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 offelt 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 worshippedflooded 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, pullingagainst 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.

"I failed to give you a ring when you becmy wife," he murmured, his lips grazing my knuckles in reverence. "I should have given you the world, but instead, I gave you pain." His voice darkened with regret, but his grip on my hand remained steady. "Now, I will take this chance to give you everything you deserve." His 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 love." My chest ached at the raw sincerity in his words.

"Titus..." I whispered, feeling the sting of unshed tears behind my eyes.

His hand cup to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking gently as he studied my face. "Letmake you happy, Sage. Letlove you the way you always should have been loved." I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my ears.

"You already do," I whispered, leaning into his touch.

A slow smile spread across his lips before he closed the distance between us. It didn't take long before Titus deepened the kiss, his warmth wrapping aroundlike a shield from everything that had ever hurt me. His lips were soft yet firm, as if pouring every unsaid word, every promise, into this moment.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine in the quiet intimacy of our shared space.

"You're mine, Sage," he murmured, his fingers tracing delicate patterns along my bare shoulder. "And I am yours. No more running, no more pain. Just us. Forever." Forever. The word settled deep in my chest, warmingfrom the inside out.

I smiled, glancing down at the ring again. It was beautiful, exquisite even, but it wasn't the diamond that made my heart race -it was what it symbolized. A fresh start. A promise.

I ran my fingers over the cool metal, biting my lip. "You do realize that givingthis ring means you're stuck withfor the rest of your life, right?" Titus chuckled, rolling us over so that he was hovering above me, his arms cagingin. "Oh, kitten," he smirked, lowering his lips to graze my ear. "I'm counting on it." A laugh bubbled out of me, light and unguarded. I had spent so many years thinking happiness like this was out of reach.

"Now that you mention it, how did your memories cback?" I asked curiously. I've been meaning to ask him about it since he appeared, but I didn't get a chance until now.

Titus let out a soft chuckle before placing a lingering kiss on my bare shoulder, his lips warm against my skin. His arms tightened around me, pullingeven closer as if he feared I might slip away again.

"The funny thing is," he murmured against my skin, "I never got my memories back." I froze, tilting my head to look at him. "What?" He smiled, but there 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. My chest ached in a way I couldn't understand, as if I was dying a slow, painful death without even knowing why." I swallowed hard, my heart squeezing at the thought of him suffering all that time. "Titus..." He shook his head, pressing a gentle finger to my lips. "At first, I thought it was anger. I was furious, but deep down, 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 mind may not remember you, but my heart never forgot you. Not even for a second." My breath caught in my throat. The depth of his words, the raw emotion behind them, made tears sting my eyes.

I reached up, placing my hand over his, holding him there as I whispered, "Then let's create new memories together."

A slow, knowing smile spread across his lips. "I plan to, kitten," he om murmured, brushing his lips over mine. "Starting now."

And just like that, he kissed me, sealing not just a promise but a love that had endured beyond memory-beyond reason. A love that never truly left. A knock at the door interrupted the moment.

"Mom! Dad!" Harper's voice rang through the heavy wooden doors followed by Gooper's impatient sigh. "Are you two done being gross? We're starving!" Titus groaned, burying his face in the crook of my neck, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Looks like forever comes with a side of hungry teenagers," I teased, ruffling his already messy hair.

< 20% He sighed tically before rolling onto his back. "I suppose we should feed them before they riot, he mused, eyes filled with amusement.

I leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before slipping out of bed. "Con, Your Majesty. Tto face the day" Titus sat up, watchingwith an expression so full of love it stole my breath.

"Every day with you," he said, voice thick with emotion, "is a day worth facing And with that, we got up, ready to face our first day as a family-no more pretending, no more hiding, Just us. Forever.