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 became my wife," he murmured, his lips grazing

voice darkened with regret, but his grip on my hand remained steady. "Now, I will take this

fingers tightened slightly around mine as if grounding himself in the promise. “I will spend the rest of my life making it

chest ached at the raw sincerity in

the sting of unshed tears

my cheek, his thumb stroking gently as he studied my face. "Let me make

heart pounding in

whispered, leaning

spread across his lips before he closed the

hurt me. His lips were soft yet firm, as if pouring every unsaid word, every promise, into

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

shoulder. "And I am yours.

settled deep in my chest, warming me from the inside

even, but it wasn't the diamond that made my heart race -it was what it

the cool metal, biting my lip. "You do realize that giving me this ring means you're stuck with

me in. “Oh, kitten," he smirked, lowering his lips to graze my ear. "I'm

it."

spent so many years

I've been meaning to

my bare shoulder, his lips warm against my skin. His arms tightened around me, pulling me even closer as if

against my skin, "I never got my

my head

was something wistful in his expression. "I remember waking up every day, feeling... lost. Like something was missing. 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.

squeezing at the thought of him suffering all that

again-until I held you again-that I realized the truth." He