Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 172 Chapter 172

SAGE

It's been hours since the twins entered the labyrinth. There was no way to know whether they were safe inside or if the labyrinth had already begun testing them in ways beyond our comprehension. My heart felt like a battlefield, torn between trust in my children's strength and the overwhelming fear of what they might be facing alone.

The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over the towering stone entrance, but I hadn't moved from my spot. The once-bustling crowd had dwindled, leaving behind only a handful of guards stationed near the entrance. Even the elders- the very people who had forced this trial upon my children-had retired for the night, their curiosity seemingly satisfied now that they had placed Harper and Cooper in the labyrinth's grasp.

"You should take a rest, my lady," Scott's voice came from behind me, gentle but firm.

I turned my gaze away from the entrance, finding him standing with his arms crossed, his face marked with concern.

"I'm going to wait for my children, Scott," I said without hesitation.

Scott let out a quiet sigh, as if he had expected that response. “Of course you are, my lady. But the labyrinth isn't going anywhere. And neither is the outcome of the trial. You standing here, exhausting yourself, will not change what happens inside."

I shook my head. "I can't just leave them."

"I understand," he said patiently. "But you should at least rest, even if only for a while. This trial isn't a short one."

I frowned, something about his tone making my stomach twist. "What do you mean?"

Scott hesitated for a moment, then exhaled heavily. "These trials can take days, even weeks, my lady. It depends on how long it takes the labyrinth to reveal the truth it seeks."

I stiffened, the weight of his words settling heavily on my chest. "Days?" The word came out in a whisper before I clenched my fists. "Nobody told me it would take that long!"

"I'm sorry if I didn't manage to give you that information. But regardless of whether you knew it or not, there's nothing we can do. They are bound to do the test the moment everyone in the palace knows about them."

"You said Titus also took the same test once he was crowned as the crown prince. How long did it take for him to finish this

test?"

"Seven days, my lady. It took him seven days. And that's the fastest one in history," he said.

"If the most powerful Lycan prince took seven days to complete the trial, how can mere children possibly survive it? They may look older, but technically, they're only three years old!"

I complained despite knowing that it will not change anything. The palace is a cruel place for them. How naive I am to think that they can be possibly safe in here?

Scott's expression softened, but there was a grim edge to his voice. "I understand your fear, my lady. But the labyrinth does not test strength alone. It measures truth, resilience, and one's right to the throne. Power is important, yes, but so is the heart. Their royal blood will guide and protect them. They are His Majesty's children; you have to trust them."

I ran a shaky hand through my hair, my frustration mounting. "Even so, Scott, they're just children. How can they possibly be expected to endure what Titus, a fully grown and trained warrior, barely survived?"

Scott exhaled, glancing toward the looming entrance of the labyrinth, its ancient stone archway bathed in the eerie glow of the torches. "I won't lie to you, my lady. This is unprecedented. No child has ever been forced to face the Labyrinth of Truth. But I also know this-those two are no ordinary children. You've seen it yourself. Their power, their instincts... they were

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Chapter 172

for this, just as much as His Majesty

laugh, shaking my head. "Born for this? No child should

this kind of

He

we know if they passed the test?"

covered in flowers, allowing them to come

"And if they failed?"

of it; the palace will deny their claim to the throne." He didn't say the rest out loud, but we both knew what it meant. The

run away when I had the chance," I murmured. "I

you can outrun fate?" Scott

burning with emotion. "I don't

fact that they're not alone in there. They have each other, just like they always have. And no matter what the labyrinth throws at them, I trust

bit my lip, my chest tightening. I wanted

days ahead felt

night felt like an eternity. I refused to move from my spot near the entrance of the labyrinth, my eyes never leaving the twisted stone walls as if sheer willpower alone could bring my

His wounds had healed, but his body remained unresponsive. It was as if he was trapped somewhere beyond my reach, lost in a place where neither my voice nor my touch

the labyrinth, I found myself

sat by his bedside, clutching his hand as I whispered my pleas to the Moon Goddess. "Please... bring

rotated shifts, torches flickering in the cold night air, but I barely registered them. My mind was trapped in the labyrinth with my children, imagining

Scott said that the shortest time Titus

beyond, eerie and bone-chilling. I wrapped my arms around myself,

get back to your chamber," Scott said quietly,

fine, Scott. I'm going to wait for my

that, my lady. Stop worrying about them. They're the heirs of the strongest alpha this kingdom has ever seen, he reminded me, repeating his

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Chapter 172

believe him. I needed

in the air sent a shiver down my spine. It was subtle, but undeniable. A pulse of energy, almost like a heartbeat, resonated from the

stepping forward instinctively. "Did

nodded, his brows

tensed, gripping their weapons, eyes flicking between

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held my breath. Was it a sign that the twins were in trouble? Or

fighting

whispered, my fingers curling

to shift, carrying an eerie stillness

spine. The flickering torches lining the courtyard trembled, as if responding to

a step closer to me, his body tense, his eyes scanning the

pounded against my ribs as I turned back toward the labyrinth. My children were in there, facing dangers I

of energy rippled through the air,

down my spine.

tightening around their weapons. Scott's expression darkened, his