The Lycan King's Hidden mate

SAGE'S POV The afternoon sun felt too bright, too cheerful for how tight my chest felt. I smoothed down the pale blue dress I'd borrowed from the packhouse storage; the only halfway decent thing I owned that didn't have a tear or stain. My hands shook as I adjusted the neckline for the third time. "Is that really what you're wearing?" Tessa's voice cut through my concentration like a blade. I turned to find my stepsister leaning against the doorframe of my tiny room, her arms crossed over her designer dress. Red silk clung to her curves in all the right places, making her look like she'd stepped out of a magazine. Everything about her screamed expensive, perfect, untouchable. Everything I wasn't. "It's all I have," I said quietly, hating how small my voice sounded. Tessa's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Of course it is." She pushed off the doorframe and circled me slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "You know, I almost feel bad for you. Derek's been hinting about some big announcement tonight, and here you are looking like... well. This." My heart jumped. "He told you about that?" "Derek tells me everything." She examined her perfect manicure, not meeting my eyes. "We're very close." Something cold twisted in my stomach, but I shoved it down. Tessa always did this; tried to make me feel inferior, tried to plant seeds of doubt. I wouldn't let her ruin tonight. "I need to finish getting ready," I said, turning back to the mirror. "Suit yourself." Her heels clicked against the floor as she left. "Don't say I didn't try to help." I stared at my reflection. Plain brown hair that wouldn't hold a curl. Green eyes that looked too big in my thin face. I'd lost weight since my wolf failed to emerge five years ago. It was hard to eat when everyone looked at you like you were defective. "Sage!" Victoria's sharp voice echoed up the stairs. "The festival preparations won't finish themselves!" I took a breath and headed downstairs. The packhouse kitchen was chaos. Victoria; my step mother stood in the center of it all, directing pack members like a general commanding troops. Her eyes landed on me, and her expression soured. "Finally. The healing station supplies need to be moved to the festival grounds." She gestured to three large boxes stacked by the door. "And try not to drop anything this time. We can't afford to waste resources on your clumsiness." "Yes, ma'am." I lifted the first box. It was heavier than I expected, but I'd learned not to complain. Weakness only made things worse. "And Sage?" Victoria's voice stopped me at the door. "That dress. Really?" My cheeks burned. "It's all I…" "Spare me." She waved a dismissive hand. "Just try not to embarrass the family tonight." I carried the boxes to the festival grounds in three trips, my arms screaming by the end. The Silver Moon Pack's annual Lunar Festival was the biggest event of the year. White lights were strung between the trees, tables were being set up, and the air smelled like pine and anticipation. "Need help?" Rowan appeared beside me, effortlessly lifting the last box from my arms. I smiled at my best friend, grateful. "Thanks." "You look stressed." He set the box down at the healing station and turned to study my face. "Let me guess. Victoria and Tessa?" "When isn't it?" I started unpacking supplies; bandages, herbs, salves. My hands knew the work without thinking. Healing was the one thing I was good at, even without a wolf. Rowan was quiet for a moment. Then: "Derek's been acting weird lately." My hands stilled. "Weird how?" "Just... secretive. Lots of private phone calls. Disappearing during training." He scratched the back of neck, looking uncomfortable. "I'm probably overthinking it." "He's planning something for tonight," I said, unable to keep the smile off my face. "He said he has a surprise for me." Rowan's expression didn't match my excitement. "Sage..." "What?" "Nothing." He shook his head. "Just be careful, okay?" "You worry too much." I squeezed his arm. "Everything's going to be fine." But as the sun set and the festival began, Rowan's words echoed in my head. I pushed them away. Tonight was supposed to be special. The festival was beautiful. Music drifted through the air, pack members laughed and danced, and for once, I let myself feel like I belonged. Derek found me by the food tables, looking handsome in a dark jacket. "Hey." He kissed my cheek, but it felt... distant. Like his mind was somewhere else. "Hey yourself." I tried to catch his eye. "You've been mysterious all week." "Have I?" He glanced around the crowd. "I just have a lot on my mind." "About tonight?" Finally, he looked at me. Something flickered in his expression; guilt? but it was gone so fast I thought I'd imagined it. "Meet me at the old packhouse at midnight. I have something important to tell you." My heart raced. "Can't you tell me now?" "Midnight, Sage." He squeezed my hand once, then disappeared into the crowd before I could respond. The next hours crawled by. I helped at the healing station, made small talk with pack members who mostly ignored me, and watched the clock. At eleven forty-five, I slipped away from the festival. The old packhouse sat at the edge of our territory, abandoned after the new one was built ten years ago. Moonlight painted it silver and eerie. My footsteps crunched on the gravel path leading to the front door. I was early. Maybe I could surprise Derek instead. As I approached, I heard something. A sound that made my stomach drop. Moaning. A Female voice, it sounded familiar. No. No, no, no. My hand trembled as I reached for the door handle. This was stupid. I should leave. Whatever was happening in there, I didn't want to see it. But my hand turned the handle anyway. The door swung open. The front office. Desk pushed against the wall. Papers scattered on the floor. And Derek; my boyfriend. Shirtless, his hands tangled in familiar blonde hair. Tessa's red dress pooled on the floor beside them. They were so focused on each other they didn't hear me enter. I couldn't breathe nor move. I couldn't think. Then Tessa's eyes opened. Over Derek's shoulder, she looked directly at me and smiled. "Surprise," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.