Chapter 9 - Xander
A shiver-inducing symphony of sound unfolded as he walked through the wall, each footfall echoing with a haunting resonance as if the darkness itself was whispering something inaudible. He was used to this already. Like a soft murmur, the air hummed with an eerie vibration.
Without breaking a sweat, Xander materialized at the balcony where Rayla was standing, deep in thought, with her arms resting on the railing. She seemed bothered about something and remembered that she had been this way since he went over to her place hours ago.
He stood behind her, watching from the darkness as she heaved heavy sighs at intervals. She jerked her head to face the night sky and drew in a long, deep breath.
Above, the celestial canvas was punctuated by countless twinkling stars, each one a glimmering light in the darkness. Like precious stones scattered across the canvas, they cast their gentle glow upon the world.
Xander traced her gaze to the constellations that wove intricate patterns across the heavens, and he could tell that she was fascinated by them.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” He stepped out of the shadows and joined her by the railing.
Rayla turned to him with a faint grin, trying so hard to hide whatever was bothering her. She returned her gaze back to the sky and stole a glance at him.
“Do you ever wonder about the constellations?” she asked him.
She's deflecting.
Xander knew her better than anyone else and he knew all of her tactics whenever she didn't want people prying into her personal affairs. This was one of them.
“Well,” he said, his eyes flying up to the heavens. “They are windows into the past, reminders of the myths and legends that once walked the earth.” He looked at her, then back at the sky, where he pointed at a streak of three bright stars. “See that? That's Orion, the Hunter in Greek mythology who's said to have been a mighty hunter placed amongst the stars by the gods.”
She was quiet for a moment, looking at him with something one could easily mistake as passion in her eyes. She was really beautiful tonight and her orange hair was dancing to the rhythm of the gentle wind.
“Speaking of mythology,” she said, breaking the silence that followed Xander's previous response. Rayla took her eyes off him and focused on the heavens. “I've always been intrigued by the story of Clytie.” She turned to him.
Xander knew where this conversation was going because he was familiar with the story. She was trying to link the mythology to their own case.
“You know, she was abandoned by her lover, Apollo.” Rayla looked at him for a second.
He sighed softly.
“I see what you did there. Guess I sorta deserved that,” he replied. “But in the end, she transformed into a sunflower, so it wasn’t all bad,” he concluded.
Rayla flouted and exhaled sharply.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, unable to continue paying a blind eye to her unhappiness.
Xander was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that there was something eating her up, and he hoped that she would feel comfortable enough to let him in.
“Yeah… yeah, I'm fine.” She faked a smile. “Why wouldn't I be okay?” A nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
“Rayla,” his voice was soft and tender as he reached to try and hold her hand. He thought in a split second that she would pull away, but she didn't. He noticed how her body trembled at his touch and how her eyes lit up like sapphires. “You seem frazzled. I know something is going on.”
“It's nothing I can't handle, Xander,” she responded.
“So there is something bugging you.”
“I didn't…”
“Ah—ah! There's no denying it this time, you've been busted,” he teased.
She cocked her head at him, struggling to hold in the smile that was threatening to spread across her face.
“I know that I'm the last person you'd want to talk to about anything,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “But it would mean a lot to me if you opened up.”
She was quiet for a while, probably contemplating whether or not she should talk to him.
He knew he didn't deserve her opening up to him… at least not this soon, but he honestly wanted to help.
“I appreciate the concern, Xander,” she replied. “But I'm fine… I'll figure something out.”
He was disappointed, but he wouldn't press on. He wouldn't pry again or go further to try and convince her to speak even though every fiber of his being was telling him to do just that.
For some time there, they stood under the cold and distant stars draped in the soft luminescence of the crescent moon. Their eyes were locked to each other's and Xander could feel his heart racing, his body longing for her.
Her eyes were shimmering in the balcony lights. Her skin, soft and smooth, seemed to be glowing in the moonlight while her lips enticed him, tempting him to grab hold of her and plant a fervent kiss that she wouldn't be able to resist.
He wondered if she was feeling the heat of the tension rising between them as he was. The sound of her racing heart was evidence that she wanted him as well, accompanied by the facial expression that he recognized. Oh, how he had missed that look!
Rayla cleared her throat and took her eyes off him, tightening her grip around the railing as she tried to control her breath.
“So,” she said, facing him again, this time a lot more composed. “I've never really asked you this but… I'm curious. How exactly does this Shadow Jumping thing work?”
Rayla had once again managed to change the subject, and he had to admit that her self-control was admirable, even though he knew that it was because she was obviously still mad at him.
He let out a sigh, somewhat disappointed that she had ruined the moment.
“I mean, you literally just used it to come up this balcony,” she added, curiosity flickering in her gaze. “Is it like teleportation? Do you think about where you want to go and then, poof, you find yourself there or…?”
Xander thought that she looked really cute while her words of inquisition flowed out like a river. He was glad that she was initiating this conversation—it meant that there might still be hope for him, that he might eventually find his place back in her life.
A woman will never indulge you if she's not interested in you, Callahan's voice resounded in his head.
“It's a bit more complex than teleportation,” he replied, happy to tell her about this unique ability.
“Okay…” She leaned closer, paying rapt attention.
“My pack, the Moon Shadow… we have the power to manipulate and materialize shadow and use it to our advantage. For instance, on the battlefield, we can conjure shadows if it's a sunny day. We can blend, hide in the darkness while taking down our enemies, and eventually, vanish just like a shadow.”
“So, how do you appear to people using this power?” she asked.
“It's a lot more effective when it's someone we're connected to by blood… or when we have something belonging to the individual. On most occasions, it's more pronounced when it's someone we care about or love,” he replied.
They looked at each other, and he could tell that she was putting the pieces together about what he said and how it related to him using the power to come to her.
“Can any pack member do that?”
“No,” he said. “Only the alpha or someone with alpha blood can Shadow Jump.”
“That's why Abel can do it,” she said with a realization.
Xander nodded.
“What else can you do?”
He thought for a second.
“It's creepy, you sure you wanna hear it?” His brows rose.
Interested, she leaned closer.
“Hit me.”
“Well…” He hesitated, intentionally letting her feel the suspense.
“Well, spit it out already.”
“We can sorta spy on people through the shadows—they won't even know we're there.”
She paused for a second.
“I know exactly what you're about to ask, and no, I haven't used that to spy on you before,” he said to her.
Rayla cast a disbelieving look at him with her head cocked to a side.
“Okay, maybe just once,” he joked.
For the first time since they met again, she laughed at something he said.
“You said that you could materialize shadows. What did you mean by that?”
“How about I show you?” He smiled faintly.
She smiled back.
Xander stepped back a little and made his eyes glow with a hand stretched out. Using his mind, he willed a blade like black smoke out of nothing.
“Whoa…” she exclaimed softly. “Can you hurt someone with that? I mean, it's just a shadow…”
She was still talking when he swung the blade and it cut through a branch of a tree that had struck out into the balcony. Her eyes widened at the sharpness of the blade as the branch plummeted to the ground.
“Okay, I’ll take that as a yes.”
He chuckled, glad that she was impressed.
“On the battlefield, we can make any weapon of our choice from the shadows.” As he spoke, he demonstrated, willing an axe into his hand, then a hammer, and then a bow and an arrow. Xander strung the bow, aimed it at a tree across the building and, in a heartbeat, he released the arrow. The projectile steaked the air like a line of black smoke with a pointed head. Seconds later, it hit the tree and vanished. “If that was an enemy, he'd be dead.”
“Wow!” she said softly. “It's amazing to think that Abel will someday learn to do all of this.”
The boy's name rang a bell in Xander's head, and a wave of guilt hit him as he regretted not being a part of the kid's life.
“I missed a lot in his life,” he said to her.
Slowly, the smile she was wearing now gradually started to fade.
“I missed his birthday… thirteen times,” he added. His voice was low and filled with guilt. “I don't even know what he likes, what he doesn't like… I wasn't there for his first day at school, never watched a game with him…” Xander's words clogged his throat.
“I…” she began. “I was heartbroken when you ended things with me that day. I should have told you that I was pregnant, but I was hurting by the way you already concluded that the child in my womb wasn't worthy to be your heir.”
He raised his head to look at her and realized that she becoming really emotional and was blinking back her tears. He knew that he hurt her so bad, but he had his own fair share of the pain as well.
“I am so sorry for what I put you through, Rayla. I truly am.” He held her hand and looked deep into her eyes. “If it's any consolation, it wasn't easy on me either…”
“I doubt that,” she replied with a sniffle. “You seem to be doing pretty well as alpha of the pack.”
“Maybe,” he replied. “But as Xander Black, I haven't been doing pretty well,” he confessed and gently raised her chin so he would lock eyes with her. “I've missed you, Rayla.”
“Xander…” she tried to stop him.
“I'm serious, Rayla. I haven't been with any woman since you left. You know why?”
She was quiet, waiting for him to continue, and he did.
“It's because my heart beats for you, Rayla. Only you.” His gaze pierced her soul, and he could tell that she was starting to let down her guard.
Xander dared to make the first move as he attempted to kiss her. Slowly, unsure of her reaction, he leaned closer, his lips inches away from hers. He'd come this close, and she didn't pull away, nor did she push him off her.
He could feel her warm breath on his face, could smell her perfume, and could see in her eyes that she was anticipating his touch. Her breathing was unsteady, her lips trembling.
In a trice, he planted a kiss on her lips, but she didn't respond until he tried to pull away. Rayla pulled him back to herself, allowing her breasts to press against him as she returned the kiss.
The kiss was tinged with the bitterness of unresolved guilt, a shared struggle that neither could ignore. Yet, the passion between them soon began to override their doubts.
Xander pulled her closer, his hands encircling her waist as the intensity between them grew, threatening to consume them both. Lost in a whirlwind of desire, their tongues danced in each other's mouths, their breaths mingling in the heat of the moment.
He cupped her breasts, fondling them gently as he pressed her against the railing. Xander had missed this deeply, and judging by the fervor of her kisses and the way she clung to him, he knew she had missed him too.
Suddenly, he picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, their kisses growing more urgent.
“Can you Shadow Jump us to your room?” she asked in the heat of the moment.
“Can't do that, Hon. It's dangerous to move like that with a human,” he replied, his breath haphazard.
“Okay.” She resumed kissing him.
“I can speed us to my room, though,” he suggested.
She smiled broadly, finding his suggestion both hot and sexy.
With lightning speed, Xander whooshed them downstairs and stopped before his closed door.
Her back was against the wall, and she was moaning in the hallway while he kissed her, his hands traveling up her thigh. His finger settled on her underpants, and an abrupt chuckle escaped her.
He pushed the door open, and they rushed inside, undressing themselves as he slammed the door shut with the back of his leg.
She took off her shirt and unhooked her bra. Xander stood before her, his pants down, appreciating her breasts before rushing to take them into his mouth. She moaned, reveling in the sensation of his tongue on her nipples.
He pulled her waist to his groin, her eyes widening as she felt his arousal. Xander slipped his hand underneath her skirt and shifted her panties aside. Seconds later, his finger glided into her entrance while he continued to suck on her nipples.
She pulled away from him after a short while and seductively lay on the bed, beckoning him to come to her while she took her panties off.
Xander smirked and climbed on top of her, then she directed his head between her legs. Eagerly, he went down on her, and she immediately started to moan. He used his tongue expertly, working magic on her folds.
Her eyes rolled back into their sockets from the immense pleasure he was giving her. She ruffled his hair, pressing his head deeper between her thighs. It was almost like she couldn't get enough.
Neither could he.
Rayla grabbed the sheets beneath her, squeezing tightly as her body arched for him. Her moans were sweet music to his ears, and she was delicious to taste. She writhed, twisted, and trembled.
When he was done with his mouth and tongue, he raised his head and wiped her juice from his lips. Slowly, he climbed on top of her and positioned his hard and erect cock at her entrance.
Xander teased her with the tip, rolling it up and down her throbbing mound, enjoying the effect it was having on her. While she was busy swooning in ecstasy, he plunged deep into her, and she let out a moan that spoke of hunger and need. In that moment, he realized how much he had missed her.
With both legs dangling in the air, Rayla accepted his thrusts, her pussy enveloping him completely. She was wet and slippery, and he kept going, over and over, unwilling to stop.
She didn't want him to.
Rayla rolled him over and sat on his cock, grinding on it at a fast pace. It was like she couldn't get enough of him.
Xander could feel his release threatening to burst, but she wasn't stopping. She kept riding him, overwhelming him with sensations he had almost forgotten.
He reached out and grabbed her bouncing breasts, delicately pinching her nipples. She threw her head back while still grinding, basking in the feeling of his fingers teasing her nipples. With a loud moan, her movements became faster.
Xander knew then that she was about to cum, and suddenly he felt a warm liquid expel from her entrance as her moans grew louder. The sensation was too much to bear, and he thrust into her deeply as she squirted all over his hips. He shut his eyes, trying to hold back, but he lost and released a thick, masculine groan.
The mix of his release and hers sent shivers down his spine, and with the way she was vibrating, he knew she felt the same charge.
With an exhausted sigh, Rayla collapsed on his chest, both of them sweating and panting.
He had missed this with her deeply, and he was certain she had too. He was supposed to be the beast, but tonight, she had been the beast—the hungry predator that devoured him whole.
Xander wasn't going to let her go this time. She had reminded him of something he had forgotten and awakened a part of him that had been asleep for too long. He was still deeply in love with her and was willing to fight for her.
Rayla stirred slightly, her lips brushing against his chest as she breathed deeply, her body slowly coming down from the high. Xander felt a surge of protectiveness, a desire to keep her safe and cherished, a resolve to make up for the lost years.
He kissed her forehead tenderly, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her back. "You’re incredible," he whispered, his voice filled with awe and affection.
Rayla smiled against his skin, her fingers lightly grazing his sides. "And you, my Alpha, are exactly what I needed," she murmured back, her voice husky with the remnants of their passion.
Their connection felt deeper, more profound, as they lay entwined in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Xander couldn't help but reflect on how far they had come, the obstacles they had overcome, and the love that had endured despite everything.
Rayla shifted, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him. "Xander, we still have a lot to work through," she said softly, her eyes searching his.
He nodded, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I know. But I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. We’ll face it all together."
She leaned down to kiss him, slow and tender, a promise of their shared commitment. Their kiss deepened, reigniting the flames of their desire. Xander's hands roamed over her back, down to her hips, pulling her closer.
Rayla moaned softly into his mouth, her body arching against his. The need between them was insatiable, a relentless force that pulled them back together. Xander rolled them over, positioning himself above her, his lips trailing a path from her mouth to her neck.
She gasped as he nibbled gently on her earlobe, her hands clutching his shoulders. "Xander, please," she whispered, her voice filled with urgency.
He smiled against her skin, his fingers slipping between her thighs to find her wet and ready. "Anything for you," he murmured, his voice a low growl of desire.
Slowly, he entered her again, both of them groaning at the sensation. He moved with deliberate slowness, wanting to savor every moment, every sensation. Rayla’s hips rose to meet his, her legs wrapping around his waist as she urged him deeper.
Their rhythm was a slow, sensual dance, evidence of their love and passion. Xander watched her face, mesmerized by the expressions of pleasure that crossed her features. He wanted to remember every detail, to etch this moment into his memory.
Rayla’s hands roamed over his back, her nails digging in slightly as her pleasure built. She whispered his name, a breathless chant that spurred him on, each thrust driving them both closer to the edge.
Xander could feel his own release building, a tight coil of pleasure in his core. He reached down to where they were joined, his fingers finding her clit and rubbing gently. Rayla cried out, her body tensing beneath him.
With a final, powerful thrust, they both shattered, their climaxes washing over them in waves of ecstasy. Xander buried his face in her neck, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he rode out the aftershocks.
They lay tangled together, their bodies spent but their hearts full. Xander held her close, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her back. Rayla nestled against him, her breathing gradually evening out.
For a long time, they stayed like that, wrapped in the warmth of their love and the afterglow of their passion. Xander felt a sense of peace he hadn’t known in years, a profound contentment that came from being with the woman he loved.