Chapter Eight

POV: BELLA

Laura’s scream made me raise a brow, wondering why she yelled like that. Then it dawned on me. Alpha Sage is still in my house.

I thought he had left. That was the only reason I brought her here.

Laura was my childhood friend. We grew up together in the orphanage at Crescent Creek Pack, seeing her at my workplace had been a shock. We didn’t have time to talk then, so she suggested following me home so we could catch up. But now, here we were, thrown into a completely different scenario.

Sage furrowed his brows, staring at her strangely.

“It’s been four years! We all thought you were dead after you turned into a beast and ran away,” Laura blurted out in disbelief.

Four years? My throat went dry at the realization. He had been in his beast form for four whole years?

Does that mean meeting me turned him back?

Was he cursed?

“You were there when that happened?” Sage’s mouth twisted. He pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table, dropping the two plates of food.

He knows how to cook? Unbelievable. Might be poisonous.

Laura nodded. “Yes, I was there. And ever since you left, the pack has never been the same. Alpha Malrick and Liora took over. They are both heartless and cruel. They treat everyone like slaves. I had to leave, I couldn’t take it anymore.” She explained.

My fingers curled into fists as I listened. I had no idea any of this had happened. I left before everything went down, but hearing it now…

“They all abandoned me the moment I turned into the beast they claimed I was,” Sage muttered, his voice growing colder. 

His jaw clenched as he continued, “They wanted to kill me. The pack I protected betrayed me. They made me look like a fool.”His eyes were already red. He was angry and all I could see in his eyes were…

Pain.

For some reason, it made me sad. Why am I feeling bad for him? He had hurt me too. Humiliated me.

But this was worse.

Maybe because, despite everything, he had been a good Alpha. Ruthless, yes but a leader who protected his pack.

“I saw everything,” Laura said, touching her chin. 

“I wished someone or anyone would stand up for you. But Malrick threatened them. He fed them lies. That’s why they all turned their backs on you.”She dropped the bombshell.

Sage let out a bitter chuckle. “They can deal with him themselves.” Without another word, he picked up his fork and started eating.

Laura turned to me. “We can still fix this, Sage. The pack is yours. This is your destiny. I know you might have lost your powers, but we can scheme up a plan, and fight back for what’s rightfully yours.”She suggested.

I frowned at her.

“I, Laura, will stand with you,” she declared. “And I’m sure Bella will join us too. We can take Crescent Creek Pack back!”She continued. 

I scoffed immediately my name was mentioned. “I am not interested.”

Her face fell.

“I’m not fighting for a pack I don’t belong to. And I am not fighting for someone who humiliated me and can't even drop his ego to apologize.” I crossed my arms. “So count me out.”

Laura looked disappointed, but Sage? He just smirked, shaking his head slightly.

“Laura, thanks for the information,” he mumbled. “But I’m not in the right state of mind for all these. When the time is right, I won’t need to force anyone to fight with me. They’ll join me willingly.”He mouthed. 

I rolled my eyes, and his lips twitched in amusement.

Laura sighed. “Fine. No need to rush. Just remember Crescent Creek Pack is yours. No matter what.” She gave him a pointed look. “And if you ever need updates, I’ll always be here.”She urged him.

She reached for one of the plates of food, but Sage stopped her.

“That’s Bella’s,” he stated simply. “More food is in the kitchen. You can serve yourself.”He snapped.

Laura giggled, glancing between the two of us with curiosity before standing to get her share.

“I’m not eating your food,” I muttered, pushing the plate away. “Laura, have it. It might be poisoned.”

“And where did you get money to buy those foodstuffs?” I inquired sighting the foodstuffs in the kitchen.

Sage scoffed. “If it was poisoned, I’d be dead already. That’s what I get for cooking for your lazy ass.”He fired at me.

I narrowed my eyes. “And for the foodstuffs,” he continued, “I used my awesomeness to get them.”

Laura nearly choked on her food from laughter.

I folded my arms, annoyed. “Aweasome? How? Who exactly lied to you?”I sneered.

He smirked. “Lies we tell ourselves.” He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

 “Well, a girl your age decided to spend on me. Couldn’t resist my charm. So now your house is stocked, and I got myself a lot of clothes.” He snickered.

Laura beamed, enjoying the show.

“One day in this city, and you’re already chasing after girls,” I muttered. Then I raise my voice. “Like I said before, leave my house.”I thundered.

“I know this is what you want,” he muttered. “But I’ll say this anyway. Please, can I stay for a while until I figure things out?”He pleaded but I wasn't satisfied.

I scowled. “I don’t care. Just get lost! This isn’t what I want, I want you out of my house before I lose it!”I half yelled.

I could feel my hands trembling slightly as memories from four years ago crashed into me once again.

His nostrils flared. “You’re still thinking about that?”

I clenched my teeth.

“If you had even bothered to say sorry, just a single apology, maybe it would have helped,” I uttered.

 “But no. You’re too ruthless to apologize. Too cold to even explain yourself.”I took a deep breath, then pointed at the door.

“I’m done being a fool, Sage. You humiliated me enough. Get the hell out of my house before I call the police!”