Xander's Rejected Luna

A King’s Revelation

Xander's POV

Jasmine’s weight in my arms felt like the only real thing in the world, her shallow breaths warm against my chest as I carried her away from the chaos of the rogue attack. Her blood stained my jacket, the gash on her arm a cruel reminder of how close I’d come to losing her before I even understood what she meant to me. My boots crunched over fallen leaves, my senses sharp for any sign of pursuit, but the howls had faded, the rogues scattering like the cowards they were. Still, my heart wouldn’t settle, not with her unconscious, her pale face framed by silver-streaked hair that caught the moonlight like a halo.

I pushed through the last of the trees, my destination clear—a secluded park where I could catch my breath and figure out what came next. The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of damp grass, and I settled Jasmine on a soft patch of ground, propping her against my knee. Her eyelids fluttered, a soft groan escaping her lips, and relief hit me like a punch. She was still with me. I brushed a stray lock from her face, my fingers lingering on her cheek, her skin soft despite the dirt smudged there. Volt, my wolf, stirred restlessly, urging me to protect her, while Damien, the demon half of me, growled with a possessive edge I couldn’t ignore.

I needed answers. Those rogues weren’t random they’d been sent, and my gut screamed Lucas, the alpha who’d rejected her. I’d tracked him down earlier, slipping away from the party before the rogue attack, my anger barely leashed as I cornered him near his pack house. The guy was all swagger, his dark hair slicked back, hazel eyes narrowing as he sized me up, not knowing who I was. “Xander Killian,” I’d said, my voice low, watching recognition flicker in his gaze, though he couldn’t place the name. “You rejected Jasmine. Left her to rot with that venomous stepsister of hers.”

Lucas had shrugged, his smirk infuriating. “She’s weak. No Luna material. Kira’s better suited.” His casual dismissal of Jasmine, like she was nothing, made my claws itch to rip through him. I’d leaned in, letting a hint of demonic red bleed into my eyes, just enough to make him flinch. “You don’t know what you’ve thrown away,” I’d growled, “but you will.” He’d scoffed, muttering something about knowing my name from somewhere, but I was done talking. I’d left him standing there, his confidence cracking, and now, with Jasmine bleeding in my arms, I wished I’d done more.

She stirred again, her fingers twitching against my thigh, and I shifted to cradle her closer, my hand pressing gently over her wound to check the bleeding. It was slowing, thank the Goddess, but she was still out, her body limp in a way that twisted my insides. I’d spent years believing my hybrid blood—demon and werewolf—meant I’d never have a mate, that solitude was my curse for being a freak of nature. My father’s demonic rage, my mother’s lupine grace—they’d forged me into a king, but one who walked alone, untouchable. Until Jasmine. Her kiss at the party, her defiance against those rogues, had shattered that belief, and now I couldn’t let her go.

“Xander?” Her voice was a faint rasp, pulling me out of my thoughts. Her eyes cracked open, brown and hazy, searching my face. She tried to sit up, wincing, and I steadied her, my arm firm around her shoulders.

“Easy,” I said, keeping my tone soft despite the storm inside me. “You took a hit. Just rest for a minute.”

She frowned, her hand brushing the torn sleeve of her cloak, fingers trembling as they found the blood. “The rogues… they said Lucas sent them.” Her voice broke on his name, and I saw the hurt flash across her face, raw and deep. It made me want to hunt Lucas down and tear him apart, but I pushed that down. She needed me here, not chasing revenge.

“Yeah, I figured,” I said, my jaw tight. “I spoke to him earlier. He’s a fool, Jasmine, and he’s got no idea what he’s started.” I brushed my thumb over her knuckles, her hand small in mine, and she didn’t pull away. That small trust fueled me, made me want to shield her from every damn thing that had ever hurt her.

She looked up at me, her gaze sharper now, though pain still clouded it. “Why are you doing this? Helping me? You don’t even know me.” Her voice held a challenge, but beneath it, I heard the doubt, the fear she wasn’t worth saving.

I leaned closer, my forehead nearly touching hers, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “Because you’re my mate,” I said, the words heavy with certainty. “I’ve spent my life thinking I’d never have one, that my blood demon and wolf made it impossible. Too much power, too much darkness. But when I saw you at that party, when you kissed me…” I paused, a half-smile tugging at my lips at the memory of her boldness. “Everything changed. You’re not just anyone, Jasmine. You’re mine.”

Her breath caught, and she stared at me, lips parting slightly. I could feel her wolf stirring, a faint pulse of energy that answered mine, and it took everything not to pull her into another kiss right then. But she shook her head, her silver hair falling into her face. “I’m nobody. A slave, a reject. My own pack calls me a demon because of my mother’s death. How can I be your mate?”

Her words cut, not because they doubted me, but because they doubted her. I cupped her face, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You’re not a nobody. You’re the daughter of the Moon Goddess, whether you believe it or not. I feel it, Jasmine, and so does your wolf. Don’t let them make you think you’re less.”

She blinked, tears glistening but not falling, and her hand rested over mine, her touch hesitant but warm. “My wolf… she’s stronger with you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like she’s waking up.”

“That’s the bond,” I said, my thumb tracing her cheekbone, memorizing the softness of her skin. “She knows you belong with me, same as I do.”

For a moment, we just sat there, her hand on mine, my heart pounding with a mix of protectiveness and something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name. Her eyes softened, and she leaned into my touch, her lips curving into a small, shaky smile that hit me like a sunrise after a long night. I wanted to stay in that moment, to keep her safe in this quiet bubble, but the world wouldn’t let us.

A rustle broke the silence, and I tensed, my senses snapping to attention. Lias stepped into view, his broad frame tense, his sword still sheathed but his hand hovering over the hilt. His dark eyes flicked from me to Jasmine, assessing, always the cautious beta. “Xander, we’ve got trouble,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “Lucas’s pack is stirring. They’re not happy you were sniffing around their alpha, and word’s spreading about the rogue attack. Some think you’re escalating things.”

I growled, my arm tightening around Jasmine. “Let them stir. Lucas sent those rogues after her. He’s lucky I didn’t rip his throat out when I had the chance.”

Lias raised an eyebrow, his jaw tightening. “You sure that’s wise? We’re already stretched thin with the border skirmishes. Starting a war over…” He glanced at Jasmine, hesitating, and I felt her stiffen against me.

“Over my mate?” I finished, my voice sharp. “Yeah, Lias, I’m sure. She’s worth it.” Jasmine’s eyes widened, and I squeezed her hand, hoping she felt the truth in my words.

Lias sighed, running a hand through his short-cropped hair. “Just watch your back, boss. Lucas may not know you’re the King, but he’s not stupid. He’ll figure it out, and when he does, he’ll come for her harder.”

Jasmine’s fingers tightened in mine, and I looked at her, seeing the fear flicker but also that spark of defiance I’d noticed from the start. “Let him try,” she said, her voice steadier now, and damn if that didn’t make my chest swell.

I stood, pulling her up with me, her body still weak but her grip firm. “We need to move,” I said, glancing at Lias. “Get her to the kingdom, where she’s safe.”

But before we could take a step, a low, menacing growl echoed from the shadows, and my blood ran cold. Eyes glinted in the darkness. Lucas’s pack had found us.