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.

just shook my head, unwilling to let her see the sting that lodged itself deep in

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

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

memories that happened today. That's when I felt it a small, forgotten weight in my pocket. The

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

bottle before I finally

ritual to make the potion work-it was a long shot. The impossibility of it only

1/3

what was in front of me instead of chasing a past that might not

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

finally felt calm, I pushed myself up, droplets sliding down as I stepped out of the tub. Grabbing 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 be another way to convince him. Something I could do on

I pulled it open, I was surprised to find it neatly stocked with brand-new clothes. Who they belonged to, I had no idea, but they were far better than the

pair of soft lounge pants and a loose sweater. Comfortable but practical, perfect for whatever was coming next. As I slipped into the fresh clothes a small

little to calm the storm brewing

to start.

I grabbed a small dagger from my bag and tucked it securely at my back. It wasn't much, but it gave me a sense of security, however small. I knew what I was doing was reckless, maybe even outright dangerous, but I couldn't sit back and do

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 around, but I don't know where to

Scott. He was standing right behind me, arms crossed, eyes locked on me

My stomach dropped.

voice low but sharp enough to cut through the

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