A Gift He Never Valued

Sage’s POV

“Heal it!” Cyrus ordered as soon as he stepped into my room. Or would I rather say, my cage. 

His eyes were dark, impatient and demanding obedience.

“Yes, Alpha.” I nodded. 

I moved toward him without hesitation, even though my body screamed for rest. I gently took off the blood-soaked shirt, exposing his perfect physique that carried scars I couldn’t count.

 My palms began to glow the moment I touched his skin, the familiar warmth spreading as the wound sealed beneath my hands. His breath steadied as the curse loosened its grip on him.

Mine weakened.

Healing always took something from me. Every time I closed a wound, something inside me drained—strength, breath, sometimes even hope. But I had learned not to complain.

I was his mate.

Or at least… fate said I was.

“Gently!” He roared. 

“I’m sorry, your majesty.” I whispered, trying to be more careful this time. 

Once upon a time, I thought healing made me special, like the moon had placed something rare inside my hands so I could protect my people and feel connected to a world that hardly ever looked my way. But with time, I started to understand that sometimes being useful didn’t mean being valued. 

Cyrus stepped back the moment the bleeding stopped, already turning away.

No thank you or even a glance back.

“Cyrus?” I called, quietly. 

He didn’t turn, just paused. “Can you please stay with me tonight?” I muttered. “My wolf is craving you so bad.” 

“You mean your weak wolf?” He replied, disgust in his voice. “I’ll pass.”

That’s how it always ended, his needs met, and mine… neglected. The only ever time we were intimate, was when he was extremely drunk and it was full moon. His wolf needed me so bad, even he couldn’t resist. 

As an Alpha, he should have been able to heal on his own, but because of the curse that was on him, he needed me to heal. 

The door slammed behind him, causing me to flinch a little. 

I had spent years waiting for the day he would finally look at me and see more than the healer he summoned when his demons clawed too loudly inside him. Waiting for him to say my name instead of barking commands.

He never did.

I was warned to stay in the shadows.

At first, I believed it was protection. But slowly, painfully, I realized the truth.

He wasn’t hiding me to keep me safe.

He was hiding me because I embarrassed him.

He never announced our bond. Never stood beside me before the pack. I existed only when he was wounded, cursed, or breaking.

And every time he called, I obeyed.

Because that was what mates were meant to do.

Or so I believed.

**** 

Later that evening, I stood on the balcony overlooking the pack grounds. I had been there for a while, trying to get as much fresh air as I could before returning to that rat hole of a room. 

Below, I saw Cyrus car roll to a halt. As soon as his driver parked the car properly, he stepped out.  

I actually had no idea that he even left the pack in the first place. He never told me anything about his movements and I learnt to never ask or complain.

He turned to the other door of the car, almost too quickly. 

He wasn’t alone, my first instinct, and I wasn’t wrong. 

My jaw dropped when they finally came in view, walking hand in hand. 

The lady was the Perfect example of beautiful. She was slender yet curvy. Thick in all the right places. Her long tanned legs looked like they were made just for the red carpets. 

She didn’t look elegant, she was elegance herself. And the way she walked with so much prestige. 

Who is she? My wolf snarled in jealousy. 

I didn’t want to overthink things cause she might just be anybody. My thoughts changed almost too quickly. 

“The fuck!” I blurted out. 

He pressed his lips against hers, and for a good couple of seconds, he didn’t pull back. 

My wolf screamed to be let out. Screamed like it could stop what was happening right in front of us. 

When they finally separated, he looked up. 

Realisation hit me hard. 

He knew I was there. Yet he did what he did. 

The pain in my chest became even heavier. 

I can endure being neglected for years, but I can’t endure this humiliation. 

Without hesitation, I stomped towards the entrance of the packhouse, hoping to meet with them. 

Walking to the Living room alone attracted a lot of stares from the maids. I was never sopposed to be out of my cage until my master requested for me. In fact, I’d sneaked out to go to the balcony. 

As soon as I got to the last stairs, I could already see them. The lady held him like she would go missing the very moment she lets go of him.

His Alpha Aura was the first thing that hit me when I got downstairs, followed by his bitter toned voice. 

“Who asked you to come here?” He barked as soon as I came into sight. 

“Who is this woman?” I demanded. 

I used to hate drama, but today I created it. And I cared less at the moment. The torturous relentless pain I felt in my chest made it almost too impossible to ignore. My wolf was in deep agony.

“Get back to your room before I lose it!” He said with a low growl, like he was warning me against the consequences of disobedience. 

Speaking of losing it, something inside of me snapped. “I spent my years, my life… giving my all to you, and how do you repay me?”

“You’re so unbelievable.” I hissed. 

The maids around acted like they were just carrying out their jobs, but I knew that was a big lie, they were listening. It became too obvious when I noticed one of the parlour maids cleaning one chair over and over again, just so she didn’t leave before the drama started. 

He approached me with force and a kind of anger in his eyes I had never seen before.

I should have run, but somehow I couldn’t find myself moving. 

His hand gripped my neck so hard and I was struggling to breathe. He didn’t even care that I was gasping for air, he just wanted to unleash his anger. 

The bitch behind him stood like this was some kind of amusing show. She didn’t even do anything to plead my case. In fact, she looked proud of him. 

I struggled, I kicked, I begged… All to no avail. 

His hands wrapped tighter around my throat as he pulled me closer to himself. “You exist to heal me. Nothing more.”