Three

SAGE

The morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I blinked slowly, my head pounding from last night's drinking, but it wasn’t just the hangover weighing me down. The events of the night came rushing back in a haze of heat and passion, and then… his rejection.

I sat up in bed, the ache in my chest growing. The stranger—the man whose touch had left me breathless, whose presence had made me feel alive for the first time in so long—he was my mate. My fated mate. But the way he had looked at me afterwards, like I was something he needed to escape from, was burned into my memory. His words had cut through me like a blade: I reject you.

I didn’t even know his name.

The soft sound of footsteps brought me back to the present. Lily appeared in the doorway, her face concerned as she carried two cups of coffee. “You’re awake,” she said gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

I took the cup she offered, wrapping my hands around the warmth. “Not great,” I admitted, the knot in my stomach tightening. “Something happened last night.”

I had returned separately after Lily and she did not know.

Lily’s brows furrowed as she leaned closer, her eyes searching mine. “What do you mean?”

I hesitated, unsure how to put into words the whirlwind of emotions I was drowning in. “I met him, Lily,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I met my mate. But… he rejected me.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “What? Why? Who was he?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head, the bitterness of the truth settling in. “We didn’t exchange names. It was all so fast. One moment, I thought I’d found him, the person I’ve been waiting for my whole life, and the next, he was gone. He left me without even looking back.”

Lily’s face softened, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on mine. “I’m so sorry, Sage. I can’t imagine how much that hurts.”

I sighed, the weight of the rejection pressing harder on my chest. “It’s more than just hurt, Lily. It feels like everything I thought I knew is unraveling.”

Before Lily could respond, my phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with a familiar, dreaded name. Marcus. My stepfather.

I stared at the phone, my heart sinking. The last thing I wanted was to deal with him right now, but I couldn’t ignore him either. Reluctantly, I answered.

“Sage,” his voice barked on the other end, already thick with anger. “Where the hell are you? I want you home NOW!.”

His tone made my stomach twist with dread. “I’m at Lily’s. I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t keep me waiting,” he snapped. “And don’t think you can run from your responsibilities. Get home immediately.” Without another word, he hung up, leaving me staring at the phone in silence.

Lily’s expression darkened. “What did he say?”

“He wants me back right away,” I murmured, my voice hollow. “No surprise there.”

Lily wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. “You don’t deserve any of this, Sage. You’re so much stronger than they give you credit for.”

I clung to her, grateful for her warmth and understanding. “I just don’t know how much longer I can keep fighting.”

“You’re not alone,” she whispered, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “Don’t ever forget that.”

With a heavy heart, I stood, knowing I couldn’t delay any longer. “Thank you, Lily,” I said softly, grabbing my jacket. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She smiled, though her eyes remained full of concern. “You’ll figure this out, Sage. You always do.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t so sure. As I left Lily’s place and headed back to the life I dreaded, all I could think about was the mate I had lost, and the uncertain future waiting for me.

XXX

I arrived home with my heart already heavy, but nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to face. As I stepped through the door, I froze, the air seeming to thicken around me. There, standing in the center of the living room, was Alpha Ethan Blackwood—the man I was supposed to marry today.

I had heard whispers about him. Stories of his ruthlessness, his power, his cruelty. But none of those tales captured the sheer presence of the man standing before me. He was tall, towering over everyone in the room, his broad shoulders filling the space with an unspoken authority. His eyes, dark and piercing, scanned the room with a dispassionate coldness that sent a shiver down my spine. He was handsome—undeniably so—with sharp, chiseled features and a commanding posture, but there was no warmth in him. No emotion. Just raw power and chilling detachment.

The room seemed smaller in his presence, his massive frame filling every inch of the space. He stood tall, arms crossed over his broad chest, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he owned it. His features were harsh, chiseled in an almost cruel way, and his expression held the warmth of a glacier. There was a dangerous calm about him, the kind that made your skin prickle with unease. He didn’t move as I entered; his gaze simply locked onto mine, cold and assessing.

Marcus, my stepfather, was standing beside him, and it was his voice that cut through the silence, pulling me back into reality. "Sage," he barked, his tone as clipped and impatient as ever. "You’re late."

I glanced at Marcus, but his face was as unyielding as Alpha Ethan’s, not a trace of compassion for the daughter he’d raised. He wasn’t my real father, of course, but his cruelty had often made me wish I’d never known either of them. I could see that today was no exception. He was still the man who had sold me off like a piece of property to the highest bidder, and today, that bidder was Ethan Blackwood.

"Apologies," I murmured, my voice small, the knot in my throat making it difficult to speak.

Ethan’s gaze never left me, his dark eyes piercing as if he were sizing up a new possession. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and rough, like the crack of thunder. “So, you’re the one.”

It wasn’t a question. He wasn’t asking for confirmation; he was merely acknowledging what had been arranged, what he’d been promised.

And I was that promise.

I swallowed hard, nodding, feeling smaller than ever in his presence. His eyes were so cold, so devoid of emotion, that it chilled me to my core. I tried to meet his gaze, tried to summon some strength, but his presence was suffocating.

Marcus cleared his throat. "The ceremony will take place today, as per Alpha Ethan’s request. You’ll be married by sundown."

My heart sank. “What? Today?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. I could feel panic rising, my pulse quickening. I had expected it, dreaded it even, but I hadn’t realized it would happen so quickly. “But you said…”

“Yes, today,” Ethan said, cutting off any protest before I could muster it. His voice was flat, emotionless, as if this were merely a formality. “I have urgent matters to attend to, and I don’t have time for delays.”

I opened my mouth to speak, to protest, to ask why. But the words died on my lips as his cold gaze bore into me. There was no room for negotiation here. This wasn’t a marriage; it was a business transaction, plain and simple.

Marcus stepped closer, his eyes narrowing at me. “Don’t embarrass me, Sage. This is a good match for you, better than you deserve. Alpha Ethan is a man of power, and you should be grateful.”

Grateful? The word echoed in my head, hollow and mocking. How could he think that I’d be grateful for this? For being handed over like cattle to a man who didn’t care about me, who couldn’t even be bothered to stay after the ceremony? My throat tightened, and I fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Ethan turned his back to me, his disinterest palpable. “The marriage will be quick. Once it’s done, I’ll be leaving. The sooner, the better.”

The finality in his tone struck me like a slap. He wasn’t staying. He would marry me, bind me to him in the eyes of the pack, and then walk away without a second thought.

I clenched my hands into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. This wasn’t a union—it was a prison. I’d always known that my life wasn’t my own, but standing there, hearing Ethan dismiss my existence so easily, made the reality of my situation hit harder than ever.

Marcus, clearly satisfied with Ethan’s words, shot me a look of warning. "Don’t cause any trouble, Sage," he said coldly. "You’re lucky you have this opportunity."

Lucky. Right.

I didn’t bother responding. There was nothing left to say. The walls were closing in, and any illusion of freedom I’d once had was now shattered. I was to be Alpha Ethan’s wife, in name only, but it didn’t matter. In that moment, I realized that it wasn’t just Ethan I feared—it was the cage they were all building around me.

“Prepare yourself,” Marcus added, turning to leave the room. “The ceremony will start soon.”

I stood there, frozen, watching as they both walked away from me, discussing my future as though I were already invisible. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of how little control I had over my own life.

I was about to become the wife of a man who didn’t even care enough to stay.