Once Rejected, Twice Desired
Chapter 75

Alexi POV

“So we’ve got it now. We’ll strike Vincent tomorrow after nightfall. We will have all those who are unable to fight protected down in the tunnels until we return. Alaia and the twins will be among them.”

Alaia had sat in on the meeting and when she heard the plan she shot up from her chair.

“What kind of plan is that, Alexi? Sending all of the pack into a fight? They will die, maybe not all of them but enough will.”

“Angel, this is how these things go. No member of this pack is unwilling to die for the life of their Luna. We aren’t doing anything out of the ordinary.”

She looked around for a moment then turned to Xander and I.

“And Aaron? Is he coming along too, or will he just send extra guys over to us?”

I knew just what she was getting at. But I also promised to never lie to her.

“He is coming. Jordyn will stay home but he wants to personally make sure Vincent dies.”

She then turned to look at Matt.

“You just found your mate, Matt. Doesn’t that matter? Taylor may not know what you are, but she needs you and you need her. You can’t risk dying when you’r so close to your happiness.”

“Don’t do that, Bean. You’re my Luna. You’re life will always come before my own. It’s not going to change now.”

She just nodded once then looked back over in my direction.

“I’m going to go check on the boys, I’ll see you all later.”

Once she left we went back to the job of finalizing details and making sure everyone knew their role.

We would lose lives but we’d save Alaia. It was a risk we had to take.

***

Later when everything was settled I went down to find her.

I knew that she was upset over all this and I wanted to be able to offer her some comfort.

I found her on the gardens sitting under the gazebo with the babies.

They had on their tiny little sweaters and hats and were snuggled under a blanket my mom had made for them, protecting them from the chilly November air.

The sight warmed me from the inside out. I was completely in love with my family. I was going to do everything I could so they could have more days like this.

“Hi, beautiful. Are you doing alright?”

She looked down at the babies and smiled.

“I’m always alright when I’m with my two favorite boys. You can’t help but be happy when you look at their precious little faces.”

She was lovingly stroking Alex’s chubby little hand before tucking it back under the blanket.

“So what are you doing out here? Is the meeting over?”

I could tell by the look on her face and the way the words left her mouth that she was not happy with me or my decision.

“Yes, it’s over. We have prepared as much as we can. Now we just wait.”

“I should be the one going. I’m the most powerful would in existence, and you want me hiding out with the old or the injured? Maybe I could stop the war before it even began.”

“It’s not an option, Angel. You are not expendable, but the rest of us are. When this is all over, you Xayden and Alexander have to be okay, and Vincent has to be dead. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”

She jumped up and started pacing.

“This is my family, Alexi. None of you are expendable. Your lives matter. Damnit! Why is this so hard for you all to understand?!”

I sat down and pulled her into my lap. This was hitting her more than I thought and it was starting to bother me.

“We understand, Angel. And obviously none of us want to die. But we all took oaths when we became members of the pack. We will protect you till our last breath. It’s what wolves do baby. And you are worth it.”

We sat and talked for a while longer before it became a little too cold for the boys.

I picked them up and carried them back to the house with Alaia following closely behind.

“I’m going up for a quick shower. Can you watch them for twenty minutes for me?”

“Of course. Take your time, we’ll be alright down here.”

I placed them in their bassinets in the common room and went to go heat them both a bottle.

Alaia had began pumping so she could have help with feeding time and it really was nice for the rest of us to be able to help her out.

Plus spending time with the boys was a major stress reliever so none of us minded anyway.

When I came back, Kade had placed Xayden in his lap while he was cradling Alex in his arms.

It was strange to see, that’s for sure.

“Hey, man. What are you doing with the boys?”

“We’re talking. I’m teaching them about the ladies. They will be fighting them off soon so I figured I’d give them a jump start on the do’s and don’ts.”

“Do me a favor and don’t do that. Alaia would kill you. You don’t have the best record you know.”

“I have been unfairly judged. I’m just a man searching for my mate, I’m just having to k**s a few frogs to find her.”

I handed him a bottle and took Xayden.

“Just feed him. Save the other stuff for later. Much, much, later.”

We sat and talked for a while and soon, Xander had come down and joined in.

The boys had finished eating and we were taking the opportunity to teach them about football.

Xander produced a small football out of nowhere and was holding it out in front of Xayden.

“This is a football, son. This game is life. Maybe you’ll be a quarterback or a receiver and I can come watch you play. What do you think?”

Xayden just looked at the ball before he yawned and closed his eyes.

Maybe we were getting a little ahead of ourselves here.

I noticed Alaia when she stepped onto the room. She stood and watched the scene with a big smile before she turned and left again.

I wanted to give her some space to process all that was getting ready to happen. But I also wanted to be sure that she would be alright. I never wanted a decision that I made to case her any unnecessary pain.

“Xander, I think we should go check on Alaia. She was having a hard time with the plans for tomorrow earlier and I’m not sure if she has accepted it yet.”

He nodded then handed Xayden off to Kade.

“Kade, we’ll be right back. Don’t do anything stupid with our sons while we are gone,” he said.

Kade gave a quick salute and took Alex from me as well.

I had a bad feeling that something was going to happen so I rushed up to the bedroom.

Angel wasn’t there. I turned to go check her office when I saw a note on the bed.

I rushed to pick it up and when I did, my b***d ran cold.

To My Loves,

Please take care of your sons. They will need you now more than ever.

I know you can help raise them to be men I would be proud of. Always let them know that they are loved, and that I loved them so much that I sacrificed myself so they could live.

And please don’t let this choice I have made break you. Continue to work with each other and lead this pack. I know this will be hard, but you two can do it.

Tell Matt that Taylor is lucky to have him, he shouldn’t waste any time with her. It’s precious and we never know when it will run out.

And to Aaron and Jordyn. I’m sorry I won’t see them have their first child or get married, but l have always loved them both. They kept me going until I found my way to you two. I’ll be forever grateful.

Alexi, and Xander. You two have been my moon and my stars. Being your wife as been my greatest gift. But as the Amethyst Wolf, my obligation is not just to you but to my pack, and to all. No one should die for something I can control.

I love you will all that I ever was, all that I am, and all that I would ever have been. Take care of each other.

Your loving wife,

Alaia Kosov-Black

She had drawn a tiny wolf and an angel beside her name to represent our nicknames for her.

This was real, and my wife was gone.

I fell to my knees, too weak to even stand when the realization hit me.

She couldn’t be gone.

Xander rushed in and quickly looked around before his eyes landed on me.

“Alexi! Where is she?”

I could barely speak. I lifted the note in the air and he quickly walked over and took it.

“She’s gone,” I finally said.

***

Alaia POV

I watched my family play together in the living room and I knew that I had to protect them.

Watching them play together, so perfectly, let me know that my decision was the right one.

These men would do an incredible job raising the boys.

They were so focused on keeping me safe, but I was just one person. How would we cope with the loss of so many others.

It wasn’t right. Sacrifice one, save the masses.

I quietly backed out and went back to the room.

While I was supposed to be showering, I was really preparing my letter to my husbands, and there was no need for a bag.

I placed my farewell to them on the bed then quickly snuck out of the house.

Since I had been in plenty of the strategy meetings, I knew exactly where Vincent would be.

He wouldn’t expect me to just come to him, and that’s what I wanted.

I needed to get to him quickly, before Alexi and Xander had time to find the note and come looking to stop me.

I already had my truck parked outside of the garage to avoid the sounds of the door opener.

As I started the engine, tears streamed down my face. It was hard to accept the fact that I’d never see my home again.

But their lives mattered more to me than my own selfishness, and now it was my turn to protect them.

I pulled out slowly and kept the head lights off until I got closer to the borders edge.

The GPS was set for the abandoned saw mill, that was the only place that actually had a usable address.

I took the two hour drive to record a message to Xayden and Alexander.

I knew the guys would come for me, and they would find my car.

So the recordings would be safe and eventually get to my sons.

Even though I was leaving them, I wanted them to always know that all I ever wanted was to keep them safe.

“Always listed to your fathers. I know that sometimes they can be difficult to deal with and it may seem like you’re talking to a brick wall, but they mean well and want what’s best for you.

When you become teenagers, DO NOT become man whores! I can’t stress this enough. All it does is hurt others in ways you could never imagine. And you will regret it in the end. If you don’t believe me, ask your dad Alexi.

Be good men, respect yourselves, and when you are blessed with your mate, treat them like the gift they are. They will complete you, and make you far better than you ever could have been by yourself.

I love you my beautiful boys. Go and make the world a better place than you found it. You two have so much potential, use it for good always.”

When I was a few miles out I turned off my voice recorder and placed it in the glove box.

I wiped my face and dried my eyes.

Vincent would not see me weak and vulnerable. He would not know how this decision affected me. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

I parked behind the saw mill and set off on foot through the woods.

We just had a general idea of where he would be, but I used my strong sense of smell to guide me along the way.

Amethyst, I’m sorry that it has come to this. You’ve always been there for me and now I am walking us to our death. Maybe I was never worthy of you.

Don’t say that, Doll. This was always our path. There was no other way. And I have loved being your wolf. Believe in our destiny. Everything is happening for a reason.

After another twenty minutes of walking, I smelled the scent of rogues and knew I had found him.

It was surprisingly easy to sneak past them all and into the house.

My instincts pulled me to room at the very end of the hall. I could see light streaming under the closed door in front of me. Vincent was on the other side, I knew it.

When I opened the door and stepped in, I was shocked to see Vincent sitting and waiting. For me.

“Alaia, I’m glad to see you finally came to your senses. We were always meant to meet this way you know. Our destinies were tied to one another before either of us were even born, don’t-”

“I didn’t come here to chat, Vincent. Let’s just get this over with.”

He stood from his seat and took a step forward.

“As you wish.”

Then with lightning fast speed he was on me, his teeth sunk into my flesh.

I didn’t fight him, or the darkness that soon took me under and away.