Chapter 295: Chapter 295 The Choice Given
Jude’s POV
Shock rippled through me when Timothy’s lips suddenly pressed against mine. The kiss caught me completely off guard, and I braced myself for that familiar wave of revulsion that always came when a man touched me.
But it never came.
His touch felt different—electric, wanted. Instead of disgust, I craved more. I wanted his hands on me, wanted him closer. The shameless hunger that coursed through me terrified me, so I pushed him back, gasping for air.
"Sorry..." Timothy’s voice was soft as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "I shouldn’t have kissed you without asking first. That was disrespectful."
Respect. The word sounded foreign coming from someone talking to me. Who bothered respecting the lowest omega? A ruined woman with a bastard child?
Yet here was Timothy, speaking of respecting me. I tried to slip from his embrace—this hope felt too dangerous, too high to fall from.
"Please, just leave me..." My voice cracked. "I’m not worth it... you shouldn’t waste yourself on me... the moon goddess screwed up. This has to be some cosmic mistake..."
His arms tightened around me. "No. Don’t say that." His voice turned fierce. "I want you. The moon goddess didn’t mess up anything. You’re exactly who I want."
But his words only made the fear worse. The more he insisted, the more convinced I became that he’d eventually see the truth about me.
"Jude..." He seemed lost for words, which was strange for someone who could usually talk his way out of anything.
I could feel him struggling—holding me tight enough to keep me from running, but not wanting to hurt me. Finally, he made a choice that stunned me completely.
He released me and dropped to his knees.
"What are you doing? Get up!" Terror shot through me. If anyone saw the royal gamma kneeling before me, I’d be tortured for it. They’d assume I forced him somehow, though we both knew that was impossible.
My trauma whispered all the ways I’d be punished for this scene, for anything that wasn’t proper.
"Please, get up. Don’t do this..." I begged, but he stayed down. He waited until my panic subsided before speaking.
"I never want to hurt you, Jude." He took my hands as I sank to my knees in front of him. "I swear I’ll never hurt you. Never raise my voice or my hand to you. I’ll cherish you and Harlow, love you both until I die."
My throat constricted painfully at his desperate, calm confession. His eyes pleaded with me to understand, to listen.
"But if you think you’re better off without me..." His head dropped, staring at our joined hands. "If I’ll only cause you more pain, I’ll accept your rejection. The choice is yours."
Tears poured down my face. No one had ever given me a choice about anything in my life. And now this man was handing me the power to decide our fate.
"I... I don’t know..." I shook my head, choking back bile. "I want you too, but... I don’t deserve you." The truth spilled out. "I can’t be with you... I’ll only bring you shame. People will look down on you for having me as your mate."
He listened without interrupting, letting me purge the poison from my heart.
"You might not care at first, but eventually you’ll believe them. I’m terrified that one day you’ll look at me differently." I dropped my head in shame.
He cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. "They wouldn’t dare... and I’d never let anyone treat you as less than you deserve." His thumb wiped away my tears before he kissed my forehead again. "My feelings won’t change, no matter what happens. I just need you to let me prove it."
His request broke me completely. I covered my face with both hands as sobs wracked my body. He pulled me into his arms gently.
"I don’t want to hurt you, Jude. I want to love you the right way."
This time, I didn’t push him away. Instead, I melted into his chest, crying against him as I whispered through my tears.
"I want to come with you."
