Chapter 1- A Healer’s Life

Sage’s Pov

I was already on the floor when I realized he was serious.

Aleric’s hand was around my throat, fingers digging into my skin just enough to make breathing painful but not impossible. He had always known how to hurt without leaving marks. It was one of his talents. His other hand struck my face before I could even process what he had said, the sound sharp and loud in the otherwise quiet room.

“Get up,” he ordered coldly. “And do what you were born to do.”

I tasted blood. My vision blurred for a second, but I forced myself to push up on my hands. The room smelled like polished wood and old power. This was the Alpha’s private chamber, a place I had once thought would be my sanctuary as Luna. Now it felt like a cage.

“I won’t,” I said hoarsely. My voice barely sounded like my own. “I won’t touch her.”

His eyes darkened. “You will.”

I laughed then. It was a broken sound, short and sharp. “You dragged me here, choked me, hit me, and you still think you can command me?”

He leaned down until his face was inches from mine. “You are my mate. You are my Luna. And you are a Healer. Thea’s brain is infected with wolf poison. You are the only one who can remove it without killing her.”

“And if I refuse?” I asked.

His lips curled slightly. “Then I revoke your Luna status. I tell the pack you failed your duty. And your sister doesn’t get her medication.”

The world stopped.

“Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t bring Daisy into this.”

“She’s already in it,” he said calmly. “She has been for years.”

My hands trembled. “You promised me. When we signed the binding contract, you promised to protect my family.”

He straightened, clearly irritated. “Enough with that. This isn’t about the past.”

He always said that, as if it were something I clung to out of weakness rather than something carved into my bones.

I had known even before the contract that he had betrayed me.

Everyone had known.

The ball five years ago had been meant to announce our formal union. I still remembered the way I had walked into the hall wearing silver, my hair braided with the symbols of the Healer line. I had stood beside him, smiling, while the nobles whispered.

Then Thea arrived.

She had come late, wearing white. Fate-mate white. A colour that symbolized the soul bond between two wolves.  The room had gone silent when Aleric turned toward her. I could still see it clearly, the way his expression changed. Shock first. Then hunger. Then certainty.

“She’s your fated mate,” someone whispered loudly enough for half the hall to hear.

I had stood there while he stared at another woman like I wasn’t even real. I had stood there while people laughed behind their fans, while elders exchanged looks of pity. I had stood there while my future shattered in public.

Later, he had told me it didn’t matter. Fate could be ignored. Contracts were stronger than instinct.

But instinct had always won.

And Thea had never left his side after that night.

And now he stood over me, threatening the last piece of family I had left.

He didn’t hesitate. “ The medication she needs is in our vault. You operate. She lives.”

I boiled with rage. I hated Aleric, I hated him for threatening me with my sister's life.

“After the surgery,” he added, “I’ll send you and your sister to the castle. Consider it compensation.”

I almost smiled. The absolute gall of this man, to even suggest offering me compensation, as if risking my sister's life wasn’t enough.

“Yes,” I said softly. “But keep your compensation, I just want my sister to live.”

He paused, surprised. “Very well. You have twelve hours. Don’t fail.”

As if failure had ever been an option for me.

The operating room was cold and bright. Thea lay unconscious on the table, her face pale, her breathing shallow. I didn’t look at her longer than necessary. I focused on my hands, steadying them through sheer force of will.

Twelve hours passed in a blur of blood, precision, and silence.

I removed the infected tissue carefully, neutralizing the wolf poison thread by thread. Sweat soaked through my clothes. My vision swam more than once, but I didn’t stop.

When it was over, the room erupted into quiet relief.

“She’ll live,” one of the assistants said.

I nodded and stepped back, my legs finally giving out as I leaned against the wall.

No one congratulated me.

No one thanked me.

I left the room without another word.

My phone rang as I was washing my hands.

“Luna Sage,” a frantic voice said. “Your sister, she's in the emergency wing. Her medication wasn’t administered on time. Her system’s crashing.”

The world tilted.

“What do you mean it wasn’t administered?” I demanded. “It was scheduled hours ago.”

“There was an order to delay,” the nurse whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

I ran. I didn’t remember the corridors or the guards I shoved aside. I only remembered the sound of my heartbeat and the way my chest burned with every breath.

When I reached the emergency room, they were already wheeling her out.

Daisy looked so small on the bed. Too small. Her skin was gray, her lips tinged blue. I grabbed her hand.

“Sage,” she murmured weakly. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment. “It’s cold.”

“I’m here,” I said desperately. “I’m here. You’re going to be fine.”

A tear rolled down her eyes. “My wolf… she’s gone. I can’t feel her.” 

I froze.

“I can’t feel her anymore, Sage” Daisy whispered, stool shedding soft tears “I think… I think I want to be with Mom.”

“No,” I said. “No, don’t say that.”

Her fingers tightened once around mine. “I’m tired.”

“No Daisy! Look at me! Daisy, come one!” I patted her cheeks to get her to keep her eyes on me, but it was already too late. The heart monitor flatlined.

Healers rushed to her side to try and resuscitate her, but I already knew the truth, being a healer myself, I knew my sister was already gone.

I screamed. It tore out of me, raw and broken. I collapsed beside the bed, clutching her lifeless hand as the world went dark.

I spent the next hours in isolation, overcome with grief. My wolf had not taken the loss well, her presence was a mere shadow within me. The shock probably affected her more than it did me.

I stared at the ceiling, feeling empty in more ways than one.

But then I decided to make a bold decision. I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in five years.

“It’s me,” I said when the line connected. “I’m ready.”

There was a pause. Then a calm voice replied, “You accept the terms?”

“Yes. I want Aleric and Thea to pay.”

A soft chuckle. “Good. I’ll come for you in one month.”

I ended the call and sent a text to my lawyer. “Prepare the divorce papers, Effective immediately.”