Chapter 13

*Leonora*

I knelt in Jax's conference room, waiting for him and also awaiting the punishment I would receive. I couldn't believe I was caught! From what I gathered, after I left with Noah, Jax updated the security. I don't know why I didn't think about that. I was so eager to leave this place I hadn't even scoped my surroundings. This was a foolish mistake and I definitely would not let it happen again. 

The door opened and I sniffed. It was Jax, followed by Claire. I growled underneath my breath. I had stayed for two years without my wolf and here it was acting crazy around Jax. I felt a slap on my back and I winced in pain. My back still hadn't healed from last night and I haven't had the time to get one of the elderly ladies to help me with a massage. I felt another slap and I keeled over in pain. I quickly buried my head in between my hands. 

"I've never seen anyone as stupid as you." Claire said from a distance meaning that it was Jax who hit me. I don't know why I was surprised. Last night should have reminded me of the kind of man Jax was. 

"How dare you try to run away?!" Jax shouted and his voice echoed. I heard his shoes take two steps away from me and I lifted my head. As I tried to scan the room, I watched as Jax lifted his leg and swung it towards my direction. I stayed frozen and looked straight at his eyes right as his shoe-covered feet came into contact with my stomach. I screamed in pain as I fell over. I closed my eyes, trying to endure the pain that was trying to consume me. I tried wiping the tears but they kept falling freely. 

"Jax, I think that's enough." I heard Claire say. "Kneel upright!" She commanded and I picked myself off the floor and got into my position. I wiped my eyes and tried to clean all the tears. I took deep breaths, controlling my emotions and the tears. When I was done, I opened my eyes and looked over at Jax, who was seated beside Claire. They were whispering to each other and he was smiling to himself. His eyes moved over to me and for a brief second, I noticed regret in his eyes but they were gone as soon as it came. 

There was nothing that could change how I felt about Jax. He was the worst person in the world. This was honestly a sick joke that the Moon goddess decided to play with my life. Who told her I needed this kind of drama? I was happy with my position as an Omega but instead she decided to punish me. She decided to show me that I was worthless to her. She decided to show me that I could never belong here, I could never fit in. I felt like a sore thumb that was always sticking out. 

I just wanted this to end but I couldn't give Jax that satisfaction. 

Not after what he just did. 

"There's a bucket outside the door. Get it and scrub down this room until its sparkling." Claire said as she stood up. I lifted my right leg to get up but a sharp pain shot through my body. "Who told you to stand up?" She questioned and I dropped my leg, sighing at the small relief I felt. I started crawling slowly to the door. I couldn't move faster, I was sure something would snap in my body. Images of Jax swinging his feet to me, clouded my head and I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears. Maybe Bethany was right. Maybe I should just reject him and get it over with. 

But I made a promise to Noah. 

I wasn't going to stop because of this small beating. Jax would have to do more to get me to accept his rejection.  

I heard someone adjust their chair. I wanted to turn around and check who it was but I didn't want another slap. I heard footstep and it sounded like Claire's. I felt hands in my hair followed by a tug backwards causing me to stop crawling and look at Claire. 

"Make sure this place is spotless. I'm not fucking with you." She said pushing me forward and letting go of my hair. She walked out of the room leaving Jax and I. I looked over at him and I could sense that he wanted to say something. I continued crawling until I got to the door, turning the lock and pulled the door open. Sure enough, there was a bucket and a mop outside the door and I pulled it inside, trying not to spill the water in the bucket. 

"Accept my rejection and it'll be over." I heard him say and I felt a fresh round of tears gather in my eyes. I don't know why I expected him to apologize for what he did to me. "You can stand up and work." I lifted my leg again and the pain shot through my body causing a few drops of tears to fall. I placed my hand on my knee and pulled myself up. My whole body hurt but there was nothing I could do. 

Nothing. 

That was exactly what I was to Jax. Nothing. That's why he could beat his mate. Was this my destiny? I asked myself. I shook my head and put the mop into the bucket and pulled it over to the other side of the conference room where Jax was seated. 

"Leonora." I heard him call my name as I wiped my tears and sniffled. I knew if I said anything, he would use it against me. Instead I thought of how to get out of this place. I needed to escape. I need to be free of Jax's shackles. I needed to feel a bit of freedom from the horrible man who was seated in the room with me.