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.

to give you a ring when you became my wife," he murmured, his lips

grip on my hand

grounding himself in the promise. “I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.

chest ached at the raw sincerity

sting of unshed tears behind my

thumb stroking gently as he studied my face. "Let me make you happy, Sage. Let me love you the way you always should

my heart

already do," I whispered, leaning

he closed the distance between us. It didn't take long before Titus

warmth wrapping around me like a shield from everything that had ever hurt me. His lips were

pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine in the quiet intimacy

patterns along my bare shoulder. "And

deep in my chest, warming me from

but it wasn't the diamond that made my heart

realize that giving me this ring means you're stuck with me

above me, his arms caging me in. “Oh, kitten," he smirked,

it."

had spent so many years

I asked curiously. I've been meaning to ask him about it since he appeared, but I didn't get

against my skin. His arms tightened around

against my skin, "I never got

my head

this emptiness that nothing could fill." His fingers traced lazy circles along my arm. "Then

at the thought of him suffering all that

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