Chapter 3

Jane

With a fist clutching at my heart over my chest, I curl deeper into myself as my body jerks and spasms. The rejection had manifested into something that feels like a demonic hand which has somehow slid into into mouth and through my throat- completely blocking my airways, before grabbing my beating heart in a tight grip, ruthlessly and mercilessly squeezing the delicate organ.

I don’t know how long I stay there on the hard wooden floors; I would say an eternity but I know it can’t have been that long. After what feels like a million years, the pain ebbs away just enough for my consciousness to recover to my body. The humiliation coursing through my veins almost as intense as the pain.

I know he told me to leave but I don’t want to. I want to stay and ask him why he rejected me. I know that I’m just a weak Omega and- with a hiccup-

“-the runt of the litter and a complete waste of space” as someone in the pack once called me. I also know that he’s about to take over as Alpha to one of the most powerful packs in the world, but… but still… none of that should matter…

He’s my mate. The literal other half of my soul. We were created in pairs and we only become whole when we’re together. The goddess has willed it.

Biting down hard enough on my bottom lip to draw blood, I drag my body slowly across the ground, wrapping my fingers around my crumpled dress where Xavier had thrown it and dragging it along with me. By the time my back finally rests against the wall, I have broken out in a sweat.

Painful aftershocks occasionally sending tremors through my body make it even harder to get dressed and it takes almost all I have before I am finally able to slowly and gingerly slip back into the dress - which though torn, is thankfully still wearable. At least all the important bits are covered.

I hug my knees to my chest and stare dazedly at the bathroom door.

I know he told me to leave… that he rejects me… but… but maybe-just maybe I could change his mind?

I worry my lip between my teeth as I sniff, not caring about the tears that had not stopped flowing from my eyes.

How could he not want me?

I continue to deny what just happened.

He’s my mate after all…

No.

I shake my head with a certainty only a desperate person can feel.

No. He does want me.

Why else would he mate with me if he didn’t?

He must just be a bit angry because he realized I’m an Omega.

Whatever it is, I... I can change. I’ll do whatever he wants me to do, just… just as long as he’ll take me back.

I can’t change the fact that I’m an Omega but I’ll do anything else. If… if he’s really angry, then I’ll… I’ll…

Anyway, we’ll work through it.

A whimper escapes me as another tremor of pain wracks through my body. But I stubbornly keep my eyes trained on that door.

I know I’m being pathetic. I know… but what else can I do?

Pride? Self-esteem? I’ve never had any of those. What does a lowly Omega such as myself have to be proud of? I have never had anything to my name. Just him. Just the thought of meeting him has kept me going.

A mate…

Someone created just for me and I just for him.

If even he doesn’t want me then what am I supposed to do? Where will my bleak life head to? What sort of existence am I even?

The bathroom door swings open and Xavier steps out, his impressive body on display with a towel wrapped around his waist, steam curling out from behind him.

When his eyes land on my curled-up form, his brow lifts,

“Oh?” he drawls, “You’re still here?” his eyes take on a look of derision, “How pathetic”, he spits out.

I flinch despite myself- the words hitting me like a resounding slap across the face. Acknowledging it about myself, and having him say it to me are two entirely different things.

“I’ll have to a word with your supervisor. What sort of job is he doing keeping disobedient Omega under his ranks”, he rolls his eyes and throws aside the towel he had been using to dry his hair.

He looks me up and down once again before uttering the words, “Trash!” under his breath and the verbal assault eviscerates from me a sound akin to that of a dying animal.

“Please… please…”

I prove to him that I yes, I am just that pathetic.

I beg.

I beg him- any iota of self-respect I may have had completely in shreds.

I’ll beg if that’s what it takes.

“Please… don’t…” I choke out, shaking my head.

Please don’t reject me. Please don’t do this to me. Please don’t hurt me. Please… want me… love me.

I am unable to bring out the words so I stubbornly hold his gaze. With my eyes, willing him to have mercy on me.

it seems that Xavier himself didn’t expect that reaction from me and for a second he is taken aback. His eyes go round for a second before he throws his head back and bursts into loud, uproarious laughter.

I hiccup as I watch my mate laugh at my expense and pain like a fresh stab to my already bleeding heart twinges. But like the pathetic creature I am, I am unable to look away from his image. Even hurting, I want to keep his visage in my eyes.

Suddenly, a loud bang resounds in the room as the door bursts open from the outside.

“Baby!”, comes a high-pitched voice.

My face blanches at the sound. I would recognize that voice anywhere. That is the voice of none other than Bianca. The daughter of the pack’s Beta.

Both of Bianca’s parents are of Beta bloodline and I’ve heard rumors that through her mother’s bloodline, there used to be an Alpha. But that is not what concerns me the most right now. Because rather than being known for her excellent bloodline, second only to Xavier himself, Bianca is known more notoriously for something else-

-being Xavier’s girlfriend.

“Some imbecile dropped food all over the front of your door and didn’t even bother to clean it up! What audacity! I’ve always said that the pack has to tighten up on the discipline of the Omega. They’re getting more and more out of line. A public execution or two should do the trick”, she huffs angrily. Even while saying the vilest of things, her voice is still soft and sweet.

“Baby-”

she suddenly cuts off, taking in the scene in the room. Her eyes narrow as she takes in my shivering form clad in torn clothes, the rumpled bed, as well as the freshly showered form of Xavier.

“What the hell is going on here?!” she screeches. Her eyes do a once over around the room one more time before settling her poisonous gaze on me.

My body shudders subconsciously from the venom spewing from her eyes as well as the clear knowledge of what she is capable of.

With long, soft flowing hair, a voluptuous body with curves in all the right places, legs going for miles, and a face that the goddess has obviously- t taken her time with, Bianca is an absolutely gorgeous woman.

Unfortunately, she is as cruel as she is beautiful; the tortured and dead souls of the Omega that have been unfortunate enough to cross her path over the past couple of years can attest to that.

Xavier chuckles, “C’mere”, and just like that, I am forgotten.

Like a delicate bird, Bianca flies across the room and throws herself into into arms, wrapping her arms behind his neck.

The blood drains from my face when he lowers his head to meet her kiss and in a second, they start to make out, the loud and obscene sound of their kisses filling the room- and me with disgust.

No.

No.

This is not real. This cannot be happening…

No..

A strangled cry is wrenched from my throat.

“No… please goddess no”, comes out of my suddenly heavy tongue as I stare at the sight with horrified eyes.

The sound seems to break them out of their passionate embrace and they both turn to face me. Bianca’s head swivels around to face me. Her eyes narrow with suspicion.

“You-” she starts.

A crafty gleam flits through Xavier’s eyes when suddenly, he picks her up and carries her over to the bed, dropping her right in the middle of it… right, where I had been lying just a few minutes ago.

She is effectively distracted and is only able to throw me a “Get out” over her shoulder before Xavier seals her lips in a kiss. And then as though to mock me, starts to take off her clothes.

I am fixated in place, horror seizing my limbs as I am forced to watch. I feel the ground ripped from beneath my feet, a surreal nightmare unfolding right before my eyes. There’s a disorienting sense of disbelief, as my mind refuses to accept the harsh reality staring back at me.

I have to get out of here…

- the thought blares in my head but I am completely arrested. Unable to move.

My world shatters for the second time this evening, into a million jagged irreparable pieces. The shattered fragments of my delusions cut deep into my soul.

I want to scream, to lash out at the injustice of it all, yet I find myself paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the betrayal.

Not even the rejection had hurt as much as this.

As I sit there, frozen in a moment of unbearable agony, I realize that there is no coming back from this. I can't change this. The sanctity of the mating bond has been irreparably tainted.

Completely unclothed, Xavier turns to make sure I’m still watching and when he catches my eye, he smirks- a curl to his lips that speaks of the unspeakable cruelty of the act he is about to commit. Maintaining eye contact, he draws his hips back before burying himself to the hilt inside of her.

The action translates like a punch straight into the pits of my stomach.

With Herculean strength I did not know I had, I heave myself up and stagger out of the room. I don’t know how I make it out of the villa, but once I’m covered by the cluster of trees surrounding the mansion, I fall to my hands and knees and throw up violently, the heaves wracking painfully throughout my entire body.

Once I’m done retching the contents of my guts, I dry heave some more. Afterward, my exhausted body collapses against a tree, right in my own filth.