chapter 3: Jane

Jane's POV

“I don't like to repeat myself,” he said, this time, his eyes were on me.

The air shifted, becoming cold and still. Even the wall felt like they were shrinking under Alpha Theo's aura. The way his eyes were boring into mine, I knew I was in trouble.

I swallowed before explaining myself. “I was cleaning and Mia broke the wine glass on purpose and she asked me to clean it with my bare hands.”

“Liar,” Mia said. “I was walking and I slipped because the floor was wet. I almost fell and she saw me. Instead of helping me, she laughed at me. Then she asked me to pack the shattered glass with my bare hands.”

I blink, shocked by her twisted story.

She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with fake tears. “The glass fell by accident, I didn't drop it on purpose. I didn’t want to say anything, I know she’s important to you, but she humiliated me.”

“That’s not true,” I said, stepping forward. “That’s not what happened, Alpha Theo…”

“Jane,” Theo snapped, his voice suddenly sharp enough to slice through bone.

I stopped mid-step, shrinking back instinctively. My breath caught in my throat.

“She’s twisting the truth,” I tried again, quieter this time. “She smashed the glass on purpose. I asked her why, and she said…”

“I said enough!” he barked, cutting me off completely.

I flinched. Even the hallway felt colder now, tighter. Like the walls were closing in. I glanced at Mia, and she was smirking just for a second, before putting her hand over her heart like she was deeply wounded.

“You think I would tolerate anyone disrespecting a guest in my house?” Theo said, his eyes boring into me.

“She’s not a guest,” I whispered, clenching my fists. “She lives here… and she’s the one who started it ”

“You dared to ask her to clean with her bare hands?” he said, ignoring me again. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I didn’t ask her to!” My throat tightened. “She twisted the truth and I was only defending myself.”

“Don’t lie to me, Jane,” he said, his voice now filled with disappointment that stung more than his anger. “I thought you were respectful.”

A sharp breath hitched in my chest. His words hit harder than anything Mia could ever throw at me.

“I’m not lying,” I said, forcing myself to look him in the eye. “Please. Just listen.”

But he didn’t.

Instead, he turned away slightly, his jaw clenched, his back rigid with fury. “You embarrassed me.”

“I’m not lying, Alpha Theo.”

“I should have known better,” he muttered. “To think better of you when you are just a maid.”

Mia made a soft sound behind him, something between a sob and a gasp.

“I can’t believe this,” I whispered. “You didn't give me a chance to explain myself before taking her side.”

“You know how important Mia is to me,” Theo said, eyes narrowing. “You should have treated her with so much respect, the way you'd respect me. Instead, you act like a power-hungry brat and asked her to pack the glass with her bare hands.”

My body trembled with heartbreak. And Mia's voice added to it as she started talking again.

“She said she is your fated mate. That I would never be your fated mate. She called me a whore, accused me of chasing you around.”

My jaw dropped as Mia lied. How could she come up with such lies?

“I didn't say all those things to you,” I breathed, trying to defend myself. “You are lying, Mia.”

“How dare you?” Alpha Theo said through his gritted teeth. “How dare you say such a thing to my girlfriend?”

“It hurts so much, Alpha Theo,” Mia sobbed. “I've never felt so humiliated like that in my life.”

I can't believe that alpha Theo bought her fake tears. I can't believe that he couldn't see through her lies.

“You think I would believe the moon goddess’s choice? You think I would accept you as my mate and mark you as the Luna? You must be pathetic if you for once think that I would settle for a lowly maid like you, Jane.”

“I never said any of those things she said. And I never wanted to be the moon goddess choice,” I said to him.

“Then why are you treating others like you’re above them?” he asked coldly.

“I didn’t!” My voice cracked. “She is lying.”

I turned to Mia. “Tell him the truth, Mia. I didn't say those things to you. Tell him.”

“Enough.” His tone made my blood run cold. “You want to be treated like every other maid? Fine. Then you’ll be nothing more than that.”

And then, the words that broke me came.

“Tomorrow, at the grand finale of the festival, I will reject you in front of everyone.”

I felt My heart stop. But Theo continued.

“In front of the entire pack. In front of every leader, every ally, I will reject you. That way, no one will question my decision, or the type of woman you really are.”

I gasped. “You can't do that.”

He closed the space between us, towering over me, and the warmth I once felt in his presence was gone.

“Watch me.”

Behind him, Mia’s face lit up in triumphant smile. She didn’t bother to hide her victory now. She didn’t need to. Her plan was working perfectly and she was enjoying it.

It was enough humiliation to be a maid but a rejection in public. That's the greatest humiliation I've ever heard and it was going to happen to me.

Theo started to walk away, but I couldn’t move. My feet were rooted to the tiles, my arms limp at my sides. I couldn’t even breathe well. The air felt thick and suffocating. My heart ached in ways Icouldn't even explain.

I opened my mouth to say something, maybe to beg him. But I couldn’t even find my voice. He didn’t look back.

“I can't wait for tomorrow's festival,” Mia said before turning away.

I was left alone in the hallway, surrounded by shattered glass. It wasn’t just on the floor, It was inside me too.