Chapter 3

Bella's POV

Jaxon rose from the bed immediately, clearly stunned that I was the one who had said those words.

Control was everything to him. He loved commanding people and being feared. The idea that I—an omega, worse, the illegitimate shame of his father’s beta—would dare to reject him was unthinkable.

He stopped in front of me and stared, eyes sweeping the room as though trying to confirm who had spoken. As if he refused to believe it had come from my lips.

“You are an omega,” he said coldly, his expression hardening, “and your father’s illegitimate disgrace. Wolfless on top of that, with no hope of ever awakening your wolf. Reject me?” He scoffed. “I think I didn’t hear you right, Bella.”

“You’ve never wanted me, Jaxon,” I said quietly. “All these years, your eyes have always been on Peony—your lover. Isn’t it better if we end this charade and go our separate ways? Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”

Even as I spoke, I knew I was wasting my breath.

Just moments ago, I had come here hoping to reconcile and stop my family’s plots from succeeding, still foolish enough to want this union to work despite the years of neglect and humiliation.

Jaxon shook his head slowly, disbelief etched across his face.

“You can’t reject me, Bella,” he snapped. “Without me, you are nothing. Your status, the clothes you wear, the respect you receive—I gave you all of that! How dare you be so ungrateful and think you can reject me?”

His anger rose as if force alone could bend me back into submission.

I didn’t understand it.

Hadn’t he been waiting for this too? Hadn’t he despised me for three years, counting down to the day he could finally reject me and be free?

Even Peony looked surprised as she approached him, her nakedness unashamed.

“Come on, Jaxon,” she said sweetly. “Just reject her before she does. Isn't that what we’ve always wanted? The three years are finally over. Why are you hesitating?”

“I never told you I would reject her,” Jaxon whispered harshly, pulling Peony closer, unaware that I could hear every word. “She is my fated mate. Without her, my wolf weakens. I told you I would make you Luna tonight and demote her to a concubine. My wolf needs her.”

Peony stiffened.

That wasn’t enough for her.

“Are you rejecting the Alpha because he loves me and not you, Bella?” she asked suddenly, turning to me, her voice delicate like a wounded dove.

I said nothing as I knew exactly what she was doing.

“It’s not my fault he never warmed your bed,” she continued smoothly while stepping closer. “Or that he never looked your way in the three years you were together. You should’ve known what you were getting into when you stole my lover from me. Are you angry because he bought me gifts? Because he’s with me on your third anniversary?”

I met her gaze, unmoved.

“Say what you want to say, Peony,” I replied coldly. “And be quick. I don’t have time to waste.”

Her words would have hurt me before. But right now, there was nothing left she could do to anger me.

I was rejecting Jaxon and not because of her. She didn't seem to understand that part.

“You see, Peony?” Jaxon sneered. “She can’t reject me. She was bluffing. My father’s wealth rivals even that of the Lycans. I gave her power and status. Without me, she is nothing and she knows it. That’s why she can’t reject me. The Goddess knows she’ll come crawling back.”

His words pushed Peony to the edge. She was realizing that he had never intended to reject me the way she’d hoped.

No wonder Father and Paul had resorted to plotting to accuse me of infidelity. All of Peony’s efforts over the years had failed.

“No, Jaxon,” I said, my voice sharp and unwavering. “I, Bella Maxwell, reject you as my mate and Alpha. Under the skies that bore us, I sever the bond that binds us together.”

I spoke before he could bask any further in his arrogance.

“How dare you, you lowly omega!” Jaxon roared suddenly, shocked i had gone through with what I said. .

He staggered as the pain of my rejection hit him, coughing up blood before wiping it away and forcing himself upright.

He let out a chilling cruel sound when he noticed my strength draining.

“I won’t accept your rejection, Bella,” he mocked. “I am an Alpha. My blood can rival this pain. You’re just an omega who is weak and pathetic. How will you survive the agony when my refusal begins to tear you apart?”

I almost screamed, but I held my resolve.

He couldn’t stand the idea of being rejected, especially by an omega he had no intention of letting go.

Seeing how bleak my future had become, I turned toward the door. I couldn’t remain in Moonstone Pack any longer.

But before I could reach it, more than a dozen warriors restrained me, called through his mind link which was obvious.

.

“Lock her in the dungeon!” Jaxon commanded. “No food or water. Anyone who dares help her will watch their entire generation beheaded!”

“Let me go!” I screamed as they dragged me away, thrashing and shaking in their grip. But they were too strong and they feared Jaxon’s wrath more than my suffering.

As I struggled, my eyes met Peony’s to find out that she wasn’t smiling but was furious.

Not just because Jaxon had refused to reject me, but because he planned to imprison me until I broke and begged him to take me back. Which she detested.

A chill ran through me as I wondered what she was plotting.

This time, Peony wouldn’t settle for banishment, but would want me gone for good.