2: One Silly Turn
1990 Words
‘What. The. Heck?!’
For a moment, Cooper went numb. He just stared at Sage's pretty amber eyes, while he drowned in his mind.
‘This is all me, right? She isn't…’
‘Mate!’ His wolf, Iver, continued to growl, repeating that word a thousand times.
“Cooper?”
Ryder's voice snapped him out of his head. He looked at Sage. Her jaws were literally on the floor, eyes wide open and fixed on him. Now, it was certain that she felt the bond too.
“A moment. I need to speak with him.”
Cooper signaled Ryder as they walked towards the parked car opposite their yard.
“What is wrong? Don't you want it…”
“She's my mate.”
Cooper rapped and stopped, still processing the idea.
Shocked, Ryder turned to him. His eyes searched Cooper's blunt face. Still, he was unable to read meaning to his dark eyes. It was something he had in common with his father.
“Pardon me, but this isn't time for such jokes.”
"I guess I have a permanent grin on my face." Cooper's hand raked through his hair, the other rested on his hip. “It can be anyone... just not an omega.” He ranted and stopped abruptly to look at Sage who just perched by the doorframe.
“I mean, she was perfect, but not as my mate." He puffed.
Ryder heaved a soft sigh. “So, what are you going to do? Reject her?”
‘You'd better not!’ His wolf warned.
“Not when I need her more.” Cooper ignored his wolf and answered Ryder's question. “I wanted her on board to kick off my coronation and to satisfy my father.”
A short pause followed and he rubbed the tip of his fingers in deep thoughts.
“I'll stick with the plan.”
Ryder straightened. “This is careless. What if it gets out of hand?”
“You worry too much.” He dismissed. “First, we roll the dice.”
He yanked off snow dust from his robe as he headed back to the doorpost. Sage was still there, waiting for her mate.
“Miss Sage, I heard your garden was savaged too.” Cooper started. “Mind if I help out?”
She smiled warmly. “That's so thoughtful of you, sir.”
“Cooper.” He stopped her. “Call me Cooper.”
She nodded. “But I must decline. Ridgewood has so many areas the time and resources could be pumped in, sir… Cooper.”
‘Hmm.. impressive.’ He smirked.
“Very well then.” He leaned closer, holding her in a deep stare. “I wanted to have a chit-chat, but fate has done that.” His jawline etched with a smile, but his eyes remained cold. “You'd have to come with me to the pack house.”
Sage mopped.
“Uh… I have to tell my aunt and get dressed.”
He gave Ryder a side glance and stretched out his hand for Sage to take. She slipped her small, sweaty palm into his. Their touch ignited a tingling sensation that spread warmth through their bodies.
“Let me handle it.” He pulled her to himself in a tender tug, his hand slipped around her waist. “As for the dress, you're good in anything.”
Her cheeks burned red.
The door opened. Her aunt and cousin came out. Shocked to see their soon-to-be Alpha on their doorstep, and next to Sage, they exchanged glances and mopped.
"Good evening, Mr. Cooper." They bow in respect. "To what do we owe this memorable visit?"
“Mind if Mr. Cooper borrows your niece for a while?” Ryder stepped in.
“I'm sure she doesn't.” Cooper subtly dismissed them. “Shall we, Sage?”
She avoided her aunt's irritated stare and nodded to Cooper. Hand in hand, she let her slowly lead the way. The drive to the pack house was silent, with Cooper maintaining a certain pose and glare.
On arrival, her eyes popped in awe. She had seen the pack house from afar, but never really gotten in. Her father was a delta married to an omega. They barely had any connection with the alpha.
“Take Miss Sage to her room,” Cooper instructed the butler. “Ensure she gets all she wants.”
He nodded and led Sage upstairs. It was big and spacious, nothing like the cubicle she lived in all her life. Excited, she rushed into the equally grand bathroom. The water was clean, not from a polluted source downtown.
Oddly, she stopped, her heart raced. Even though she tried to ignore Cooper's cold attitude, she couldn't.
‘I know you're worried, Sae.’ Her wolf, Ariana spoke up.
‘He never acknowledged us being mates. What if he doesn't want us?’
Ariana was quiet for a minute. ‘He hasn't rejected us. I guess that's a plus.’
With her wolf comforting her, she got a quick bath and fell into bed.
*** ***
Alpha Cooper's Coronation
Sage's eyes blinked nonstop. She kept it open on her tenth attempt. She stretched lazily in bed and rolled to the other end.
She winced when something sharp poked her bare skin. Beside her was a designer purse with a heart-shaped diamond as a seal. A box of designer shoes and a long black dress draped along the bed. It was Cooper's coronation, and he had gone the extra mile to get her ready.
She blushed and ran her hand along the rich silk and fine stones. A small note was beside it;
Meet me downstairs by 10.
A light frown kissed her face. Her hope of a fairytale love letter was dashed by her mate's cold command. When she imagined having a mate, she pictured a love life like the one her parents shared, not something mechanical.
Her eyes shot to the wall clock. 8:30 AM.
“Oh, god.” She fizzled and jumped out of bed.
If there was one thing she sulked at, it was being punctual. She had a quick shower and shrugged into her dress. The headmaid helped with her hair and make-up. By the time she was done, it was 10:15.
"You look beautiful, Miss Sage." The maid smiled warmly.
It lit Sage's mood and she nodded a thank you. Next, she clutched her purse and walked downstairs. A guard directed her to the Meeting Chamber.
“We can-” The elder paused talking.
Cooper turned to find Sage.
His eyes flashed with warmth… attraction. Then the next second, it was all gone, now replaced by the fine lines along his eyes as he merely smiled.
Courteous, he stood up to take her hand and led her to the middle of the chamber. All eyes were on him. He perceived their heightened senses as they evaluated his mate.
“I present to you, Miss Sage Draco, my Luna.” His tone echoed against the high walls. "She will rule beside me and bear the pack's future Alpha."
There was a short silence, followed by their murmuring.
Fully self-conscious, Sage ducked to hide her flushed face. She gripped the fabric of her dress to steady her shaky hand. She was used to getting attention, but not being scrutinized by powerful old men.
'They don't matter, Sage.' Ariana whispered. 'Besides, our mate is the alpha. If he wants us, there's nothing they can do!'
She followed him as he led her to his father, who was in a wheelchair. Sage knelt and bowed in a grand gesture.
"Father," Cooper began. "The woman fit for this position." He wore a small smile. "She's nice and homely..."
“Omega- still.” His father's hoarse tone cut him off.
It pierced Sage right in her heart. She felt Ariana explode with rage. Her grip on her dress tightened.
Cooper bit his lips and looked around, but everyone pretended to not have heard. He leaned forward and helped Sage up.
"This is unacceptable."
"Father..." Cooper leaned in to whisper. "Trust me." He took Sage's hand and helped her up.
In silence, Cooper led her to the door, one hand slipped around her waist, settling on the small of her back, the other held her chin, keeping her eyes on his.
Sage's heart raced, and goosebumps crawled along her skin. For a moment, she was scared that he'd reject her.
He closed in, the tip of his nose nuzzled the length of her bare neck, sniffing the sweet, rosy scent on her milk skin. She was losing her mind at how he touched her, stroked her…
“Go to your room and only step out when I send for you.”
Just like that, her heart shattered.
She didn't get the chance to argue, as he walked back into the chamber.
“Let the coronation begin.”
His voice seeped out of the cracks in the wooden door frame.
Broken, she snapped her eyes shut and held back a sob. She should be in there with him, not tossed off like a piece of s**t.
'Don't let them see you break, Sae.' Her wolf groaned.
She took deep breaths and raised her chin as she graciously walked back to her room
The time flew by. Already, the pack house was flooded with guests; dignitaries and commoners. Sage perched on her window and watched the event.
The moon was already crawling out. Still, no news from Cooper. Unable to hold back her tears, she broke down, sobbing like a baby.
‘I knew he was ashamed of us.’
Ariana was silent, hurt as well.
“Stupid. Stupid dress. Stupid mate.”
Breathing heavily, she took off the dress, removed the hairpins and clips, and let her honey-brown hair roll down her back, kissing her waistline.
‘Maybe we could attend the event as a commoner since we can't as his mate.’
‘Or maybe we should wait for his call.’ Sage argued.
“I'm bored. I need to breathe in fresh air.”
She kicked off her shoes, wore the fluffy slippers, and walked out.
The pack house was busy. Barely anyone noticed her presence. Cooper had smuggled her to the council like a plaque when he should have paraded her as his mate before everyone. The more she thought about it, the more she sobbed.
She ventured into the blooming garden. Alone, she hand-picked a bouquet, and sobbed simultaneously.
Suddenly, she heard the rustling of leaves, and uneven steps approached.
Sage stuck her nose and sniffed. It wasn't Cooper or anyone she knew, but something was certain to her: it smelled of danger.
“Who is there?”
Silence.
Again, the rustling continued. She paused to figure out if it was the wind, but it wasn't.
Staring hard, she noticed a shadow creep out as the dim moon cast a shade. The place got more tense and creepy.
She sprang up, bolting for the exit when a big black wolf sprang out of hiding. His huge paws pounded as he approached her.
She froze. Ariana was nothing close to this wolf, she turned to flee in the other direction when another blocked her. She got smacked from behind and crashed with a huge thud.
In mockery, they cackled.
The second pulled her hair and picked her up like a ragdoll. He dug his claws into her abdomen, tearing into her flesh. A sharp blade runs through her injured spot, inflicting more damage. The steel glistened under the moonlight.
“Argh!!! Please…”
She cried, gripping her stomach to stop the gush of blood.
The blade pulled out, almost ripping out her flesh.
Losing so much blood, she felt lightheaded; her vision was blurry. Slowly slipping into unconsciousness, she fell back, landing on a hard mass. Her lazy eyelashes flicker.
Beautiful blue eyes were the last thing she could register before she blacked out.
- Writer
