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.

my eye and raised a brow, her unspoken question clear. I just shook my head,

mine, the heavy door closing behind me, I

the storm in my chest. Turning the faucet, I watched as the cool

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

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

fingers tightened around the bottle before I finally placed

long shot. The impossibility of

1/3

focus on what

water seeped into my skin, cooling not just my body but the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. I let out a slow breath and leaned back, closing my eyes. The water was soothing washing away the weight of the day, if

wrapped it around myself and dried off. The cold bath had cleared

the towel around me, my gaze fell on a nearby drawer. Curiosity got the better of me, and when 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 wrinkled, dirty

Comfortable but practical, perfect for whatever was coming next. As I slipped into the fresh

the luxurious surroundings doing little to calm the storm brewing in my chest. How was I supposed to

to start.

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

lighting and smoky air greeted me like an old friend. I scanned the room for the hunter, but

He was standing right behind me, arms crossed, eyes locked

My stomach dropped.

demanded, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the noisy chatter around

I stuttered, trying to throw his question back