Xander's Rejected Luna

Xander’s First Lash

Xander’s POV

The growls from the shadows turned into a full chorus, and I felt Damien surge forward, my demon side itching for the fight. Lucas’s warriors emerged like ghosts from the trees, their eyes glowing with that pack loyalty I knew all too well, the kind that blinded them to reason. There were eight of them, broad-shouldered and snarling, claws already out, fur rippling along their arms as they half-shifted. Jasmine tensed against me, her hand clutching my arm, and I could smell her fear mixing with the metallic tang of her blood. No way was I letting them near her.

“Lias,” I said, my voice low and steady, not breaking eye contact with the lead warrior, a burly guy with a scar running down his neck. “Take Jasmine to the kingdom. Now.”

Lias nodded without a word, his movements quick and sure. He scooped Jasmine up in one fluid motion, her protest dying on her lips as she glanced back at me, her brown eyes wide with worry. “Xander, wait,” she started, but Lias was already moving, his beta strength carrying her effortlessly toward the hidden path that led to our borders. She reached out, her fingers brushing the air, but I forced myself to look away. She’d be safe there, under the protection of my guards. That was what mattered.

The warriors shifted their stance, one of them a lanky one with wild hair, snarling at Lias’s retreating form. “She belongs to our alpha,” he spat, his voice thick with aggression. “Hand her over, stranger.”

I raised a hand, signaling my hidden warriors. A low whistle escaped my lips, sharp and commanding, and they materialized from the underbrush like shadows given form. Ten of them, my elite guard, faces hardened from years of battles at my side, weapons drawn and eyes locked on the intruders. They flanked me in seconds, a wall of muscle and loyalty that made Lucas’s men hesitate, their snarls faltering for just a beat.

I stepped forward, keeping my claws sheathed for now, though Damien clawed at my control, begging to unleash. “This doesn’t have to end in blood,” I said, my tone even, projecting the authority I’d earned through countless victories. “Your alpha made a mistake rejecting Jasmine. She’s under my protection now. Go back and tell him to stand down.”

The scarred leader laughed, a rough bark that grated on my nerves. He flexed his fingers, claws glinting in the low light, and spat on the ground. “You think you can waltz into our territory and steal our rejects? Lucas gave the order: bring her back or end her. And who the hell are you to give commands?”

I met his gaze, letting a flicker of red bleed into my eyes, just enough to hint at what I was. “Xander Killian. And I’m offering you a way out. Walk away, and no one dies tonight.”

Murmurs rippled through their ranks, the name sparking vague recognition, but they shook it off, loyalty winning out. The lanky one lunged first, a sloppy move born of anger, his claws aiming for my throat. I sidestepped easily, grabbing his wrist and twisting until I heard the snap of bone. He yelped, dropping to one knee, and that was the spark. The rest charged, a chaotic rush of fur and fangs.

My warriors met them head-on. I dove into the fray, Damien’s power flooding my veins, making my movements a blur. I caught the scarred leader mid-leap, my fist slamming into his gut with enough force to double him over. He gasped, wind knocked out, and I followed with an uppercut that sent him sprawling, blood spraying from his split lip. Around me, the clash of bodies echoed- grunts, snarls, the wet thud of impacts. One of my guards, Thorne, a wiry fighter with a scar across his eye, pinned a warrior to the ground, his knee on the man’s chest, claws at his throat. “Yield,” Thorne growled, but the warrior thrashed, slashing at Thorne’s arm, drawing blood.

I spun to help, but another attacker barreled into me from the side, his shoulder ramming my ribs. Pain flared, but I absorbed it, wrapping my arms around him in a crushing hold. My demon strength squeezed, ribs cracking under the pressure, and he howled, going limp. I dropped him, scanning the fight. These guys were tough, trained pack enforcers, but they lacked the hybrid edge I had. Volt paced in my mind, urging precision, while Damien reveled in the chaos. I hated this spilling blood when words could have sufficed but they’d refused to listen, forcing my hand.

The scarred leader staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth, his eyes wild. “You’ll pay for this,” he rasped, shifting fully now, his form twisting into a massive gray wolf. He lunged again, jaws snapping, and I met him with a s***h of my own claws, raking across his flank. Fur and flesh tore, and he whimpered, collapsing in a heap. My warriors had the upper hand now, three of Lucas’s men down and unmoving, the others battered and retreating step by step.

“Enough!” I roared, my voice amplified by Damien’s power, echoing like thunder. The remaining warriors froze, panting, their forms shifting back to human as defeat sank in. One of them, a younger guy with wide eyes, knelt over a fallen comrade, pressing hands to a gushing wound.

I approached the scarred leader, who lay gasping, his side heaving with labored breaths. He was barely alive, blood pooling beneath him, but his eyes still burned with defiance. I knelt, grabbing his collar to pull his face close to mine. “You listen,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “Take this message back to your alpha. All alphas in the kingdom are to appear in court on the full moon. They’ll witness the commemoration of the kingdom’s Luna, and no one is absent. A meeting with the Werewolf King will follow. Make sure he understands.”

The leader’s lips curled in a weak snarl, but he nodded faintly, his strength fading. I released him, standing and gesturing to my warriors. “Let him crawl back. The rest… finish it if they resist.”

The young warrior helped the leader up, slinging an arm over his shoulder, and they limped away, the survivors dragging their wounded. I watched them go, my chest tight with the weight of what I’d just unleashed. This wasn’t just a skirmish; it was a declaration. Jasmine’s safety came first, but dragging every alpha into my court meant politics, alliances tested, and potential war. I wiped blood from my hands on my jacket, the sticky warmth a reminder of the cost. My first real lash out since claiming her, and it felt both right and heavy.

Thorne clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grin fierce despite the cut on his arm. “Clean work, my king. They won’t forget that.”

I nodded, forcing a tight smile. “Let’s hope it buys us time. Clean up and head back. I need to check on Jasmine.”

We moved out, my warriors falling into formation around me, their steps silent and purposeful. My mind raced ahead to her—how she’d looked at me with that mix of trust and doubt, her wolf stirring in response to mine. I needed to see her safe, to hold her and explain what this meant. The full moon was close, and commemorating her as Luna would bind her to me publicly, but it also painted a bigger target on her back. Lucas wouldn’t take this lying down; he’d rally, scheme, and come harder.

As we neared the kingdom’s hidden gates, a distant howl pierced the night and I felt Damien stir again, ready for more. Whatever was coming, it was just the beginning.