Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

SAGE

I was in the middle of changing one of Titus' bandages when the door barged open. I was startled. Panic surged through me,. thinking what happened a while ago, when the guards dragged me to face the elders, was about to happen again.

But relief washed over me when I heard the familiar tiny voices called out. "Mommy!" they shouted in unison.

I opened my arms and welcomed them into a tight hug.

"We were so scared, Mom!" Cooper said.

"I told you Mommy will be fine! Mister will not allow bad things to happen to her," Harper said.

I hugged them tighter, breathing in their familiar scent, grounding myself in the warmth of their little bodies. My hands trembled as I ran them over their backs, reassuring myself that they were truly here-safe, unharmed.

"I missed you both so much," I whispered, pressing a kiss to the tops of their heads.

Harper pulled away slightly, her sharp eyes scanning my face. "Are you okay, Mommy? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

I forced a small smile, not wanting to worry them. "I'm okay, sweetheart."

Cooper frowned, glancing over at Titus. "And him?"

I followed his gaze, my heart clenching at the sight of Titus, his face pale against the pillows, his breathing slow but steady.

"He's strong,” I assured them, smoothing the hair from Cooper's forehead. “He just needs to rest."

Harper stepped closer to the bed, her tiny hand reaching out hesitantly before pulling back. "He saved you, didn't he?" Her voice was soft, filled with something I couldn't quite place.

I nodded. "He did."

Cooper squared his little shoulders, his jaw tightening. "Then we should do something to help him, too."

I smiled at their determination, my heart swelling with love and pride. "You already are, just by being here."

They both climbed onto the bed carefully, settling on either side of me as they watched over Titus. As if their presence alone would be enough to bring him back to us.

I finally noticed Scott followed behind them. He was the one who brought them here.

"Thank you for bringing them here," I told him.

He was staring at me for a minute as if he was trying to come up with the right question to ask.

Scott crossed his arms over his chest, his sharp gaze flickering between me and the children. He was clearly deep in thought, and I could almost see the gears turning in his head.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Yours?"

I blinked as if I was caught red-handed. I turned my head towards the children,

contemplating whether it's the right time to tell everyone about them.

+13

1 took a deep breath before 1 answered. "Yes"

He frowned as if trying to get a grip on what's going on. "Adopted?"

No. They're mine, Scott," I replied.

His frown deepened. His eyes darted on the twins lying on each side of Titus, who was peacefully sleeping.

"H1-How?"

"They were growing up faster than usual. After a year, they already looked two years old," I explained.

"Then, that means..." He stopped before staring at the twins.

"Yes," I answered his unspoken words.

He chuckled as he slowly managed to catch up with what's happening. "I heard they make an entrance," he said, referring to the surge of power the twins showed when I was being dragged to the courtroom.noveldrama

"They sure did, I replied,

Scott ran a hand over his face. "So, they're his. The Alpha's blood runs through their veins."

"Yes, I confirmed softly, my gaze lingering on my children.

Scott exhaled, his expression unreadable. Then, a slow smirk tugged at his lips. "No wonder the elders are shaking in their robes. Two heirs, both already manifesting their power? This changes everything."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Ever since His Majesty successfully reclaimed the throne, there have been issues within the palace-mainly due to the absence of a queen and an heir."

Scott's smirk deepened, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that told me this was no laughing matter. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze flickering toward the twins before settling back on me.

"The elders have been pushing for the king to take a queen,” he explained. "They say the throne isn't stable without one. A king without a mate, without an heir, is vulnerable-easier to challenge. And even though Titus is the rightful ruler, there are still those who would rather see someone else sit on that throne."

I frowned, "What happened to Elise, the daughter of Alpha Marcus? Wasn't it part of the deal that he'll take her as his queen in exchange for their help?"

Scott chuckled. "He didn't take the deal," he replied, which completely caught me off guard. "I was wrong for doubting my alpha. I shouldn't have convinced you to leave. And for that, I wanted to apologize."

"It was my decision to leave, Scott. You have nothing to apologize for."

"I should have trusted him when he said that he can win the war without Alpha Marcus' help. You have no idea what I've been through just to get his trust again. I made a mistake, and I held myself accountable."

"But I thought..." I let out a deep sigh. "He said the position of the queen has already been taken," I said.

"He just says that because he's mad at you for leaving. Why do you think he grabbed you the minute he saw you in that auction? Even if he didn't say it, I know for sure that you're one of the reasons why he insisted on coming with us to seize the illegal operations of the syndicate. I know he was hoping that he could find you there."

Scott's words sent a shiver down my spine. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process what he was saying.

Titus had never accepted the deal. He had never taken another woman as his queen.

"He was looking for me?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

Scott nodded. "For years. Every lead, every whisper of the syndicate's movements-he chased them all. And when we found that auction house, I saw it

in his eyes. He was desperate. He wasn't going to leave without you?

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening with emotion. The weight of my past decisions, my fears, and everything I had believed came crashing down on me.

"He was mad," Scott continued. "Mad that you left. Mad that he couldn't protect you. But more than that he was mad at himself for letting you go in the first place."

I turned to look at Titus, still lying unconscious on the bed, his body weak but his presence still commanding, Even in his most vulnerable state, he had fought to protect me. He had dragged himself into that courtroom, against all odds, just to stop my execution.

I had spent years trying to keep my distance, convinced that I was doing the right thing. That he had moved on. That I was only a burden from his past.

But what if I had been wrong all along?

I swallowed hard. "What will happen now?"

Scott let out a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest as he glanced at

Titus. "That depends on him," he admitted. "And on you."

I furrowed my brows. "Me?"

Scott nodded. "The elders won't stay silent after what happened today. You were sentenced to death, and the only reason you're standing here is because His Majesty stormed in and put an end to it. But that doesn't mean they've accepted you. And as soon as they figure out His Majesty's condition, they'll have even more reason to throw him out of his position."

I clenched my fists, my eyes drifting to my children, who had settled beside Titus, their small hands resting on him as if their touch alone could heal him. "And what about Harper and Cooper?"

Scott hesitated. "The moment the court realizes who they truly are, they'll probably demand proof of their legitimacy, and if provided, they have no choice but to accept them as the royal heirs. But it will also put them in danger."

A chill ran down my spine. "Danger?"

Scott's expression darkened. "Not everyone will be happy about their existence, my lady. There are those who wanted His Majesty to fail, who wanted the throne for themselves. Your children... they're proof of his strength, but they're also the greatest threat to those who oppose him."

Fear curled in my stomach. I had fought for years to keep my children safe, and now, they were at risk once more.

Scott must have seen the turmoil on my face because his voice softened. "That's why you needed to be his strength while he was recovering. I'm afraid you'll have to fight his battle for now."

I turned back to Titus, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.

I had spent so long running, convincing myself that leaving was the right choice.

But now, standing here, I realize the truth.

I wasn't meant to run.

I was meant to fight.

00' / EIA

For him.

For us.

For our family.