CHAPTER FOUR: I REJECT YOU, NOAH STERLING!

SYLLA.

I stare in horror as Noah steps up to the men and inserts themselves between the husband and his wife. Something instantly jumps to life inside me and I feel my entire body go attuned to his presence.

“Mate!" My wolf howls inside my head, the same way it did when Emma introduced me to Noah at the mating ball in my past life. Only this time, I tried to escape and here he is, despite my efforts.

This has to be some cruel joke made by the moon goddess.

The air instantly shifts and the atmosphere drops a few degrees. The men shift in their positions and lower their heads. If my memory serves me right, Noah is not yet an Alpha. He just succeeded his father as Beta of the pack.

" Hand over the child,” he demands in the kind of tone that compels you to obey, almost like you are being brainwashed.

" Beta Noah…”

" Hand. Over. The. Child.”

I see the silent battle the husband is fighting; whether to hand over the baby or do with it as he initially planned. It's obvious he settles for the former because he hands over the baby to Noah who in turn hands it to the mother.

She reaches out and grabs the child like a drug starved addict. I watch her cradle the baby to her chest and my heart bleeds at the memory of my own lost child.

" Beta Noah, this woman is a witch!” The first man says stepping forward. " She killed her brother in law. You know the law regarding witches, don't you?”

“I am the Beta of the pack and I know each and every rule. But there's no rule that says you take the law into your hands and try murdering someone who could be innocent.” He turns to the woman and offer her a hand, helping her to her feet.

The men look like they want to object but think twice about openly going against the Beta.

" As from now henceforth, the pack investigation team will take over this case. And I will appreciate it if further matters like this are brought to me straightaway," he says. He's talking to the men, but his entire attention is on the sobbing woman.

I should leave. Now that his attention is elsewhere, I should take this as an opportunity and run away. But for some really annoying reason, I can't find myself the will to move. It's like my body totally refuses to listen to my mind.

“You called for me, Beta?" Jethro asks, joining the conversation. I must have missed him getting here.

Noah nods towards the body. " Have the body taken away and placed with the others. I'll have Fern run a check on them."

“Of course, Beta," Jethro nods and moves to do as he's told.

“We're done here!" He shifts his gaze to the woman's husband. “Take your wife and child inside. I will have my team investigate the murder and if it's your wife, she'll pay for it."

“Yes, Beta." The man murmurs with a nod.

It is not until everyone starts to disperse that my body decides to align with my mind. I turn around, take hold of my dress and begin running, my heart thumping in my chest.

People say when it's fate, you cannot escape it. That is bullshit! I'm going to escape the hell the moon goddess has in store for me and write my own fate. One where Noah Sterling is the villain I'll go to any lengths to kill.

“Going somewhere, mate?"

I come to an abrupt stop, letting out an involuntary scream. Standing before me is Noah, head tilted and one hand in pocket.

He regards me with that quiet, observant look of his, like I'm some project he intends on studying. “You're Gamma Jacob's daughter."

I don't answer because he isn't asking. Not many people know I'm the Gamma's daughter because Omegas like me would feel like a shame on the name or whatever bullshit the higher ups say to justify their hatred towards a lower breed.

“Why aren't you at the mating ball, mate?”

Something in me snaps the moment he mentions the word mate and I have to clench my fists to rein in my anger.

" I am not your mate!” I growl, anger and hatred bleeding inside me till I can't distinguish one from the other. I want to lash out at him and tear him to pieces.

How dare he call me mate after he broke our bond and killed our pup? I know he did it in my past life, but that doesn't change anything. He'll do exactly the same in this lifetime if I let him.

" I reject you,” I tell him. He doesn't say anything, merely keeps on glancing at me with that cold calculated gaze. I take in a deep breath and repeat the words. “I, Sylla Hartley of Night Claw pack, reject you, Beta Noah Sterling as my mate.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, waiting for the soul wrecking pain that I'm definitely sure will follow the rejection.

Nothing.

I open my eyes and Noah's still standing there, expression unwavered.

"You're quite daft for the Gamma's daughter,” he says. " Rejection happens down the scale, not the other way round."

Translation, I cannot reject him because I am an Omega and he's a wolf.

“Besides, I don't accept your rejection either way." He says. *Do well to show up for the claiming ceremony.” And with that he walks away.

I place both hands to the side of my head and scream , needing an outlet for the frustration building inside of me.

“Excuse me lady."

I turn around at the voice I don't recognize and I'm met with a complete stranger with the kind of smile that leaves you unsettled.

“I am Mark, a friend of the Alpha's. I see that we have a common enemy and I want to help you."

“What?" The word slips out before I can think better of it.

“Noah is planning a coup against the Alpha," the man explains. That's right! In my past life, he had killed the previous Alpha and taken over his place. “ I want you to help me."

“How?" I ask, still not fully trusting him. Something about him just creeps me out, but if his endgame is to destroy Noah, I'm in.

“If you can find concrete evidence that he is planning a coup. Maybe a voice recording or a signed document or whatever, it'll serve a great purpose."

Sounds like a good offer, but many bad things come in the form of shiny. Just like Noah.

“I'll think about it," I tell him.

He smiles and hands me a card. " I'll be waiting for your response.” With a slight bow, he backs away and disappears down the road.

I stare at the card and smile.

I'm coming for you Noah, and this time, you won't know what hit you.