Page 56 of Rejected By the Alpha

Over the next few weeks, Leah never left my side. It took nearly a week for the wolfsbane to completely leave my system, and probably would have been longer if it weren’t for the diligent efforts of all three Pinedale lunas.

Violet had dug up some old books from Nile’s extensive library, which detailed various herbs and potions that could be used to remove wolfsbane from the bloodstream. With April’s help, they had made an array of concoctions to ease my symptoms, making the time I spent awake more bearable.

Leah ensured that I didn’t fall into despair at the prospect of being bedridden. I wasn’t used to being confined, let alone forced to stay in bed. I didn’t take too kindly to the idea at first, but after the third time I had fallen while trying to get out of bed, she put her foot down.

“Killian Leonard Stone,” she stated, using my full name for the first time. “If you don’t sit your ass back in that bed and stay there I’m going to tie you down. You are an alpha, and so help me goddess, you will do as your luna commands!”

“Yes, ma’am,” I acquiesced.

We spent days talking about our pasts, our wishes and dreams for the future, and everything else under the sun. Although the reason for my convalescence was less than ideal, the time we spent together ended up being some of the best days of my life. I was convinced now more than ever that Leah and I had been designed for each other. There was no universe or time where she and I weren’t meant to be mates.

As I regained my strength, I was allowed to go back home. Finally, about two weeks after the battle, I felt like myself again.

Leah had just returned from the bar, where she had taken over my management duties in my absence.

“How was everything?” I asked as she hung her purse in the closet.

“Everyone’s doing a great job,” she said. “I thought I might have to stay longer, but they’ve really picked up the slack for us. All I had to do was place orders. They handled the rest.”

“I’m glad you’re home early,” I admitted. “I have somewhere I want to take you.”

“Oh?” she asked, an eyebrow raised. “Did your jailer parole you?”

I laughed at her self-deprecating humor and pulled her into a hug. “I’m healed, darling,” I said. “I feel better than ever. Will you come out for a walk with me?”

She walked toward the door, holding her hand out for me to take it, and I led her down the street toward a park. The sun had already set, and a full moon was shining bright in the sky.

“What are we doing here?” Leah asked as we walked into a rose-filled garden.

“Dancing,” I said, twirling her around in a circle.

She laughed lightly but settled into me happily as I swayed her back and forth, her head resting on my chest. I held one of her hands in mine as the other wrapped around her waist.

“A moon dance,” she said quietly.

“I promised you I would dance with you in the moonlight again,” I pointed out. “And I want to keep my promises to you.”

“You have,” she said, looking up at me with love in her eyes.

“You deserve the world,” I said. “So far I haven’t given you that, but I want to change that.”

“You’ve given me everything,” she argued. “I have you.”

I nodded, but I was determined to continue with my speech. “You married me because you wanted to escape from Sparkle Hollow,” I pointed out. “I’m so glad you agreed to be my mate, because it’s allowed us the time to fall in love with each other again. To get to know each other, better than we ever did before. My one regret was that I wasn’t able to give you the fairytale from the very beginning.”

I stopped dancing, placing a hand inside my pocket to pull out a ring. Leah’s hand covered her mouth as I got down on one knee and held the ring out for her to see.

“Luna Leah Stone, I have loved you from the moment I met you and will continue to love you until my last breath,” I said. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, her eyes shimmering with tears.

I placed the ring on her finger and got to my feet, pulling her into my arms for a long, passionate kiss.

“I want a real wedding this time,” I told her. “The white gown, bridesmaids, flowers, champagne, and cake. All of it. You deserve to have everything you ever dreamed of.”

Chapter 26 - Leah

The proposal from Killian had been completely unexpected, and absolutely perfect. The whirlwind of that night had subsided, and after a few weeks of intense planning, the day was finally here.

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