003: The Signing

The car Kade sent arrived at eleven and Sage was grateful because her hands were shaking too badly for her to even think of driving.

The driver did not ask about the bruise on her face or why she was carrying a duffel bag at this hour, he just drove quietly till they reached the edge of the city.

He guided Sage to a private elevator that opened directly into a penthouse, and when she stepped out Kade was standing by the window watching the city.

Kade turned when he heard Sage’s steps toward him and his eyes went straight to her face.

First to the bruise that was spreading across her cheekbone and the cut in her lip that she had tried to clean but still looked terrible.

“Who did that?”

“Loan sharks.” She placed her bag on the floor. 

“Apparently Thomas owed more than just you. They want twenty thousand by the end of the week.”

“How badly did those touts hurt you?” He moved toward her in three long steps and held her face, turning it toward the light so he could see the damage better. 

His touch was careful in a way that surprised her.

“Not as much as they could have.” She pulled back. “I need protection added to the contract.”

He looked at her for another moment like he was trying to decide something, then walked to the desk and pulled out the mate contract. 

He picked up a pen and wrote something at the bottom in quick strokes.

“Protection clause,” he said. “Anyone who threatens you answers to me personally.”

She read what he had written. It was simple, direct and exactly what she needed.

“I want separate bedrooms,” she said.

“No.”

The word was flat and final, like there was no point in even discussing it. 

“C’mon Kade, what do you mean no?”

“We share a room.” He set the pen down. “The pack needs to believe this is real. They have enhanced senses and they’ll know if we’re not actually living together.”

“We can fake it…”

“They will smell it on us.” He said it like he was explaining basic facts. 

“Wolves know when mates are bonded. If we’re sleeping in separate rooms they will figure it out in a day.”

Heat crawled up her neck. “How close do we need to be?”

“Close enough to be convincing.” His expression didn’t change. 

“You’ll have space in the room but we share it. That’s non-negotiable.”

She wanted to argue but she could see it would not matter, so she might as well save her energy for battles she could actually win.

“Fine, where do I sign?”

He pointed and she signed her name at the bottom, her handwriting shaky. The moment she set the pen down Kade pulled out his phone and dialed.

“It’s me,” he said when someone answered. “Three men. Loan sharks working the east side. They threatened what’s mine.” There was a pause. “Handle it tonight.”

He hung up and looked at her. “They’ll be taken care of by morning.”

“What does that mean?” She was not sure she understood.

“It means they will not bother you again.” 

“Pack your things. You’re moving in tonight.”

“Tonight? I thought I’d have time to…”

“The contract is signed. You’re mine now.” He said.

“And pack members are coming for dinner in an hour. They need to meet you.”

“An hour? I just got here…”

“You have time to shower and change.” He walked toward a hallway. “The bedroom is that way. I had clothes brought in for you. Wear the black dress.”

“Fuck,” she muttered. Sage wanted to tell him she did not take orders but she was too tired and too aware that she had just signed away a year of her life. 

So she just picked up her bag and followed him down the hall.

The bedroom was large, bigger than her entire apartment. A bed that could fit four people. A closet the size of most rooms.

“Twenty minutes,” Kade said from the doorway. “They will be here soon.”

Then he left her alone.

She went into the bathroom and showered, then dried off and found the black dress Kade had mentioned.

It fit perfectly, which seemed surprising since he had never asked her size. 

She left her room and found Kade in the living room. He had changed too, now wearing dark slacks and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. 

He looked at her and something flickered in his eyes but it was gone before she could name it.

“They are here,” he said.

The elevator doors opened and people started filing in. 

Kade moved closer to her and put his hand on her lower back. The touch was possessive and warm through the thin dress.

“Everyone,” he said. “This is Sage. My mate.”

A man stepped forward from the crowd. He was tall with blonde hair. “Your mate? Since when?”

“Since tonight, Marcus.” Kade’s hand pressed firmer against her back. “Is there a problem?”

The man looked her up and down slowly. “She’s human.”

“Half,” Sage said before she could stop herself. “My mother was human. My father wasn’t.”

“What pack was he from?”

“That is none of your business.”

“She has a mouth on her,” Marcus said, but he was not smiling.

“She is under my protection.” Kade’s voice dropped into something dangerous. 

“Which means she’s under yours too. Understood?”

Marcus held Kade’s stare for a long moment and Sage could feel the tension between them. Finally Marcus nodded, barely. “Understood, Alpha.”

But the way he looked at her said he did not mean it.

The others came forward then to introduce themselves. Some seemed genuinely friendly. Most just seemed confused about why their Alpha would choose someone like her.

They sat for dinner and Sage tried to eat even though she had lost her appetite. Kade sat beside her.

Halfway through the meal the elevator opened again.

A woman, wearing a red dress that probably cost more than Sage’s monthly pay. Beautiful, with perfect blonde hair and a wide smile that showed so much teeth.

She walked in. “Kade, darling,” she said. “Nobody told me you were having a party.”

The room went completely silent.

“Vanessa. You weren’t invited.”

“Don’t be like that.” 

Vanessa turned to Sage. “And who’s this? New staff?”

“This is Sage,” Kade said. “My mate.”

Vanessa’s smile froze on her face. “Your what?”

“You heard me.”

She laughed but it sounded wrong. “This is a joke. She’s nobody. Just some human…”

Kade stood so fast his chair scraped against the floor. “Get out.”

“Baby, come on”

“Do not call me that and do not insult her. She’s my mate. That makes her your Alpha female. Show respect or leave.”

Vanessa’s perfect face twisted into something ugly. “You’re making a mistake.”

“The only mistake was ever letting you in here.” He moved closer to Vanessa and Sage saw her take a step back. “You have ten seconds to leave before I have you removed.”

Vanessa looked at Sage with pure hatred. “You’ll regret this. Both of you.”