24. Getting Burned

*Jade’s POV*

I rush around looking for my clothing, I end up only grabbing my underwear and the shirt Levi had on last night.

I start to hear Levi arguing with someone, I can tell it's another male.

Suddenly I hear some struggling. I wonder who could be causing problems this early in the morning.

I start to walk to the door when it is suddenly pulled open and looking back at me is a furious Julian.

You know the saying, ‘If you play with fire, you will get burned.’

That’s exactly what I felt was happening to me right at the moment. Especially when I notice that Julian is being followed by my brother and sister.

I am in a state of shock for a moment not expecting to see all of them barging into the room.

Everyone’s expression is completely different when they see me.

Julian is fuming, Ava looks so confused, while Liam is looking around the room with a look of disgust on his face.

Levi pushed past them to stand next to me.

Julian growls at him. “Get away from her!”

Ava narrows her eyes at Julian and says, “What is wrong with you? You are behaving like a jealous boyfriend!”

Liam keeps darting his eyes around to everyone in the room, as if trying to figure out what is going on.

Julian is not responding to Ava and is looking around the room getting angrier every second.

Ava turns to me and asks, “Do you have any idea what is wrong with him? He suddenly doubled over in pain last night, he passed out, and woke up angry looking for you this morning.”

My gaze immediately goes to Levi, then to the bed. I notice my mistake when I feel everyone's gaze goes to the bed as well.

If what happened last night was not obvious enough already, the blood stain on the bedsheets definitely cleared up what happened on that bed.

I immediately look at Julian, he is staring at the bed as well and is starting to shake in anger.

Before any one has a chance to react, Julian pins Levi to the wall and starts to choke him.

Liam and Ava are trying their best to pull him off Levi, but even their strength isn't enough to stop him.

I have read that, a mate can calm the other one down just by a simple touch but I’m not sure if it will work since we went through the rejection.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try.

I place my hand on Julian’s shoulder. He stills for a moment when he feels my touch.

I say, “Julian, you have to stop. You are going to kill him.”

I notice Julian’s grip on Levi loosens. He releases Levi and I hear Levi gasping for air.

Julian then asks me, “Why did you have to do it? It hurt so bad.”

I stare at him disbelief, “You are really asking me that? Don’t act like you haven't been doing it almost every night to me.”

A look of guilt takes over his face. I know the pain I have felt has never gotten to the point where I pass out but still, how can he question me about it when he does so often.

I never imagined that his pain would feel worse. The other issue is that, we should not be feeling this our bond should be broken but it's not.

Something is wrong with all of this.

I suddenly hear many footsteps rushing in and see the Alpha, Luna, and my parents come in.

I suddenly hear a gasp come from Liam. I look at him and his face is filled with anger.

Liam looks at Julian and exclaims, “It is you!”

I mentally facepalm knowing that the cat is out the bag and that everyone here is going to find out, that Julian and I are mates.

Liam makes his way over to Julian, “You are Jade’s mate! The one that rejected her!”

My eyes immediately travel to Ava, who has her eye wide open in surprise. I notice a buildup if tears forming in her eyes.

She feels my eyes on her and looks at me. She begins to sob, and mouths “Sorry.”

I shake my head but now her attention goes to Julian. She asks him, “Why didn’t you tell me that my sister is your mate?”

Julian, who is now realizing the gravity of the situation shakes his head. “I didn’t think it was necessary for everyone to find out after the rejection.”

Julian sighs, “But for some reason the mate bond is still there I still feel it.”

I cut in, “I only feel very little of it. For me it is almost non-existent. But my wolf wants nothing to do Julian.”

A look of hurt passes through his face but is gone almost immediately.

I just ignore it. I look towards our parents that haven't said a word yet.

My mother and the Luna have a look of concern plastered on their faces, while my father and the Alpha look mad.

I hear the Alpha say, “Son, you really don’t know the mistake you made.”

Julian and I look at the Alpha completely confused as to what he meant by that.

Suddenly my father says, “We need to speak the both of you. Can everyone else please step out.”

I hear Levi say, “Actually, I can lead you guys to my office. I think you all would be more comfortable there.”

We all make our way to the office. Levi leaves after showing us the way and we take whatever seats we can find. I sit as far as I can form Julian not wanting to be near him.

The Alpha looks between Julian and I and sighs. “What I’m about to tell you is going to be hard on everyone especially Jade.”

I hear a sob come out of my mom, while my father tries to calm her down.

My father is giving me an apologetic smile, while I just stare at him in confusion.

The Alpha clears his throat, “Jade, we have been keeping something from you. I want you to understand we did it to protect you and because we also received orders to not say anything.”

I take a deep breath trying to prepare myself for what I am about to hear.

He continues, “You are not a beta werewolf, you are something greater. You are the daughter of King Santiago and Queen Isabella of the Royal Moon Pack.”

I cut him off, “Wait, what?”

I look around the room trying to see everyone's faces. But my gaze lands on my parents that are trying to comfort each other while they are both crying.

I begin to hyperventilate, knowing that everything for me is about to change. Although I don’t know the full story, I feel as if the world is crashing down on me.

My whole life has been a lie. Before I have a chance to process everything the Alpha then begins to speak again.

“Jade, please calm down. I wanted to tell you this because we heard what happened with Julian.” He gives Julian a pointed look and continues.

“The reason the rejection was not completed is because you did not use your real last name. In order for the rejection to fully be severed you need to use the name the Moon Goddess recognizes as yours. In your case it is Jade de Luna. Right now, the bond is only partially severed.”

I take time to process all this information. I could finally be free from Julian and continue with my plans to join the royal army.

I don’t care that I am considered part of the royal family, that won't stop me from doing what I always wanted.

While I am thinking about how I want to proceed, Julian interrupts my thoughts with what he says.

“Well father, I see no need to go through with the full rejection, then. Since everyone knows that we are mates I have decided that we shall remain as such.”

I glare at him. He probably just wants me because of what we just found out. Why did the moon goddess pair me with such a man?

Can I even call him a man? He seems more like a boy.

Before I have a chance to respond the Alpha says in a authoritative voice, “You will not decide for her. Since you initiated the breaking of the bond. Jade will have the last say on what happens with your bond.”

Julian immediately starts yelling, “You have no right to interfere with my mate and I, she will continue to be mine.”

The Alpha gets up and lets out his aura to show his power over Julian.

Alpha Owen says in a commanding way, “You will listen and fall back in line boy. Know your place. You lost any claim over her when you decided you reject her. Didn’t you hear her say that not even her wolf wants you.”

I can immediately tell Julian is backing down because there is no way he can over power his father at the moment.

I feel Julian’s gaze on me.

I begin, “You know the mate bond was something I valued so much before all of this happened. I always felt something in my life was missing and I thought that it was my mate.”

I notice a glimmer of hope in Julian’s eyes. I ignore it and continue.

“But that all changed when found out you were my mate and rejected me. Now, with the information that we have learned my eyes have been opened.”

I suddenly feel a surge a power through me and I know this will be easy for me to do.

“I never needed a mate to feel like I belong or to feel complete. The reason I felt like that in the first place was because I never truly belonged here.”

I see a look panic go through Julian but I don’t care. He didn’t care when I cried, while he claimed how much he loved Ava. So why should I?

What happened to all the love he claimed to have for Ava now? The more I think about it the more he disgusts me.

It’s now or never.

“I, Jade de Luna, Princess of the Royal Moon Pack reject you, Julian Stone as my mate.”