Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 176

SAGE

A groggy sigh escaped my lips as I stirred awake, my body aching in ways I hadn't experienced in a long time. Every inch of me felt sore-a testament to the passion Titus and I had shared the night before. A deep blush crept up my cheeks as memories of his touch, his kisses, and the way he had worshipped me flooded my mind.

I stretched lazily, only to pause when I felt something cool and solid pressing against my finger. My brows furrowed in confusion as I slowly lifted my hand, my vision still hazy from sleep.

And then I saw it.

A ring.

A breathtaking, intricate ring with a diamond so large it caught the early morning light and shimmered like a piece of the moon itself.

My breath hitched.

My heart pounded against my ribs as I stared at the delicate band wrapped around my finger. It was elegant, yet undeniably regal-something only a king could have placed there.

"Titus..." I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

As if on cue, a strong arm snaked around my waist, pulling me against a firm, warm chest. A satisfied growl rumbled from behind me, and before I could turn, soft lips pressed against the bare skin of my shoulder.

"Good morning, my queen," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

My chest tightened at the sound of those words. My queen.

I turned to face him, my fingers trembling as they brushed against the ring, half- expecting it to vanish like a dream. "You-" I started, but the words caught in my throat, tangled in the overwhelming emotions swelling inside me.

Titus chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent shivers down my spine. He reached for my hand, bringing it to his lips with a tenderness that made my heart ache. His blue eyes, still heavy with sleep, shimmered with something deeper-something unspoken.

you a ring when you became my wife," he murmured, his lips grazing my knuckles in reverence. "I should have given you

hand remained steady. "Now,

“I will spend the rest of my life making

ached at the raw sincerity in

the sting of

face. "Let me make you happy, Sage. Let me

swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my

do," I whispered, leaning into

his lips before he closed the distance between us.

a shield from everything that had ever hurt me. His lips were soft yet firm, as if

his breath

he murmured, his fingers tracing delicate patterns along my bare shoulder. "And I

deep in my chest, warming me from the inside

was beautiful, exquisite even, but it wasn't the diamond that made my heart race -it was what it symbolized. A fresh

"You do realize that giving me this ring means you're stuck

arms caging me in.

it."

light and unguarded. I had spent so many years thinking happiness like this was out of

meaning to ask him about it since he appeared, but I didn't get a

placing a lingering kiss on my bare shoulder, his lips warm against my skin. His arms tightened around me, pulling me even closer

is," he murmured against my skin,

head to

I couldn't explain it, but it was there, this emptiness that nothing could fill." His fingers traced lazy circles along my arm. "Then you left, and that feeling turned into something unbearable.

swallowed hard, my heart squeezing at the

first, I thought it was anger. I was furious, but deep down, I didn't know why. It wasn't until I saw you again-until I held you again-that I realized the truth." He cupped my face, his blue eyes burning into mine. "My mind may not remember you, but my heart never forgot you.