Chapter 36

Aiden

I was having dinner at the packhouse with Jesse, Jackson, and Melissa. Lexi had told Jesse that she was going to Luther’s today so my crew weren’t needed for guard duty. Jesse was barely speaking to me. He is still upset that I wanted to reject Lexi. The key word here is wanted. I don’t want to do it now. Lunch hadn’t given me much headway so I’m having to come up with a different plan. Razor suggested I get a little more assertive and tell Lexi that I want another chance. He said I was being too subtle. That at lunch Lexi just thought I was being friendly. I think he is right. I will have to be blunt with Lexi. I have already played too many games with her even though she didn’t know it.

I just finished eating and was going to let Razor out for a run when I got a link from dad asking for me and my crew to join him in his office. I turned around from the back door and headed straight there. Jesse, Melissa, and Jackson are hot on my heels. I open the door after knocking. “ You wanted to see us,dad?” I asked. Dad looks up from the papers. “ Yes, have a seat.” I sit in the chair in front of dad's desk while the rest sit on the couch that is angled so they can see dad. I called you guys in because I just got a call from Alpha Riverclaw. And it concerns all of you.” he said. Why would it concern all of us?

“ How did the meeting go? Did they accept Lexi?” Melissa asks. My dad smiles “ It went well from what the Alpha told me. They adore Lexi even after the little incident they had. And yes they welcomed her. Alpha is already calling Lexi his daughter.” “ What incident? Is Lexi ok? Did she get hurt?” Jesse asks, rapid fire. “ Easy, Jesse. Lexi is fine. She got startled and was able to project her calming glow out and hit the former Alpha in the chest as she tried to protect Luther.” Melissa’s mouth drops. “ Really? She can do that?” Melissa asked. “ Apparently so. Shocked the shit out of the poor girl too.” dad said.

“ That brings me to my next point. The Riverclaw Elders are going to take over Lexi’s training. Lexi is having a difficulty controlling the gifts she has and it will only get worse the closer to her birthday she gets. And they will be able to train her when her new abilities manifest.” dad said. “ Why aren’t our Elders training her?” Jackson asked. Dad explains how the Riverclaw pack knows all about Lexi and the history behind the Prophecy. They have trained for generations to prepare for Lexi’s arrival.

“ Couldn’t their Elders work with ours to train her?” Jesse asked. Dad looks down at his desk for a minute wiping his hand down his face. “ This is the other reason I brought you guys in here. They are going to train Lexi so she can accept Aiden’s rejection. They will be doing it three days before her birthday.” dad said. He went on to explain how the rejection needed to be done as soon as possible so she can be granted her other mate. “ They are having a birthday party for Lexi and inviting all the neighboring packs to increase the chances that Lexi will meet her other mate. Lexi has to be fully mated to get her wolf and her other powers if she has any hope of uniting all the packs and defeating Valerose.” dad said.

I have to rub my chest to stop the ache that started when dad talked about the rejection. It hurts to think that it is coming soon if I don’t fix things with Lexi. “ What I’m about to say, trust me when I say I don’t feel good about it.” Dad continues. “ Jesse, Melissa, Jackson I’m sorry to tell you this but once the rejection takes place you three will no longer be Lexi’s guardians.” he told us.

Melissa jumps up “ What? Why? We didn’t do anything wrong?” “ Melissa, I understand you are upset. But you need to sit down.” dad said. After she does, dad goes on “ No, none of you have done nothing wrong. From what I understand Lexi’s guardians always come from her mates pack so when the rejection is done so will your job with her. To make way for the other mates Beta and Gamma’s.” “ Can’t you stop her? You know like Alpha order her not to do it.” Jackson asked. Dad shook his head. “ No, for two reasons. First Lexi is respecting Aiden’s wishes. And second I can’t order Lexi to do anything. No Alpha can.” he said.

“ What do you mean no Alpha can order her?” I asked. Dad explained to us that Lexi outranks ant Alpha out there. She is a child of the Moon Goddess. Like her daughter. Not like us shifters that were created by the Goddess. Lexi has the Goddess’s blood in her veins. “ So you are telling us that in a matter of weeks we are losing our jobs to protect the greatest being in our history. The sweetest, kindest person I have ever known is next to our Luna. All because of a selfish prick, our future Alpha, wouldn’t accept what the Goddess hand picked for him. Because he thought he deserved better. That he knew better than the Goddess. Now we have to suffer because of it. That is fucked up.” Jesse yelled.

I expected dad to yell at him for his outburst but he didn’t. “ I agree with you Jesse. It is fucked up. But it is the hand we have been dealt. There is nothing we can do about it.” dad said. “ I will tell you one thing. Just because I lose my job I will not stop being friends with Lexi or making sure she is safe. Her job is to unite the packs, right? So that includes ours so I’m going to help Lexi on my own. Whether it is my job or not.” Jesse said. Melissa and Jackson nod in agreement.


“ I respect that and will not stand in your way. I understand you three have a strong connection to Lexi. I won’t encourage you to break it. Andros is telling me to do the same. To work with her when it comes time. My only regret is that she won’t be my daughter. My only hope is that one day Aiden will get a mate that is half as good as Lexi. Trust me when I say we are all losing someone special for a selfish action.” dad said as he looked at me. I took a chance and looked over at the couch. All three of them were glaring at me. I don’t blame them for being mad but the look they are giving me makes me feel like pure shit.

I think about what dad said. My actions not only affect me but everyone around me. Mom and dad lose a potential daughter and future grandpups that Lexi would have. Jesse, Melissa and Jackson lose a friend. The pack loses a powerful Luna all because I couldn't see what was right in front of me. Because I assumed she was human. If I had looked closer I would have seen she wasn’t. No human can glow like that. I look back at the couch. “ I’m sorry. I didn’t know everyone would be affected by what I did. I thought I was looking out for the pack but I wasn’t. You are right I was being selfish. And not a day goes by that I don’t regret it.” I told them.


I turn to my dad. “ What happens if I get Lexi to not do the rejection? What happens if I win her back?” I asked. “ The only thing that would change is that the two packs would have to start working together. You and Luther would have to figure out how to train and work together. Because in this up coming war it is said that it will be the three of you that will help lead us to victory. But I have to be honest with you son. Winning Lexi over isn’t going to be easy. She is already preparing for a second chance mate. She is letting you go.” dad said.

I have gathered that but I want to prevent it. “ I know I fucked up but I have to try. For Razor, myself and the pack.” I told him. “ Son, winning Lexi is going to be the hardest thing you ever do. The bond is still intact for now. So that will help.” dad said. “ Aiden, with all due respect it is going to take a lot of convincing on your part to win Lexi back. I’m talking from a girl’s perspective. You told her she wasn’t good enough from the start. But when you find out that she is a powerful child of the Goddess she is suddenly good enough. I wouldn’t give you a shot if I were her. After spending time with her I don’t think she will. You are going to have to prove you are really all in. That you made a mistake and will spend the rest of your life making up for it.” Melissa told me.

I didn’t even think about that. That the only reason she is good enough for me now is because she is powerful. Someone special. She should have been special to me the moment I found out she was my mate. That is what makes her special. Not that she glows or is strong. Although the glowing thing is pretty cool. Like Luther said I like it when she lights up a room. “ So I will work my ass off. I owe it to all of us. Melissa, will you help me? I need to get a woman's point of view. I was thinking of taking Lexi on a date but I don’t know what to do or where to go.” I asked her.

“ I’ll help you in any way I can but you are going to have to put the work in.” Melissa said. Good, this will help. I turned to dad and told him ‘ Dad, I need your and mom’s support in this. I want to know that you approve of me bringing Lexi into the pack. And being my mate.” “ Son, you know I have been against the rejection from the beginning. Even before I knew who she was. So yes, you have my support now. I’m sure your mother will say the same. I know how much she adores Lexi and isn’t happy with what you did.” dad said. That is all I need to hear. Now to get Melissa’s help to plan the best date ever and knock Lexi off her feet.