Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 162

SAGE

I finished cooking and wiped my hands on a towel, ready to set the table. But as I stepped toward the dining area, my feet suddenly froze at the doorway.

The sight before me was something I never thought I’d witness, something that sent a strange ache straight to my chest.

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Titus sat between Harper and Cooper, his large frame dwarfing their small ones, yet he somehow fit so seamlessly between them. He held a small coin between his fingers, flicking it up before making it disappear, only to pull it from behind Harper’s ear.

Harper gasped in delight, her hands clapping together. “Again! Again!” she cheered.

Cooper, skeptical as ever, narrowed his eyes. “I saw you hide it,” he accused, but even then, there was a flicker of amusement in his usually serious gaze.

Titus smirked, leaning closer. “Are you sure about that?” And just like that, he made the coin vanish once more.

The twins gasped, completely enthralled, their laughter ringing through the room like the sweetest melody.

I stood there, gripping the doorframe as I watched them. The way they looked at him with wonder, it was so heartbreakingly natural. Like they’d done this before. Like they had always been a family.

A lump formed in my throat, my heart clenching painfully.

I had spent years convincing myself that keeping Titus away was the right thing to do. That my children didn’t need him, that I didn’t need him. But standing there, seeing them together, I felt that belief crack just a little.

If only I could freeze this moment, hold onto it for just a little longer.

I shook off the thought and started bringing in the food, then settled it on the table.

The kids cheered as I set their plates down, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the golden, fluffy stacks.

“Yay! Pancakes!” Harper clapped her hands together excitedly. Cooper didn’t say anything, but the way he immediately grabbed his fork and dug in spoke volumes.

I turned to Titus, handing him a plate without a word. He took it with a smirk, tilting his head slightly as he studied me. “No special treatment for the king?” he teased.

I scoffed, sliding into the chair across from him. “You’re lucky you even got a plate,” I muttered before taking a bite of my own food.

Titus chuckled but didn’t push further. Instead, he started eating, and for a while, everything was calm. You can hear nothing but the quiet sounds of forks scraping against plates and soft, happy hums from the kids as they enjoyed their breakfast.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy it too. The warmth of the morning light streaming through the windows, the laughter of my children, the presence of a man who, despite everything, felt like he belonged here.

But just as quickly as that warmth settled in my chest, a cold dose of reality followed.

This wasn’t real.

This wasn’t our life.

And sooner rather than later, all of these will end, and we’ll go back to the way it was.

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Chapter 162

As we sat around the table, the warmth of the moment lingered, filling the room with something that felt almost too normal. Harper and Cooper eagerly dug into their food, occasionally glancing at Tims with admiration. It was clear they had taken a liking to him.

Titus, on the other hand, was completely at ease, eating his meal as if this was just another morning, like we had been doing this for years. Then, in between bites, he casually said, “We should start looking for your mother today”

My hands stilled on my fork, my stomach twisting at his words.

Harper and Cooper looked at each other before they turned in my direction as if they were asking me if they were supposed to respond. “Really? You’ll help us?” Harper pretended like she’s excited.

Harper’s cheek with his thumb. ‘Of course. You two came all this way

observant one, tilted his head. “Is that

I had my reasons.” Then, he turned to me, his gaze holding something unreadable. “What do you

my throat. I should have been relieved–this was part of the plan, after

This was dangerous.

way to ditch him. I can’t take the risk of

my next move. “That sounds like a good idea.” I said carefully, keeping my tone light. “But I think it’s best if I take Harper

eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my

pretended to be unfazed. “We don’t need any unwanted attention. Even if most people around here don’t recognize you, it’s still risky for you to be out in public with two

leaned back in his chair. “And a woman walking around

king, Your Majesty.”

cut in. “Why is it not safe?” he asked, tilting his

Cooper,”

took another

on the other hand, was more focused on her toast, blissfully unaware

Titus.

He wasn’t

my chair,

chuckled. “I always

rolling my eyes. “Sure you do.”

never fading. “Then it’s settled. We start looking today.”

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Chapter 162

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start by reporting it to the police station,” he suggested, his deep voice breaking through my thoughts.

my eyes focused on the road. That would complicate things. A police report would bring unnecessary attention, and attention was the last thing

consider it. “That’s a good

was mostly silent, the air thick with tension. I kept my gaze focused outside the window, my mind racing with ways to throw him

through the town’s main street, Cooper gasped and pressed his face against

shouted, his voice filled with excitement.

tiny hands grabbing onto the

flickered to where they

set up in an open field, its colorful banners swaying in the wind. The sound of cheerful music mixed with the laughter of children filled the air. A bright Ferris wheel stood tall against the sky, and the sweet scent of cotton candy and fried treats

carnival, sweetie,”

Harper repeated innocently.

asked as he took a glimpse of Harper

edge of her seat. “No, we haven’t,” she admitted softly,

quiet, but I caught the way he lowered his gaze, as if trying to hide the disappointment in

My chest tightened.

way up my throat, making

from things like this. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Because

that’s what I had told

right choice, protecting them from a world that could take them away from me. I had convinced myself that shielding them

at them, seeing the longing in Harper’s eyes and the silence in Cooper’s. I wasn’t so

I been protecting

I been depriving

looked at Harper, then at Cooper, then finally at me. His gaze held something unreadable, something that made

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Chapter 169

back against his seat. “Well, then, he said, a smirk slowly curling on his lips. Looks like we’re about to change that.”

“Really?” she gasped,

Titus chuckled. “Really”

finally looked up too, his expression more reserved but