Chapter 6 Xander 🩸

• It has been really difficult staying away when I know that she's right here with me. It is hard not going down to the nursery to see her and watch her play with the pups all day.
• Having followed Crescent for the better part of the last ten years of my life, I know she does very well with pups and little werewolves in general, they just love her and I cannot blame them.
• I sent some 'Deltas' — messengers — out to ask the owners of the pups to come retrieve their little mess on time — I don't want Crescent having to stay longer than necessary at the Nursery.
• It's past time now, she should probably be sleeping.
• I fling the sheets away from my body and hop out of my bed. I'm stark naked, and I really do want to go and meet Crescent in this state, she would definitely appreciate my sexy body.
• Deciding against that thought, I walk to my wardrobe and take out some clothes, selecting a black piece, I put them on and jog out of my room.
• This darn Pack House is too big for my liking. How can she be so close yet so far.
• I've dreamt of being with Crescent for as long as I can remember. She and I used to play together in the fields near this house since we were little.
• I thought I'd woo her and rule next to her as her mate when she becomes the Alpha, but my father had twisted that dream with his coup and now the whole thing is in the reverse.
• The nursery is as quiet as I expected it to be. No lazy parent left their pup here for the night.
• Good.
• I skid through the empty nursery, trying to control how giddy I was getting. The Pup sitter's room is just on the other side; across from the door. I sure do hope I don't meet that annoying Nettle there tonight.
• Why didn't I order her to leave the Pack House?
• I wait at the door to the room and sniff the air around it. One rosy and sweet scent, and another pungent scent from no other than Nettle.
• Note to self: skin Nettle alive first thing tomorrow morning.
• Carefully opening the door, I walk into the room. They are both asleep on the same bed, Nettle's hands are wrapped around Crescent, and she is snoring loudly.
• How would I get rid of this bitch without disturbing Crescent's sleep? Should I leave and return tomorrow night? No. I don't want to do that, I've been patient long enough, I won't wait any longer.
• I move closer to the bed and crouch next to Nettle. Thank the goddess that she's the one on the edge. Carefully shaking her shoulder, I try to wake her, but my actions yield nothing.
• My patience is running thin, and I am already seething with anger. I decide to try an alternative approach.
• I carefully move one of my hands to cover Nettle's mouth — I, too, am surprised by the fact that the action didn't wake her — with my other hand, I hold her shoulder and allow the claw of my index finger loose.
• With calculated force, I press my finger through Nettle's skin, intending for the pain to wake her up.
• This works like magic.
• She wakes up with a scared little growl and glowing blue eyes. Crazy that even she has taken the life of an innocent wolf.
• Her eyes went back to its dull, boring brown when she noticed who it is that was disturbing her solo snore contest.
• "Leave," I mouth the word to her, and she jumps out of bed, padding across the room till she found the door and disappeared behind it.
• The breath of relief that I didn't know I had been holding finally found its way out of my nose.
• Carefully, I raise the sheet and slide into the bed beside Crescent. This is the closest I've gotten to her in the past twelve years. Progress.
• Crescent's nose moves as she sniff in my scent, the sniff is followed by a deep frown on her forehead before she throws her eyes open in surprise.
• She tries to jump out of bed, but I hold her in place.
• "Let me go!" she growls out, her eyes darkening with rage — literally.
• "Did I mention how much I love your fierce side?"
• She doesn't seem amused by that, she raises her hand and sends her black claws deep into my chest; wounding me.
• "Argh!" I growl in pain, but my hands remained firm in place around her waist.
• "I could kill you now," she growls again.
• Her eyes are now completely black, and the hair on her head is becoming a thick forest. All this while, her nails remain buried in my skin.
• "I just want to talk," I say, trying to calm her down.
• She could kill me if she wanted right now, but that would depend greatly on how quick she is. I'm an Alpha now, and my strength surprises even me.
• Crescent has been nothing but the outcast daughter of Ganymede, I doubt if she has the speed to beat me.
• "Crescent," I say her name gently. "I. Just. Want. To. Talk."
• That seemed to have done the trick, she retracts her nails and diffuses the unnecessary shade of deep black in her eyes, slowly bringing back the natural icy blue hue to them.
• Her hair goes back to being the soft, smooth mane that I've always known them to be.
• "Talk," she says.
• Without warning, my grip on her waist tightens and I pull her close to me, making her chest hit my stomach and her head rests on my chest. I'm sure she can hear my heartbeat clearly in this position.
• "Be my Luna, Crescent," my voice comes out in a more pleading tone than I had intended.
• She sighs and says nothing.
• "You will be the Alpha Female of this Pack, just like you were born—"
• "I was supposed to be the Alpha! Not some glorified pup maker," she spits.
• I really do love her fire, really, but right now I'd very much appreciate it if she'd reason with me and fucking see reasons how this would benefit her too.
• I release my hold on her waist and move my hand up the length of her back, carefully stroking her white curls. She doesn't protest, but I know she's thinking of a dozen ways to cut my hand off.
• "I've always wanted you, Crescent," I admit my not-so-secret feelings. "I've always wanted to be by your side, since we were kids."
• She moves her body uneasily in my arms, the mention of her childhood must make her uncomfortable.
• "We used to run around in the fields."
• My lips maintained a permanent smile as I think back to the good old days.
• "I'd always tell my mother that I want to make you my mate."
• She jerks in my arms. "And your father usurped my mother's Pack."
• "I had nothing to do with the usurpation—"
• She breaks free from my loose hold and raises her head to look into my eyes. I wasn't sure what it was, but her blue eyes held this unreadable very raw, very deep emotions.
• "I will accept to be your mate on one condition," her voice is soft and filled with mischief; a mischief that matched the smirk on her face.
• And just like that, I know the last part of that sentence.
• "You will denounce your place as the Alpha of this Pack, and give me back what is rightfully mine."
• Like I said, I already knew what was coming next, so I am not surprised.
• I roll my head and sigh. "Crescent, you know that's not how this works."
• She fucking knows it doesn't swing that way.
• "Really?" she raise her eyebrow; taunting me.
• "You fucking know that in order to get this position, you would have to kill me," I growl at her.
• "Then allow me."
• My eyebrow arch at that. What is she driving at?
• "Allow me to kill you," she drawls out, as if she'd rather be doing anything else other than having this conversation.
• My mouth opens and an uncontrolled — totally intentional — laugh escapes my lips.
• Crescent's displeasure doesn't show on her face, she seems really calm. Seems like she was really serious with that crazy request.
• "Time alone in that wretched shelter made you lose your mind?"
• She shrugs. "Maybe."
• I nod at her, that is not surprising.
• "Well," I begin. "I'm sorry that my father usurped your mama."
• I raise my head to bring my face closer to hers.
• "But, aside from the fact that I love living, I also really, really do enjoy my position as Alpha. So whether I can give the title to you willingly or not," I shake my head slowly from side to side, clicking my tongue. "It just wouldn't be happening."
• "I thought so," she says, trying to break free from my hold, but that only made my grip tighten around her. "You should leave."
• I cock my head. "And what if I don't?"
• The clenching of her jaws shows how much she is trying to contain her anger. I really do wonder what she would do if she wasn't trying so hard to keep her actions in check, but I don't wait to find out.
• I leave her seething and fuming on the bed. There is no need to rush. I plan on filling her space slowly, till she is unable to avoid my presence anymore.
• I don't particularly care if she likes my methods or not, I only need to play my cards right — consider it punishment for what she did the last time.
• She's mine already, all that is needed is a little more work.