Chapter 4
Jared shrugged on his coat, already halfway out the door. Maybe I should have done what I always did—tell him to be careful on the road, or not to worry about me and focus on Luciana.
But now, those words couldn't even come out. They tasted like blood in my throat.
I watched Jared's back as he moved toward the door. Fear hit me like a tidal wave. I ignored the churning in my stomach and forced myself up off the floor.
My hands gripped the doorframe, shaking as I tried to hold myself up. "Jared."
His hand froze on the doorknob. He turned, confused, looking at me like I was some shadow in the corner. Even seeing me so weak didn't seem to shake his determination to leave, but I couldn't give up yet.
"Can you not go?" I asked, voice trembling with a tiny desperation. Even now, after everything, I clung to the last sliver of hope that he might stay for me.
I walked barefoot to him and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. I pressed my forehead against his back, softly begging, "Don't go, okay?"
Tears fell one by one. My chest felt like it was slowly being cut open, a knife scraping through my ribs.
But Jared didn't even give me a pitying glance. He pried my hands off his waist without a shred of mercy and asked impatiently, "If I don't go, who's going to protect her? She's just an Omega, alone in this city, with no one to back her up. If I don't go, who will?"
He then glanced at me as if I were the unreasonable one. "You're a Luna now, Monica. Act like one. It's not like I'm disappearing forever. I'll be back."
In the end, Jared still left. I sat alone in the empty living room, my ragged sounds of sobs and the furious thump of my heart competing with the cold silence.
Then, my phone buzzed—a message from Luciana. "I'm really sorry, Monica. I need him to help me out for a bit. You wouldn't want me to have a hard time, would you?"
Betrayal on every front—love and friendship both stabbing me at once—my brain went blank. My legs shook as I tried to stand, but I still managed to snatch the keys off the table and bolted for the garage.
A few minutes later, I had made my decision. It was time to end this absurd love triangle once and for all.
I parked under the building where Luciana's office was. After a few twists and turns, I found Jared. She was curled against him, crying, while he gently stroked her hair. "It's okay. I'm right here."
Even Luciana's superior hadn't expected this. He wiped sweat from his forehead, dumbfounded. Who would have thought she would summon the Alpha over?
"It's okay. You won't have to work here anymore," Jared added. "Come work for me as my secretary. That way, I get to protect you at all times."
When he held Luciana close and stepped out of the office, I followed silently behind. I saw her pitifully wrapping her arms around his neck before pressing a kiss to his lips.
Although I had already seen it in the crystal orb, seeing it in person still stabbed my heart. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, blood oozing down the lines of my hand, but I didn't feel a thing.
Of course, Jared didn't pull away. They clung to each other for what felt like five minutes until Luciana gasped for air, ending the kiss. "Can't you just stay with me tonight? Please, just tonight?"
He hesitated for a while, but her helpless gaze eventually conquered him. He nodded reluctantly. "One last time."
Just like what they said three days before my mating ceremony, but we all knew they were lying to each other.
I couldn't take it anymore. As they turned to leave, I stepped in front of Jared and slapped him across the face. His eyes widened in shock, and before he could say anything, I did what I should have done a long time ago.
"Let's dissolve our mate bond, Jared."
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