chapter 41 Bound by fate, broken by fear

Jacob swiftly snatched Ava from Ezekiel's, baring his fangs at him. His heart burned with possessiveness and jealousy, as he dragged her away, completely ignoring her protest to break free from him.

Ezekiel's eyes slightly widened, completely taken aback by the behaviour of Ava and Jacob. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he sure has an inkling of it. 

Ezekiel walked away, giving them space.

——

" Let go of me!"

Ava clawed at Jacob, her fangs bared at him. This was exactly what she wanted, she would make him lose his sanity bit by bit, and make him regret the decision of rejecting her.

Jacob pulled her closer, her chest pressing against his.

" You are mine!"

His hoarse voice breathed against her ears. She immediately felt a warm and wet sensation between her legs. She loved it when he claimed she was his. She wanted him to fight for her… to make her whimper in his arms.. to claim her. But.. he rejected her. Her eyes blaze with fury.

" No, you rejected me, remember?"

Jacob's eyes shifted from blue to gold frequently, a fight for dominance between him and his beast. ' She is right you rejected her, but she hasn't accepted your rejection yet, make it right' his wolf Midnight paced within his head.

" But you haven't accepted yet"

" I might as well do it now"

" That will resolve this mate pull issue and we can go our separate ways."

Jacob's eyes flickered with sadness, his throat tightened. 'Idiot" midnight clawed within him. " If she rejects us, I will make your life a living hell."

Ava tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She can't believe her mate would give her up like this.

" Why did you reject me?"

Her voice cracked.

Jacob wasn't ready to tell her the answer, his hand circled at the back of her neck, pulling her closer, their breaths inches away. Their eyes locked in a gaze, and for a moment everything seems to stand still.

" Oh Ava…I..I can't tell you now."

His breath, hot against her ear, sent shivers down her spine. His warm body pressed firmly against hers, she bit her lips to stifle the whimper threatening to escape.

Her thoughts wandered to when he had rejected her, her eyes hardened as she pushed him away.

" Coward"

Jacob felt his heart sink to his stomach. Pain erupted from within him.

" If you can't claim me, then don't act as if you own me when you see me in another man's arms."

She turned away, each step heavier than the last. She prayed he'd stop her… hold her back, claim her. But he didn't. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

Jacob stood frozen to where she had left him, his gaze lingering on her retreating body. He wanted to stop her, to hold her, to assure her, to claim her, but he wasn't courageous enough to do it.

He was courageous enough to go against the alpha king command. He stood no chance of winning, even though they were mates.

He knew even before the banquet that she was the one chosen by Alpha king to be his son's Luna to rule beside him. The Alpha wanted power and he won't stop at nothing to have it.

" She is right, you are a Coward" Midnight scowled at him.

————-

( Crescent Moon pack, Inside the Lockwood's mansion )

' Who would have known that, that little jinx would still be alive, even in the demon realm she found a way to survive. She has ruined everything that I have planned, now Prince Ezekiel looks at me with disdain. I will get my revenge, I will find you and I will….'

" Emily Fenrir"

A voice suddenly disrupted her thoughts. Emily's distant eyes turned towards the rest of the ladies she was having tea with.

She quickly masked her face with a smile.

" Oh sorry, I was just admiring your garden, it looks so beautiful, Daphne Lockwood."

She lied without batting her lashes.

" thank you"

Daphne returned her smile, they weren't that close to address their first name.

A smirk formed on a lady's lips sitting beside Daphne " I heard of a story about a peacock who sees herself as a phoenix , everyday she acts boastful and prideful, as she lives in a secluded village, everyone bought the story that she was really a phoenix until one day…"

Her brown eyes flickered with malice, as she looked at the faces of the ladies who are now paying attention to her words. She took a sip from her tea, keeping everyone in suspense.

" Go on Clara don't keep us waiting"

Daphne urged her.

" Until one day, the real phoenix and her facade was exposed, she became a spectacle for shame in the village. Moral lesson of the story, don't be too greedy and don't pretend to be what you are not."

" Why are you saying this, are you suggesting someone like that is here?"

One of the young ladies asked.

" Laugh laugh. I mean yes" Clara turned to Emily " isn't that true Emily Fenrir."

Emily's breath caught in her throat. She could feel their gaze on her, but it wasn't that of admiration, it was.. of disdain.

" What are you talking about?"

Emily's throat tightened, she has spent almost all her life building her reputation, she won't let anyone ruin it for her. 

" You have carried yourself as the future Luna all since I could remember, you were prideful and boastful of your talent, but how does it feel to have it snatched away by a real luna born of an alpha?"

Clare didn't bother to hide her disdain.

" Actually, her sister Calista Fenrir took that position first."

Daphne corrected.

Emily's eyes saw red, she couldn't believe she had become a spectacle for laughter, her veins popped in her head. 

" That is not true"

" Come on, its okay if you don't get this, you might have another chance someday"

Clara teased. But Emily's eyes saw red, she couldn't control her anger anymore. Before the blink of an eye.

" AAAARGH" a scream erupted through the air.