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.

murmured, his lips grazing my knuckles in reverence. "I should

His voice darkened with regret, but his grip on my hand remained

fingers tightened slightly around mine as if grounding himself in the promise. “I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I will erase every bad memory, every moment of doubt, and replace them with nothing but

ached at the raw

whispered, feeling the sting of unshed tears behind my

cup my cheek, his thumb stroking gently as he studied my face. "Let me make you happy, Sage. Let me love you the

swallowed hard, my heart

whispered, leaning

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

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

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

bare shoulder. "And I am yours. No more running, no more

settled deep in my chest, warming

wasn't the

biting my lip. "You do realize that giving me this ring means you're stuck with me for

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

it."

and unguarded. I had spent so many years thinking happiness like

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

warm against my skin. His arms tightened around me, pulling me

he murmured against my skin, "I never

my head to look

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

at the

you again-until I held you again-that I realized the truth." He cupped my face, his blue