Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

TITUS

As we approached, Elara paced anxiously by the gate, her movements frenetic with

The moment she caught sight of us, her dress was palpable, etched in the lines. worry.

of her face.

"Where is she?" I demanded, my voice tight with concern. Elara's demeanor told me eded to know: something had gone terribly amiss, and Sage was at the center of it all.

Elara's eyes darted between us, her breaths coming in short, uneven bursts. "They... they took her, Your Majesty," she stammered, her voice trembling with fear. "The guards... they came and... and they dragged her away." My heart clenched with apprehension. "Who took her?" I pressed, my voice urgent.

"Alpha Gordon... and his children, Elara replied, her words laced with dread. "They said... they said it was Her Majesty's orders."

My jaw tightened with frustration. I knew this was coming, but I had hoped we would have more time to prepare. "Where did they lock her up?"

Her eyes sparkled with hope upon hearing that. This way, Your Majesty. Please follow me," she said as she led the way.

With a sense of urgency driving us forward, I followed Elara through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace. Each step echoed with a sense of foreboding, the weight of the impending confrontation bearing down upon us. Elara's steps quickened, her resolve unyielding, as we traversed the labyrinthine corridors of the palace. With every stride, the weight of anticipation grew heavier, a palpable tension enveloping us both. At last, we arrived at a heavy oak door, flanked by vigilant guards, standing as sentinels to the secrets held within.

"This is where they took her, Your Majesty, Hara murmured, her voice a fragile thread in the suffocating silence of the hallway. "L. I fear for what they might do to her"

T

"Thank you, Elara," I said, my voice steady and resolute, before turning to face the guards standing watch. "Open the door," I ordered, my tone brooking no argument. One of the guards, a burly man with a stern expression, stepped forward. I'm afraid 1 can't do that. It was Her Majesty's order to not allow anyone to see her," he responded. his voice unwavering

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"Insolent!" Scott shouted, his face contorted with anger. Without warning, he delivered a swift and powerful blow to the guard's jaw, sending him *ri*ough the corridor.

The guards exchanged bewildered glances, clearty caught off guard by the sudden violence and the authoritative demeanor of the new mers.

"Bow to your king, you insolent b**s!" Scott bellowed, his words slicing through the air like a blade.

T

I almost forgot that I hadn't removed my cloak spell, hiding my long, prominent silver

hair.

At his proclamation, both guards' eyes widened in shock and realization. The color drained from their faces as the gravity of the situation sank in. Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees, their previous defiance replaced by abject terror.

J

"Forgive us, Your Majesty," one guard stammered, his voice trembling. "We didn't know. Please spare our lives."

The other guard, equally petrified, echoed the plea. "We were only following orders. Please show mercy."

They groveled on the floor, their fear palpable, as they awaited the king's judgment. The atmosphere was thick with tension, their terror a stark contrast to the authority radiating from Scott and myself.

I

"I have no time for this," I said, my patience wearing thin. Ignoring their pleas, I turned- my attention to the heavy wooden door barring our way. With a surge of determination, I kicked the door with all my might. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the corridor as the door gave way under the force of my blow.

Inside the dimly lit chamber, the air was heavy with the scent of damp stone and neglect. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows across the room, making it seem even more foreboding. My eyes quickly adjusted to the gloom, and there, in the far corner of the cell, I saw Sage. She was lying on the cold, unforgiving floor, her form barely discernible in the shadows.

A surge of anger coursed through me as I took in the sight of her fragile body. Her clothes were torn, and her back was a gruesome tapestry of scars and fresh wounds. Each mark told a story of unimaginable pain and suffering. I clenched my fist in anger, feeling the rage bubbling up inside me at the sight of her tortured state."

As I moved closer, the details of her injuries became painfully clear. Her back was a Chapter 27

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horrific mess of raw, bleeding flesh, crisscrossed with the telltale signs of multiple lashes. The deep, angry welts and the still-bleeding cuts made me wince in sympathetic pain. The sheer brutality of the torture she had endured was evident in every wound. I kneeled beside her, my hands trembling with a mix of fury and sorrow. "Sage." I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. The thought of someone inflicting such cruelty on her was almost too much to bear. I reached out ge y, careful not to cause her any more pain, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's me," I said, my voice breaking. "We're here to take you home." Sage stirred slightly at the sound of my voice, her eyelids fluttering open. Her eyes. though filled with exhaustion and pain, held a spark of recognition. "My lord," she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible but tinged with relief.

Yes,

it's me," I replied softly, my heart aching at the sight of her suffering. "We're going. to get you out of here. You're safe now."

Scott, standing behind me, looked down at Sage with a mixture of sorrow and determination. His usually stoic demeanor softened as he took in the extent of her injuries. "We need to move quickly," he said, his tone gentle but urgent. "Can you stand?"

Sage's eyes flickered with a mixture of pain and resignation. She shook her head weakly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "No, you need to leave, my lord. I can't implicate you in this mess," she said, her words trembling with the effort it took to speak. My brow furrowed in confusion and concern. "What are you saying?" I asked, unable to comprehend her plea.

It's my family who did this to me," she continued, her eyes filling with tears. "They will not hesitate to involve you in this mess. Please leave," she pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation.

The weight of her words sank in, and my heart ached at the realization of the depth of her suffering. "Your family did this?" I repeated, incredulous.

Sage nodded weakly, tears spilling down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails on her dirt-smudged face. "Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. "They found out about what happened to us. And they didn't hesitate to use that against me to gain Her Majesty's favor as well as His Majesty's," she continued, her tone laced with a mix of fear and sorrow. "Save yourself, my lord, she pleaded, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I'm fine. I can take this," she added, attempting to force a smile on her face, but the effort only highlighted her pain and desperation.

The sight of her broken smile, a futile attempt to mask her agony, made my heart ache.

Sage

I said softly, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll take care of this. Rest now." Sage's eyes filled with fresh tears, but this time there w

of hope mingled.

glimmer of

with her sorrow, "I don't want you to get hurt because of me," she whispered, her voice breaking.

1 shook my head, my resolve unwavering. "I won't." Lassured her.

With great care, we helped Sage to her feet. Each movement was a struggle for her; her injuries made every step painful. But we supported her, guiding her slowly but steadily toward the door.

As we moved down the dimly lit corridor, the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a sense of purpose. The guards we had left behind remained silent, their earlier defiance replaced by stunned silence. Scott's words still echoed in the air, a promise of retribution and justice. "Hold on, Sage," I murmured, my voice filled with determination. "We're almost there."

.

After a while, we reached the end of the corridor. Scott moved ahead, his movements. swift and sure as he pushed the door open. The cool night air rushed in, a stark contrast to the stifling dungeon.

"You're safe now," I whispered to Sage as we carefully made our way through the winding corridors back to her chamber. Each step was taken with the utmost caution, and our movements were deliberate to avoid causing her any additional pain. The flickering torches cast long shadows on the walls, their dim light guiding our path. When we finally reached Sage's quarters, I gently laid her down on the bed, positioning her on her stomach to avoid aggravating the wounds on her back. The soft mattress seemed a stark contrast to the cold, hard floor of the dungeon she had been confined

10.

Scott stood by the door, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger, while I focused on Sage. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyes fluttered closed as she tried to relax. The sight of her injured back, now fully visible in the light, made my stomach churn with anger and sadness. The deep, raw lashes crisscrossed her skin, each a testament to the cruelty she had endured.

"Call the doctor and treat her wounds. Do everything they need to save her," I ordered,

voice firm and commanding. The urgency in my tone left no room for hesitation.

Scott nodded and quickly exited the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall as he 111

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went to summon the royal physician. I stayed by Sage's side, gently brushing her hair inway from her face, trying to offer some comfort amidst her pain.

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Minutes felt like hours as we wanted, each moment with a tense silence broken only by Sage's occasional winces and the sound of her labored breathing I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me, the need to ensure her safety and well-being paramount in my red Finally, the door swung open, and the doctor burred in, followed by several attendanta carrying medical supplars. The physician, ander man with a kind but serious expression, quickly assessed Sage's comedita

"Her wounds are severe, but we will drying we can to treat them," he said, his voice calm and reassuring Hirded the means to perper the nerary treatments, and they mound with writing

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"You can leave now. I'll be staying here in Sage's quarters," I said, my voice steady and unwavering.

Scott nodded in response, his eyes reflecting a mixture of understanding and concern. "As you wish, Your Majesty," he replied. With a deep bow, he turned and exited the room, leaving me alone with Sage.

The door closed softly behind him, and I turned my attention back to Sage. Her breathing was calm, and she seemed to be resting more peacefully now, the harsh lines. of pain on her face softened by the doctor's care and the promise of safety.

I moved a chair closer to the bed and sat down, my gaze never leaving her. The room was quiet, the only sounds being the soft c**le of the fire in the hearth and the gentle rhythm of her breathing. The flickering flames cast a warm, soothing light, creating a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive dungeon she had endured for so long.

Watching her sleep, my thoughts drifted to the challenges that lay ahead. Sage's family, now aware of her rescue, would not sit idly by. Their thirst for power and control had. already driven them to unspeakable cruelty, and their next moves would undoubtedly be calculated and ruthless. The court, too, would be a treacherous place, filled with political maneuvering and hidden dangers.

But for now, all that mattered was Sage's recovery. She had endured so much, and she needed time to heal, both physically and emotionally. I reached out and gently took her hand in mine, careful not to disturb her slumber. The warmth of her skin was at comforting reminder that she was alive and that we had succeeded in bringing her out of that terrible place.

"You are safe," I whispered, more to myself than to her. "And I will keep you safe. No matter what."

****