Chapter 23
Xavier POV
Regan. It can’t be but the proof was right in front of me. Not only was it right in front of me but the unthinkable had happened. Instead of being grateful for the mate bond, or happy about the fart that we were mates, she had tried to reject the both of us instead. My wolf was furious, even as I glanced towards my brother who looked equally dumbfounded by what had occurred. We had never thought that our mate might ot want us or that she might try to reject us. We were too arrogant to consider the likelihood that somebody might not want to be mated to us.
“She just rejected us,” Xander said dumbly, still staring in the diction Regan had left “Our mate doesn’t want us
“She does” I growled back, refusing to believe it. “She’s just afraid of the pack and maybe… I hesitated but Xander glanced at me sharply. “We weren’t exactly nice to her, were we? We picked on her and we hurt her a few times” I admitted shamefully, “so it’s no wonder she’s not ecstatic about the mate bond. She doesn’t have her wolf yet either so she can’t feel the bond from her side.
Both of us were clad in party clothes, but our suits were a rumpled mess. I had gone out looking for my mate again, this time picking up the scent when I had been about to turn back. I didn’t have any knowledge that Xander had been following behind me. I shot him a sharp look filled with anger and he merely stared back, shrugging unapologetically.
“So, what do we do? We can’t just pretend it didn’t happen. My wolf flat out refuses to even entertain the idea of Isabelle now Xander added, frowning at the floor.
“Mine already refused” I reminded him rolling my eyes, “although I’m glad you didn’t attempt to bring up that harebrained scheme of yours to Regan. She would have laughed in your face I snarled.
“Whatever” he snapped. “I concede that I’m an idiot. We’re expected back at the party Xavier” he growled, reminding me, but his eyes were still staring in the direction that Regan had left
My wolf wanted to go after her too, but we had our other duties to consider. Like the chosen mate that none of us desired any longer. This was sure to cause
cause some anger not just with our parents, but with the pack as a whole.
We started to walk back, our heads bowed low. I tried to tidy my hair while Xander did the same. As we headed towards the marquee, we ran directly into Isabelle who had been outside looking for us. I raked my gaze over her, my lip curling in revulsion. She was dressed up to stand out in a vibrant red dress that drew the eye, a long slit along the leg. I was immediately turned off by her. As she went to grab my hand, my wolf surged to the surface, angry that somebody besides our fated mate would even attempt to touch us, letting out a low and furious growl. Xander’s head whipped towards me and I saw the panicked expression on his face, but it was too late as thad already given myself away.
“Xavier” Isabelle stammered, hastily pulling her hand away as my eyes darkened and I glowered at her. “What’s wrong darling? Have you forgotten who I am meant to be? You are meant to be announcing who is your Luna tonight remember she continued in a coaxing tone.
I could see my mother and Father beginning to approach from a small crowd of people, detaching themselves, attempting to get to me and Xander, with looks of concern on both their faces.
Unbidden the words came out. “I refuse to take you as my chosen mate or Luna” I declared out loud as she stared at me, the blood draining out of her face, a hand going to her open mouth in shock as the crowd all gasped “I declare that my mate, and only my fated mate will become Luna of this pack.”
Xander stepped beside me, a grim expression on his face. It was me to make his decision, and he knew it. He no loliger had a choice. “I stand with Xavier and I too, declare that only my fated mate” he glanced disapprovingly at Isabelle who was beginning to cry and sob as if her heart was broken, “will become the Luna of this pack and be marked by me.”
“Boys” my mother shouted, but I wasn’t finished.
Not by a long shot. I could see the Alphas from the other packs watching, bearing witness. If we were to do this, then we had
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Chapter 21
to do it now, before it was too late, and Mother stopped us. I took a deep breath and Xander did the same, both of us reading each other’s minds, “Our fated mate is none other than Regan Lourdes” we shouted, Xander’s voice mixing with mine as we yelled it out loud enough for the whole pack to hear.
Gasps. Stunned expressions. My mother put a hand to her chest tumbling slightly while my father rushed to put his arm around her. Isabelle was shaking her head in denial, her eyes narrowing as she stared at us pleadingly. She was visibly shaking, tears trailing down her cheeks. Although I felt sorry for her, I would not be swayed from the path I had chosen to take. Whatever I had to do, I would get Regan to accept me and ander for her mates.
“No” she whimpered “No, tell me it isn’t true. There’s no way that Regan could be mates with the both of you” she sobbed.
“She is” I stared Isabelle down and then looked at my mother and father, who looked like stiff wooden statues. “From now on Regan will be treated differently as befitting a potential Luna of the pack. I am willing to fight for my right to bear the title of Alpha and I won’t hesitate to duel if it comes down to it.
My mother’s eyes filled with tears. Xander cleared his throat “I am also willing to fight, for the right to take my fated mate as Luna,”
Silence.
One of the Alpha’s bearing witness began to clap, looking at us with approval. “I admire your bravery in going against your family’s wishes,” he said, looking between us and our parents “and I must say that I find your willingness to fight for what you believe is your right, admirable. I hear witness to this statement today,” he said as the other Alphas began to nod in agreement “and will have no problems writing a statement to that effect if it comes down to it.”
My mother looked as though she was about to collapse. All her carefully laid plans, her manipulation, her conniving, had all gone
down in smoke around her. Isabelle looked desperately around her, but nobody offered her any assistance. I could see Heather moving from the back of the crowd before Isabelle turned and took off running, sobbing loudly.
“What have you done?” my mother gasped, my father, helping her to remain upright. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just ruined?” her voice was rising as she shrieked at us.
“I did what I had to do,” I told her quietly, “what you forced us to do. We are our own men Mother, and will not abide by your wishes. The contract between us and Isabelle is null and void.” My voice brooked no arguments. “You may inform Beta Johnathon yourself or we will do it for you. Father, if you desire. I will willingly fight you for the right to become Alpha, although I wish it hadn’t come to this.”
My father looked at me sharply and then shook his head, glancing tiredly at my mother.
“No, my, sons,” he said quietly “I will not withhold your titles from you. Not for doing something you feel is only right. If this is what you want. What you desire,” he said tightly, “Then the Alpha titles will continue to be yours on the provision that you continue to do what is right for the pack.
He had always been a fair man, my father.
Xander and I nodded. My mother sobbed. My father sighed and turned her around, beginning to lead her to the pack house. I looked around at the crowd and forced a smile to my lips. “Let’s get this party started and celebrate the dawn of a new chapter. Please, celebrate our birthday and the upcoming ceremony of our Luna.”
Mutters from the crowd as the pack obediently begins to head into the marquee, grabbing drinks and food from the passing
omegas
“Well, that could have gone much worse” Xander exhaled, looking relieved that it was all over.
I rolled my eyes “Have you forgotten that our Luna rejected us? pointed out sharply.
He fell silent- Lhad a feeling getting Regan to become our Luna or our mate, was going to be more difficult than I could imagine.
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