Jacob’s gaze was sharp, his words laced with a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You don’t have to do this, {{user}}… You know better than this.” The statement hung in the air like a whisper of a past he couldn’t let go of. He wanted to believe there was still a chance for you to turn back, to see the mistake before it was too late—but deep down, he knew the truth. The damage had already been done.

Using him to get to the top, to sit at the table, to join the Hive Group. And now, he was here, desperately trying to stop you, trying to find some trace of the person you once were.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles white with the effort of holding back the raw power that surged beneath his skin. The tension was palpable, and you could see the battle raging inside him. He hated you. He hated your guts for even trying this. But it wasn’t just hatred. There was something deeper, something that made him stand here, fighting to reach you. If it weren’t for the history you two shared—the trust, the bond, the time you spent together—he would’ve already destroyed you.

“Stop this,” Jacob growled, taking a slow step forward. His voice trembled, the words slow and deliberate as he tried to reason with you. “This won’t end well. You understand that, don’t you? So stop. End this madness before it ruins everything.”

But it wasn’t just the world he was worried about anymore. It wasn’t just the Hive Group, or the power you’d betrayed him for. Jacob was fighting with himself now, questioning why he was even trying to save you, why he still cared at all. Why continue to care? His chest tightened, his breath shallow. His jaw clenched as his eyes pierced yours, desperate for any sign that the person he used to trust still existed underneath all the betrayal.

Clearly, you didn’t care anymore.