Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

SAGE

I slipped out of Titus's room just before the first light of dawn broke across the sky. The quiet of the morning felt almost deliberate, like the world was holding its breath to help me leave unnoticed. Titus was still fast asleep, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw. The arms that had held me so tightly through the night now lay loose, giving me the chance to carefully slip free without waking him.

The memories of the night before played over and over in my head-every touch, every whispered word, every moment of raw connection burned into my mind. I couldn't deny how much I'd wanted him, how much I'd enjoyed being with him. But the idea of carrying that intense connection into the daylight felt overwhelming, even impossible. Nights like that seemed to exist in their own bubble, separate from everything else.

I paused in the doorway and glanced back at him. He looked so peaceful, his bare chest rising and falling with each calm breath. I could still feel the faint hum of the bond between us, like a spark that refused to go out. For a moment, I hesitated, my heart pulling me back toward him. Part of me wanted to climb back into bed, to believe that things could somehow stay simple, stay easy. But I knew better. Deep down, I always did.

Carefully shutting the door behind me, I stepped into the chilly hallway. The air out here felt heavier, like the weight of everything was finally settling on me. Wrapping my arms around myself, I padded quietly down to my room, my bare feet cold against the floor. My mind was a whirlwind, caught between the excitement of the night and the uncertainty of what

came next.

The thought of seeing him in the daylight, when the passion of the night had faded and the hard questions would surface, made my chest tighten. I wasn't ready for that conversation. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

I slipped into my room as quietly as I had left Titus's, closing the door behind me with a soft click. Leaning against it for a moment, I let out a shaky breath, my heart still racing-not from sneaking away, but from everything that had happened.

Crossing the room, I grabbed fresh clothes from the wardrobe and headed straight for the bathroom. The sight of my reflection in the mirror stopped me in my tracks. My cheeks were flushed, my hair was a tangled mess, and there were faint/ marks on my neck and collarbone-evidence of Titus's possessive touch. I pressed my fingers to one of the marks, a rush of warmth spreading through me at the memory.

"Pull yourself together," I muttered to my reflection before turning away and stepping into the shower.

The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the remnants of the night, but it couldn't touch the lingering ache in my chest. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, letting the warmth soothe my tense muscles.

Finishing up, I stepped out of the shower and dried off, pulling on fresh clothes in an attempt to feel normal again. My mind, however, was far from calm. I braided my damp hair to keep my hands busy, hoping it would quiet the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelmThis content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

me.

The light outside my window grew brighter as the morning took hold. I knew I couldn't avoid the questions forever-Titus would wake up eventually, and when he did, I'm not sure if he would be looking for me.

When the sun was finally up, a soft knock at my door pulled me from my swirling thoughts. My heart leapt to my throat, pounding so loudly I was sure whoever was outside could hear it I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and walked to the door. As I turned the handle and pulled it open, my chest tightened with anticipation.

But the sight that greeted me wasn't what I'd expected-or hoped for. Elara stood there, her usual serene expression tinged with curiosity. The tight coil of anticipation in my chest unraveled into disappointment, a quiet sigh slipping past my lips before I could stop it. I tried to school my features into something less obvious, but I could tell by the way her brow arched slightly that she noticed.

"Why do I have a feeling that I'm not who you're expecting?" Elara said softly as he eyed me suspiciously.

"I'm not expecting anyone, Elara," I quickly denied it.

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17:29 Fri, Dec 13 GBB.

"Sure, sure," she said, as she obviously believed none of it. "Did I wake you up?" she asked.

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I shook my head quickly. "No, I've been up for a while. Too long if I were honest. The restless energy buzzing under my skin had kept me from finding any kind of peace after 1 left Titus room.

Elara tilted her head, studying me like she always seemed to do when she thought I was hiding something. "I wanted to check on you. How's Alpha Titus?"

I stepped back, gesturing for her to come inside, though I wasn't sure I had the energy for whatever conversation this was leading to. She entered gracefully, her sharp gaze sweeping the mom briefly before settling back on me.

"He's doing fine. The ointment did miraculous work on him," I said, forcing a small smile as I tried to keep my voice steady.

Elara's lips pressed into a thin line, her sharp gaze fixed on me. Clearly, she wasn't buying my attempt at nonchalance. "Did something happen?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

My breath hitched for a moment, my body stiffening before I quickly turned away. I busied myself by pretending to smooth out the already neat corner of my bed, avoiding her eyes. "Nothing happened, of course. Why would you ask that?" My words came out a little too quickly, a little too defensively.

She didn't answer right away, and when she did, her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "Nothing in particular. Fwas just informed this morning that the ointment had aphrodisiac properties mixed in."

"What?!" I blurted out, my voice louder than I intended. Panic surged through me as her words echoed in my mind.

Elara stepped back, raising her hands in mock defense. "Whoa! What's with the reaction? You said nothing happened, right? So I assumed everything turned out fine. You were probably long gone from the alpha's room before the aphrodisiac had a chance to take effect." I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "Y-Yeah," I stammered, my voice unconvincing even to my own ears. "I left immediately after applying the ointment. Came straight back to my room."

"Too bad," she said with a teasing glint in her eyes. "I thought you might have finally had the chance to use the potion I made for Alpha Titus."

I froze, guilt clawing at my chest as her words settled in. Slowly, I turned to face her, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. "About that..." I started, taking a deep, shaky breath. "I decided I'm not going to use it. It's not my place to do something like that to him." Elara's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted to help break through whatever's been holding him back."

"I do," I said quickly, "but using that potion would feel wrong. It's not up to me to manipulate his feelings or his memories, even if my intentions are good. Doing that wouldn't make me any better than Anna if our suspicions are true-if she's been drugging him to erase his memories."

Elara's expression softened, and she crossed the room to stand beside me. "You have a point," she admitted, her voice thoughtful. "But are you sure you're ready to be erased from his memories forever?"

I nodded slowly, her words offering a small comfort. "I am."

Elara studied me for a moment before smiling softly. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Sage."

"Thanks," I murmured, my shoulders relaxing just a little.

"Well, I came here to check up on you and to let you know that Alpha Arthur expects us to join him for breakfast," Elara said with a small smile. "Scott will inform Alpha Titus as well."

"Do you have any idea what this is about?" I asked, tilting my head as worry flickered in the back of my mind.

30 Fri, Dec 13

I'm not sure," she admitted, a hint of uncertainty in her tone. "But I'm hoping it's good news. I mean, he's inviting us for breakfast, not throwing us out of the pack house, right?" She tried to sound optimistic, though her words didn't entirely ease the tension in my chest. "Well, I'm ready," I said, smoothing out my outfit in an attempt to distract myself from the unease gnawing at me.

"Good. Let's head there now," Elara replied, leading the way.

We exited the room together, the hallway bathed in soft morning light filtering through the windows. As we made our way toward the dining hall, footsteps echoed ahead of us. Rounding the corner, we nearly bumped into Titus and Scott. My heart jolted as my eyes instinctively darted to Titus, his tall frame commanding the space around him.

His piercing gaze met mine, and I immediately averted my eyes, my cheeks heating under the intensity of his glare. I stared at anything but him-the floor, the walls, even the faint pattern on the carpet-anything to avoid the tension crackling in the air. "Let's all head there together," Titus announced, his deep voice carrying an edge of authority that left no room for argument.

We stepped aside, allowing them to pass. As Titus brushed by me, I caught a faint whiff of his scent, and it was enough to send my senses reeling, a vivid reminder of the night before. My hands clenched at my sides, determined not to let my emotions show. Elara gave me a knowing look, her lips twitching as though she wanted to tease me but thought better of it. Instead, we fell into step behind them, trailing quietly toward the dining hall. The weight of Titus's presence ahead of me was almost suffocating, and every step felt heavier than the last.

By the time we reached the hall, my nerves were tightly wound, and I couldn't shake the sense that this breakfast was more than a simple gathering. As we filed into the room, Alpha Arthur's welcoming smile awaited us, but the undercurrent of something unspoken lingered in the air. Whatever this meeting was about, I could only hope it would be a step toward answers, not more complications.

We took our seats at the large dining table, the air thick with anticipation. Alpha Arthur sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding yet welcoming. Plates of steaming food filled the table, but I couldn't focus on any of it. My attention was riveted on the Alpha, waiting for him to reveal the reason for this gathering.

After a few moments of polite exchanges, Alpha Arthur set down his fork and cleared his throat. The room immediately quieted, all eyes turning to him. His gaze settled on Titus, and a small, respectful nod followed.

"Alpha Titus," he began, his tone steady but tinged with respect. "I've witnessed many leaders in my time. Strength, cunning, and skill in battle are important qualities, but true leadership lies in knowing when to wield power and when to show restraint. Yesterday, you proved that you understand the weight of that choice."

Titus inclined his head slightly, acknowledging Alpha Arthur's words but remaining stoic.

"In sparing Holt's life during the duel," Alpha Arthur continued, his gaze unwavering, "you showed not only your strength but your character. It would have been easy to end him, to prove your dominance through death. But by showing mercy, you demonstrated wisdom and control-traits of a true king. You reminded everyone present that power is not about taking life but preserving it when it serves a higher purpose."

The room fell silent as Alpha Arthur's words sank in. Even the warriors seated around the table, some of whom had likely questioned Titus's choice, now seemed to reassess their judgments.

"You have earned my respect," Alpha Arthur declared, rising from his chair. His imposing figure commanded the room, and every gaze turned to him. "And with that respect comes my support. From this day forward, this pack stands with you, Your Majesty. We will fight by your side to reclaim the throne that is rightfully yours."

The room erupted into a mixture of gasps and murmurs. Elara shot me a wide-eyed glance, her excitement barely contained. Scott, seated a few places down, nodded subtly, his approval evident. I found myself gripping the edge of the table, my heart swelling with pride for Titus, even as a wave of relief washed over me. This alliance was exactly what he Reeded.

17:30 Fri, Dec 13 GBB.

3

Titus stood, his crimson eyes locked on Alpha Arthur. His expression softened slightly, gratitude breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. "Thank you, Alpha Arthur," he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Your support means more than I can say." The declaration seemed to electrify the room. Warriors exchanged determined looks, and the mood shifted from tension to resolve. For the first time, it felt like we were no longer fighting alone.

As the meeting broke up, Titus approached me swiftly, his presence commanding as always. Before I could say a word, his warm hand gently closed around my arm, his touch firm yet careful not to cause alarm.

Leaning in close, his breath brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "We need to talk," he whispered, his deep voice low enough that no one else could hear.