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

his grip on my hand remained steady. "Now, I will take this

life making it up to you. I will erase every bad memory, every moment of doubt,

chest ached at the raw sincerity

the sting of unshed tears behind my

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

hard, my heart

whispered, leaning

across his lips before he closed the

shield from everything that had ever hurt me. His lips were

his breath mingling with mine in the quiet intimacy of our

patterns along my bare shoulder. "And I am yours. No more

my chest, warming me from the

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

biting my lip. "You do realize that giving

hovering above me, his arms caging me in. “Oh, kitten," he smirked, lowering his lips to

it."

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

meaning to ask

kiss on my bare shoulder, his lips warm against my skin. His arms tightened around

against my skin, "I never

froze, tilting my head to look

nothing could fill." His fingers traced lazy circles along my arm. "Then you left, and that feeling turned into something unbearable. My chest ached in a way I couldn't understand, as if I was dying a slow,

my heart squeezing at the thought

wasn't until I saw you again-until I held you again-that I realized the truth." He cupped my face,