in a strip club dressed as a f*****g bunny. Men are looking at her! Trying to put their hands on my mate. Move out of my way!" I could feel myself starting to shift. I was losing control. If I couldn't at least touch her, I was going to burn this entire filthy building to the ground.

"Matt, calm down and sit your a*s in that chair. Now!"

My wolf couldn't refuse a command from my alpha. I sat, and immediately my body began to shake while I broke out in a cold sweat. I needed to get to her.

"Aaron and Alexi, do us a favor and go see if you can find Taylor. Just watch her and make sure nothing happens to her. Keep her safe until we figure all this out."

They both stood up and left the booth to go find her.

I should be the one keeping her safe, not them.

A few seconds later, Kade came back in the booth, pissed off that his dance had been cut short. "What the f**k, Xander? It was just getting good in there."

"Not now, Kade. We've got a bigger issue that's more important than your d**k."

"I highly doubt that."

"Our waitress is Matt's mate. And she's human."

"Ohh, damn." He looked over at me and gave me a half-smile. I guess trying to offer comfort, but only Taylor could do that for me now. "So, what's the play here? What do you need me to do?"

"Go with Matt downstairs and be his wingman. We'll have to do this the old-fashioned way. She's probably used to tons of guys hitting on her working here, but I'm sure you two can figure something out."

The thought of someone else looking at her with lust in their eyes had me seeing red. She. Was. Mine!

"Matt, if you don't chill out, I swear I'll drag you all the way back home. We'll get her; you just need to be a little patient."

He was right. I had to approach Taylor differently, and I would do whatever it took to make her mine. I followed Kade downstairs and let my nose lead me to her. She was standing by the bar, waiting for her drink order. A lone spotlight shone above her, and it almost looked like she was glowing. Her curves were insane, and I could already imagine what they would feel like under my hands.

We were maybe fifteen feet away when some piece of s**t walked up and smacked her on the a*s.

I pushed my way through the mass of people, but before I could make it to her, she spun around and punched him in his nose, breaking it.

Blood poured, and that made the i***t furious. He pulled back his fist to hit her, which I caught in midair.

"You will not lay a finger on her. Do you understand me?" I squeezed his hand in mine and felt as his bones popped and broke.

He screamed in agony, but that didn't stop me.

He had touched what was mine. He tried to hurt Taylor. "If you ever come near her again, I'll wreck you. I promise you this."

"Ahh, f**k, man! I didn't know she was taken already. I'm sorry!"

"Taken or not, you don't treat women like that!" I squeezed his hand one more time, making sure every bone in it was crushed before I let go and pushed him to the ground.

The guys were all standing behind me, creating a protective barrier between Taylor and the drunken d**k on the ground.

"Calm down now, Matt. You don't want to scare her," Kade stepped up to me and said.

I focused and slowed my breathing. I needed to get it together for Taylor. When I turned around, I could only see the tips of her bunny ears behind the guys' backs.

I gave them a nod, letting them know that I was all right. They walked off and made their way back up to the booth, giving Taylor and me some space.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" she walked over and asked.

Hearing her voice was one thing, but hearing her voice when she was speaking just for me was totally different.

I was utterly in love with this girl. "No, we only crossed paths upstairs in the VIP booth. I'm Matt. It's nice to officially meet you." I put my hand out to shake hers, and when they touched, fireworks exploded at the connection.

I could tell she felt it, too, by the way her breathing changed and her pupils dilated.

"Taylor, and it's nice to meet you, too. So, what is a gorgeous guy like you doing in a strip club? I'm sure you can get any girl you want by just smiling at them. You surely don't need to pay for it."

She spoke her mind, and I loved that. She would fit in with our group just fine.

I smiled at her and said, "You're right. I can get any girl I want. But I don't want any girl. I just want one. The one who was made for me." We were still holding hands, and I gently pulled her closer to me. Her scent wrapped all around me, and I wanted so badly to pick her up and mark her as mine then and there. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life," I told her.

She tilted her head up and c****d it to the side. "Ditto. I don't know what it is about you, but I feel drawn to you. And it's not because you're so insanely hot. I feel safe with you."

There was nothing I wanted more than to hear her say those words to me.

"You are safe. I'd never hurt you, or let anyone else, for that matter."

She laughed, and it immediately became my favorite sound. "I can see that. I'm pretty sure you broke that guy's hand."

"And you broke his nose, so I believe we're even." I reached up and traced my finger along her cheek. Her skin was like the finest silk. I couldn't wait to taste it.

"Hey! I don't pay you to stand around talking, Taylor. Get your sweet a*s back to the VIP lounge. Your tables are waiting for service."

A greasy looking guy with a huge gut and horrible combover walked over. He reeked of stale whiskey and cigar smoke.

I hated him immediately. When he reached out to grab Taylor's arm, she shrunk back from him, and I moved between the two. "Listen, buddy. Taylor isn't a dancer. She's a server. If you want to spend time with her, buy a drink. Otherwise, she's got a job to do." He again tried to grab for her, but I caught his wrist halfway.

"Stop doing that. Do not try to touch her again."

"Taylor, who the hell is this guy? You know what, it doesn't even matter. You were already on your last strike, and I know you broke Bill's nose earlier. You're out of here!"

He turned and walked away before I looked back at Taylor. I expected her to be upset about being fired, but instead, she looked relieved. "It's about time. I hate working in this s**t hole. The customers are the worst and treat us like we're walking f**k toys. I've saved up enough money, anyway."

"Do you want to go grab some dinner or drinks? We can celebrate you getting fired."

She laughed again, and it warmed my soul. "Sure. Let me go put on some clothes that don't leave half my a*s exposed; then I'll meet you out front."

When she walked off, I sent the group a quick mindlink.

She's perfect, guys. Absolutely perfect. I'm going to take her to dinner. Sorry about ditching the party.

It's no big deal. We are happy for you, Matt. You deserve this. We'll see you back in the room.

Thanks, Alexi. You guys have fun.

I walked out front, and a few minutes later, Taylor glided over to me. She had changed into a pair of dark blue skinny jeans that fit like a second skin and black knee-high boots. Her white tank top accentuated her chest, and the thigh-length cardigan drew my eyes to an a's made for me to worship.

"Do I look okay? I know it's a big difference from the stupid bunny suit."

"Better than okay. I'll have to really control myself tonight. I've at least got to be a gentleman for the first date."

"Oh, so you think this is a date? And that there will be more?"

"I hope so."

She smiled and placed her small hand in mine before she pulled me down the street. "Come on. This Chinese spot around the corner has the best crab rangoon egg rolls. You've got to try them." Luckily, I loved Chinese food, but even if I didn't, I would have tried anything she wanted. I would do anything for her.