Sage Nieva Battlerce, the illegitimate daughter of an alpha and a lowly slave, has spent her life as nothing more than a tool in her father's empire. Her existence has always been defined by rejection and servitude-until the day the Elders declare her fate. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, Sage is destined to be the mate of Damien Angentha, the powerful and enigmatic Crown Alpha of the Angentha family. For a fleeting moment, it feels like destiny might offer her a new beginning. But the dream shatters the night Damien whispers the words that cut deeper than any blade: "I don't want to mark you as my mate." Sage is no stranger to rejection, but this is different. Damien was supposed to love and protect her, yet his heart belongs to another. Forced to navigate a cruel twist of fate, Sage must uncover the truth about her destiny, her strength, and the hidden powers within her that could change everything. In a world where loyalty is tested and hearts are torn apart, can Sage rise above her shattered beginnings and rewrite her fate? - Language: English
View More"Katakan Zhia, siapa yang sudah mendapatkan mahkotamu sebelum aku?" Pertanyaan Ega membuat Zhia sedih. Tidak hanya melukai harga dirinya sebagai seorang wanita, tapi juga melukai harga dirinya sebagai istri.
"Mas yang pertama, apa yang salah?" Zhia mengusap pipinya yang basah berulang kali. Tidak ada satupun dari mereka yang berinisiatif untuk sekedar memberi tisu untuknya.
"Omong kosong! Jangan mencoba menipu kami, Zhia!" Ibu mertua Zhia menghardiknya, Yanti tidak percaya dengan ucapan menantunya. Wanita yang dinikahi anaknya beberapa jam yang lalu.
"Zhia gak bohong, Bu. Mas Ega yang pertama buat Zhia." Menjawab pertanyaan ibu mertuanya, Zhia lalu menundukkan kepalanya. Suaranya bergetar menahan tangis yang menyesakkan dada.
Malu, kecewa dan perasaan campur aduk tidak dapat ia jelaskan dengan kata-kata. Tidak pernah terpikirkan oleh Zhia jika hal seperti ini menjadi masalah besar di keluarga suaminya.
"Semua maling juga gak ada yang bilang dirinya maling, Zhia. Jadi, lebih baik kamu jujur saja. Siapa laki-laki itu?" Lagi-lagi pertanyaan dari ayah mertuanya semakin memojokkan dirinya.
"Gak ada yang percaya Zhia, lebih baik kita ke dokter saja. Dokter pasti tahu, Bu." Ide Zhia ditolak mentah-mentah oleh Yanti dan suaminya karena menganggap ini sudah jelas dan tidak perlu ada pembuktian apapun.
"Ega, bantu Zhia berkemas dan antar dia pulang ke rumahnya." Perintah dari Yanti menghujam jantungnya, semudah itukah mereka mengambil keputusan tanpa bertanya dan mencari sebab.
Di ruang keluarga, waktu menunjukkan pukul dua pagi, Zhia dihakimi sedemikian kejam oleh suami dan keluarganya. Tidak ada kesempatan membela diri, atau sekedar mengungkapkan apa yang dia rasakan.
"Maksud ibu apa?" Zhia menaikkan suaranya satu oktaf karena kesal dan merasa disudutkan.
Plak!
"Jaga bicaramu, Zhia! Beraninya kau meninggikan suaramu di depan Ibuku!" Ega menamparnya keras. Buliran air matanya tidak terbendung lagi. Hancur sudah pertahanan seorang Zhia.
Beranjak dari tempat duduknya, ia kembali ke kamarnya sedikit berlari. Tidak ada yang peduli keadaan Zhia. Bahkan badannya yang terasa remuk setelah seharian melewati rangakaian acara adat pun tidak mereka hiraukan. Ditambah, sakit di bagian bawah perutnya pun tak tidak ia pedulikan. "Rasanya lebih sakit dari ditampar, Tuhan!" Zhia mengusap pipinya beberapa kali agar tidak terlihat menyedihkan di depan suaminya, walaupun sebenarnya seperti itu.
Ega menyusul Zhia ke kamarnya atas permintaan orang tuanya. Ia mendapati istrinya sedang mengemasi barangnya yang bahkan belum sempat ia keluarkan semua dari koper. "Mas antar kamu pulang, kita selesaikan semuanya baik-baik." Ega meraih koper Zhia yang baru saja ditutupnya.
"Tidak usah, Zhia pulang sendiri aja," jawabnya tanpa melihat wajah sang suami.
"Tidak bisa seperti itu, Mas bawa kamu baik-baik. Mengembalikan ke orang tuamu juga harus baik-baik." Ega tidak peduli dengan penolakan Zhia. Tubuhnya kalah kuat dibandingkan dengan suaminya.
Disaksikan oleh kedua orang tua Evan, ia dipaksa masuk ke dalam mobil sedan hitam itu. Zhia membisu, tidak ada satu katapun yang ia ucapkan kepada suaminya.
"Dengar Zhia, Mas tidak hanya memulangkan kamu. Ikrar itu harus disaksikan orang tuamu biar jelas semuanya." Ucapan Ega belum sepenuhnya dimengerti oleh Zhia. Peristiwa di ruang keluarga tadi saja masih mengguncang jiwanya.
"Apa yang mereka ributkan?" Zhia bertanya dalam hati. Ia hanya tertawa menanggapi ucapan suaminya.
"Kenapa tertawa?" Di dalam perjalanan ke rumahnya, Zhia menertawakan ucapan Ega.
"Miris aja, hanya karena tidak ada bercak darah, Mas dan orang tua Mas menganggap aku tidak perawan," jawab Zhia mengusap pipinya lagi. Air mata yang dibungkus sebuah tawa begitu menyedihkan bagi yang peka keadaan Zhia. Sayangnya, Ega tidak menyadari hal itu.
"Kamu gak pinter biologi ternyata. Hidup gak melulu soal uang, Zhia. Tapi harga diri dan martabat keluarga juga penting!" Tanpa sepengetahuan Ega, ia sudah menghubungi adik kandung Zhia untuk membangunkan orang tuanya, pantas saja, ketika Zhia sudah di teras rumah, lampu ruang tamu susah menyala. Terdengar suara ayah dan ibunya sedang berbincang dengan adiknya.
Mobil orang tua Ega pun ikut terparkir di luar teras rumah Zhia yang memang tidak memiliki lahan parkir. Bergegas mengikuti anak dan menantunya masuk, Yanti dan Danu memasuki rumah besannya itu.
"Ada apa ini, malam-malam datang rame-rame. Tidak bisakah kalian menunggu pagi," ucap Ibu Mirna bingung.
"Lebih baik duduk semua, maaf karena ini tidak bisa kami tahan lagi. Makanya, sengaja kami datang lengkap bersama dengan Ega. Nak, bicaralah," kata Yanti kepada anaknya. Lewat sorot mata seorang Ibu, ia berusaha menguatkan anaknya.
"Sebelumnya mohon maaf. Ibu, Ayah, ini terdengar mengecewakan kita semua. Tapi, saya tidak mau ada kebohongan dalam rumah tangga kami. Terlebih, ini sudah menyangkut prinsip, harkat dan martabat keluarga dipertaruhkan disini," ucap Ega mengawali pembicaraan.
"Ada apa ini Zhia, Ega? Jeng Yanti ada apa sebenarnya?" Mirna yang sudah curiga mulai mendesak anak dan menantunya bicara.
"Ibu, Bapak, sekali lagi Ega minta maaf. Dengarkan aku, Sazhia Nur Attaya binti Abdullah, dengan ini, aku talak tiga kau di depan orang tua kita. Bersama dengan selesai ucapanku, kau bukan istriku lagi. Terima kasih." Ega mengucapkan kata demi kata itu tanpa ragu. Begitu tenang dan tanpa tekanan.
"Ega! Jangan keterlaluan kamu, Nak! Apa yang kamu ucapkan barusan!" Mirna memeluk anak perempuan pertamanya itu. Rasanya belum sampai 24 jam berakhir pesta pernikahan megah Ega dan Zhia digelar. Malapetaka apa yang sedang menimpa anak dan menantunya ini. Keduanya berderai air mata, menahan duka.
"Baiklah, sebagai ayah Zhia, saya terima kembali anak kami. Terima kasih sudah mengantar Zhia sampai ke rumah." Abdullah tidak banyak bicara, setelah menjawab ikrar talak yang diucapkan Ega, ia meminta anak menantu dan besannya meninggalkan kediamannya.
"Zhia, masuk kamarmu dan kita bicara besok pagi. Ayo, kembali ke kamar masing-masing." Perintah Abdullah mereka jalani tanpa protes, termasuk Zhia dan adiknya Putri.
Selama di dalam kamar, Putri pun tidak banyak bertanya kepada kakaknya. Ia sudah cukup mengerti arti dari setiap ucapan Ega tadi. Hampir satu jam tidak ada suara dari Zhia, akhirnya Putri mendengar kakaknya berbicara.
"Mbak dituduh tidak perawan, Put. Hanya karena tidak ada bekas darah, ini tidak adil." Suara parau Zhia menandakan ia sudah terlalu lama menangis.
"Tidak masalah, Mbak. Yang sabar, Putri yakin Mbak bisa lewatin ini," jawab gadis berkacamata itu menenangkan kakaknya.
Sementara itu, di kamar kedua orang tuanya, sayup-sayup Zhia mendengar Mirna dan Abdullah bersitegang.
"Ini akibat kamu terlalu membebaskan Zhia. Sekarang, terima akibatnya!" Abdullah murka kepada Mirna. Menyalahkan wanita yang melahirkannya atas kemalangan yang terjadi padanya.
SageWhen I woke, he was gone.No lingering warmth beside me, no trace of him in the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. Only the scent of liquor clung faintly to the sheets, and the dull ache in my body served as the only evidence of what had transpired.I lay still, staring at the canopy overhead, my mind blank yet heavy, as though I were caught in some inescapable fog.It was done.I had done what was expected of me. Given what was required.My father’s words echoed in my mind."You must secure the alliance.""Do not fail.""Ensure an heir. Then he can’t reject you anymore."I had obeyed. I had done everything right. And yet… why did it feel like something inside me had been hollowed out?I turned onto my side, fingers brushing against the sheets where Damien had once lain. The space was cold.How long had he been gone? Had he even glanced back at me before leaving?A soft knock at the door startled me.I closed my eyes briefly before forcing myself upright, pulling t
SageTwo days had passed. The news arrived with the setting sun, carried through the palace halls like a ghostly whisper—soft at first, then a roaring storm.The Emperor had fallen ill.The royal physician was the first to speak the words aloud. He had emerged from the Emperor’s chambers, his hands shaking, his face ashen. Behind him, the Empress's cries rang through the marble halls, raw and desperate."Find the cure! He is the Emperor! There must be something!" she screamed, clutching the front of the physician’s robes. Her usual regal composure had shattered. Her pale, tear-streaked face twisted in agony as she turned to the gathered council members. "You will not stand here and do nothing! Fix this!"No one dared to meet her gaze.The Emperor was breathing—but barely. He did not wake, did not respond. It was as if he were trapped in a slumber too deep to return from.Some called it an illness. Some whispered of poison.I stood among the onlookers, my fingers tightening against the
SageI had already decided by the time I arrived in the grand dining hall.I would not eat.The long, polished table stretched before me with an extravagant feast. Gold-rimmed plates gleamed under the chandelier’s soft glow, while goblets filled with deep crimson wine shimmered beside lavishly prepared dishes. Roasted meats, fragrant stews, and delicate pastries adorned the table, their aromas rich and enticing.But to me, it all smelled like poison.I moved with careful grace, lowering myself into my seat. The atmosphere was quieter than usual, lacking the overbearing presence of the Emperor and Empress. Without them, the weight of scrutiny was lighter—but not absent.At the head of the table, Damien exuded his usual quiet authority, his blue eyes unreadable. Theoden leaned back lazily to his right, murmuring in hushed tones to a noble, his smirk ever-present. Greyson sat nearby, his posture tense, ever watchful.And then there was Rosana.She was seated a few chairs away, graceful a
SageThe atmosphere in the dining hall was suffocating.Despite the lavish spread of dishes and the golden glow of candlelight flickering against the grand walls, the air was thick with unspoken words and barely concealed hostility. It was supposed to be a customary dinner, a gesture of hospitality, yet it felt more like a stage set for a performance where every move had been rehearsed—except for the cracks forming in the façade.The Empress sat at the head of the table, regal as ever, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone like a watchful predator. Beside her sat Damien, his expression unreadable, his focus never once shifting toward me. Instead, his attention seemed fixed on his plate, the tension in his jaw the only indication that he was listening. Rosana sat beside him, draped in delicate silks, her hand lightly resting on his arm as if she belonged there. She smiled, exuding the grace of a perfect noblewoman, yet her eyes glowed with something far less pure—satisfaction.To her s
SageThe night Chase promised he would take me away from here, I had held onto his words like a lifeline. It was foolish, perhaps, to cling to something so uncertain. And yet, a part of me—one that had long been buried under years of neglect, pain, and duty—believed in him.Because Chase had saved me. Not once, but twice.And now, as I stood under the moonlit sky, the weight of his presence beside me, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.There was something different about him, something that made me forget the world outside. He made me feel safe. Not in the way knights patrolling the palace made me feel safe, nor in the way well-rehearsed words of reassurance from nobles did. No, with Chase, it was different. It was raw, unspoken, real.And that terrified me.“Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, afraid that if I spoke too loudly, the moment would shatter. “Why would you do that for me?” I turned to him, searching his face for an answer, for something—anythi
Warning: This chapter contains mature content such as violence, sexual assault, abuse, foul words, and major graphic descriptions not advisable for minor readers and people with traumatic experience.—SageThe weight of the stares surrounding me became suffocating, their whispers threading through the air like an invisible noose tightening around my throat. My presence was drawing too much attention, and the last thing I wanted was to be the center of a spectacle."Excuse me for a while, I'll just get something to drink," I murmured, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.Greyson's eyes followed me with concern. "Sage, are you okay? I didn't know my brother would escort Princess Rosana," he explained, his tone laced with guilt.I forced a smile, even though it felt fragile, like it would crack at any moment. "I'm fine. My throat's just dry."I turned away before he could press further.The momentary solitude did little to ease the storm raging within me. After a few minutes,
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