Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

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Chapter 104 SAGE

I stiffened at the hunter's pointed words, my pulse racing as I locked eyes with him. His smirk only deepened as he noticed my reaction. "What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded, my voice surprisingly firm despite the swirl of unease in my chest.

The hunter's gaze shifted to me, slow and deliberate, before snapping back to Titus. "Oh, I've heard the whispers," he said, his tone sharp and teasing. "A woman with an alpha's blood and the power of the red wolf, she was more valuable than any gold in the world." His smirk turned into a sly grin. "If you really want my help, Alpha, I want her. You have no idea how many powerful alphas were willing to pay just to have her as their breeder. She'll create a perfect heir."

I clenched my fists at his insinuation, anger rising like a flame threatening to ignite. "I am not up for grabs," I shot back, my voice cracking slightly as I spoke.

Titus stepped forward before I could say more, his broad shoulders blocking me from view like a protective wall. His voice, though calm, carried a dangerous edge. "You're threatening her?" he asked, the steel in his tone daring the hunter to confirm.

The hunter chuckled, a low, gravelly sound that only stoked the tension. "Threatening? Oh no, Alpha, I'm simply stating the facts. She's leverage-a powerful one at that. If you're as desperate as you seem, then you should know that she's the price worth paying." Heat rose to my cheeks in fury. But before I could lash out, Titus's voice sliced through the air.

"If you think, for even a second, that I'd offer her as payment-" he began, his words dropping into a growl that sent shivers down my spine.

The hunter raised his hands in mock surrender, his dagger glinting as he gestured. "Easy, now," he said, his smirk never faltering. "I'm not saying you have to hand her over. Not yet, anyway." He leaned forward slightly, as if sharing some great secret. "I just want you to think about it. Everything comes at a cost, and your cost is standing right beside you."

The weight of his words pressed heavily on me, but Titus's unwavering stance was a comfort, even as I sensed the battle raging within him to keep his composure.

"We're not doing this," Titus said, his voice cold and commanding. "You'll get your cash, and you'll do the job we've asked for. I'll even add more money if you want to. But Sage is not, and will never be, a bargaining chip. Do I make myself clear?"

For the first time, the hunter's smirk wavered, his amusement dimming just slightly. But the glint in his eye hinted at something else-perhaps respect or an unwilling admiration. Still, he didn't push further.

"Fine," he said with a shrug, his tone still carrying that insufferable edge. "Have it your way, Alpha. Then, I'm afraid that we have no business here."

Without another word, he turned, leaving us standing in the tense silence of the room. My chest heaved as tried to steady my breathing, my emotions still boiling just beneath the surface. Titus stood rigid beside me, his fists clenched at his sides.

Titus stayed silent as he approached the bar counter. He ordered the glass of whiskey. We had no other choice but to follow him and watch him as he silently brought his glass to one of the tables.

The bar's dim lighting and smoky atmosphere did little to calm the tension hanging in the air. Titus sat at the far end of the table, nursing a glass of whiskey in one hand, his expression dark and unreadable as his gaze fixed on a random spot across the room. The others were scattered around, trying to regroup after the confrontation with the hunter.

I leaned toward Scott, lowering my voice so only he could hear. How important is this guy, really?" I asked. "Is he worth all this trouble?"

@ BB Chapter 101

Scott gave a weary sigh, glancing at Titus before turning back to me. "He's more than important, Sage. He's crucial. The man's connections are unmatched, and he knows the terrain better than anyone else we could find. Without him, we're walking into the lion's den blind."

I pressed my lips together, my thoughts racing

"And there's no one else we can turn to?"

Scott shook his head. "Not for this kind of job. If we want a chance at success, we need him on board."

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I glanced toward Titus, who seemed lost in thought, his grip on the glass tightening as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. My chest tightened. If the hunter was as essential as Scott claimed, then maybe... maybe I should consider the deal. For the mission. For everyone's sake.

"Don't even think about it," Scott said sharply, as if reading my thoughts.

I blinked, startled by his tone. "Think about what?"

"Sacrificing yourself for this." His voice dropped lower, his eyes narrowing.

Before I could respond, a sharp voice cut through the quiet hum of the bar.

"I can't believe this," Anna spat, her tone dripping with irritation. She was sitting right beside him, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she glared at Titus. "You're willing to jeopardize everything, and I mean everything, because of her?"

Her accusation hung in the air, loud enough to draw a few curious glances from the bar's other patrons. Titus didn't flinch. He slowly set his glass down and looked at her, his expression cold and detached.

"I'm not jeopardizing the mission," he said evenly. "I'm protecting one of my own. What kind of king am I if I'll sacrifice my people just to put myself back in power?"

All the fragile hopes I had been clinging to, the ones quietly brewing deep within me, crumbled like a house of cards. They slipped through my fingers, leaving behind a cold, sinking emptiness. I didn't want to admit it-not even to myself-but when Titus refused to let the hunter use me as payment, something stirred within me.

It wasn't just relief or gratitude. No, it was something far more dangerous. A flicker of warmth, a feeling I thought / had buried a long time ago, something that whispered of trust and protection.

But the warmth was fleeting, crushed under the weight of reality. He didn't do it for me. Not really. He did it because he was conscious of what other people would think of him. He was trying to gain people's trust, and the news of him using me as a payment to get what he wants sends a different message.

I clenched my fists, willing away the pang of disappointment that followed the realization. I had to remind myself that Titus didn't even remember who I was-what we were. He wasn't the man who once promised me the moon and stars, nor the one who fought for my happiness at any cost. That Titus was gone, replaced by someone who looked right through me as if I were a stranger.

And yet, despite everything, that brief moment of his defiance against the hunter stirred a hope I had no right to feel. It was reckless to want more and foolish to read into something that was likely nothing.

All our atten

was directed towards Anna when she had more something to say.

Anna let out a bitter laugh, her face twisting with disbelief. "One of your own? She's a liability! She's putting us all at risk just by being here, and you know it!"

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Titus beat me to it.

That's enough, Anna," he said, his voice carrying an edge of warning.

Her eyes widened slightly at his tone, but she didn't back down. You're choosing her over me?" she accused, her voice trembling with barely contained anger.

RBB.

Titus stood, his towering presence silencing the conversation around us. "I'm to choosing anybody!"

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Anna's face flushed, and for a moment, I thought she might argue further. But instead, she huffed and stormed off toward the other end of the bar, muttering something under her breath

I exhaled shakily, unsure whether to feel relieved or guilty. The tension was suffocating, and the weight of Anna's words lingered heavily on my mind.

Titus sat back down, his eyes briefly meeting mine. There was no warmth there, no comfort-only a steely determination that reminded me of the Alpha he was. Still, his defense of me sent an inexplicable pang through my chest.

Scott cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Let's settle here for tonight as we work out a new plan."

Titus nodded, but his gaze drifted back to his glass, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. I sat quietly, thinking about all the possible things that we can consider to make this plan work.