Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 71

SAGE

current

My heart was still heavy as I made my way out of the dungeon. Iwas conflicted on how I should feel about Anni situation. I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I feel responsible for what happened to her. It might be hard to accept, but there's part of me that believes in her. She's e's right. There's no point for her to put the blame on my father, as it will not help her get out of this messy situation.

"Sage? I brought back from reverie, but a familiar voice called my name. I was surprised to find Holt standing in front of me. He looked surprised as well. I was probably the last person he was expecting to meet right now. I was staring at his beautiful face, trying to find a hint of what might be going on inside his head. Is he mad at me? Is he blaming me for what happened to Annika? "You're back." His face was filled with a smile of relief.

And with that, all the questions lurking inside my head vanished I was a bit taken aback when he suddenly imprisoned me into a tight embrace..

I'm glad you're safe," he said as he continued to embrace me.

I smiled. "It's nice to see you too, Holt." I felt him take a deep breath as if something heavy was lifted from his chest. After that, he slowly loosens his embrace until he finally lets me go. It took him a while before he found the courage to speak once again. D-Did you..." His voice faltered, the words trailing off as he glanced nervously between me and the door I had just walked through. His wide eyes flicked back to mine, clearly unsettled, like he wasn't sure whether he wanted to hear the answer or

I sighed, feeling the weight of his question even before he could finish it. "Yes," I said, my tone more tired than anything else. "I came to visit your sister. The air seemed to thicken with the weight of unspoken words. His face paled, and he took an uneasy step back, as though my response confirmed something be had been dreading. He looked torn, like he wanted to ask more but couldn't bring himself to voice the questions hanging between us.

Did she say anything to you?" he asked.

Yes. Nothing but lies."

"I replied.

finally tell you the

I know she's your sister; that's why you believed in every word she said, but she's lying!" I

things against you in the past, Sage. And if this were the same as it was before, I would take your side in a heartbeat. It's true. Since we were children, Holt would always take my side whenever I had an altercation with Annika. He always believes me more than his sister. But it seems like

my voice trembling with disbelief. "Do you really

the

like a stap across the face. "Yes, I do. For a moment, world seemed to tilt beneath me. I had been prepared for many things, but not this. Not this betrayal from the man I had once

ice when I finally spoke. "Then we have nothing left to talk about." I turned sharply, intending to walk past him and leave this conversation, this moment, behind me. But before I could take a step, he reached out, his hand gripping my arm tightly, halting me in place. "Sage, wait," he said urgently, his voice pleading. "I know it's hard to accept the truth.

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eyes. "It's the truth." I yanked my arm free, but I couldn't move, rooted by the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "You don't know that," I shot back, my voice shaking. "She's lying. She has to be He shook his head, the look on his face one of deep sorrow. "I saw it with my own eyes, Sage. I tried to stop it. I swear. But Armika, she begged me to keep it a secret. She swore she would kill herself if I exposed the truth. She was madly in love with your father. So in love that she couldn't see what was right anymore. "I feel like my world was crashing right before my eyes. If it were only Annika, I can

what you're trying to achieve by telling me all thi, Holt," I said, my voice sharp, but inside, I was battling a storm of emotions. darkened, and for a moment, I saw the weight of something heavy in them.

glistened with unshed tears as he bowed his head, gripping the hem of my dress as if it were the last tether keeping him from falling apart completely. Igre my life in exchange for

deserve my mercy. But something in his voice, in the way he trembled, gave me pause. Despite everything. I

losing her.

my breath shallow, caught between the desire for vengeance and the undeniable pull of compassion that still lingered somewhere

much to ask, Sage. And I'm aware that this wouldn't be easy for you as well. But I'm losing all

so viciously. His gaze fell to the ground, the humiliation washing over him. It pains me to ask you this. I'm already dying inside with the shame of it but I have no other choice. Sage. This is the only thing I can think of that might save her. I scoffed bitterly, crossing my arms, the sharpness of his of his request cutting into me like ice. "You think too highly of me, Holt," I replied, my voice dripping with irony. To believe I have that kind of power over the most powerful lycan in the territory. Do you honestly think I can

further. "I know. I know it's unfair of me." he whispered, his voice breaking. "But

in his voice echoed through the small space between us, twisting something deep inside me. Despite everything Annika had done, despite the betrayal, I could see how much Holt was willing to sacrifice for her. And it left me feeling utterly conflicted. I wanted to scream, to shove him away, to tell him his sister deserved her fate-but part of me, the part that had once

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Chapter 71

can't let you continue kneeling like this, especially when