CHAPTER 002

Thea's POV 

It wasn't Jacob but one of the palace security or maybe a guard because he was dressed in all black and even wore a dark helmet that made it difficult to see his face. 

Which guard or security had the nerve to stand up to the Beta's daughter? Maybe he was new because Nuella literally lived in the palace ordering everyone around while hovering around Jacob like an annoying bee. Everybody knows her.

Everyone would look away when she was up to her cunning tricks because nobody wants to upset the pack's future Luna and get in the wrath of the Alpha. 

"Excuse you?" Nuella inquired, looking at him with contempt, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

My heart shivered at the thought of my saviour getting in trouble in an attempt to save me but he didn't look like he was scared, instead he pointed to the door, "Run along cowards."

Nuella moved towards him menacingly, and her friends cowered behind her in fear at the aura he emits, "you have no right to tell me what to do. Do you know who I am? Now get the fuck out of here!"

The stranger scoffed at her words and leaned closer to poke at her chest, "Bullying a maid because she can't fight back is an act of cowardice. I won't repeat myself, find somewhere else to play."

Nuella is intimidated by his size, looks and even his aura, he doesn't cower in fear like Jacob and his size is enough to make you pee in your pants. 

She turned towards Jacob, her face red with anger, "Are you seriously going to allow this stranger to get in our way?"

Jacob's eyes darted between us as he moved nonchalantly towards the exit, "It's enough Nuella, you've proven your point. Let's go."

Nuella frowned at me, leading her group out of the library, "He isn't going to save you forever."

I could see her fuming in her mouth and I made a face to anger her more, it was quite rare to see someone make a fool out of Nuella. 

I leaned back onto the wall in relief as they all strolled out, and the man with the helmet leaned down to stroke my hair. I opened my eyes to meet dark green eyes staring down at me through the helmet. I shrieked in surprise, when did he move towards me and what was this strange aura around him? He wasn't just an ordinary guard, then who was he? 

"You don't dare your bullies, next time try to keep your mouth shut. If I hadn't come in at the right time you might be lying six feet in the ground."

"Thank you....so much." I managed to say, my bleeding mouth made it difficult for me to speak properly. 

He stood up, all six feet of male goodness. I couldn't see his face but man, he had yards and yards of legs on him. His muscled frame was intimidating and hot. 

"Don't thank me. Be more careful next time." He replied harshly. 

Ouch. A brat who didn't know how to process gratitude? I thought within myself. I picked my backpack and tried to scurry out of the library before the Ella's came back when my eyes caught a note at the corner where Jacob had been sitting all along. I rushed to the paper and it read; 'meet me at our secret place, I'm sorry Thea'. 

Our secret place, the palace store room. I clutched the paper to my chest, my only solace. 

Jacob stood inside the store room, pacing impatiently as I approached him. The only source of light was the tiny candle sitting at the window of the room as he left the door ajar to alert me that he was in. 

I closed the door behind me, looking up to meet his worried face, "Hey Thea," he called out softly and hurried towards me, I flinched at his touch and pushed him away. 

"You didn't even stand up for me. At least tell them to stop hitting me." I grimaced. 

"Thea, I'm sorry but you know why I couldn't. I-" he stuttered. 

I put my finger on his lips to stop him from talking, "it's okay Jacob. All that matters is that you love me and I'm stronger than I look." I joked.

I was tired of his apologies, I wanted him to hold me, to kiss me and remind me I was the one he loved. I tried to pull him into a hug but he turned away. I also noticed that he was avoiding my gaze, what was wrong?

I cupped his face, raising his head to look at me, "Jacob what's wrong? Is everything alright? You-"

 "Of course nothing is fine, Thea." He choked out, cutting me short. "I....I can't do this anymore. You're in trouble and if things continue this way, Nuella might kill you someday. Let's just get this over with."

I reached out to him, hugging him tightly despite the uneasiness I was starting to feel in my stomach, "Jacob I love you. I can't live without you, despite being mistreated and bullied the fact that you feel something for me keeps me going."

"Fuck our love!" He cursed angrily, "we need to go our separate ways, I'll be Alpha soon and I can't be seen moving around with a lowly servant orphan."

I looked up at him, what was he saying? He had never insulted me right to my face before especially not when we were alone.

I backed out of his embrace searching his face as tears clouded my eyes, "what....are you saying? You're scaring me."

He moved to a darker part of the room to avoid my gaze, "I, Jacob Onyx future Alpha of the Shadow moon pack rejects you, Thea Clover as my mate and future Luna."

What!! He was definitely joking, this was one of his stupid pranks. There was no way he would mean what he just said.

I moved towards him, tugging at his collar desperately, as my voice croaked with tears, "Stop it Jacob, what are you saying?"

"I'm serious Thea. Accept the rejection, now!" He barked sternly.

Kyla- my wolf wasn't calm anymore, roaming around and troubled by the news, "You promised to love me, to choose me no matter what. I don't even care about being your Luna, I just need you to choose me at least, Jacob."

I hadn't shed a tear during my years of being bullied by the Ella's or anyone in the pack but Jacob's coldness was making me cry in pain. My heart ached, confused at his sudden change.

He pushed my hands roughly from his shirt, with disgust etched on his face, he barked, "say the words and complete the rejection. Now!"

Was I in some kind of nightmare, what went wrong? No, no I wouldn't accept this. I braced myself up and cleaned the stray tears that had been rolling down my cheeks, "I refuse to accept this Jacob. You can't end what we have in a heartbeat. Where did-"

"Shut up!" An angry voice interrupted us, and Beta Cam emerged from the door. Nuella trailed devilishly behind him as she clapped dramatically.

"What nonsense is this?" He pushed me from Jacob and a bunch of guards strolled in.

"Seize this slut now!" He barked.