Chapter 26

Aiden
I watched Lexi pace back and forth asking questions. Her glow would fade and get brighter. The color would change shades going darker then lighter. I could feel her emotions all over the place. And so could Razor. I could feel him trying to press forward. He wanted to comfort Lexi. It was nice to hear his voice again. I had to tell him now was not the right time. Lexi is overloaded right now and I don’t think touching her is a good idea. Hell, I’m overloaded and this isn’t about me. Well, not all of it.

“ So you are saying that my birth caused a pack to be destroyed. So I’m responsible for lives lost. Including my parents.” Lexi said. Whoa, what? That is what Lexi got from that. “ No, Lexi. You are not responsible for what happened. Your birth was a happy occasion. And your parents died doing what good parents do. They died protecting what they loved the most. You. They knew you were destined for great things. And I know they would be so proud of you. What happened to the pack and your parents is never on you. Don’t ever think that.” Patsy said. Lexi nods “ Ok. OK. Yes. They loved me. I always felt it. Next question. The mate thing. Aiden wants to do it. The first time I tried he looked like he was going to pass out. The second time I was stopped. Can you explain how I need to do that?”

“ Lexi, It is a good thing the rejection was stopped both times. The first time I believe you somehow projected your pain not only into Aiden but the entire pack. We all felt it. Causing several people to pass out. People like Calissa and Aiden. I was close myself.” my dad said. Lexi stops in her tracks and looks at my dad. “ I did that?” she asks with tears in her eyes. She really didn’t know what she was doing. Because Lexi has been kept in the dark she has no clue what she is capable of.

Lexi looks at my mom “ Mrs. Cline. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t even know what I was saying. I was just so angry and hurt. I never meant for others to feel that. I never meant for anyone to get hurt.” Lexi has tears pouring down her face. Melissa and Patsy are whipping tears from their eyes. I feel like I want to cry myself. Razor is bawling. My dad and the Elders are having a hard time too. Lexi is projecting her emotions again. My mom doesn’t hesitate. She jumps up and wraps Lexi in her arms.

“ I know, sweet girl. I know you didn’t want to hurt anyone. I could feel it. And I feel it now. You have nothing to be sorry for. It was an accident.” Mom said. She pulled Lexi back “ Now let’s get rid of those tears. There is no reason for you to feel sad. Because the young woman before me is so much stronger than that. I see it. The Elders just gave you so much and you are still standing. Still questioning. I like to think of myself as a strong woman but if it were me I would have locked myself in my room and hide from the world.”

Lexi wipes her eyes and smiles, “ Thank you, Mrs. Cline.” Lexi turns to the Elders “ On that note. May I ask some more questions?” They just nod. “ For everyone’s sake, how do I do the rejection without hurting anyone? And these guardians. How do I know who they are? And how do I know my mate or mates? And how do I get fully mated to gain my wolf? And packs. Since mine is gone, how do I join one? Or do I need to join one? I mean, is there like an application process or something? And how does one choose a pack?”

Well those came out rapid fire. I could barely keep up. But the one that stood out was the rejection question. I know that is what I wanted but it doesn’t sit right with me or Razor. Standish laughs “ Easy Lexi. One at a time. I will start with the rejection. Is that something you want to do?” “ It doesn’t matter what I want. Aiden asked for this and I’m not going to make someone stay with me that doesn’t want to. No matter what some Goddess said. I won’t let someone be miserable by being stuck with me. So just help figure out how to give this to Aiden with as little pain as possible.”

“ I need to look into it but I think we can help you with that. Now I will answer the simple question. When we find a mate or in your case mates you would go to their pack.” Trenton said. “ But I Aiden doesn’t want me around and I don’t have his replacement or my other mate so what do I do until then.” Lexi said. Luther cleared his throat. “ Lexi, baby. That isn’t entirely true.” He turns to Lexi “ I was going to tell you. I promise. I thought you were human so I wanted to date you and let you get to know me. I wanted to slowly bring you into my world so you wouldn’t freak out.”

“ Let me make sure I understand. You are my mate, or one of them. And because you thought I was human you wanted to date me before you sprung the shifter thing. You just accept me for who I am. From the start. Even when I started glowing.” Lexi asked. Luther smiles at her “ What can I say. I like it when my girl lights up a room. As far as mates go I will walk you through it.” Luther said. Lexi lays her head on his shoulder and smiles up at him. I hate to say it because she is looking at Luther but she looks cute as hell. “ I would like that.” Lexi said.

“ That could have been you Lexi is looking at.” Razor said. “ I know man. I was an ass. Worse than an ass. And she is going to accept the rejection. Razor, what am I going to do? I think I made the biggest mistake of my life.And I don’t know how to fix it. I will admit I reacted too quickly. I rushed to judgment. And I questioned something I never should have.” I said. “ I know you did. There is still time, you know. Lexi said she won’t accept the rejection until she is sure she won’t hurt anyone. If you want you might be able to take back the rejection.” Razor said. “ Razor after everything I said to her. I have no chance. “ I said to him.

“ You won’t know unless you try. I can feel what you feel Aiden. I know you want Lexi as much as I do. You can still win our mate back. You just need to try. Fight for her. We need her as much as she needs us. I need her more. You heard what the Elders said. We have to prove to the Goddess that we deserve another mate before we get a new one. Who knows how long that will be? Or who it will be. To be the next mate will always be second best. “ Razor said.

“ Yea, the next one will be second best. Lexi is the whole package Razor and I let her go. How did you get stuck with a prick of a human?” I asked him. I can hear the Elders telling Lexi about her guardians. How their wolves will know before Lexi since she can’t sense them yet. Jesse, Jackson, and Melissa explain how they have a special connection to Lexi and believe they are three of her guardians. The elder explains they believe the other three belong to Luther’s pack.

Lexi is confused because if she is not part of my pack how can her guardians be in it. What if she gets another mate? Will she get guardians from another pack? The elders explain that unfortunately they don’t have those answers. There are some things they are going to have to learn with her. “ Elders, thank you for sharing everything you know. If Luther's pack accepts me will you forward anything you have or might be useful to them. If they don’t I guess I will just have to figure it out on my own.” Lexi said.

“ Lexi, I would like to offer you a place in our pack. Even if it is just temporary. You can train with our Elders. I can give you access to our library to learn about our history. Shifter history. I will introduce you to the pack so you can get to know more of your kind.” my dad said. Razor starts pleading for Lexi to agree so he can be around her. To get to know her. I find myself thinking the same thing. If Lexi hangs around the pack she can get to know the part of me that isn’t an ass. I can show her how sorry I am. Maybe I win Lexi over the way I should have done in the first place.

Dad continues “ And Luther I would like to extend an invitation to you, your family and your Elders. I think it would be a good idea for yours and mine to talk and share information so that both sets can help Lexi. If Lexi is to be part of your pack they need to know. And I believe her guardians should get to know each other so they can work together.” “ Thank you, Alpha. But why are you doing this?” Luther asks.