The monster's offer.

Rhaella's POV

The men stopped instantly and lowered their cameras, shifting their postures from aggressive paparazzi to obedient soldiers. My heart sank at the realization that they were his gammas all along.

Jason glanced at Professor Wilson who was trembling and still keeping his face hidden. "You can go, Wilson. You've served your purpose."

The professor didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled past the gammas and fled down the hall without a single glance back at me.

"How?" I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of rage and shock. "How could you make him do something like this?"

Jason tilted his head, amused. “How?” he repeated softly, like I was a child asking why the sky was blue.

He took a step closer, the smile never leaving his face. “Because people bend, Ella. They bend when I tell them to. And Wilson? He bent too. Do you know why?” His voice dropped low “Because no one wants to stand against me.”

I managed to swallow the lump that formed in my throat. “You ruined him. He was…he was a good man…”

Jason barked out a cold laugh. “He’s a coward. And you…” He leaned forward, “…you’re pathetic for thinking anyone would risk their lives for you.”

My nails dug into my palms, shaking. Rage burned hot in my chest, but my legs wouldn’t move.

Jason straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve.“It was easier than I thought, though...” he said calmly. “All it took was a little threat about what might happen to his wife in the hospital… and the good professor was suddenly very eager to cooperate.” He sank onto the couch and poured wine into a glass before him. “Everyone has a pressure point, Ella. I just need to find it.”

“You Piece of Shit!” The words tore from my throat. I rushed to him, grabbing him by his collar, “Haven't you done enough? What did I ever do to you?” My voice cracked. “I loved you in every way a wolf could possibly love her mate, Jason! What more do you want?!”

He shoved my hands away, rose to his feet, and splashed his glass of red wine across my cheek. “Because you refuse to learn your place!” He snarled, calmness completely vanishing from his face. “You were always meant to be a shadow, a quiet little omega on my arm. But you had to be more, didn't you? Acting smarter and stronger than me to the point that the pack started whispering your name with more respect than they ever said mine. A Luna who outshone her Alpha? Now, that's a problem.”

His words hit me like a physical blow. This was the truth I never saw coming. His hatred wasn’t just about Dahlia or some fling. It was about his own fragile ego.

How could he be this petty? How could he hate me, murder our babies for something as trivial as this?

"You're a coward," I spat, clenching my fists at my sides. "You were never an Alpha. You were just a boy pretending to be a king, terrified that a lowly Omega was a better leader than you could ever be!"

His face darkened and he moved so fast I didn’t see it coming. His slap cracked hard against my cheek with brutal force that made my head snap to the side, and I tasted blood as my lip burst open from the impact.

Before I could steady myself, he grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall. He choked harder until I could no longer feel the breath in my lungs. My wolf screamed and I continuously clawed and thrashed.

"Don't you ever," he hissed. "...ever in your f*cking life say that to my face again!” I refused to nod and his grip tightened harder till my face began turning pale. He finally let go and I hit the tile with a loud thud, gasping for air.

He squatted in front of me, brought up his thumb to roughly wipe the blood from my torn lips. He held it up, examined it, and then, with that cold predatory stare locked on mine, he slowly dragged the same thumb across his mouth and licked the blood off.

Something inside me went ice as disgust and fear rolled through me. My wolf whimpered, cowering in the back of my mind.

“You keep bringing out the monster in me,” he said in a venomous whisper, “... but you know I'm a generous man. So, I'm willing to offer you a way out. One last chance, Rhaella. Be my mistress. You really fuck so good and that still makes you useful to me. In return, I’ll wipe out your hospital bill, and get your mom her jobs back. And all that's happened over the last few days will be nothing but a nightmare.”

His proposal was so vile and degrading that for a second I couldn't breathe. My wolf howled in agony at the thought; she couldn't believe our mate could ask such a thing from us. She was gutted and I hated that she was put in this position.

“Excuse me?” I asked, standing to my feet, "How could you ask me to do such a thing?” I asked in a choked whisper; tears threatening to spill from my eyes, but I kept them away not wanting him to see me break anymore.

He stepped closer to me, and I felt rooted to the ground, unable to move away. “Because you were once my mate, Ella,” he said, reaching out and touching my arm gently. “We will always have this strong connection, even if I mark someone else. I'd take care of you and your mom… all you have to do is just say yes.”

He was rubbing his fingers up and down my arms and I felt sick to my stomach. I finally found the strength to step away from him, my body trembling.

“No,” I said, meeting his eyes, “I'd rather f*ck the Lycan Lord who treats omegas like me like trash than be your mistress!”

His eyes darkened.

“You don't have a choice, Ella. Becoming my mistress would only benefit you, plus what will you live on if your mom doesn't get her jobs back?”

“I will find another way,” I said through my teeth.

He raised his brows as he stared at me. He studied me for a moment longer like he expected me to change my mind at any moment.

“You’ll change your mind,” he said, stepping back with a smug smile. “Your hospital bill is due today, isn't it? I’ll have it suspended for 48 hours. That’s how long you have to give me your answer. Accept, and it disappears. Refuse, and the collectors will be at your door the moment the clock runs out.”

“I don't need you, Jason!” I yelled as he left.