Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 178

SAGE

The following days passed in a blur, each moment filled with endless

preparations, hushed conversations, and the constant hum of excitement in the air. Elara and I found ourselves drowning in fabrics, floral arrangements, and ceremonial protocols, barely finding time to breathe between the whirlwind of decisions that needed to be made.

I had always imagined something small and intimate-a wedding where only those closest to us would gather, where I wouldn't feel the weight of a thousand eyes watching my every move. I wanted a ceremony that wasn't about the grandeur of royalty but about the love Titus and I shared. But, of course, Titus had other plans.

He wanted it as grand as possible. The day of our wedding will also be the day of my coronation, as he announced me being his queen and his luna.

Elara, of course, was over the moon. "This is going to be the most spectacular event in generations!" she gushed as she spread out different gown designs before me. "A royal wedding and a coronation? People will talk about this for centuries!"

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. "That's what I'm afraid of."

She rolled her eyes, nudging me playfully. "Come now, my lady. You'll look absolutely breathtaking, and His Majesty will be so enraptured by you that he won't even notice the hundreds of guests in attendance."

Despite the whirlwind of wedding and coronation preparations, I couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going

1. on.

Titus had been distant-not in a way that made me doubt his love, but in a way that told me he was preoccupied with something far more pressing. While I was drowning in silk swatches and flower arrangements with Elara, he was constantly locked in meetings, his expression sharp and unreadable. Whenever I caught glimpses of him in the halls, he looked deep in thought, as if he was bracing himself for something big.

And I was sure it wasn't the wedding.

If it were, he would at least pretend to be involved. But aside from insisting that it had to be grand, he hadn't so much as glanced at a single invitation or made a comment about the color schemes Elara kept pestering me about.

wasn't like him to be

asked, her brows knitting together in concern as she noticed

small smile onto my lips, hoping to brush off the unease settling in my chest. "It's

out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, everything will be fine," she assured me, her voice filled with

our preparations, discussing floral arrangements and seating charts, but no matter how hard I tried to focus, a nagging feeling refused to let go. Something was off. Titus

I had made up my mind. I would confront him

and still, there was

looked at the clock.

king, that

had always made time for me, no matter how busy he was. So where was

the idea away, I threw on a cloak

for the faint crackling of torches that lined the stone walls. My footsteps echoed softly as I made my way

to find him buried in documents, exhausted from his duties. But

for only a moment before pushing them

was dimly lit, a few candles flickering on his desk, illuminating a pile

air was thick with something I couldn't quite place-secrecy, tension, something just beyond my grasp. I trailed my fingers over the wooden desk, my eyes scanning the papers

Maps. Letters. Battle strategies.

My stomach twisted.

the wedding. This was something bigger. Something

corridor, and I turned sharply just as

he saw me, surprise flickering in his eyes before it was quickly masked by something

he said, his voice lower than usual.

from the desk, holding it up for him to see. "I

long while, I saw hesitation