Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 72 SAGE

Holt, was quick to remove his arms around me when he heard This' deep and baritone voice. I haven't turned to look Titus, who was probably standing behind me. But seeing the fear in Holt's eyes, I have a good guess that he was standing close by. "Your Majesty, it's not what you think," Holt was quick to defend himself.

"Go on. Holt. Tell me, what do you think I am thinking?" he replied with his usual domineering presence that can intimidate

He hesitated and couldn't answer immediately. I can see panic in his eyes as he tried to come up with an explanation. Though he doesn't really need to explain anything

To save Holt from the intensity of His Majesty's stare, I stepped in, my voice steady despite the way my heart raced in my chest. "We're not doing anything inappropriate, if that's what you're asking. Your Majesty

Titus's gaze flicked briefly to Holt before settling back on me, his dark eyes narrowing, "Is that so?" he replied, his voice as cold and sharp as ice, each word laced with an edge that could freeze anything in its path.

The space between us seemed to shrink under the weight of his displeasure, the temperature in the hallway dropping as if his very presence could alter the atmosphere. I fought to hold my ground, refusing to let his icy demeanor rattle rue. But deep down. I could feel the familiar grip of his power curling around me, testing my resolve

"Yes," I answered, my tone calm but firm. "We were only talking!

Titus took a step closer, his towering form casting a shadow over us. His eyes flickered with something dangerous-a barely concealed storm brewing beneath the surface. Talking, you say? he repeated, his gaze darting once more to Holt, who still stood silently, head bowed in submission.

Holt remained frozen in place, clearly unwilling to meet Titus's gaze, and I could sense his fear. Titus's authority was absolute, and everyone in the palace knew it. To defy him was to court disaster, and yet, here I stood, daring to shield Holt from his wrath.

"I see," Titus said finally, his tone no warmer than before. His gaze shifted back to me, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he were measuring how far he could push. "Then you won't mind explaining why you were hugging each other, would you?"

His words sent a spike of heat through me, not from the accusation itself but from the subtle warning buried within them. I clenched my hands at my sides, willing myself to remain calm. Holt's fate, and perhaps mine, hung in the balance, and I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

"There's nothing to explain," I said softly yet firmly. "Holt and I had a shared history as we both grew up in the same household. His sister's life was at stake, and I'm only here to offer him comfort," I explain despite my earlier claim that I had nothing to explain. I was actually doing this for the sake of Holt, If it was just me, I'm not afraid of going head-to-head against Titus. But Holt's situation was different. His sister was in jail, and he has a pack to protect.

Titus's expression didn't change, but I saw the flicker of something in his eyes-something darker, more possessive. His silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, the tension between us growing thicker with every passing second,

And then, in a voice so low it sent a shiver down my spine, he spoke. "Comforting the enemy?" His gaze held mine, and I could feel the weight of his words and the unspoken meaning behind them.

"Titus's voice, though quiet, sliced through the air like a blade. "Comforting the enemy?" he repeated, his words sending a cold shiver down my spine. The weight of his accusation hung heavy between us, and I could feel the sharpness of the unspoken challenge in his gaze.

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I held my ground, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "Holt is not an enemy. His park has done nothing but remain loyal to you, Your Majesty," I replied, my voice steady, though inside I could feel the tension pulling tighter with every word.

Titus's eyes narrowed into sharp slits, the cool blue of his gaze hardening like ice as he spoke. "Loyal?" His voice dripped with a bitter disdain as if the word tasted wrong on his tongue. Didn't his father dare to deceive me! He sent another man's daughter to seal the treaty instead of his own flesh and blood. He dishonored the agreement that was meant to gui peace in my territory. He played me for a fool."

I could feel the anger radiating off him-the raw, seething fury that lingered just beneath the surface of his controlled exterior. For a moment. I thought that was all he had to say-that he was finished venting his grievances-but then his jaw clenched, and his voice dropped to an even colder tone.

"Oh, but how could I forget? His sister, he spat the word as though it burned him. "She had someone cursed me and cast some dark, twisted spell on me to make me believe she was my thate. His hands balled into fists, the tendons standing out sharply against his skin. "She used magic to make me believe she was destined for me, that I was bound to her." His voice dropped even lower, a dangerous edge creeping into it. "All lies. All deceit. So, tell me again, how exactly is he loyal?"

The hallway was thick with tension, his anger filling the space like a storm ready to break, and I found myself holding my breath, unsure of how to respond-or if I even should.

It was at that moment that Holt finally seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. I could sense the urgency in his movements as he quickly knelt before Titus, his head bowed low, "Your Majesty," he said, his voice strong yet filled with humility, 1 have recently taken the position of alpha in our pack I was not responsible for the sins of my father, but I arm here now, pledging my full allegiance and loyalty to you. Our pack will serve the crown faithfully under my leadership."

He placed his fist over his heart, a symbol of his unyielding devotion

"How about you, kitten? Got anything to add?" His gaze drifted toward me, those lazy eyes giving the impression that this whole ordeal was beneath him, as if none of it could hold his interest for more than a moment.

but I I met his stare head-on, refusing to flinch beneath the weight of his gaze. The tension crackled in the air between us. held firm. "I don't know what more you expect from me, Your Majesty," I said, my voice steady, each word edged with defiance. "Whatever it is you're hinting at, I really don't care.

The silence that followed was thick and oppressive, like the stillness before a storm, but I refused to be the first to break it. His expression didn't change, but I could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere-the kind of stillness that came just before something snapped. "Sage!" Holt's harsh whisper cut through the tension, his voice strained and urgent. I could hear the warning in it-a plea wrapped in desperation. He was right beside me, tugging subtly at my sleeve, his fingers cold and insistent. "Stop it," he muttered under his breath, barely audible. His words were laced with panic, as if he knew just how dangerous it was to challenge the king, to push him to the edge where control slipped into something darker. Especially now that he wanted to get His Majesty's favor in order to save his sister. But I didn't look at Holt. I couldn't. My eyes remained locked with His Majesty's, the weight of my words still hanging between us. If there was fear coiling in my chest, I didn't let it show. Not in front of him.

After a long agonizing silence, he finally speaks. "You're dismissing," he said, referring to Holt. "Td like to have a word with Lady Sage," he added as his eyes remain locked on mine.