Chapter Four

Claude’s POV

Stepping into the dining hall, I didn't know what to expect but it definitely wasn't this.

I tensed at the scene. Jesse was inches away from me standing while facing Alicia on the other side. Neither of them had noticed me yet.

Shit. I should have dealt with her sooner if I wasn't so focused on Jesse's hatred.

“You shouldn't be here you freak,” I stopped short at Alicia’s words.

“I never liked you around him. You were always so sickeningly close it was a good riddance when you left. What happened to bring you back now? You should have stayed right where you belonged.” she spat out. The flash reaction from Jesse was enough to rile me up.

Any hesitation from before dissipated instantly and anger took its place. I stepped forward revealing myself.

“Alicia ,” I growled, stonily glaring at her. She looked happy but I was going to cut her short.

“Leave.”

Her face transformed into one of shock but I kept my expression impassive despite Jesse's stare.

“Are you serious!?” She cried out, looking outraged as she pointed at Jesse

“He's a rogue now. He left this pack and now he has the guts to return here? He should be in the dungeons or better yet, killed, not being treated like some guest-”

“Alicia!” I roared, letting my anger burst through. It gave me a bit of satisfaction to watch her back away, face paling but it didn't stop the anger from her words.

Nobody spoke to Jesse that way.

“This is my pack and I choose who enters and who doesn't. You've overstayed your welcome.” I snapped my fingers loud enough to signal the nearest guards.

“Take her home.” I ordered as soon as they came into sight. Immediately they obeyed, grabbing Alicia to take her out.

She struggled against them but I couldn't care less until she screamed.

“I'm the soon to be Luna! You can't treat me like this!”

Her words filled me with alarm. I instinctively looked at Jesse to find him tense at her words.

Shit.

The door slammed shut leaving us alone in the dining room but the tension was too thick. Desperation filled me. I just got him back. The last thing I wanted was something else to further the already large distance between us. I needed to clear the air before the wrong idea set in.

“I'm sorry, Jesse,” I called out, “Alicia…she was out of line. I swear she won't bother you again. And what she said about being the next Luna, I've never -”

“I left the pack?” Jesse cut me off, a mocking disbelief written on his face. I felt more guilt rise from those four words.

After I threw him out, the only people that knew was me and the guards involved sworn to my secrecy about it and it left the rest of the pack to come to their own conclusion about his absence. It was soon settled on that he had left the pack and despite it being untrue I… did nothing to deny it.

Despite searching for him desperately I had never changed the pack's perception for the past five years. I didn't feel the consequences until this moment with him in front of me.

“I…” I fought for words to say but they were all choked up.

“It's okay. After all, people with tastes like mine don't deserve anything, not even a proper reputation. Isn't that right?” Jesse said.

I clenched my fist, quickly recognizing the insult I had given six years ago after discovering we were mates. I never hated those words more than I did now.

A mix of desperation and regret filled me. I couldn't let things end like this.

“No,” I frantically shook my head, moving towards him but he backed away, forcing me to stop. His green eyes were frosty and cold.

“I will never forgive you for everything you've done,” his words hit me like a blow,

“You shouldn’t expect anything from me either. As far as I'm concerned our lives are separate. Alicia is now your fiancée now it seems. Good for you. You two deserve each other frankly. It's only confirmed that nothing would ever happen between us. Our friendship is over.”

Immediately Jesse finished speaking, he settled in on a chair all while ignoring my presence.

I felt deflated from his words but my determination remained. The reminder of my mistakes hurt but I still had every intention of getting Jesse back. I was a fool six years ago to throw Jesse away. Even before I discovered we were mates he was my best friend and only family yet despite all of that I had let him go just because I was afraid.

Afraid of what the Elders and pack members would say, afraid of the abnormality in our bond but most of all, afraid of the feelings he sparked in me, feelings that I denied only to be confirmed thanks to the mate bond

But things were different now. I changed and had accepted my feelings. I wasn't going to let him go this time.

It was with this determination that I settled on the chair opposite his.

I tried to make conversation during dinner but Jesse ignored me throughout, focusing solely on the food. On occasion when one of the maids came he made conversation with them, throwing jokes their way that made bitterness flow in me.

I never thought I would be jealous of a servant.

“Please listen to me Jesse,” I cracked when he was nearly done with the food. “I messed up and made a mistake and Goddess knows how much I regret it. There's nothing I can do to take it back, no matter how much I wish for it. But I want to change the present. I searched for you everywhere to beg for your forgiveness to get you back.”

Jesse didn't reply, leaving the dining hall in silence and me along with it.

Frustration brewed inside me. I didn't know how long I stayed when a loud sound from the dining hall forced me to look up. I tensed immediately I recognized the Elder.

“Alpha Claude, explain why you forced Alicia out of her home, because of some because of some rogue no less.” The older man asked, a dark expression on his face.

She had no doubt home to complain.

“As far as I'm concerned, Alicia has a home of her own with her family. I can invite whoever I want to my home. Tread carefully Elder Gavin," I warned him.

The Elders had constantly pressured me to marry Alicia ever since I made the mistake of announcing our engagement five years ago, only a few months after discovering my mate bond with Jesse.

It was a rash decision, another way I messed up. I regretted it everyday after but the deed was done.

Since then they had been forcing the issue even when I tried to disagree.

“From what I've heard, the Rogue is none other than Jesse, your old friend,” I tensed from his words when his eyes narrowed.

“What is your relationship with him now to choose him over your fiance.” he asked

A familiar panic filled me, facing the elders about Jesse. I couldn't tell them he was my true mate. Even now with all my determination the thought of spilling it out felt impossible.

“He's a rogue requesting for safe passage with his group. As an Alpha it's my choice to help those in need of it. He was once part of this pack, so I offered him help out of pity. What is so strange about that?” I said stonily , successfully deflecting the question and daring the Elder to speak.

Relief filled me at the elders' difficulty to muster an answer. The less suspicious they were, the better.

Sudden footsteps made me stiffen for a different reason. I had been so engulfed in covering up that I didn't notice it until it was too late. As I spied the corner, the blur of dark hair that slipped away made my

blood turn cold.

I knew without a doubt that it was Jesse.

He had been listening this whole time.