Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 156

SAGE

I let out a slow breath as I pushed the door open, stepping inside my room. The tension from my meeting with Titus still clung to me like a second skin, but the sight before me was enough to momentarily ease the weight pressing down on my

chest.

Harper and Cooper were sprawled out on the floor, giggling as they stacked wooden blocks into a wobbly tower. Their laughter, so pure and innocent, filled the space, washing away some of the darkness I had carried back with me. For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to take it in–to believe that we were safe, that this was normal.

+5

“Mommy–oops! I’m sorry.” Harper squealed when she noticed me, immediately abandoning the tower and running to my side, but immediately covered her mouth when she remembered what I told them a while ago.

It’s a good thing that there’s no one else here in the room right now.

Cooper followed right after, his tiny arms wrapping around my waist as Harper clung to my side.

I hugged them tightly, burying my face into their soft hair, inhaling their familiar scent. They were my anchor, my reason to fight. No matter what happened, I would protect them. I had to.

“Are you okay, Mommy?” Cooper asked, pulling back to study my face. His little brows furrowed with concern.

“Cooper, stop calling her mommy,” Harper immediately scolded her brother.

“I’m sorry,” he said, bowing his head while pouting his lips.

I smiled, “It’s fine, Harper. Good job remembering it. But it’s fine, since we’re the only ones here.” I turned to Cooper, stroking his cheek. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’m just… a little tired.”

Harper tilted her head, watching me carefully. “Did Mister make you mad?”

I tensed, my mind flashing back to Titus’s piercing gaze, the way his lips had brushed against my skin, the cruel authority in his voice when he told me I had no choice.

“No, he didn’t,” I lied, brushing a stray lock of hair from Harper’s face. “We just had a talk. That’s all.”

Cooper pouted. “I’m glad he didn’t make you mad. He seems nice, and I like him. It will be sad if he turns out to be a bad guy.”

I let out a soft chuckle, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “He’s not a bad guy, sweetie.”

“Then, why do we need to pretend in front of him and all the people around here?” Harper curiously asked. “You said he’s not a bad guy. Then, maybe he can help us find our father!” she suggested excitedly.

I froze.

arms stiffened around them as Harper’s innocent words sliced through me like a blade. My heartbeat thundered in my ears,

she knew.

about–the one she thought could help us—was the father

neutral. “Sweetheart, sometimes things are more complicated than they

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Chapter 156

powerful, then maybe he can protect us. Maybe he can

the lump in my throat. “We already have

looked unconvinced, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she exchanged a glance with Cooper, who was still watching me closely, as if trying to figure out

its usual cheerfulness. “He has the same hair as Cooper; I thought he might know

sighed, pulling them both into another embrace. “Listen to me,” I whispered against their heads. “No matter what happens, I need you both to trust me. Can you do that?”

nodded without

before. “Now, why

But Cooper keeps knocking it over!”

dramatically. “That was

to pretend that everything was normal. That we weren’t trapped in a place we didn’t belong. That we

I knew this fragile moment of

savoring every second with my children, knowing that moments like this might not come often. But as night fell and the warmth of the day faded, the reality of

The papers.

me

sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the unopened envelope as if it held my fate in its folds. The weight of his threat lingered in the air–if I didn’t sign, he would force me. And I knew all too well that an

Harper’s soft voice pulled

She and Cooper were already snuggled under

“Yes, sweetheart?”

lip.

been the more observant one. She noticed things, even when I tried to shield her from

beside her, running a hand through her hair. “Of course, we

26

Chapter 156

moment before

kissed her forehead, then did the same to Cooper, who was already half–asleep. “Good night,

out before slipping off the bed and making my way to the window. The moon was high, casting silver light across the landscape.

time with my kids that it totally slipped my mind. Using my

the door made

quickened as I turned toward it, my heart hammering in my chest. I already knew who it was