Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

I praised the Moon Goddess as soon as we stepped out of that portal. I must admit, it was a suicide mission when we decided to save Titus. But I'm glad that everything turns out well. remains unconscious while lying on the bed. On the other hand, Elara was trying to check his injuries. It seems like her learning to use some magic has turned out to be really handy

Titus

Titus looked pulped. It was as if he was beaten to death. I wonder how the hell they managed to do this kind of damage to him. I know that he was outnumbered, but he's still among the most powerful lycans in the land.

My thoughts unconsciously wonder towards Anna, who was standing right at the door, silently watching us. I'm still having doubts whether bringing her here was the right thing to do. Aside from our common feelings towards Titus, I don't know anything about her. My thoughts were quickly pulled away from Anna when I felt Titus squeeze my hand a little. I was relieved knowing that he's somehow responsive. "He squeezed my hand!" I exclaimed, excitement bubbling up in my chest.

Elara didn't t even look

Elara

up from her work. "He's unconscious, Sage, not dead. Don't get too excited," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact as she applied the herbal cream with calm precision. rolled my eyes at her, refusing to let her ruin my moment. Titus' small gesture meant everything to me. I clasped his hand tightly between my own, then slowly lifted it to press it gently against my cheek. The warmth of his skin, however faint, reminded me that he was still here. Still alive. Still fighting. I rested my head against his hand, lost in the fragile hope that he would wake soon. But then he groaned-a deep, strained sound that sent a ripple of unease through me. His lips moved, his voice barely a whisper. I leaned closer, trying to catch what he was saying. "Titus?" I whispered, my heart racing as I bent down further to hear him clearly.

Another groan escaped him, low and pained, and then he murmured a name.

"Anna...

His voice was weak and breathless, but the name was unmistakable.

!

T

I froze, every muscle in my body locking up in shock. The blood drained from my face as I slowly straightened, my mind spinning. I whipped my head around toward the door where Anna stood, her eyes meeting mine the moment she heard her name. My heart pounded in my chest, anger and confusion surging through me. I glared at her, fury brewing behind my gaze. If looks could kill, she would've been dead where she stood. Why wash he calling for her?

The room fell into a thick silence, tension crackling in the air between us as I struggled to make sense of it all. And in that moment, all the trust I had cautiously extended to Anna started to crumble. Anna H

a hesitated for a split second, her gaze flickering between Titus and me before she made a bold move. Without a word, she stepped forward, snatching Titus' hand away from mine as if it rightfully belonged to her. Her bold action ignited a spark of fury inside me. I narrowed my eyes, annoyance clear in my voice. "What do you think you're doing?" G 09:00 FN,

Chap

Her

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Her lifted I slightly, defiance flashing in her eyes. "You heard him, didn't you? He was calling my name. He needs me.

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I couldn't help but scoff at her audacity. "Don't push your luck, warned, my tone laced with an edge sharp enough to cut. "Now, if you don't mind, could you please get out of this room? Anna, however, stood her ground, her jaw tightening. "No, she stated firmly. "I'm not leaving. Titus needs me!"

Something snapped inside me-a storm of jealousy and protectiveness I hadn't fully acknowledged until now. I leaned in. closing the distance between us until our faces were just inches apart. I could feel her breath hitch as I spoke slowly, deliberately, my voice low and dangerous. "Read my lips, Anna. Get out of here before I kill you."

For a moment, I thought she might challenge me further. Her jay clenched harder, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes, though filled with resistance, flickered with uncertainty. She hesitated just long enough to let me know she wasn't as sure of herself as she wanted to be. But then, without another word, she finally backed down, turned on her heel, and left the room, her presence lingering like a bad taste.

The door closed behind her, and the tension in the room lifted slightly. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, my hands still trembling with leftover adrenaline.

"Well, look at you," Elara teased from across the room, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Aren't you possessive?"

I shot her a took, though I could feel the warmth creeping up my neck. "I'm not possessive," I muttered, though the words. sounded weak even to me. The truth was, seeing Anna so close to Titus had rattled something deep inside me.

Elara laughed softly. "Oh, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sage." She turned her attention back to Titus, still lying unconscious on the bed. "But if you ask me, I think Titus would appreciate a bit of a jealous streak. Keeps things interesting."

I rolled my eyes at her, though I couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "You're impossible, you know that?" Elara just grinned. "And And yet, you

love me for it."

My gaze drifted back to Titus, my fingers instinctively reaching for his hand again. This time, no one was here to take it from me. As I held onto him, I silently promised myself that no matter what, I would protect him. I didn't care if Anna had a history with him or if there was something between them in the past. Titus was mine now, and I wasn't about to let anyone between us.

The room fell into a tense silence after Anna left, broken only by the soft crackling of the fireplace in the corner. My fingers stayed wrapped around Titus' hand, my thumb brushing over his skin. His once-powerful form lay still, a ghost of the man I'd come to love. Seeing him like this fueled a deep ache inside me.

Elara emained quiet as she worked on the final touches of her healing ointments. The usual playful glint in her eyes was replaced by a somber focus. She knew, as well as I did, that whatever had happened in that palace had taken a toll on Titus, and not just physically. voice

soft. "The problem is, whatever "His wounds are deep, but he'll recover," Elara finally said, breaking the silence, ho they did to him... it's more than just physical pain. Something's eating away at him from the inside." "What do you mean?" I asked, the worry in my chest tightening

Elara sighed, wiping her hands on a cloth before standing up. "I can feel it. There's a darkness inside him. It's like they've cursed him or poisoned his mind."

"Do you think it was the leviathan? I thought I successfully obliterated it."

No, it's it. Aside from the traces of wolf's bane and ash mountain I found in his blood, they did something to him that I haven't seen before."

My heart pounded in my chest. "Is there a cure?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, afraid of the answer.

@ G

Elara hesitated, her eyes flicking to Titus' still form. "I don't know. We have to wait until he wakes up to know what exactly happened to him. From then, we can plan our next step." "Anna," I muttered under my breath, my thoughts immediately going to her. She had been suspiciously calm during our escape, and now, with Titus murmuring her name... It made me wonder if she was somehow involved in this mess. But then again, if she had betrayed him, why would she help us escape? I didn't want to believe that she was the enemy. But I couldn't deny that doubt was gnawing at me.

"Do you really think she's behind this?" Elara asked, reading 11 s.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice tight with frustration. "But I don't trust her. And if she's involved, then she's a threat. And I'm afraid that we walked right into her trap."

Elara nodded, her expression serious. "We'll have to keep an eye on her. But for now, we need to focus on getting His Majesty back."

A small groan escaped from Titus' lips, drawing both of our attention. I leaned closer, hoping for any sign of him waking up. His eyelids fluttered slightly, but they didn't open. Instead, he mumbled something under his breath. "Anna..."

There it was again. Her name.

Jealousy flared in my chest, a sharp sting that made me want to storm out and drag her back in here to answer for this. But I forced myself to remain calm. There were bigger problems at hand than my personal insecurities. Titus needed us, and I wouldn't let anyone or anything stand in the way of helping him. Not even Anna.

"We need to prepare," I said, standing up straight, determination hardening my voice. "If we're going to find out who did this to him, we need to be ready for whatever's coming."

Elara nodded in agreement, though she looked hesitant. "Are you sure you're up for this? Things are getting more complicated by the minute."

I gave her a small, confident smile. "I don't have a choice, Elara. Titan needs me. And I won't let him down."

"I'll start looking. I was hoping that I could find something about this in the books," Elara said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You get some rest. We'll need all the strength we can muster when the time comes."

But rest felt impossible. Even as Elara left the room, I stayed by Titus' side, unable to tear myself away. His breathing was slow and steady, his face etched with pain even in unconsciousness. I touched his cheek lightly, my heart aching for him. Whatever dark magic had its claws in him, I would find a way to break it. I wouldn't stop until I brought him back, no matter what it took.