Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter

SAGE

105

We decided to stay in the city for the night. Titus, ever the meticulous planner, arranged accommodations at one of the most opulent hotels I'd ever seen. The sleek marble exterior gleamed under the city lights, and the revolving glass doors seemed to invite us into a world where luxury was a way of life.

At first, I worried about the attention this would draw. Staying somewhere this extravagant felt like painting a target on our backs. But when I voiced my concern, Scott merely smirked and said, "Don't worry. No one will question this."

It wasn't until we were at the reception desk that I realized why. The elegant concierge greeted Titus with a warm, deferential smile, addressing him by name and welcoming him as if he were royalty. "Wait... this place belongs to you?" I asked, incredulous.

Titus glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "My family," he corrected. "My mother's side, to be specific. She comes from the Darion line."

The Darion name sent a ripple of understanding through me. They weren't just influential-they were untouchable. Old money, old power. The kind of lineage that even the royal family treated with caution.

I shouldn't have been surprised. Titus always exuded authority, but this level of influence was staggering. No wonder he was able to secure rooms for all of us without so much as a raised eyebrow from the staff.

We were each given a keycard to our own rooms-except, of course, for Titus and Anna. The receptionist handed them a single card with an almost conspiratorial smile. My stomach churned as Anna's hand brushed against Titus's arm, her laugh soft and sweet like a practiced melody.

I quickly looked away, forcing myself to focus on the keycard in my hand. A private room. A luxury I should be grateful for,/ but instead, it felt like a hollow prize.

As we made our way to the elevator, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Titus. He was standing beside Anna, his expression as distant as it had been since we arrived, yet he stayed close enough for her to claim her territory with ease. She wrapped her arm around his, leaning into him as if staking her claim in front of all of us.

brow, her unspoken question clear. I just shook my head, unwilling to let her see the sting that lodged itself deep in my

reached our floor, everyone scattered to their respective rooms. As I slipped into mine, the heavy door closing behind me, I tried to ignore the image burned into my mind-Titus and Anna, walking into their

bathroom, needing the soothing sound of running water to drown out the storm in my chest. Turning the faucet, I watched as the cool water

away all the bad memories that happened today. That's when I felt it a small, forgotten weight in

water embrace me until it dulled into a numbing chill. The bottle rested in my hand. I stared at it, the faint shimmer inside feeling like a physical manifestation of the hope I was too afraid to admit I still carried. This little vial had the potential to put everything back where it belonged, to restore what had been lost. But lately, I found myself questioning

fingers tightened around the bottle before I finally placed

was a long shot. The impossibility of it only mirrored how unattainable my

1/3

better this way to set the bottle aside and focus on what was in

in my mind. I let out a slow breath and leaned back, closing my eyes. The water

a towel, I wrapped it around myself and dried off. The cold bath had cleared my head, sparking an idea-a new plan. If we truly needed the hunter's help, there had to

I pulled it open, I was surprised to find it neatly stocked with brand-new clothes.

and a loose sweater. Comfortable but practical, perfect for whatever was coming next. As I slipped into the fresh clothes a small sense of comfort settled over

quietly as possible. The halls of the hotel were eerily silent, the luxurious surroundings doing little to calm the storm brewing in my chest. How was I supposed

to start.

of security, however small. I knew what I was doing was reckless, maybe even outright dangerous, but I couldn't sit back and do nothing. If there was a chance I could help with this mission, I had to take it. With a deep breath, I headed straight to the elevator, the quiet ding of its arrival

air greeted me like an old friend. I scanned the room for the hunter, but I didn't find any traces of him. I was thinking of asking

standing right behind me, arms crossed, eyes locked on me like

My stomach dropped.

are you doing here, Sage?" He demanded, his voice low but sharp enough to

one asking that question," I stuttered, trying to throw his question back