3. Broken Luna
1835 Words
Beep. Beep.
The sound of the beeping machine and the smell of spirits and drugs made Sage uncomfortable.
She rolled in the tiny hospital bed, almost falling off, thanks to the restraint. The squeaking noise of the rusty bedstead grew unbearable.
Her eyes flew open, taking in the not-so-white walls of the room, the drip and blood set connected to her veins.
‘Where am I?’
Nothing.
Ariana was silent.
She knew where she was, but needed more answers. The last thing she could remember was the attack. It replayed so vividly in her head. She tried to sit up but the sharp pain that seared through her abdomen made her freeze.
"Ouu... oh, my god." She bit down a cry and clutched the bandaged area.
After a while, the pain subsided. She clipped off the lines connected to her body and got out of bed. Her head was equally bandaged. The sound of people outside her window called her. She dragged her heavy legs across the room and perched on a spot to listen.
“I'm sorry, Alpha Cooper,” an old croaked voice spoke up. “It was too complicated for me and we were short on deliveries…” He stopped. The last words seemed too heavy to deliver.
“Speak.” Cooper cut the old doctor off.
“The surgery had complications.” He mumbled. “Sage may not be able to bear a child.”
The news made her gasp, loud enough that they heard. Immidiately her eyes met with his, she pulled away from the window and grabbed the table for support.
'What does he mean? No. No. No.'
Her breath was caught in her throat. It felt like she would melt away. Subconsciously, she rubbed around the bandage, remembering how the blade ripped her flesh and drew blood. And now, because of poor amenities, it worsened. Her feeble heart broke.
'Oh, no. We're ruined.' She sobbed internally.
“We're not done." Cooper shoved past the doctor and rushed into Sage's ward.
The sight of her pricked his heart. She was completely heartbroken. She hiccuped and struggled with each breath. Her wobbly legs staggered backward, too weak to hold her weight.
He pulled her in his arms and steadied her against him. “I'm sorry you had to hear that.”
Tears blurred her vision. Her first crime was being born an omega. “What now?” She stammered. “Your father doesn't like me. And now, I'm barren.”
He pressed his lips firmly and stroked her arm simultaneously. “Nothing is definite, Sage. Just take your drugs. You'd be fine.”
She choked on a laugh and pulled away from him. "Will you... Will you still crown me as your Luna?"
His jaws hardened, forming a straight line across his face. There was a bit of hesitation. "Can we focus on your health?"
She clasped her hands to her mouth and sobbed, then nodded like a baby. Her wolf was still silent.
Soon, Sage was discharged home.
Cooper made sure the staff were at her beck and call and made sure she took her drugs. Zara and her aunt came over to help out. Sage avoided them as best as she could. She stayed longer in her room and pretended to be asleep whenever they came in. While her aunt left, Zara stayed behind.
“Cooper?”
Sage itched her sleepy eyes. Lazy, she picked up her phone, rolled out of bed, and walked out.
Cooper's room was on the last floor. Since he hadn't publicly accepted their bond by hosting a mating ceremony, he had suggested that they stay in separate rooms. Sage wasn't cool with the idea of being away from her mate, but she had no choice.
Staff mumbled their greetings as she walked past. She knew they whispered behind her but tried not to care.
“Co-”
She reached to knock but stopped midway.
A weird sound was coming from the room, something she refused to believe. It got louder. She shut her eyes, praying it wasn't what she imagined. She reached for the doorknob instead and gently opened it.
“Uh… yeah… Oh, Cooper…”
The abominable sound fully assaulted her. Her eyes snapped open to take the scene before her. Mouth agape, she was dumbstruck.
Pounding hard like a beast, Cooper f****d another lady… her damn cousin!
Her phone dropped, stuttering the couple.
“f**k!”
Cooper pulled the sheets over them as if to hide his sin.
Too broken to speak, Sage collapsed back on the wall for support. She went numb for a moment. Her life became a rollercoaster of misery ever since Cooper showed up by her door.
“Sage,” Cooper groaned. He hastily pulled up his pants and jumped out of bed.
Sticking her hand out, she stopped him from touching her. Her voice was stuck in her throat, her eyes clouded with tears.
“Look,” he sighed, wiping sweat off his brow. He stopped trying to touch her when she retreated. “You shouldn't have seen this.”
She sniffled, pain deep in her voice.
“I knew it… I knew that it was only a matter of time and you'd reject me..”
“Sae, no…”
“Then why is my cousin in your freaking bed? Naked!” She shut her eyes, blurring out the awful image. “Why did you choose to hurt me this way?!”
“I'm saving you from more hurt.” He yapped and stopped. His tone softened. “My father's dying wish is a child. How could I possibly ask you for that without breaking you?”
Sage's breathing was heavy like she was suffocating.
“She volunteered. There's nothing between us.”
She swallowed the hard nuts of saliva tightening in her thin throat. "But you said I'd be fine... that I just needed my drugs." She blew out air and tried to even her breath. “How long would this remain a secret?”
“Does that matter?” Zara thundered, her tone was brash. She shot up, exposing her naked body. “Is this the thank you I get for trying to save your barren ass?”
“Zara!” He barked.
Sage shook her head and gulped dryly. “I can't with you both.”
She dashed out of his room in tears. With blurred vision, she ran down the corridor, needing a private place.
Turning the knob of the first door, it gave way. She shut it and collapsed on the floor, tearing up. Her world was crumbling. Ariana was hurting too. She could feel her bitter energy seeping out, pushing her to go after Zara and yank her in shreds, then kick Cooper in his balls.
“He-hey.”
The rough and weak tone of someone startled Sage. She turned to find Luca Ridgewood, their ex-alpha, nestled in bed, with flowing fluids, and an oxygen tank to his nose.
In haste, she opened the door to escape.
“Wait.”
His words stopped her on her track. She paused, shaking terribly.
“I… I never knew you were here. I'm sorry for disturbing your peace.”
He managed a smile. “You made my son… you secured his crown.” He cleared his throat. “I should've trusted his decision. Thank you.”
Slowly, she turned to face him. This was least expected of him, considering how he almost ate her up.
He beckoned for her to come.
With each step, she contemplated running out. But when she succumbed and was standing beside his sick bed, her resentment for him melted away.
She gently took his large hand. A spot on his wrist was bandaged. The once white bandage was brownish-purple, with the fluid quite visible around the broken skin.
“Ignore it." He coughed. "It's just infected. Name.”
“Sage Draco.” She mumbled.
In response, his smile broadened and he tried to squeeze her hand.
“You- you're gonna…” he coughed.
“Easy, papa.” The words slipped out of her mouth. He smiled, enabling it. “You have to slow…”
“Grandchildren.” He mustered.
Words eluded her and she mopped like a broken disk. She knew what he meant, it was the same reason Zara was in the picture.
“I… Goddess wills.” She held back her tears.
When he slowly fell asleep, she collapsed in the chair next to him and cried silently. Her head lay on the side of his bed, and she drifted asleep.
*** ***
“NO!!!”
The sudden scream woke Sage. The first sight wasn't the intruder, but the creepy image of Luca.
Limbs sprawled and eyes popped out of their sockets, he lay stiff in bed.
She mopped, totally confused.
In seconds, the staff trooped in their numbers. “Call the doctor! Hurry!” The first guard randomly ordered.
A tall figure entered, causing the crowd to give way. It was Alpha Cooper.
He almost knocked them down as he rushed to his father's bedside.
“Father? Father?” He stammered, terror thick in his voice.
He helped his stiff father in his arm and tapped his jaws as if begging him to breathe.
“Bring the freaking doctor!”
He barked, red with rage.
It took long minutes before the guards arrived with the pack's renowned doctor, an old man with a bent spine, pivoting close to his grave.
“f*****g hurry!”
Cooper wasn't having it. He set his father down, and gripped the doctor's labcoat, almost tripping him over.
Sluggish, even though he tried to be fast, he did a quick examination, then pulled off his stethoscope and shook his head.
“Sir Luca is dead.” He regrettably informed. “He's cyanosed. He was suffocated.”
Cooper choked on a laugh, in full denial. His eyes shifted from royal blue to dark red. Black fur crept along his skin, he was slowly losing control.
“Check. Again.”
Terrified, the doctor repeated the procedure. “I'm sorry…”
“Shut up!” He growled, going wild. Turning to the wall, he punched it, leaving a dent as his fist left a huge c***k. “f**k! Oh f**k!!!”
Sage was by the corner, wishing the ground could open up.
In a full-blown rage, Alpha Cooper turned towards the crowd. “Who is in charge?” His lips twitched, it bared his elongated canines.
The guard from earlier stepped out, trembling like a leaf. “I had stomach ache…”
With the speed of the wind, Cooper flew the crowd and pounced on the guard.
He cowered, guarding his head as he ducked. “It's Miss Sage!” He cried with his last strength. “I met her here.”
Hands up, ready to rip him apart with his claws, Cooper stooped, freezing mid-air.
His fierce eyes scanned through the crowd and settled on Sage's amber ones.
The room fell totally silent.
- Writer
