When The King Claimed What Was Broken

Sage’s POV 

“Who made this?”

Cyrus’s mother’s voice cut sharply through the dining hall.

No one answered.

They didn’t need to.

Every maid’s eyes turned toward me.

My fingers tightened around the wooden spoon in my hand as my heart sank. I stared at the plate in front of her, confusion swirling—until she tilted it slightly.

The meat was darker than usual.

Barely overcooked. Something that should have been ignored.

“You ruined my dinner?” she snapped, rising from her seat and storming toward me.

“I—I can fix it,” I whispered. “Luna, please, it was just—”

Pain exploded across my arm before I could finish.

She slammed the plate into me, hot sauce splattering over my skin. I cried out, stumbling back as the burn spread instantly.

“This is what you serve an Alpha’s family?” she screamed. “This filth?”

“It was a mistake,” I managed, my voice shaking but she didn’t listen.

Her palm struck my face next. My head snapped to the side, stars bursting behind my eyes.

“Please!” my mother cried from behind us. “She didn’t do it on purpose!”

“Shut up!” Luna Vera barked.

She grabbed my dress and yanked me forward, her breath hot and furious against my cheek.

“You’re lucky my son pities you,” she hissed. “If not for him, you’d be thrown out with the rest of the useless trash in this pack.”

Her grip tightened until my chest burned.

Then she shoved me away and snatched a wooden spatula from the dining table.

“Maybe this will finally teach you.”

The first strike landed on my shoulder.

Then another, and another.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor without realizing it.

“Please…” I breathed.

She didn’t stop.

“Always causing trouble,” she spat. “Always making excuses. Isn’t it enough that you’re wolfless? Must you contaminate everything you touch?”

Something warm slid down my cheek.

Blood.

She raised her hand again—and then the air changed.

A growl filled the room.

Deep, furious, in a way no ordinary wolf could ever be.

“How dare you lay your hands on her?”

The voice thundered through the hall.

I looked up.

And there he was, the man from the night before.

“K—King Dominic?” Luna Vera gasped.

The Lycan King.

Before I could even process the words, he crossed the room in three strides. His hands locked around her shoulders, lifting her as if she weighed nothing before slamming her into the wall.

She cried out in pain.

“Mother!” Cyrus roared, rushing forward as she crumpled to the floor.

I could only blink, tears clinging to my lashes.

He saved me again.

My heart raced wildly. I didn’t know whether to thank him, cling to him, or run from him. He was a Lycan King—dangerous, powerful, feared.

Everything from that night suddenly began to make sense. His aura, his tone that left no room for argument, his abilities. 

But that softness, that care. It sounded nothing like the Lycan King everyone knew. 

The stories of him had never been peaceful or pleasant. Cyrus was a demon, but King Dominic? 

He’s in a class of his own. 

Growing up, his stories were used to scare children into being in their best behaviours. But here he was, once again, Saving me. 

“You’re coming with me!” 

The words rang heavily in my ear, leaving me with no choice. 

I froze, breath heavy. “Your majesty?” I muttered, tears almost falling from my eyes. 

“Go and get your things, we leave immediately!” 

There was absolutely no room for negotiations. 

I tried to move my feet, but I remained locked in place. My legs trembled as I took slow steady steps towards the door. My heart kept pounding heavily in my chest. 

Another voice slipped into my mind. 

“You’re walking into your own death, trust me!” That voice was unmistakably Cyrus’. He couldn’t dare to say it out loud. 

Instead of seeing his words as a threat, I saw it as a driving force, anything to get away from Cyrus. 

“I would rather get a new cell in hell than remain with you!” I replied to his mind-link, my heart burning with intensity.

“Don’t keep me waiting!” King Dominic said impatiently.

I made my way back to my room, tears heavy in my eyes as I packed the little belongings I had. I never lived an extravagant life, neither did I have tons of clothes like every other Luna. That was too much Luxury for me.

The door pushed open and a woman dressed in a maids attire walked in. 

“Mother.” I called, my voice shaky.

“Baby… What are you going to do now?” 

The tears that I had been holding back suddenly began to fall. I knew I had no other choice. And she knew it too. 

“Stay safe for me, my girl.” 

She wrapped her hands tight around me, tears falling down her eyes. “I promise to come back for you mom.” I said finally after a long embrace.

When I stepped out, Cyrus was the first person I saw. Nothing about this went down well with him, but he was as powerless as myself in this situation. 

At least, now he realised that he didn’t have all the power he thought he did. 

My eyes caught sight of three black sleek cars packed just at the front of the Packhouse.

 King Dominic sat in one of them, waiting.

I took a deep breath, and moved towards the car with my half empty box in my hand. 

As I approached, the guards took my box and opened the door for me.

I hesitated, looking back at the packhouse like it owed me something. My mom stood by the side of the door, tears rolling uncontrollably from her eyes. 

I struggled to hold back my tears but it was difficult, most especially while seeing her like that. 

Cyrus eyes met mine. The misery in his eyes tasted like satisfaction even though I was yet to uncover what was to come. 

With a last look, I joined him in the car. The guards locked the door shut and then joined the next car. 

All engines came to life. My eyes remained fixed outside the window until my mom was no longer in view. The tears that had welled up in my eyes soon began to fall without my permission. 

I tried to hide it from him, tried to hold it back, all to no avail. 

He silently passed me a towel. 

I hesitated for a moment before I took it, my hand slightly brushing his. 

“Thank you.” I said quietly. Those were my first words since I got into the car.

When I had finally become calm, I asked. “Why are you helping me?” 

“I protect whatever is mine.” His answer came, short and direct. 

“I don’t understand.” 

He took my hand and placed it on his chest. I could feel his heart beating on my palm. My heart began to pound uncontrollably, the warmth of his body fighting against the chill that ran down my spine.

The intensity of the moment made it almost impossible to breathe.

Suddenly, I felt that familiar pull, like it transferred from his chest to mine. 

“Mate?” The word fell out of my mouth. 

I quickly withdrew my hand. 

“No!” I muttered, shaking my head in disagreement. “That… That is not possible.” 

“The goddess already got me bonded with Cyrus, I can’t be…” 

“The same goddess that let Cyrus have you, took you away from him cause he doesn’t deserve you.”  

“You’re mine now, anyone that wants to hurt you has to go through me first.” 

The idea of belonging to someone once again made my skin crawl. 

I only came with him cause I needed to get away from Cyrus. And also, cause I knew I had no other choice. 

But what if I created an option for myself?

“And if I don’t accept the bond?” The words shot out of my mouth.