12

*Sage’s POV*

Tuesday morning, I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and something sweet baking.

I stumbled out of my bedroom at 6:30 AM to find Kael in the kitchen, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, pulling muffins out of the oven.

“Did you stress-bake again?” I asked.

He jumped slightly, turning to face me. His hair was messy, unstyled. He looked younger. More approachable.

“Couldn’t sleep. The Meridian deal is still complicated.” He gestured to the cooling rack.

“Blueberry. Help yourself.”

I took one. It was still warm, perfectly moist.

“These are really good.”

“My mother’s recipe.” He poured himself coffee-probably exactly 180 degrees.

“There’s ginger tea for you. And I stocked the fridge with those crackers you keep on your desk.”

I stared at him. “You noticed what crackers I eat?”

“I notice everything.” He returned to the counter, starting another batch.

“It’s seven AM. Why are you awake?”

“Morning sickness doesn’t care about sleep schedules.”

“Is it bad today?”

“Not terrible. The muffin’s helping.”

He nodded, mixing batter with focused precision.

We stood there in comfortable silence-me eating a muffin, him baking like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“This is weird,” I said finally.

“What is?”

“This. Living together. You baking at dawn. Me walking around in pajamas.” I gestured at my oversized t-shirt.

“Yesterday I was your employee trying to hide a pregnancy. Today I’m your roommate eating your stress muffins.”

“Partner,” he corrected. “Not roommate. Partner.”

“Right. Partner.” I took another bite. “Do you do this every morning? The baking thing?”

“Only when I can’t solve a problem.” He poured batter into muffin tins.

“Usually it’s coding. Or financial models. But sometimes my brain needs something physical.”

“So you bake.”

“I bake.” He slid the tins into the oven. “My mother taught me. Said every Alpha should know how to provide for their pack, even in small ways.”

“That’s… actually really sweet.”

“‘Don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation.” But his lips quirked slightly.

“You should get ready.We need to leave in an hour.”

–

*Tuesday, 10:00 AM – Thorne Tower*

Margaret cornered me the moment Kael disappeared into a meeting.

“How’s the penthouse?”

“Huge. Confusing. He has seventeen settings on his stove.”

“That sounds like Kael.” She handed me a folder.

“This came for you. From Patricia Mills.” Inside was the updated contract. The friendship clause had been added, worded formally but clearly: *Both parties agree to maintain mutual respect, open communication, and genuine friendship throughout the duration of this agreement.*

“He actually added it,” I said.

“Of course he did. You asked for it.” Margaret smiled. “When are you signing?”

“Thursday. Patricia wants one final review, then we’ll make it official.”

“And the announcement?”

“Friday. Kael wants to tell the pack before rumors start.” I closed the folder. “This is really happening.”

“Cold feet?”

“More like… numb feet. Everything’s moving so fast”

“That’s Kael. When he makes a decision, he commits fully.” She glanced at his office.

“But if you need more time-“

“No. I don’t need more time. I need to stop overthinking and just… do it.”

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number ‘Heard you moved in with the boss. That was fast. -V’

Vanessa. How did she keep getting my number? I blocked it and went back to work.

*Wednesday, 2:00 PM*

I was deep in research for the Westfield report when Jade Sterling appeared at my desk.

No appointment. No warning. Just suddenly there, looking perfect in a cream suit.

“Sage. We need to talk.”

“Miss Sterling. If you’d like to schedule a meeting with Mr. Thorne-”

“I’m not here for Kael. I’m here for you.” She perched on the edge of my desk. “I heard an interesting rumor. That you’ve moved into his penthouse.”

My stomach tightened. “I don’t discuss Mr. Thorne’s private life.”

“So it’s true.” Her smile was sharp. “That’s bold. Moving in after what, three weeks of employment?”

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“I’m trying to help you.” She leaned closer. “Kael has a pattern. He gets interested in someone, brings them into his life, then discards them when the novelty wears off. I’ve seen it happen a dozen times.”

“With all due respect, Miss Sterling, my living arrangements are none of your business.”

“They are when they affect business relationships. Her eyes glittered. “Sterling Enterprises and Thorne Enterprises have several deals pending. If Kael is distracted by his new… assistant… those deals suffer.”

“Mr. Thorne doesn’t get distracted.”

“Everyone gets distracted, dear. Especially by pretty young things who bat their eyes and play helpless.” She stood, smoothing her skirt.

“Just remember-when he gets bored, you’ll be out. And you’ll have nothing. No job, no home, no future.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you. There’s a difference.” She started toward the elevator, then paused. “Oh, and Sage? That baby you’re carrying? Kael will want custody. He doesn’t share what’s his. You should think about that before you sign anything.”

The elevator doors closed.

I sat there, shaking, until Margaret appeared.

“What did she say to you?”

“Nothing important. Just more threats disguised as concern.”

“Sage-”

“I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine. My hands were trembling.

“How does she know about the baby?”

Margaret’s expression darkened. “Either she’s guessing, or someone told her. Either way, this is a problem.”

Before I could respond, Kael’s office door opened. He took one look at me and his expression went cold.

“What happened?”

“Jade Sterling was here,” Margaret said.

“Uninvited.”

His eyes flashed gold. “What did she say?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I lied.

“Sage.” His voice was deadly quiet. “What. Did. She. Say.”

“That you have a pattern of discarding people. That I’ll be out when you get bored. That you’ll take the baby and I’ll have nothing.” The words tumbled out.

“She knows about the pregnancy, Kael. I don’t know how, but she knows.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he pulled out his phone.

“David. My office. Now.” He ended the call and looked at me. “Come with me.”

In his office, he pointed to the couch. “Sit.”

I sat.

David Chen arrived two minutes later. “What’s the emergency?”

“Jade Sterling has been harassing my assistant. Showing up uninvited, making threats, spreading private information.” Kael’s voice was ice.

“I want a cease and desist letter. Today. If she comes near Sage again, I want legal action ready to file.”

“On what grounds?”

“Harassment. Intimidation. Corporate espionage if we can prove she’s using obtained information inappropriately.” He turned to me. “Did she touch you?”

“No. Just talked.”

“Did she threaten you directly?”

“She said when you get bored, I’ll have nothing. That you’ll take the baby.”

David was typing on his tablet. “That could be considered intimidation. Especially given the power dynamic-she’s a CEO, you’re an assistant. And if she’s spreading information about your pregnancy without authorization, that’s a privacy violation.”

“Do it,” Kael said. “Whatever it takes to keep her away from Sage,”

After David left, Kael sat down next to me. Not across from me-next to me.

“She’s wrong,” he said quietly. “About all of it.”

“Is she? You do go through assistants quickly.”

“Because none of them were you.” He turned to face me. “Sarah left because her husband got transferred. Jennifer took a better job. The one before that couldn’t handle the hours. None of them left because I discarded them.”

“And the baby? Will you try to take custody?”

“We’re partners, Sage. Equal decision-making, remember? I’m not taking anything from you.

We’re doing this together.” His hand moved to mine, squeezing gently. “I need you to believe that.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.” But his voice was soft. “Because we sign the contract tomorrow. And I need to know you trust me.”

“I do trust you. I’m just scared.”

“Of what?”

“Of this being real. Of getting used to this life. Of losing it all when you realize I’m not worth the trouble.” I met his eyes.

“I’m not like Jade or Vanessa. I’m not sophisticated or polished or from some powerful pack. I’m just me.”

“Just you is more than enough.” He stood, pulling me up with him. “Now go home. You’ve had enough stress for one day.”

“It’s only three-”

“Go home, Sage. That’s an order from your partner, hot your boss.”

I grabbed my bag. At the door, I paused. “Kael?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For the cease and desist. For protecting me.”

“Always.” His eyes held mine. “That’s what partners do.”

*Thursday, 10:00 AM – Patricia Mills’s Office* Patricia had me read the contract one final time.

Every clause, every provision, every word.

“Any questions?” she asked.

“Just one. Is this really a good idea?”

“Legally? Yes. Financially? Yes. Personally?” She smiled. “Only you can answer that.”

I thought about Kael baking muffins at dawn.

About him adding the friendship clause without argument. About the way he looked at me like I mattered.

“It’s a good idea.”

“Then sign.”

I signed. Patricia notarized it. Then she called Kael’s lawyer, who confirmed Kael had signed his copy that morning.

“Congratulations,” Patricia said. “You’re officially Sage Thorne. Luna of the Thorne pack.”

Sage Thorne. That was my name now.

I walked back to the office in a daze. Margaret saw me coming and smiled.

“You signed.”

“I signed.”

“How do you feel?”

“Ask me in eighteen years.”

Kael was waiting in his office. “It’s done?”

“It’s done.”

He pulled out a small box. “Then this is for you.”

Inside was a ring. Not flashy or huge, just a simple platinum band with a small diamond.

“It’s the mate bond symbol,” he said.

“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. But for the announcement tomorrow, it would help sell the illusion.”

I slipped it on. It fit perfectly.

“How did you know my size?”

“I’m observant.” He held out his hand. “And this is mine.”

A matching platinum band. Simpler, masculine.

I took it, and he held out his left hand. I slid the ring onto his finger, my hands shaking slightly.

“There,” he said. “Now it’s official.”

“Now it’s terrifying.”

“That too.” He smiled-a real smile. “But we’re in this together. Partners.”

“Partners.”

Tomorrow, we’d announce it to the pack.

Tomorrow, everyone will find out. But tonight, I was just Sage Thorne. Living with my fake mate. Carrying his real baby.

This was fine.

Everything was fine.