Rejecting The Alpha Twins (Regan)

Chapter 72

Regan POV

I stared transfixed, watching the two fight. Xavier is losing a lot blood, but so is the other Alpha and rogue, Damien. My grip tightens on the branch I'm holding, although it's of little use to me as a weapon. I still can't shift, my body continues to be weakened by the wolfsbane they forcibly injected me with earlier. I'm shocked that Xavier has not only managed to shift but is also able to fight in his condition. That shows just how strong a wolf and alpha that he is. I'm impressed despite my concern for him, my mouth going dry as I watch the two wolves going at each other with all that they have. Fear strikes my heart. I can't bear to lose my mate. If he dies. I don't want to contemplate such a horrible thing. The pain itself of losing a mate...it's indescribable. I can feel myself on the verge of tears again, feeling helpless and even useless. I wish there was something I could do to help him. Some way to feel useful. He's already dealt with the other rogues, so part of me suspects that he's tired, although he doesn't appear to show it as they fight Then it happens. As Xavier lands on his feet, the other wolf, Damien takes the opportunity to lunge towards me while Xavier is turning. My eyes widen in shock. Even as I look towards Xavier, I know instinctively that he's not going to be able to make it in time to save me. He's too far away. I can't rely on him and will have to do something if I don't want to die. My hand clenches around the branch, holding it tighter as my knuckles turn white. The wolf is leaping high in the air. Something comes over me. A certain recklessness or maybe anger at the way I've been treated. Instead of attempting to run, which I know will only end in my death, I fling myself down onto the floor and raise the branch into the air, shoving the sharp end hard into the other Alpha's chest, as hard as I possibly can, screaming out loud with rage and fury. My scream is loud enough to shake the leaves from the nearby trees and make them flutter to the ground. I can feel my heart beating loudly as 1 stare up, unable to believe what I've just done, in disbelief, even as I struggle to comprehend what to do next. The other alpha was not expecting me to make such a daring move. To my surprise, the branch impales his chest, and I roll out from underneath him as he falls to the ground, my breathing heavy, blood splattered all over my body from the rogue, Alpha's wound. The other wolf is not dead, but I have given Xavier all the time that he's needed. He springs past me and clamps his jaws down onto Damien's neck. I hear the sickening track as Xavier kills the Alpha rogue behind me. I turn away shivering violently, trying not to look around at all the dead wolves we've left in our wake. Part of me feels guilty even though I know that we needed to in order to survive. Still, taking another life is never easy. All of the rogues, including their leader are now gone. I feel overwhelmed a mixture of emotions running through me. The sound of shifting distracts me from my thoughts and I glance up over my shoulder to see Xavier striding towards me with purposeful steps, a strange glint in his eye. He looks angry. Why? Have I done something to upset him?

He grabs me, picking me up as I shriek and then embracing me tightly, muzzling my neck and holding me as I sob into his shoulder, giving vent to the tears of relief I've been trying to hold back for his sake.

"I thought you were dead for sure" he growled, his voice catching slightly. "I'm sorry, I failed to protect you" he added apologetically "It will never happen again, Regan"

It's fiot his fault. If anything it's mine. I'm the reason we ended up here in the first place. I should have been more careful, and more aware of the dangers in the woods. I shake my head a Xavier denying his words. He has nothing to be sorry for "You saved me" I corrected him, my voice barely above a whisper. "If it wasn't for you.." I trailed off unable to complete the

sentence.

He understood. We both did. If Xavier had been defeated. It didn't bear mentioning what the consequences would have been. I was grateful instead, pressing my body against him, feeling my body tremble as he ran his hands up and down my arms, looking me over for any injuries I might have sustained. His touch is gentle, and tender. I swallow hard, feeling nothing but love for him. For him and for his brother. I was lucky to have them as my mates. I knew that now.

You're hurt" I touch his shoulder, my eyes taking in all the bruises and claw marks over his body as I saw them up close

They look so angry against his flesh. I bite my lip, feeling nauseous

"I'll live" he counters back, stubbornly refusing to let me look him over, his own eyes narrowing as he dares to glare at me. "You got lucky shoving that stick into his chest."

12:48 Sat, Jan Chapter 72

My mouth parts to protest and then I sigh and nod. I had gotten lucky. It had been pure instinct that had made me even attempt such a stupid and dangerous move. It very well could have ended in disaster. I couldn't argue with him. I pressed my forehead against his chest and then peered around the grounds, spotting both of our bags underneath a nearby tree, It was a miracle that the rogues had bothered to take them but perhaps they thought there might be money or cash in them. I point towards them and Xavier strokes my hair, inhaling my scent and then relaxing slightly.

"Stay here, I'll get them he instructs grully,

I sigh in resignation. Xavier is treating me as though I'm made of some sort of delicate china. It's nice but also slightly exasperating. Instead of voicing that however, I watch as he jog over to the bags and brings them back, dropping them roughly at my feet. Slowly I bend over and begin to open my bag, pulling out some clothes and looking at Xavier in relief. "At least I won't have to remain naked" 1 exhaled, almost cheering.

He looks disappointed by that statement. "I wouldn't have minded" he grumbled.

I nudged him with my elbow, giggling. How could he act so immature at a time like this? Then again, it was proving to be beneficial as I glanced up and then gave a loud groan. There was no way I was putting clean clothes on a dirty body. I smelt disgusting as well, I thought, sniffing myself discreetly.

"We need to find a river or something. I don't think I can put these clothes on while I'm dirty and covered in blood" I said tiredly.

It would only make me feel even more revolting than I already felt. Xander looked at me as though he understood. He too. was covered in dirt, blood, and who knew what else

I felt so dirty. There was no other way to explain it. Part of me wanted to scrub and scrub my body, over and over again until I felt clean all over again. I shuddered and Xavier nodded, grabbing some clothes out of his bag and then hoisting both bags over his shoulder with a stubborn tilt of his chin

"I can carry one," I said, holding my hand out and offering to help

"Il carry them. You look as though you're about to fall over and you're still weakened by the wolfsbane" he snapped.

The last time I checked, so had he. Was this some sort of masculinity thing? Like he had to prove something to me? "So are you," I said shrilly, putting my hands on my hips and glaring at him in defiance.

"Regan, I just killed five rogues, one of which was an Alpha. Does it look as though I'm still under the influence of wolfsbane?" he asked patiently and with a bit of a smug expression on his face.

He had me on that one, I conceded. He wouldn't have been able to fight if he was still under the influence of the wolfsbane. How irritating that he was so cocky about it though

I opened my mouth and then shut it. My lips flattened and then pouted at him for good measure. "Fine. If you're so smart then point to a river" I said sulkily.

He smirked. "There's one about a mile from here. I can smell i

He peered at me looking confused. "Can't you? You should easily be able to pick up the scent."

I sniffed the air and realized he was right. There was a river about a mile up ahead. I could smell and hear the water as it trickled downstream. My mouth began to salivate at the thought of fresh water to drink. "Are we still going in the right direction?" I asked my mate uncertainly.

I didn't want to be heading to a river if it was further out of our way. We had lost valuable time already. I wasn't about to waste anymore. We still had to make our way to the coven after 1.

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Chapter 72

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Xavier looked thoughtful. "I think we are. If you look at our tracks" he knelt down and showed me. "It looks as though we continued south. We were headed that way anyway. The rogues might not have known it but if they carried us this way, then they did us a huge favor. It could have been much worse" he exhaled, winking at me...

How could it have been worse? I wanted to ask Xavier what his version of much worse would entail and then decided that I did not want to know. Instead, I settled for nodding at him as he began to lead the way, careful of the debris and the hard sticks on the ground. "Stay close Regan" he warned me. "Hopefully this will be the only time we run into rogues or some threat, but I can't promise anything. Even I don't have infinite strength and I could use a break once we get to the river" he said, an indecipherable expression on his face. heart

Was it my imagination or was Xavier limping slightly as we made our way towards the water, my eyes trying to narrow in on his leg even as he deliberately moved in such a way that it was impossible to tell? Was my mate hurt and deliberately not

my telling me? I could feel my heart beginning to race as I realized that Xavier might be injured more than he appeared and faking how strong he was to keep me calm. If we came across more rogues, Xavier wasn't fit to fight, I realized, sinking, and tried once more to reach my wolf and communicate with her. If Xavier couldn't fight then it would be up to me to keep us both alive, but if my wolf still couldn't surge to the surface, then we might be in deep, deep trouble. But no matter how hard I tried, the only thing I received in return as I tried to speak to my wolf, to Snow, was nothing but silence. I felt bereft as we continued, wondering when I would be able to hear her again and praying i would be before she was

necessary.