Revenge served in a black dress (Nora and Jace) novel Chapter 23

She left the pack hospital only after Carlos had removed the stitches in her hands and feet and given her the all–clear. He’d looked right at her as he’d removed that last stitch. “Now, Nora, no more walking on glass. I don’t want you in here injured like this ever again, okay.”

She’d just nodded and gotten out of the bed “T’ll try my best to behave as in expected,” she’d stated.

“That is not what I meant,” he’d sighed. “I don’t like patching up anyone, that is all I’m saying.”

“I hear you,” she nodded. “It’s unlikely to happen ever again. I’ve got exams this coming week and then the final results to come out and planning for the third year of my degree after that. I’ll be very busy with studying and preparation.”

“You know there are other things than studying for one to do around here,” he’d stated, “Perhaps you and your friends could go shopping or see a movie, just hang out in general.”

She’d half laughed “What friends?” she’d stated. She’d cut them off long ago, to keep herself from having attachments to this place, and was glad of it. How would she have explained all those pains of betrayal she got hit with all the time, and they’d have to see it, regardless of the time of day or where she was? They’d all have seen it by now, multiple times.

They’d also all been there in that dining room that fateful day to hear what Jace had told Gloria about not loving her, that it was nothing but the mate bond for him. They all knew he didn’t love her but loved Gloria as much as she did.

None of them had come and hunted her down after that day either, to see if she was okay or what she was going to do about what they’d all heard, and she also knew why that was, because they too, were of the opinion she was going to be kicked to the curb, and Gloria would be instated after an heir was born. So they had just left her alone to deal with it on her own. Likely they didn’t even know what to say about their own Alpha’s behavior.

Who appeared to treat all his pack members very well, just not his M

Mate was all.

Nora collected her laptop and pocketed her phone and looked down at the hospital gown she was wearing and sighed, not even clothes or pajamas had been sent down to her in the week she’d been in the hospital.

So, she asked a nurse if there were any spare clothing here in the hospital, and she’d been given a pair of scrubs to leave in. Though the nurse frowned at her and Nora just shrugged it off.

They all knew what was going on. Jace had not been here other than that one time, to reprimand her about the damage she’d done to Gloria’s things. Likely they’d all heard his and her words even; they all had wolfen hearing and were, she thought, more than curious about the goings–on, of the events that had led her to

being there in the hospital.

Nora made her way to the packhouse, and as she walked in through the front door she found Jace coming

out of his office. He looked right at her and stated, “We need to talk, in my office, Nora.”

“Yes, Alpha.” She addressed him blandly and made her way there regardless of the sudden frown on his face. But no more would she address him as her Mate, two moons, and she was out of here. Though she doubted he knew that, or maybe this was about him rejecting her finally.

She walked into his office and his unit were all there. He closed the door behind her and stated, “Sit down

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please

She walked herself over to the chair in front of his desk and eat herself down like a good pack member whe was there to be reprimanded by their Alpha and waited te however, didn’t sit in his chair behind his desk She waited patiently and, after about 20 seconds, he stepped up next to her. “Why would you sit there? When I waved you to the couch, he frowned at her

“Did you?” she asked. “I didn’t tee that” She shrugged it off. He’d been behind her, how was she supposed to

know that?

7 really don’t like this childish attitude you’ve adopted Jace muttered and then walked around his desk and

sat down to look at her

She didn’t really care that he didn’t like it. He thought she was a child, so she was going to act like one She

sat staring at him as he sat staring at her. It was a full minute of silence before he spoke

“Clearly, we have some issues that need working out. So, tell me what the problem is, and I’ll endeavor to fir

it,” he stated

issue

She raised an eyebrow at him, like he didn’t know what the issue was! Everyone in this office knew what the

was and that desk off to her left that had a vase of red roses on it clearly told her Gloria was still there in his life, working alongside him. Nothing had changed for him, with the exception of her no longer falling

into line anyway. She was not going to voice what he knew was wrong.

It was likely her stating he didn’t love her, caused her pains of betrayal all of the time and had a Luna were all

going to be counted by “I marked and mated you took you as my Mate, so that shows I want you as my Mate.

You knew about Gloria’s role here and accepted it. I never caused you pains of betrayal once. Not even last

week I never touched Gloria, and my unit were all there to witness it.’

The silence stretched on for many minutes, and she saw his eyes flick to his unit and one corner of her mouth tilted up, yes he was likely looking at Matt to tell him what she was feeling. There was nothing, though he’d likely get amusement right this very second ‘Useless f*****g Gamma can’t even do his job, I guess the Goddess didn’t actually bless him at all, she thought, allowing Matt to feel her full amusement over her own

thoughts, and she heard him huff.

Nora’s eyes met Jace’s once more. “Awe, is he still broken?” she snorted.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Jace grated out. “If he was broken, that is not something to laugh about.”

“For you or him.” She returned, “very amusing for me.” she nodded “What is it you want, Alpha?” she asked, ” Or are you here to actually reject me, for hurting your Luna’s feelings?”

He narrowed his eyes on her. “You knew Gloria was seated as the Luna, it was explained to you when you

arrived, you didn’t seem to mind.”

“She suits you well,” Nora nodded. “Keep her in the seat, I don’t care about it.” She waved it off, it was no

longer her concern at all.

“Then what is wrong with you?” he asked again, “Because this behavior of yours is unacceptable.”

“Hmm, my behavior is unacceptable,” she mused thoughtfully as she leaned back in that chair, “So, what you’re saying is I shouldn’t be possessive over my own Mate, you don’t want that. It’s unacceptable.” She nodded slowly. “Alright, I will no longer have any possessive tendencies towards you, I will…” she pursed her lips in thought and tilted her head slightly. “Pay you no attention until you… oh say, treat me how an Alpha

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Mate should, Does that work for you?“.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” he grated out.

“Hmm, I guess coming from a very healthy pack, where one sees their Alpha and Luna’s loving bond on display all day, every day, my view on our mate bond and yours, are very different.” She shrugged it off “So my punishment would be, for disrespecting your Luna, the shaming post or a full lashing, I’m certain you’ve discussed it with the Luna what she wants.” Her eyes moved to the desk to her left.

“I’m not about to lash my own Mate.” He bit out.

“Hmm, why not? You would a regular pack member. That’s all I am to you, aren’t I!” She stood up “I’ve got to go and set up for my exams, that start tomorrow, or am I not allowed to do that either. Get an education for myself?”

His jaw was ticking now. “I’ve set up a proper study for you. We’re going to work on this, Nora. Fix everything that seems to be wrong in your eyes and come back together like we were when you first came here. I don’t know what changed you because you won’t talk to me.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, “Like you don’t know what you did.” She stated and walked away from his desk. She was about to open the door, when it suddenly opened and hit her, she stumbled a step back and found Gloria standing right there, “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t realize you were on the other side.” She smiled at her. “My apologies, Nora.”

“He’s all yours Gloria,” she stated, but refused to step out of the way. Gloria herself didn’t move either, neither of them, it seemed was willing to give way to the other. Mate verses Luna, it was! She felt two hands land on her shoulders and knew it was Jace. Yes, here to protect the Luna from his Mate. Did it surprise her that he stepped her to the side and allowed Gloria into the office? Made his own Mate give way to that woman.

She saw the way Gloria’s mouth tilted up in one corner as she walked past them and into the office. Til walk you up and show you your new study,” Jace stated.

“Do you recall what happened the last time you touched me?” she asked. “Don’t think I won’t do it again,” she stated, and there was a hard edge to her voice.

He walked her out of the office and let go. “I can go on my own, I don’t need you for anything,” she stated and walked off, away from him.

“And that right there is what’s causing the rift between us.” He called out after her for all those in the foyer to hear. “Your attitude and lack of respect for me, your Mate and Alpha.”

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