Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 144

SAGE

A week had slipped by faster than I expected, each day dragging my worries along with it. My chest ached with the gnawing concern for my twins. They must be wondering where I was by now. If only there was some way to talk to them, to let them know I was okay–if only just for a moment.

Standing by the gate, I watched people come and go, my heart heavy with longing. I pressed my palm against the invisible barrier, feeling the hum of magic pulse against my skin like a taunting reminder of my imprisonment. I bit my lip in frustration, my breath shaky.

“Still at it, my lady?” came the familiar voice of Pantene, the young maid assigned to look after me.

“I have to keep trying, Pantene. I can’t just stand around and do nothing.” I said with firm determination.

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I admire your perseverance, my lady. But you know His Majesty controls where you can go, right?”

I groaned dramatically, rolling my eyes toward the sky. “You don’t have to remind me,” I huffed, exasperated.

Pantene chuckled, the sound light and genuine. In the short time I’d been here, she’d become my only friend. Maybe it was her warm nature, or maybe it was because she reminded me of someone dear to my heart. Either way, I was grateful for her presence, even when she pointed out the obvious.

“Does this place have a library?” I muttered, more to myself than to her. “Maybe there’s something in there that can help me get rid of this thing.”

Pantene’s expression shifted, her smile fading into a more serious look. “I’m sorry, my lady, but there’s nothing in the library that can help with that charm, she said gently. “I know for a fact it was crafted by a powerful sorceress.”

I frowned, frustration bubbling inside me. “There has to be something. Even powerful magic has loopholes,” I insisted stubbornly.

Pantene’s eyes softened, though doubt flickered in her gaze. “You’re determined,” she said with admiration. “But please be careful. His Majesty isn’t known for taking defiance lightly.”

“Let him try,” I muttered under my breath. “I’ve already survived worse.”

As I paced near the gate, my thoughts tangled in endless loops of questions. Why were we still here? I was expecting him to leave this place as soon as he found me and go back to the palace, but he didn’t. It seems like he was taking care of something in this place.

Part of me was grateful for that small mercy. Staying in this place meant I was still close to my twins, even if I couldn’t see or speak to them. Knowing they were just beyond these cursed walls gave me

in thought again, my lady?” Pantene’s gentle voice pulled me from my spiraling worries.

“Just wondering why we haven’t

hasn’t said anything about moving. But there’s been a lot of talk lately. People

curiosity deepening. “Do you know what they’re talking

courtyard. My heart lurched involuntarily as Titus strode toward us,

as he

drawled, his voice smooth but laced with an edge I couldn’t

refusing to shrink under his gaze. “Why are we still here, Titus?”

behind him

his head, a smirk ghosting across his

back?”

“We both know that if it was for me, I will never go back to

smile faded, replaced by a flicker of something more serious. “We’ll leave as soon

I pressed, narrowing my eyes. “What kind of problem?”

concern you,”

“If you think I’ll just stand

dangerous. “Careful, kitten. You’re treading on thin

my chin defiantly. “Let

ready to snap. Neither of us moved, locked in a silent battle of wills. The weight of unspoken truths hung heavily in

he was the first to break the suffocating silence.

stepped forward, their hands outstretched to grab my arm, but I moved before they could touch

heel. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced my steps to remain steady. My

straight

pry on Titus‘ business, but fate had a strange way of messing with me. And now, here