4: Brutal Twist
1337 Words
“I, Alpha Cooper Ridgewood, of Ridgewood pack, reject you…”
“Cooper! Please!”
Sage cried.
She was trapped on the floor by guards as they made her kneel before their alpha.
Pushing with all her might, Sage crawled forward, feeling the sharp sand and rocks eat deep into her knees.
Inside of her, Ariana growled and pounded, more scared of the rejection than Sage.
“Please, Cooper…” She cried at the top of her broken voice. “You have to believe me… I didn't do it…”
She sobbed, her heart racing a million miles in a minute.
Cooper's gaze was laced with pain and betrayal. She could feel the raw fury it spilled.
“I never intentionally hurt you, Sage.” His words vibrated. “You know it.”
She swallowed the thick lumps of saliva and nodded profusely. “I know. I know. Please…”
“I was only saving you the mental stress…”
“You didn't even give me a chance.” She sniffled. “You didn't give me a choice, Cooper. You never touched me. Hell, you've never really kissed me… I can feel too.” She sobbed.
“Would it have changed anything? You'd never have given me a child, Sage!” He barked, more riled up. “And you just had to be evil?”
She shook her head and wiped tears from her eyes. “I'd never do something that heinous. Trust me.”
He threw his head back and cackled.
Then, slowly squatted to her level.
“Trust you, you say?” His heavy palm gripped her jaws. “Tell me, did you kill him to get rid of any opposition? Huh?" His heavy breath pumped on her face. "Who's next? Me? Zara?”
Instead of speaking, tears effortlessly rolled down her cheeks. She shook her head.
“You said your love was enough… Then let me speak…”
Cooper scoffed. He looked her dead in the eyes.
“Our love can't save this, Sage.” He spat out coldly, bruising her last shred of hope. “What were you thinking? That killing my father would make you not worry about his opinion?”
He let her go, a bit too hard as she sprained her joints and fell to the side.
Done giving her audience, he stood up, face as cold as ice.
“I, Alpha Cooper Ridgewood, of Ridgewood Pack, reject you, Sage Draco, as my mate, and future Luna of this pack.”
Ariana recoiled, deep into the void.
The rejection came with a sharp pain, like the claws of those predators that ran through her. Her heart was literally bleeding.
She clutched the fabric around her chest as if nursing her wound.
“Take her to the dungeon.” He instructed, not batting a lid. “Tonight, I'd pronounce your final verdict.”
At their alpha's words, they dragged her away, rolling her past every rock and sharp object.
Others laughed, and a few looked pitiful, but they dared not plead on her behalf.
“Cooper…” She cried, and her voice broke off.
“Shut up, woman!” A guard scolded.
They opened the iron door of the prison and shoved her in, causing her to slam herself hard on the rough floor.
Crumbled in a heap, she resumed crying. Her eyes were hurting from the nonstop crying. She couldn't help but wonder what her fate would be.
'He'd either kill us or banish us.' She wiped her face. 'Either way, we won't survive.'
Ariana scowled. She was still suffering from the rejection. 'This is not the end of the world, Sae.' Her steel voice whispered in assurance. 'If we go rogue, we'll survive somehow.'
“Look who made a fool of herself.” A familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
She sniffled and looked up to find her aunt and cousin. They shook their head in disgust and sighed.
“How could you, b***h?! How could you hurt Cooper that way?!” Zara barked. “I was only going to make the family larger. The goddess wasn't stupid to bring the kinship to our lineage, but you just had to ruin it with your barrenness and evil heart!"
Zara slammed the iron door. "Was your plan to make my child fatherless? Just so you can be in charge?" She rubbed on her flat stomach as if it were a baby bump.
Her words hit Sage hard in the guts. She snapped her already red and swollen shut.
"But guess what, witch." She sighed. "We only found out you were his mate on your rejection."
Zara looked at her mum and they burst into laughter.
“I knew you were cruel," her aunt started. "But you being evil, is the height of it.” She spat on Sage.
“Good riddance.” She held her daughter. “We have better business to deal with.”
In painful silence, Sage resumed sobbing until there was no tear left to shed.
She didn't know how long she drifted asleep, but the slow breezy whisper woke her up.
It was Petra, the lady she saved in the campground.
“What are you doing here?’
“Shhshh.” She stopped her from alarming anyone.
Her eyes were filled with regret. “I'm so sorry, Sage.” She blew out air.
A short silence followed.
“I just wish that Cooper would find a place in his heart to believe me.” Her tone was slowly breaking. “I didn't roll over in my sleep, it was just by his side, a tiny spot…”
She broke off and paused to catch her breath.
“Do you think he still cares?” She searched Petra's weak eyes for bitter answers. “He could have beheaded me if he wanted to…”
Petra squeezed her hands.
“My dear, I do not know what he'd decide, but I know that it won't be good.”
Sage's heart dropped again. The glimmer of hope died off.
“I need you to run away. So far away that no one can find you.”
She looked from Petra to the strong iron door, indicating that she was trapped.
Right before her, Petra pulled out a pin and signaled her to be quiet. She gently fumbled with the heavy padlock. After long minutes, it came off.
Petra walked in and shut the door, then grabbed Sage's shoulders.
“Take off your dress.”
Obeying the old lady, Sage did as she was told. They swapped clothes, with her wearing Petra's old dress. It was sticky with clumps of animal feces and urine.
“The stench will make your scent undetected.” She said as if she could read Sage's mind. “You must leave now, dear.”
Standing by the door, she reached for Petra's hand, but the old lady withdrew.
“I'd only slow you down…” Her wrinkled face brightened with a smile. “Besides, someone needs to stay behind to distract them.”
She shook her head in disagreement. “I can't leave you to die here. Cooper may be lenient with me, but he wouldn't spare you for a second.”
"Dear," She took off her gold bracelet and placed it in her palm.“It's my family's heirloom. My mum used to say it's a good luck charm.”
“Then I shouldn't have it.”
“You need it more, little angel.” She tapped Sage's hand.
Her eyes caught a spot on Petra's arm. It was a thin cut, but it looked terrible, just like the late alpha's infected wound.
Before Sage could realize it, Petra nudged her out. She instantly secured the padlock and pulled farther in. Tears seamlessly rolled down Sage's cheeks as she helplessly watched her life being traded for another.
Petra faced the old wall, so they'd mistake her for Sage. "I'll buy her more time. Go Sage,” her croaked voice instructed. “Now.”
- Writer
