Chapter 2

Amelia's POV.

“I, Alpha Jace, rejects Amelia Storm as my mate…. and takes Lydia Karl”

Something shattered inside me and nothing ever came back together.

Did I just hear him right? Or was this a cruel joke?

Everywhere fell into silence and suddenly, eyes turned to me before turning back to Jace in confusion. Jace stood up and Lydia followed his step, standing closely beside him. The sight made my stomach twist with force and I swallowed hard, hoping it would help me stay calm but it didn't. Nothing was working out for me.

Jace's hand settled on her waist and that made my lips tremble.

“She's my fated mate” Jace announced, the words landing like a blow. “The one who deserves to be Luna”

That drained all the energy in me, my body wanting nothing other than to slump to the ground.

Just like that, I became nothing. Not his wife, not his Luna, not his mate….. not the only one who had genuinely stood by his side for two years. In front of every pack member, he's showing me I don't belong in his world.

“Accept the rejection, Amelia” one of the elder's voices snapped, cold and unforgivable. My title was gone, given to Lydia.

It was hard to believe and I didn't want to accept this…. No way, I'm giving up without putting up a fight.

“Jace, I…..” But what have I expected? Jace shut me up with just a glare that sent cold shivers down every spine of my body.

“Whether you accept it or not…” Jace paused. “I'm done with you!” In front of everyone, he spat and walked out with Lydia.

I couldn't move but only wished everything could turn out to be a dream or a joke. Everything had been falling so perfectly in line to be called a coincidence. He had planned to cast me aside, maybe even from the beginning.

Tears streamed down my eyes again as I relished in the memories of the two years I've spent with him. My hand moved to my stomach and I caressed it.

My baby. Our baby. What would happen to me now?

“No!” I suddenly snapped, voice firm “I can't accept this”

I have to tell him about my pregnancy! I can't let everything just go like this.

I looked around and Jace was gone, Lydia also nowhere to be found. The crowd had also started dispersing, exiting the hall.

“How embarassing….”

“She got rejected by the Alpha….”

“She was never supposed to be Luna”

Voices whispered as people walked out of the hall. I didn't reply or pay attention to any of them and when the crowd finally thinned, I came back to my senses.

I rushed towards the mansion, desperation etched on my face. When I stood at the hallway leading into the sitting room, I sighted Jace, heading inside with Lydia by his side.

Jace groaned, like I was a thorn in his flesh at the moment.

“Jace, we need to talk” I said calmly. “This is unfair”

Jace stormed to my side and gripped me by the neck, pushing me backwards without letting go. My back hit the wall hard, and the air escaped my lungs while I gasped, eyes widened in disbelief.

“What else is there to talk about, Amelia?” He asked, his eyes burning with anger and hatred for me.

“Jace…. You are hurting me…” I croaked.

“It's been decided, Amelia. Lydia will be my new Luna.” He spat through gritted teeth. “You will get the divorce papers by evening and don't even think of leaving the pack without my permission!”

He released his hold on me and walked away. Again, I lost the chance to talk to him. My lips trembled and my eyes got blurred with tears.

Memories filled my head about the time we'd spent together. The two years I'd wasted loving him and trying to make him love me back. I was still lost in the memories that kept popping in my head when a finger tapped my shoulder.

Lydia.

She crossed her arms but poked my shoulder once more.

“How are you feeling now?” She sneered.

I looked at her in disbelief. “Does it look like I'm feeling good?”

“You've always acted like a queen. Now your tenure is over” Lydia laughed. “Always wanting to be in the spotlight!”

She scoffed. “You take joy in making me jealous, don't you?”

“You know that's not true, Lydia….” My voice broke into sobs. “I loved you, I—”

“I never asked you to,” she said spitefully. “You were just so stupid enough not to know about us for two years”

My eyes squinted and my stomach dropped. “What the hell does that mean?”

My voice was barely above a whisper and I really hoped Lydia's next words don't send me to my grave.

“Stop acting so dumb and clueless, Amelia!” She snapped, frustration creeping into her tone. “I've been with Jace before you met him! Before that darn mate bond ignited between you two!”

My head spinned and her voice suddenly became distant in my head.

Thoughts spiralled and I tried to fully process her words. “No, that can't be”

If that was true, it means I had been getting deceived since the beginning. Nothing was real to begin with.

“You knew I was trying to make him love me but you—” Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me and I ran towards the guest bathroom without thinking twice.

I threw up and cleaned up, pouring water over my tears streaked face. I returned to Lydia and this time, my face was obviously pale and weak.

Lydia's eyes dropped to my stomach before they widened in disbelief. “You are pregnant?”

I didn't respond. The answer was obvious, only that Jace refused to see it.

“No,” Lydia muttered in panic. “I can't let you have him”

Before I could process her words, she already stormed away, vanishing from my sight.

It was over. Jace had chosen Lydia over me but now he wants me to watch as he treats her like a queen while I'm scorned by him and the public?

No, I won't let that happen. My hand hovered protectively above my stomach, eyes staring down at my belly reassuringly.

“I will protect you” I promised.

Even if it means losing everything else.

As I headed back upstairs, my mind resolved and the determination to leave the pack filled my body. I had nowhere to go, but I had to leave. Distant voices came from Lydia's room, the door slightly opened.

I laughed briefly to myself. I even let her stay here in the packhouse, not knowing she was here to take everything from me.

“She's going to kill me, Jace!” Lydia's voice trembled perfectly. “I clearly heard her, she threatened me to my face!”

My face creased in confusion but I stayed and continued eavesdropping..

“I'm scared, Jace. We have to get rid of her before she harms me!”

I blinked. Lydia was definitely talking about me and she was cooking all these lies up about me?

“Amelia isn't that bold. You are wrong, Lydia” Jace replied slowly.

My breath caught and for a moment, a stupid sense of relief washed over me.

He still knew me. He believed me.

“You just never really saw her, Jace,” Lydia continued, shattering my little hope. “People like her hide things”

She was pathetic, trying to get rid of me even after taking my place. I stepped away from the door quietly. “I'm done here”

I would leave the pack. Even if I have nowhere to go.

I won't stay to be destroyed after everything has been snatched away.