Xander's Rejected Luna

Escape into Danger

Jasmine’s POV

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst through my chest as I bolted from the party, the music and laughter fading into a distant buzz. The cool night air stung my cheeks, and my bare feet sank into the damp moss with every frantic step. Xander’s kiss still burned on my lips, his words "She’s mine" ringing in my ears, both a lifeline and a mystery I couldn’t untangle. My wolf stirred inside me, a restless flicker, urging me to keep moving, but she was weak, barely a whisper after years of silence. I didn’t know where I was going, just that I had to get away from Kira’s venomous smirk, from Lucas’s betrayal, from the weight of everyone’s hate.

The woods closed around me, branches clawing at my cloak as I pushed deeper, my breath coming in sharp gasps. The memory of Xander’s hands on my waist, his blue eyes piercing through the dark, kept flashing in my mind, making my skin tingle despite the panic. Who was he? The Werewolf King, he’d said, but that didn’t explain the pull I felt, like my soul was tethered to his. My wolf growled softly, "Mate," and I shook my head, trying to focus. I couldn’t afford to get lost in that now.

A low snarl stopped me dead. My eyes darted around, catching the glint of yellow eyes in the shadows. Rogues. Three of them emerged, their matted fur and jagged scars visible even in the dim moonlight filtering through the trees. The leader, a hulking figure with a torn ear, bared his teeth, his voice gravelly. “There’s the little demon. Thought you could run?”

I stumbled back, my heart lurching. “Stay away from me!” I shouted, my voice cracking, but I raised my fists, mimicking the stance I’d seen pack warriors use. My wolf whimpered, clawing at the edges of my mind, but she couldn’t break free, couldn’t shift. I was defenseless, and they knew it.

The second rogue, leaner with a cruel smirk, circled to my left. “Alpha Lucas wants you gone, freak. Should’ve stayed in that cellar.” My stomach twisted at Lucas’s name. He’d sent them? After rejecting me, he wanted me dead? The betrayal stung anew, sharper than Kira’s taunts.

I backed up, my heel catching on a root, and I nearly fell. “I’m not afraid of you,” I lied, my hands trembling as I scanned for an escape. The trees were too dense, the rogues too close. My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out everything else until a familiar presence crashed through the underbrush.

Xander.

He moved like a storm, his leather jacket whipping as he tackled the leader with a bone-rattling thud. His eyes glowed red, a demonic fire I’d never seen, and his claws extended, slashing through the rogue’s shoulder with terrifying precision. Blood sprayed, and the rogue howled, scrambling back. Xander’s voice was a low growl, deadly calm. “Touch her again, and you’re dead.”

I froze, my breath catching as he spun to face the other two. The lean rogue lunged at him, but Xander sidestepped, grabbing the rogue’s arm and twisting until a sickening crack echoed. The third rogue hesitated, then charged at me instead. I screamed, throwing myself to the side, but his claws grazed my arm, tearing through my cloak and slicing my skin. Pain seared through me, hot and sharp, and I hit the ground, my vision swimming.

“Jasmine!” Xander’s shout cut through the haze. He was on the rogue in an instant, his fist glowing with that eerie red light as he slammed it into the rogue’s chest. The impact sent the rogue sprawling, his body twitching before going still. Xander’s chest heaved, his gaze snapping to me, and in two strides, he was at my side, kneeling in the dirt.

“Hey, stay with me,” he said, his voice softer now, urgent. His hands were gentle as he lifted my arm, inspecting the gash. Blood trickled down, staining my sleeve, and I winced as he pressed his palm against it, trying to slow the bleeding. His touch was warm, grounding, but my head felt heavy, the world tilting.

“I’m… okay,” I mumbled, but my legs buckled when I tried to stand. Xander caught me, one arm sliding under my knees, the other supporting my back as he lifted me effortlessly. My cheek pressed against his chest, the steady thump of his heart a stark contrast to my racing one. My wolf stirred again, stronger this time, reaching for him, craving the safety of his scent—cedar and something darker, like smoke and steel.

“You’re not okay,” he said, his jaw tight as he scanned the woods. “We need to get you somewhere safe.” His grip tightened, protective, and I let myself sink into it, too weak to argue. The pain in my arm throbbed, but his warmth dulled it, and I clung to his jacket, my fingers curling into the leather.

“Who were they?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. My eyelids fluttered, fighting to stay open as the blood loss made me dizzy. I hated feeling this helpless, like the scared girl in the cellar, but Xander’s presence kept the panic at bay.

“Rogues working for someone,” he said, his tone grim. “Probably your ex-alpha. I’ll find out.” The anger in his voice sent a shiver through me, not of fear but of something else—trust, maybe. He’d saved me, no questions asked, and that meant something.

I tried to nod, but my head lolled against his shoulder. My wolf purred faintly, content despite the chaos, and I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly I fit in his arms, like I belonged there. The thought sent a flush through me, even as my strength faded. “Xander… why do you care?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

He paused mid-step, looking down at me, his blue eyes intense even in the dark. “Because you’re mine, Jasmine. My mate. And no one hurts what’s mine.” His voice was a vow, fierce and unwavering, and it sent a spark through my chest, waking my wolf further. She wanted to believe him, wanted to lean into that promise, but doubt gnawed at me. Lucas had called me his once, too, before he tore me apart.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a wave of dizziness hit, and my vision blurred. “Xander…” I murmured, my grip on his jacket weakening. My body felt heavy, like it was sinking into a fog, and I heard him curse under his breath.

“Hold on, damn it,” he said, his voice sharp with worry. He moved faster, his boots crunching through the undergrowth, and I caught glimpses of his face, jaw clenched, eyes scanning for threats. My wolf whimpered, reaching for him, and I felt a strange warmth spreading from my core, like she was trying to anchor me to him.

I don’t know how long he carried me, time slipping through my fingers like water. My arm throbbed, but his steady heartbeat kept me tethered, a lifeline in the darkness. I wanted to ask more about the mate bond, about why rogues were after me, but my tongue felt leaden, my thoughts scattered. All I could do was cling to him, my fingers brushing the stubble along his jaw as I fought to stay conscious.

His voice broke through again, low and urgent. “We’re almost there, Jasmine. Just stay with me.” I felt him shift, his arms tightening as he climbed a rise, the air growing cooler. I caught a faint glow ahead, maybe a fire or a lantern, but my eyes wouldn’t focus.

Then, a new sound reached us, howls, sharp and hungry, echoing through the trees. Xander stiffened, his head snapping toward the noise. “Damn it,” he muttered, his grip on me tightening. “More of them.”

My heart lurched, fear cutting through the fog. “Rogues?” I croaked, forcing my eyes open. The howls were closer now, a chorus of menace that made my skin crawl.

“Yeah,” Xander said, his voice hard. He set me down gently against a tree, his body shielding mine as he faced the darkness. “Stay here. Don’t move.” His claws extended, and that red glow flickered in his eyes again, his hybrid power radiating like a storm about to break.

I grabbed his wrist, my fingers weak but desperate. “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded, hating how small I sounded. My wolf growled in agreement, clawing at the edges of my fading consciousness.

He looked back, his expression softening for a split second. “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, but the howls grew louder, and shadows moved in the trees, eyes glinting like predators closing in.