2: Just end it!

Natasha's POV

My throat felt extremely dry and it was hurting.

My head was pounding. My eyes stung. Everything smelled clean—too clean. Like fresh laundry mixed with coffee.

I sat up slowly.

This wasn’t my bed.

The sheets were soft—too soft to be a maid's. And the air, cooler. Not the natural coolness but most definitely from an air conditioner.

I opened my eyes slowly, hoping to exit my expensive dream. But instead, my eyes opened to an unfamiliar scene.

Where the fuck am I?

I blinked severally, clearly disoriented.

I'd lived in the maids quarters for over a decade, and even if I was high on something strong, I could clearly indicate that this wasn't the maids quarters.

Rather, it looked like somewhere prepared for a royalty.

My heart raced with questions popping in and out.

I scanned my environment to get a better picture of what was going on. And then I saw him.

A man.

An Unknown man, sitting by the window, sipping coffee.

On him was a white shirt, with the first three buttons undone. Chest sculpted like a damn statue. A silver chain hung low, and right at the centre of it—a moon-shaped pendant.

He wasn’t just handsome.

He was unfairly hot. The kind of man that didn’t look real. Like he stepped out of a perfume ad. Also, I won't fail to tell how huge he was. I'm guessing he'd be over 6 ft. 5 if he stood.

I froze. His aura heavy in the room like a dark cloud. Strong and powerful, unlike anything I had ever witnessed.

He was now staring at me. He looked calm and unbothered all at once.

Like seeing a strange girl in his bed was just another Tuesday.

I pulled the sheets to my chest. "Who—who are you?" I croaked. "What did you do to me?"

He didn’t answer.

He reached for his jacket. Pulled out a thick wad of cash. Tossed it on the bed like it was a dirty towel.

"Take it."

My mouth dropped open. "What?"

He stood slowly, walked over. His voice was cold. "Take the money and leave."

I blinked. "Do I look like a prostitute to you?!"

He still showed no emotion.

"You think you can just throw money at people and they’ll roll over?"

"Take the money," he said again, sharper this time. "—and leave."

I kicked the sheets off. "You’re sick! You think because you’re hot and rich you can just—"

"And I guess that's how you appreciate people who are kind to you," he cut in.

I blinked.

"What?"

He looked everything but kind.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice a little softer.

"You ran into my car, drunk— wasted. Luckily for you, my driver was fast to match the brakes, which saved you from a much worse injury than the one you have there."

I touched my face as if examining it to see if he was saying the truth.

"You should be grateful I saved you, grateful that I took you in. Else, who knows what could have happened to your drunk ass self." He said, then pointed at the cash.

 "That’s for damages. And a new dress."

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

"So you didn’t…"

Before I could finish, he scoffed. "You’re not my type."

Wow.

I stared at him.

"Not your type?" I repeated.

He shrugged. "Not even close."

Something inside me snapped even when I knew he wasn't lying.

After all, even my mate thinks I'm not his type. But I felt kinda insulted and I let my intrusive thoughts win.

I stood up—maybe too quickly. I wasn’t thinking. I walked toward him, closing the space between us. My legs shook a little, but I didn’t stop. I moved until I was right in front of him, so close I could smell his cologne.

Then I slid my leg between his.

Right between his thighs.

Close.

Dangerously close.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t make a move, didn’t even blink.

He just looked me dead in the eyes.

"Be careful what you wish for," he said quietly, his voice deeper now.

My breath hitched.

But I didn't move.

Neither did he.

The atmosphere shifted.

 I felt it.

The silence between us was louder than any scream.

My heart began to pound like crazy and that was when I knew it was time to flee. His eyes had become somewhat darker and even scarier.

What was I even thinking trying to seduce him?

I stepped back slowly, one step after the other, till I was stopped by the bed frame. "I'm— I'm so sorry. I will leave now!"

I turned and hurried out without even picking the money, just hurried out with the robe I had on, and my dress in hand.

"Fuck!" I cursed as I got out. "What the heck just happened."

****

"Where the heck were you, Natasha?" My mom yelled as soon as she set eyes on me. "You made me really scared.” She said, pulling me into an embrace. “—even the young master has been worried sick about you."

My face dropped instantly at her words and without even saying a thing, I slipped into the palace and joined in like I was never missing. Noticed by only a few who actually cared.

The day dragged. I was still trying to piece myself back together—my head, my heart, my pride—everything felt scattered. Broken in places I didn’t know existed. But I moved. Like I was okay. Like the night before didn’t happen. Like the scent of that man wasn’t still stuck in my memory. Like I didn’t wake up in a room softer than clouds with a stranger who thought I was some lost, drunk girl.

I pushed the mop forward again, sweeping across the hallway floors. My body was here. My mind—gone.

I was passing by the east wing when I heard voices. I paused—automatically. Not to eavesdrop, but when you’ve been a maid for years, you learn to listen. Not just with your ears. With your whole body.

It was the Luna. Jace’s mother. Talking to another she-wolf I recognized as Matilda’s aunt.

"She's perfect for him," the Luna said. Her voice sounded proud. Almost like she’d already arranged the wedding. "Strong bloodline. Good face. Graceful. Everything we need in a Luna."

"Have they bonded yet?" Matilda’s aunt asked.

"Not yet. But it’ll happen soon. I’ve already told Jace to mark her. And once they consummate the bond, it’ll strengthen. It’s only a matter of time."

My stomach twisted.

I didn’t stay to hear the rest. I had to keep walking, or I’d cry. And crying in the middle of the hallway was not an option.

I worked the rest of the day like a ghost. Did what I had to. Said nothing. Avoided everyone. Smiled when necessary. Bowed my head when spoken to. Played my part.

But inside, I was slipping.

Falling apart.

And I needed it to end.

**Later that Night**

I was walking back to my tent. My dress still slightly damp from the last chore. I was thinking of sleep. Maybe if I slept hard enough, I’d forget everything. Or stop feeling for a while.

Then I saw him.

He was leaning against the wall like he’d been waiting. Like he’d known I’d pass there.

His eyes found mine instantly.

"You’re back," he said quietly.

I paused. My hands tightened around the small basket I was holding.

He took a step forward. "Why didn’t you come tell me? Didn't your mom tell you I was looking for you? That I was—"

"Reject me," I said.

The words left my lips before I could take them back.

His brows furrowed. "What?"

I swallowed. My throat was dry again.

"I know that’s why you’ve been looking for me," I said, voice flat, like I wasn’t crumbling inside. "You want to be free, right? To be with her. To mark her. Just… reject me, Jace. Get it over with."

He was silent. Frozen. Like he didn't expect me to say what I said.

I took his hand, then I lifted it and placed it on my head.

Tears had already started to gather in my eyes, but I didn’t blink them away.

"Say the words, Jace." My voice cracked. "Please."

He didn’t say anything. Just kept staring at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

His palm rested heavily against my head.

But it didn’t move.

"Say it," I whispered, a tear slipping down my cheek. "Free yourself."

Still, he said nothing.

I could feel my heart beating too fast. My lungs were tight. Breathing was starting to hurt.

I stepped back. Just an inch.

"Please," I said again, even though everything inside me was screaming not to beg.

 "Just end it!"