KNOXThat was it. I watched my nephew—the man I adored most in the world, take the woman I just realized was my mate, as his wife. It was sorta Ironic, wasn't it?Sage was now his wife—HISSomething about that didn't make me feel good even one bit. No matter how much I had held it together then, it hadn't been easy, watching them together.But what could I do? There was nothing to be done. Aegon needed a wife, and there, he got one. I heaved another long sigh. After all, this was my idea from the beginning and I did this because of my love for Aegon. How could I refuse at the dying minute? How could I even have felt the urge to? “The newlyweds may now take the dance floor.” Aegon, with all pleasure. I could see it in his eyes as he took his wife by the hand while she got on her feet. And together, they started dancing—smiles on their faces. A smile appeared on my face as well. Inasmuch as I felt bad about thisStarting from knowing she was my mate, down to punishing her by
SAGEThere was nothing new or a different feeling. Even though we shared the same night in the same room and on one bed. I turned to face the other side of the bed this morning, heaving a sigh of relief. Relief that I wasn't embarrassed at the end of the day. Unexpectedly, my mind drifted back to Eleanor. How she had wished for me to be disgraced and how it ended up being her. The thought of it alone brought a smile to my face, and I sat up on the bed, almost laughing at myself and alone. How was she? Crying? Hateful? Who could she even blame for her being unfortunate? Maybe if she had stayed back and let Knox take her, she would end up seeing that Aegon was a handsome man. But why were there rumors that he was ugly? I was still in my thoughts when a hand touched me. I flinched, looking at the other side of the bed where my husband lay. The sound of that was good in my ears, and I put on a smile especially for him. “Good morning. Did you have a good night's rest?” “How c
KNOX“Hello, Wolves,” I stopped in my tracks, organizing myself and walking again. “It is a pleasure to be in the midst of you all again on a morning like this.”“Long Live The Alpha,” they all got on their feet, bowing while I caught up with the last vacant seat. A seat that happened to be facing the woman I didn't want to see. But how could I have avoided this meeting? There was no way I could. Smiling, I looked around the table. “Where is your husband, Sage? Why isn't he here yet?” “Good morning, my Lord,” now was her turn to greet me. “It was said that the Prince left for the doctor's tent when I asked after him from the maid who brought me here.” What? No way. How could the maid have done that?! How many times was I supposed to explain to these people that our curse was meant to be a secret?Looking around the table, a deep sigh ran out of my mouth. “Why did he go to see the doctor? Did he say a word about it to you?” She shook her head, obviously confused. “I wasn't tol
KNOXBefore the end of the next hour, myself and the men were still seated in the dining hall. “Gentlemen,” I started. “There'll be no need for us to proceed to the meeting hall when we can just meet here. Don't you think the same?” No one talked and I continued. “Thank you. For honoring this meeting. It's a good thing to meet with you people once more. However, before we go ahead with what we want to do on this day, I need to speak with you all and it has to do with the curse.” A confused look greased the countenance of some of them, while some simply nodded. “The curse lingers amongst us in this pack, and no one outside this pack knows about it. Not even the family of Sage, the new wife in this Pack.” They nodded. I did the same, adjusting a little on the chair. “We must know that on no condition should this be mentioned when she is present,” I let out. “It's enough that we have to put her through all of these, and I also believe it's best if we don't speak about it.”“She'll
SAGEIn a very dark space, I ran for my life like it was my last moment on the face of the earth. Running faster, and faster than I could ever imagine, my legs stopped when my eyes sighted a safe place. “No—” the word ran out as I struggled to hold myself back from breathing hard. “Come out of your hiding place already!” Someone. A man, at the top of his voice, shouted. “Come out already. You don't deserve to live in case you don't know. Where are you, Silver?!” I could hear his footsteps closer to my spot, and I spent the next moment thinking of something. Anything at all.Anything I could do to run out of this. There was none. Unfortunately for me, the tree branch I held as support all this while, fell to the ground—giving whoever it was that chased after me, a signal of where I was. When he reached for me, my eyes opened. “My goodness—” sitting up, I held my chest. What was that about? Looking around the room, I realized I was safe and my husband was next to me on the be
SAGE“Good morning, Sage. How was your night?” I was still standing when he caught up with a couch in the space, smiling as he looked up at me. “Take a seat. Come on. I'm hoping that you had a good night's rest.” “Yes, my lord,” I sounded, settling on the couch again. “Aella, the maid said you sent for me.” Snapping his fingers, he looked in another direction. “Give me some time to be organized, Sage.” He mouthed, still looking in the other direction. “Get all the maids for me. And be fast about it.” Were his words to a guard who ran to his side at the snap of his fingers. “Yes, my lord,” the guard mouthed and walked away. Alpha Knox, once again, looked in my direction. Silence ruled the room while I tried so hard to ignore his face. It was a hard feat but I tried my best, holding my breath at some point as I waited for the maids to show up. But why? Did something happen? Did I do something? One by one, women in maid's uniforms walked into the space. With smiles on their fac
ELEANOR I hated everything. Especially the fact that I could miss an opportunity as good as this. What the hell happened?!Ever since we got back from The Darkfangs Pack, I had kept to myself, avoiding activities I used to engage in even before the wedding came up. What would they have me do? Pretend everything was alright when it wasn't? I wanted a piece of that man. The handsome Prince. A man I never expected to be that handsome. As a matter of fact, I waited in the hall, looking forward to the very moment an ugly man would walk in. This way, I'd add more to the humiliation I had caused my half-sister. But no, Aegon was not only the Prince of The Darkfangs Pack, he was also handsome. He was handsome!How was that even possible?!Who set me up?! Why would rumors be claiming he was ugly when he wasn't? Sitting up on the bed as I had just woken up from my sleep, I couldn't help but think. This was another day to throw tantrums and avoid everyone in the pack. I want to be the w
ELEANOR Heading downstairs, my thoughts raced as I wondered what it could be that Father wanted. Was I about to be punished? Where were Alistair and Regan? Looking to my right and left, I looked forward, centering my thoughts on the reason I had been called by my parents. In a short while, I caught up with the Pack's living room. The Alpha and Luna were seated on the same couch, moping at me while I wondered what the matter could be. “Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother,” with a bow, I greeted before walking closer. “Regan said you sent for me. And this is why I have come.” Father gave a nod. He looked at Mother before facing me. “Take a seat, Eleanor—” he urged. “One of your brothers came to speak with me about an hour ago and it has to do with you. He says you've not been eating well since we got back from The Darkfangs Pack. How true is that piece of information?” Didn't he know? Why was I surprised? He loves me more than he does Sage but didn't pay attention to
KNOXI relaxed on the bed, my eyes shut as I rested from everything that happened the day before. Suddenly, a hand hit me from behind. Or even in front of me. “Open your eyes, Knox. Can't you see?!” At the top of her voice, a woman shouted like never before. Forced to open my eyes, I looked around the space as I tried so hard to read the room so that I could understand what was happening. That was when the voices of wolves—angry wolves filled my ears. “Give Her To Us!” “Can you hear that?” An already crying Sage mouthed. Letting go of me, the woman reached the end of the room before turning back around to look at me—her eyes teary. “I don't know what I'm supposed to do—can't you see they want me given to them?” I still didn't understand because there was so much sleep in my eyes and I didn't know what to do and how to do it. Rather, I was on my feet and reaching the other end of the chamber so that I could pay attention to what was going on but how could I? More sleep filled my
SAGEWhat he was saying didn't make any sense, but I wanted to hear more of it. “What did you say, Knox? And how do you mean?” “Isn't it simple?” He adjusted on the couch but I wondered how I was supposed to know. “You being a Silver Wolf is a good thing for this pack. The members don't see it.” “You're confusing me. I don't understand you.” Again, the Alpha adjusted on the couch. A sigh ran out of his mouth and he let out. “I don't think we should talk about it yet, Sage. Give me some time to process my thoughts. Do you need something?” Why did he act that way? It was my turn to let out a sigh. Even though I wanted to hear the man talk to me about how a Silver Wolf could be of help to him and the Pack, I wished I could not listen to him say it. “Hello, Sage. Did you at least hear me?” I nodded and shook my head. “Forgive me, Alpha Knox. But I heard you. I'm just too overwhelmed by a lot to recall what you said a while ago. Can you remind me?” The man got up. He walked to
KNOXDays had passed. I didn't touch the life of Aella. She deserved to be punished but according to Sage, the one we have done to her was more than enough. I walked through the Pack's compound on this day. More than enough thoughts were running around in my head but one was what to do with the wolves who looked at me as though I had done something wrong to them. “Good morning, Alpha Knox.” “Good morning, all.” I waved at those who saw me and those who didn't. The strength to go about talking was something I didn't have and besides, no one needed to explain to me and let me know when I knew they were all mad at me—I caught up with the living room entrance. The moment I stepped in, all I could feel was relief. Far from the members and their deadly stare. No one said a word about it to me. Maybe they realized I still was the Alpha of The Darkfangs Pack and could have my say. Wasn't that it? “My lord—” the voice of Brian broke me from my thoughts. Looking up, there he was. “You s
SAGE Opening my eyes in the space of a chamber I could barely recognize, I looked around as I searched for someone. No one in particular. Where was I? “You're awake.” A familiar voice sounded in my ears. I then realized that my eyes were still shut, then I opened again with a smile that I managed. “Welcome back, Sage.” Who else if not Knox? “Good evening.” “Good evening?” He took a seat on the couch. I could now see his face clearly. Just about that time, he asked. “Did you think you woke up on the same day as yesterday, Sage?” Chuckling, Knox got on his feet. He walked to one of the windows and opened the curtain. “It's another day.” “Wait, what?” I cried. “Yes, Sage. Another day. Evening, in fact.” “No—” a soft moan ran out of my mouth. “This is very unbelievable. How did I sleep for so long and you did not wake me?” Standing up on my feet, I was reaching the door but the Alpha himself got up and reached that same door before I could. “What are you trying to do, Sage?”
KNOXAgain, I repeated. “Come with me, Sage.” But she was shaking her head and I didn't understand the concept behind that. Was she trying to refuse me?Definitely not. “No—” the word then ran out of her mouth. No what?What was she trying to say to me? Was she even talking to me? Was this her one way of refusing me? A sigh ran out of my mouth. Now, it was my turn to shake my head and I let out. “Can you listen to me, Sage? This is not a request. I'm ordering you to come back to the Pack with me. I'm not leaving here without you in case you don't know.” “No—” stubbornly, Sage shook her head. There was no frustration more than this. Wasn't it enough what we had gone through for the day? A sigh ran out of my mouth as I moped at the stubborn woman who looked like she was not scared of the wild. How could she be? “Sage. You cannot ignore me. You know this.” “I can't go back with you, Alpha Knox. You of all people should know this. You of all people should know why I cannot an
SAGEInto the woods, I ran. Not only did I run, I was shedding tears. So many thoughts ran around in my head as I approached nowhere in particular. I didn't know where I was going but one thing I knew was that I wished to be gone from the sight of the wolves—especially Eleanor who caused all of these. How could she be so wicked? One part of me wished I didn't throw the collar away. What sort of mistake have I made? More tears streamed down my face and I stopped running, turning back to see how far I had run from The Darkfangs Pack and its members. Falling on the grassy land, I shed more tears. How could Eleanor be so wicked? What happened to remembering to keep the family's name? What has she done? Could she have been such a selfish woman? I stopped crying and wiped my face with my hand before resuming again. In the presence of so many people, she had brought shame to not just me but the rest of the members of my family. A part of me could not blame her. If not for anyth
ELEANOR The door shut again. No one walked out and from the look of things, no one planned to leave the hall. Studying the faces of the wolves in the hall, I could see nothing but shock on their countenance. “It's the truth—” I mouthed, ashamed already—if not because of anything, but for how they moped at me as though I had committed an offense even when I did not. Suddenly, voices filled the hall. Wolves turned to face each other, leaving me out of the picture. A smile, finally, appeared on my countenance as I thought about how much good or maybe bad I had done on a special day like this. A day that was meant to be one for the Alpha who had walked out a while ago. This was a moment I waited for all my life. How could I not cherish it? The smile faded and I went into my thoughts, completely ignoring the wolves who spoke to each other in loud voices. “How can this be?” Someone asked. “Silver Wolf. How could we have one amongst us all these while?” In disgust, another wolf crie
ELEANOR A smile came alive on my countenance. This was what I looked forward to all my life. How could I not make good use of it? “What?” Again, the fool asked and I turned to face the crowd, facing her before walking farther so that I could stop her from running when she thought about it. “There's something you should know, Sage. A lot you probably don't and wouldn't know about.” “Wh—what are you talking about?” I didn't speak but kept smiling. “What are you talking about?!” Her tone increased. “Eleanor, you of all people should know that I don't have all the time in the world. Our family is going to be embarrassed if Silver comes to live completely and you know I don't have the collar. It's not with me.” “Why should I care about the family's reputation when I can use this to my advantage?” I asked the fool before facing the crowd. The timing was perfect. The potion worked and brought Silver back on this same day because if it had been done so days before, Sage would not hav
SAGE “Oh, no.” The words ran out of my mind as I looked around, wondering what I would do. Again, I looked at the window closest to me when I realized there was nothing wrong with my eyes anymore. Was this a joke? I didn't take off my gaze for long but moped on until I was certain I might have been imagining these things. What the fuck was wrong with me? Nothing. Nothing was wrong with me because Silver did not wake up and this could only be a reaction to Knox who stared so hard at me a while ago. This was one of the reasons I avoided him and didn't want to stay close because of the reaction my system gets when stares are exchanged. Instead of looking around like I always wanted to do, I moped at the space around me before catching up with a table. A table not so far from Aegon's—how didn't I know? I looked around once again for another spot and there was nothing like that—wouldn't be either. Not when other wolves had settled down on the other tables and if I didn't mind stayin